Silicon Times Report The Original Independent OnLine Magazine" (Since 1987) January 12, 1996 No.1202 Silicon Times Report International OnLine Magazine Post Office Box 6672 Jacksonville, Florida 32221-6155 STR Electronic Publishing Inc. A subsidiary of STR Worldwide CompNews Inc. R.F. Mariano, Editor Featured in ITCNet's ITC_STREPORT Echo Voice: 1-904-268-3815 10am-4pm EST STReport WebSite http://www.streport.com STR Publishing Support BBS THE BOUNTY INTERNATIONAL BBS Featuring: * 5.0GB * of File Libraries Mustang Software's WILDCAT! 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STReport International 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, Fido, Internet, PROWL, USENET, USPOLNet, NEST, F-Net, 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 all computer types, worldwide, through the use of excellent International Networking Systems. SysOps and users alike worldwide, are welcome to join STReport's International Conferences. ITC Node is 85:881/250, The Fido Node is 1:112/35, Crossnet Code is #34813, and the "Lead Node" is #620. All computer enthusiasts, hobbyist or commercial, on all platforms and BBS systems are invited to participate. WEB SITE: http//www.streport.com CIS ~ PRODIGY ~ DELPHI ~ GENIE ~ BIX ~ FIDO ~ ITC ~ NEST ~ EURONET ~ CIX ~ USENET USPOLNET CLEVELAND FREE-NET ~ INTERNET ~ PROWL ~ FNET ~ AOL Florida Lotto LottoMan v1.35 Results: 1/06/96:5 of 6 numbers with 2 matches in 2 plays From the Editor's Desk... The Internet is bustin' loose.. The Games coming down the pipeline are as plentiful and dandelions in a summer field. But. most important of all are the herds of new and updated applications for Windows 95/NT. Before all the "cry babies" get started about "being picked on" for their using the wrong operating system or, being on the wrong platform, this editorial is for informational purposes only and does not reflect or allude to any persons, places or situations both now or perhaps in the afterlife! It never ceases to amaze me that no sooner does an issue come out in which the wonders of being part of a supported and thriving platform are made mention of, almost immediately the accusations of putting down those who are not on this platform begin to fly. The computing community is growing in leaps and bounds. We now have .Intel Pentium 166's (that's FAST!) and higher, Itel Triton II Chipsets, Sync Burst Pipeline Cache on all Motherboards, EDO or Regular RAM, 8x CD-ROM drives, inexpensive hard disks, etc., the choices are "multitudinous"! I might add, it keeps getting better all the time. As a result, most every facet of this platform's vitality is alive with innovation and positive growth. The wonders that are "just around the corner" in the areas of both sound and video are going to astound everyone. The downside is slight. Slight even for those who have yet to migrate to this platform. Many manufacturers and consultants realize the anxiety and intimidation involved in making the move. Steps are being taken to ease the transition phase. Software, Experience, Learning Curves and Cost are the seriously intimidating factors All can be, in one way or another, easily overcome. All that's required is a tiny bit of courage and a minimal investment. The staggering prices are no longer there for entry participants. Of course, with some relatively careful planning ahead, one can enter this platform pretty much prepared for the future at a minimum of initial expense. Beginning next week, there will be a series of articles detailing the advantages of making the change, how to go about it and most of all, the pitfalls to avoid. Hopefully, in this series of articles we can plot a course together and make the move painless and at the same time, cost effective. Don't miss the series. "Changing Platforms Painlessly". Ralph. Of Special Note: http//www.streport.com STReport is now ready to offer much more in the way of serving the Networks, Online Services and Internet's vast, fast growing site list and userbase. We now have our very own WEB/NewsGroup/FTP Site and although its in its early stages of construction, do stop by and have a look see. Since We've received numerous requests to receive STReport from a wide variety of Internet addressees, we were compelled to put together an Internet distribution/mailing list for those who wished to receive STReport on a regular basis, the file is ZIPPED, then UUENCODED. Unfortunately, we've also received a number of opinions that the UUENCODING was a real pain to deal with. So, as of October 01,1995, you'll be able to download STReport directly from our very own SERVER & WEB Site. While there, be sure to join our STR list. In any case, our current Internet mailing list will continue to be used for at least the next eight weeks. 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Fontana Norman Boucher Clemens Chin Eric Jerue Angelo Marasco Donna Lines Ed Westhusing Glenwood Drake Vernon W.Smith Bruno Puglia Paul Haris Kevin Miller Craig Harris Allen Chang Tim Holt Patrick Hudlow Leonard Worzala Tom Sherwin Please submit ALL letters, rebuttals, articles, reviews, etc... via E-Mail to: CompuServe 70007,4454 Prodigy CZGJ44A Delphi RMARIANO GEnie ST.REPORT BIX RMARIANO FIDONET 1:112/35 ITC NET 85:881/253 AOL STReport Internet rmariano@streport.com Internet CZGJ44A@prodigy.com Internet RMARIANO@delphi.com Internet 70007.4454.compuserve.com Internet STReport@AOL.Com WORLD WIDE WEB http://www.streport.com IMPORTANT NOTICE STReport, with its policy of not accepting any PAID advertising, has over the years developed the reputation of "saying it like it really is". When it comes to our editorials, product evaluations, reviews and over-views, we shall always keep our readers interests first and foremost. 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Send your subscription to: BBS Press Services, Inc. 8125 S.W. 21st Street Topeka, KS 66615 Or, to order by phone, Please Call: 1-913-478-3157 (Voice) 1-913-478-9239 (Data) 1-913-478-1189 (FAX) Checks, Mastercard & Visa ok, Please include Full Name, Address, home Number, Card type, number & expiration date when ordering. If by mail, please _sign_ your personal order. STReport Headline News LATE BREAKING INDUSTRY-WIDE NEWS Weekly Happenings in the Computer World Compiled by: Dana P. Jacobson Online is Lifeline for Blizzard '96 While some scoff at the notion of Many victims of the infamous low-cost gadgets that use TV and Blizzard of 1996 are at home and at the phone to let people find online their computers -- giving and often data on the Internet and elsewhere, requesting advice and help. The the idea got broad support among record-setting snowstorm has closed computer executives at the Consumer major avenues of transportation on Electronics Show this weekend in the East Coast from airports to Las Vegas. Business writer Evan highways, transforming city streets Ramstad of the Associated Press into icy expanses more fit for reports several companies soon will skiers than drivers. As has often begin selling network access been the case in other emergencies, devices that cost $200 to $500, an CompuServe members are coming idea that has been promoted for together through the online months by companies such as Sun community to ease isolation and Microsystems Inc. and Oracle Corp. offer solace to others. Weather Ramstad notes some PC makers and Channel Forum member Sandy Rice analysts have scorned the idea that writes, "I'm from Louisville and people will want something less got 17 inches of snow. The roads than a full-featured system that are too dangerous to go out but I starts at around $1,500. need food. My son is out of school. Nonetheless, some major players -- Until a salt truck comes I'm stuck including Compaq Computer Corp., in my subdivision. Should I try to Packard Bell Electronics Inc. and get out or stay in my house?" Acer America Inc. -- all told the Dave Hall, answering from "under 20 wire service their developers were inches on Long Island," writes, playing with different, less costly "I'd have to recommend risking designs focused on network access. it...cabin fever is no fun, but For instance, Paul Chapple, a running out of food and supplies spokesman for Philips Electronics isn't either...do you have Inc., said his employer is neighbors who have four wheel developing a $400 phone to connect capability? Best not to get to the World Wide Web through an depressed about it, and give it a online service that will reformat try! Be careful, and be safe." data on a small screen. "The Brian Foy says, "All the airports executives said they realize PCs are closed as well as New York City won't ever reach as many households being under a "Snow Emergency". As as TVs and telephones," Ramstad long as everyone stays safe, I love writes, "but that something will be the snow. We got around two feet of needed to let everyone reach the the white fluffy stuff. Pull out information available in those sleds and snow shoes." cyberspace." Ramstad cited several By typing GO BLIZZARD, CompuServe devices introduced at CES: members can connect to the Weather ú The $500 Pippin cyber-CD Crisis Menu, listing "Blizzard News player, designed by Apple Computer Clips," The Weather Channel Forum Inc. and made first by Japan's and the CompuServe Weather area. Bandai Co. Ltd. It will go on sale The Weather Channel Forum topics in Japan in April and the United include conferences with States this summer. Other forecasters and on-air manufacturers also are expected to meteorologists, library files and make Pippin, which connects to a TV message sections. To share your like a video game machine. It can personal experiences of the storm, play video games, music CDs, send GO TWCFORUM, Message Section 6, and receive email, and use Netscape "Snow and Ice Center," "I'm trapped software to browse the World Wide in the Blizz," "Weekend snowstorm - Web. - NY," "Buried," and related ú The $200 Telesmart 4000 by US threads.! Order and Colonial Data Low-Cost Net Devices Coming Soon Technologies Inc., that will be Tandem Computers Inc. From the adopted to receive email in a few company's Cupertino, California, months. United Press International reports ú A $300 box from ViewCall Pieper, who has served as America, a unit of Colorocs president/CEO of Tandem's UB Information Technologies Inc., that Networks subsidiary since 1993, is attaches to the TV and provides pledging to focus the company on World Wide Web access. "open" system products designed to ú A modem and service from interconnect with a variety of Catapult Entertainment Inc. that different brands. Pieper allows Sega or Nintendo video games previously was president/CEO of to be played across phone lines. AT&T's UNIX Systems Laboratories When players are done with a and is credited with turning around session of NBA Jam, they can check the unit from significant losses to their Internet email. profits in less than a year and Zip Drive Gets Portable Power Pack moving the UNIX system into a Iomega Corp. has unveiled a strong commercial market position portable power pack for its Zip based on open-systems standards. drive. The company, based in Roy, Said Pieper, "Most of our Utah, says the rechargeable power technologies have always been pack will be targeted at people who brought to market with closed, want use the Zip drive in remote proprietary technology. We're going locations. When recharging the to take advantage of more battery, users can plug the power opportunities to get our technology pack directly into a wall socket, to market." He said Tandem also alleviating the need for additional will seek to expand its chargers or power cords. partnerships with other high-tech With an estimated average run-time companies in order to broaden its of approximately two hours, the product line and lower its prices. power pack weighs less than eight Treybig remains on Tandem's board ounces and is about the size of a of directors and will assist Pieper deck of cards. Iomega's Zip drive in the transition. Pieper will join uses 100MB disks to provide up to the board and Tandem's board will 70 times the capacity of add several new members in the traditional floppy disks with hard coming months with the goal of disk-like performance. The unit is bringing in additional experience available in parallel port and SCSI from the computer industry. versions for about $200. The disks Sun Sets Up Separate Java Unit sell for $15 each. Sun Microsystems Inc. has spun off "Many of our customers carry the a separate unit to handle Java, the Zip drive between work and home, or evolving programming language it are using it on the road with a developed for the Internet. To head notebook computer," says Andy the new division, Sun has chosen Grolnick, Iomega's Zip product line Alan Baratz, formerly president/CEO manager. "The new Zip power pack of Delphi Internet Services Corp. gives these mobile professionals a Sun President/Chairman/CEO Scott new level of portability, allowing McNealy told United Press them to use their Zip drive International, "We're privileged to anywhere." The power pack is have someone of Alan's stature and expected to ship this spring for background leading this under $50. organization. His 15 years' Roel Pieper Named Tandem CEO experience in high-technology Replacing company founder James engineering and executive Treybig after 22 years, 39-year-old management is just what we need to Roel Pieper has been named CEO of grow this critical aspect of our business." Before assuming the leadership of Delphi, Baratz held senior management positions with IBM in "The sales and orders results for New York, culminating in being the first nine months of 1995 point named IBM director of strategic to another full year of record development. Of Java, UPI improvement for U.S.-based comments, "Since its introduction technology companies," says William last year, Java has emerged as a T. Archey, president and CEO, of budding standard for developing the Washington- based trade group. Internet and World Wide Web Windows Newsletter Debuts on Web content. It has been successful in IDG Newsletter Corp. says it has large part, industry trackers said, launched the first World Wide Web- because it is not tied to any based newsletter for Windows particular operating system or professionals. The Boston-based microprocessor." company says its Winsurfer McNealy added, "Java has publication will aim to provide revolutionized programming for the readers with tips and techniques Internet and other complex they can use to get the most from networks. Creating an Windows 95 and Windows NT. infrastructure around this A sample issue of the monthly revolutionary technology will help publication can be viewed at us get the power of Java to every http://www.idgnews.com/win95. A 12- software developer for the public month subscription is priced at Internet and corporate intranets, $49.00. and develop Java as the Internet IBM Had Most U.S. Patents in 1995 programming standard." IBM Corp. was awarded the most U.S. Analysts seem pleased with Sun's patents for the third straight move, saying creation of a separate year, receiving a record 1,383 division shows just how bullish Sun patents from the U.S. Patent and has become about Java's future. Trademark Office in 1995 -- 27 Philip Rueppel of Alex. Brown and percent more than any other Sons told the wire service, company. The previous record was "Essentially, this indicates that 1,298 U.S. patents, set by IBM in Sun sees the vitality of Java as a 1994. IBM also led with 1,087 long-term solution and by patents in 1993, the first year separating it, they can make a play since 1985 that a company based in at making Java self-sustaining. the U.S. received the most U.S. They want to capitalize on the patents. momentum Java has gained." Trailing IBM in the top 10 for U.S. Electronics Sales Set Record 1995, according to IFI/Plenum Data New figures from the American Corp., were Canon KK, which had Electronics Association show that 1,088 patents, Motorola (1,012), worldwide sales of U.S.-produced NEC (1,005) Mitsubishi Denki Ltd. electronics products and services (971), Toshiba (970), Hitachi Ltd. increased 17.4 percent to a record (909), Matsushita (852), Eastman $334.7 million in the first nine Kodak (772) and General Electric months of 1995 compared with $285 (757). billion the same 1994 period. The IBM patents were almost Orders for electronics products and exclusively in the field of services also set a record in the information processing. "We are first three quarters of 1995, pleased with the ranking and will rising 19.2 percent to $339.0 continue to work hard to bring billion from $284.5 billion in the these innovations to market year-earlier period. quickly," says Marshall Phelps, Third quarter sales increased 17.1 Jr., vice president of intellectual percent to $115.1 billion from property and licensing services for $98.3 billion in the year-ago IBM. "IBM continues to invest in period. Orders rose 18.0 percent to key technological areas like $114.8 billion from $97.3 billion. software, networking, data storage associate dean of the Wiesenthal and microelectronics -- as our center, based in Los Angeles, says patent portfolio for 1995 attests." the some 250 U.S.-based hate groups CD-ROM Lists Trademarks now "have a magnificent marketing Business owners looking to technology dumped in their laps." trademark a new product can now He adds, "They are able to dress up take advantage of a CD-ROM that's their message in a way that looks designed to offer low-cost security ... presentable." against trademark infringement. Notes Webster, "The Wiesenthal The Trademark Checker contains the Center's request is part of a fully searchable text of all U.S. growing debate over whether federal trademarks -- registered Internet service providers should and pending, live and dead -- be viewed as publishers responsible dating back to 1884. "You'll still for what moves on their networks, need a trademark attorney to or carriers who simply provide process the application and do a access to a service without thorough search of state and common monitoring what is communicated." law databases. However, with the While the Wiesenthal Center argues Trademark Checker you can do most the services are publishers who of the work yourself and save have a civic responsibility not to thousands of dollars in legal fees promote bigotry, Godwin says by screening out names already Internet providers should be taken," says Peter Tracy, president treated like bookstores, which of East Haven, Connecticut-based exercise some control when they MicroPatent, which publishes the decide to specialize in science software. The CD-ROM can also be fiction instead of mysteries, but used by publishers, advertising are not expected to read every book agencies, publicists and others who and be held responsible for the need to check for trademarked books' contents. words. The Trademark Checker sells More Execs Leave Struggling Apple for $199. Additional information is More top executives have left available on MicroPatent's World struggling Apple Computer Inc. Wide Web home page: Barbara Krause, the computer http://www.micropat.com. maker's vice president of corporate Group Wants Ban of Net Hate Sites communications, and one of the The Simon Wiesenthal Center, a company's highest ranking women leading Jewish human rights group, executives, has resigned. Keith has began sending hundreds of Fox, vice president of the home letters to Internet access division, has also left the firm. providers asking them to refuse to The San Francisco Chronicle reports carry messages that "promote that three other high-ranking Apple racism, anti-Semitism, mayhem and executives are leaving: Jim Groff, violence." The effort has drawn vice president of education fire from civil libertarians and marketing; Peter Friedman, vice access providers, who argue public president and general manager of debate is the way to defeat hate. online services; and Don Mike Godwin, staff counsel for the Strickland, vice president of Electronic Frontier Foundation, business and government sales. told Associated Press writer According to the newspaper, Apple Katharine Webster the Internet plans to announce company-wide allows users to "show the whole layoffs after Jan. 17, when the world what's wrong about what the company will release first quarter hate speakers are saying." And results that could include a loss. CompuServe spokesman William Giles Apple hasn't commented on the told the wire service, "The correct report. place to try and put pressure is on Microsoft Layoffs Coming? the people who create the content, Word around Washington state is not the person who provides accessthat Microsoft Corp. is planning to lay off some employees. Quoting from a report in the Seattle Post- Intelligencer newspaper, Computergram International this morning noted rumors of impending cutbacks have been circulating in Microsoft's Redmond, Washington, headquarters for more than a month. "Adding to the uncertainty," says the newsletter, "are lower-than- expected retail sales of Windows 95 and a refocusing of the company's software development efforts to try to get aboard the rampant Internet." to it." Rabbi Abraham Cooper, Corel Updates STR Focus CorelDRAW 6.0 Build 169 Significant Fixes & Features CorelDRAW Module User Interface ú the Layers roll-up would crash when using some 16-bit mouse TSRs under Windows95 ú ToolTips for the Node Edit roll-up will now display when the roll-up has focus File I/O ú inability to reopen a file saved as vers. 5. Format in vers. 5.0 ú inability to open some files saved to 5.0 format which contained bitmaps, when reopening in 6.0 ú AI export improved when exporting text objects ú no 22-byte 'placeable' header is created on WMF portion of EPS export - IPF generated when importing large EPS file with WMF headers ú New feature: the CMX format can now be opened and saved directly within CorelDRAW. ú Guidelines/Rulers/Grids ú the moving of slanted guidelines by grabbing with the cursor - snapping to slanted guidelines ú Feet weren't marked on the ruler correctly when using Imperial measurement units ú several Grid Frequency problems with the grid was set to Meters, Feet, Miles or Km's Text/Styles ú files from previous versions which contained text with line spacing set to points was opening with inflated values in Version 6.0. These files will now open to line spacing at 100% of character height. Drawing/Editing/Attribute Tools ú Auto Reduce numeric on Shape Tool Properties was set to .00002. This is now .004. ú some imported B&W bitmaps were coming in with 256 color palettes - they wouldn't accept outline or fill assignment Special Effects ú couldn't Contour a long string of text ú unable to edit PowerClips on pages other than Page 1 ú Fit Text to Path roll-up would become unavailable if the roll-up was 'unpinned' Printing ú Hairline outlines on plotters were drawn as thicker polycurves - non-PS copies were being reset following each job ú 2-sided printing was sometimes not stopping at 50% to allow for paper flip Corel PHOTO-PAINT 6.0 Build 169 Significant Fixes Editing Operations ú Attempting to do a Cut or Copy twice would cause an IPF. ú Attempting to delete 3 or more Objects at once would cause a lock-up. - Attempting to Undo List 16/256 color images after Clr Adj/Transform Effect, cause an IPF. ú Pen, Eraser and Color Replacer strokes were not working for Stroke Mask. Effects ú Attempting to apply a Displacement Map or Canvas in the Effects would not work. ú Selecting F1 (default .acl to Help) when Effect list is displayed would cause an IPF. File I/O ú Attempting to open TIFF files with Alpha channels would not work. ú Attempting to Save a Read Only image would cause an immediate shut- down. File Management ú Attempting to suspend printing using the Task Progress Manager would cause an IPF. OLE Operations ú Attempting to select DRAW app during Resample in Paint when doing an OLE In-Place Edit would cause an IPF. Scripts ú Running a script with no file open would cause an IPF. User Interface ú Custom Color Palette would not be maintained; Palette would go back to default. Corel PRESENTS 6.0 Build 169 Significant Fixes New Features: ú Import Corel SHOW 5 files ú Paragraph options dialog now available to adjust bullet, indent and tab spacing ú New improvements under Win NT: Runtime Player is now available - Fancy coloured bullets now available in the Layout library ú Import .txt files to CHART data sheet UI/Performance ú Tooltips available within Libraries dialog for Layouts ú Speed has been increased in the Libraries and in slide sorter. ú Generate Slide in Advance option has been added to allow slides to pre- load while running presentation - benefit seen in particular with complex slides ú Default set to Autoscan data in CHART data sheet when plotting chart, with option to manually select a data range ú Enhanced file compression in Runtime Player format File I/O ú Editing a DRAW .cmx file no longer causes an error when returning to PRESENTS ú Importing files with layered objects now fixed ú Imported Actors and Props (.mlb files) have been fixed Text ú Header/Footer page numbers now appear correctly throughout presentation - Font size list box now updated when resizing artistic text on a slide ú Edit, Undo Fit Text to Path fixed ú With Artistic tool selected, changing selection to text frame on slide now correctly updates to the Paragraph tool ú Moving bullets in Outline view to different slides will not unlink from Master Slide Layout view ú Changing font attributes in Outline view now correctly unlinking from the Master Slide Layout Layouts ú Removing bullets in Master Slide view now maintains indent spacing - Templates are now linked to the Master Slide Layout ú Frame attribute information for OLE objects now accessible after saving, closing and re-opening files Transitions/Animation/Multimedia ú Transitions on 3D objects, preview of transitions on grouped objects, text effects now working correctly ú Text effects using pause at paragraph options now working correctly - Imported .avi files now display thumbnail ú Wave editor under NT has been fixed January, 1996 Summit96: A Whole New Twist for the Annual Ventura Conference SAN JOSE, CA -- The seventh annual conference for Ventura users, Summit96, is scheduled for the week of April 22-26, 1996, at the Red Lion Hotel in San Jose, CA, and this year's event will reflect the many sweeping changes that are crossing the electronic publishing landscape. As in the six previous years, the Summit will offer high-quality seminars and presentations across three full days, with specific tracks for users of different interests and levels of experience. Hosted by Rick Altman, the Summit will feature the most notable authors and publishing specialists, including Daniel Will-Harris, Carol Lovelady, Foster Coburn, Byron Canfield, and David Satz. As always, the Summit Help Center will be open all day for free drop-in technical support. Furthermore, the 1996 event will take on a greatly expanded role from previous years--similar to a mini- Seybold conference just for Corel users. With two days of optional seminars and workshops, registrants can pick and choose the topics they want to learn about, enroute to building their own personal conference. Among the highlights during that week: CORELDRAW SEMINARS Rick Altman's eight-city West Coast seminar series makes a stop at the Summit on April 22-23. The complete agenda for this highly-acclaimed two-day seminar is available at www.altman.com. Registration for these seminars is $279 alone, or just $175 if added to the main conference. CRASH COURSES For the most comprehensive overviews on today's hot publishing topics, these $99 half-day seminars are the perfect complement to the main event, or excellent appetizers all by themselves. At the Summit, you'll find courses on the following topics: - An Introduction to Ventura - In Step with Windows 95, Part I and II - Exploring the Internet - PhotoPaint WOW, Part I and II - A First Look at CorelXara The Crash Courses take place on Monday and Tuesday, April 22-23, before the main event on Wednesday. LET'S GO SURFING NOW, EVERYBODY'S LEARNING HOW It's no secret that Ventura 6 intends to be a major player in paperless publishing, with built-in support for HTML, SGML, and Adobe Acrobat. Whether you have been surfing the Web for years or have been waiting for the right time to dive in, you'll find all the answers in San Jose this April. The Summit will feature an entire track of seminars from Wednesday through Friday dedicated to Internet publishing, Web page design, HTML development, portable documentation, effective on-line communication, and much more. Registration for the three-day Ventura conference is $525 for regular registration and $495 if you sign up by March 18. This price covers all of the seminars and workshops, access to the Help Center, breakfasts and lunches on all three days, numerous social events, and eligibility to take a dip in our huge prize pool. The optional seminars on Monday and Tuesday can be added to your Summit experience or taken on their own. In any case, the Red Lion is holding rooms for Summit registrants at $109 for single occupancy and $129 for double occupancy, and you can reach the hotel at (408) 453-4000. A ONE-STOP SHOPPING SPREE Whether you publish on paper or on ether, whether you are a Ventura veteran, a Ventura neophyte, a CorelDRAW user, or just looking to break into the world of electronic design and publishing, you can't do better than Summit96, the Annual Conference for Ventura Users and Electronic Publishers. CONTACT INFORMATION You can reach host Rick Altman the following ways: PHONE: 408-252-5448 FAX: 408-252-5451 EMAIL: rick@altman.com or CIS 72341,1714 You can receive an immediate brochure on the Summit by calling the Conference fax hotline at 408-252- 5586, or by visiting www.altman.com. Special Notice!! STR Infofile File format Requirements for Articles File Format for STReport All articles submitted to STReport for publication must be sent in the following format. Please use the format requested. Any files received that do not conform will not be used. The article must be in an importable word processor format for Word 7.0.. 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The amount of reader mail expressing a preference for our Adobe PDF enhanced issue is running approximately 15 to 1 over the ASCII edition. Besides, STReport will not be caught in the old, worn out "downward compatibility dodge" we must move forward. Many grateful thanks in advance for your enthusiastic co-operation. Ralph F. Mariano, Editor STReport International Online Magazine MS Internet Studio STR Focus Microsoft INTERNET STUDIO Visual Publishing System Microsoft Internet Studio (formerly code-named "Blackbird") is the easy way to create, publish, and manage a new generation of interactive sites for the World Wide Web. Internet Studio lets you easily create multimedia Web pages that incorporate stylized hypertext documents, rich graphics, real-time sound, and animations. All of this can be done within Internet Studio's drag and drop layout environment eliminating the need for any programming or HTML coding. Internet Studio allows you to work with familiar tools, and incorporate content from any OLE-enabled application such as Microsoft Office and hundreds of other third party applications. Internet Studio is also fully extensible via OLE controls and a published SDK. Product Features: ú Internet Studio allows designers to easily create rich, multimedia pages by dragging and dropping pictures, text, sounds, and other media to layout their designs. The model is very much like Aldus Page Maker or Microsoft Publisher: Internet Studio provides a full frame-based layout environment where no programming or HTML coding is necessary. ú The Internet Studio system automatically manages content making it easy to create sites with constantly changing information. Internet Studio dynamically generates and maintains hyperlinks so there are no "dead" links. The design environment supports "one button" publishing to easily place new content on the server. ú Since Internet Studio separates design from content and uses common OLE- based design elements with a persistent cache, users get high performance for rich multimedia pages on-line. ú Internet Studio is also fully extensible. Designers can use their favorite content editing tools (such as Microsoft Office, Adobe PhotoShop, Corel Draw, and Macromedia Director). Since Internet Studio is based on open OLE controls, third-party software developers can create their own unique design elements for use within Internet Studio. When will Internet Studio be available? How do I get Internet Studio? A developer release of the Internet Studio design tool has been in beta test since July, 1995. A beta for publishing on the World Wide Web will be available in Q1, 1996. Version 1.0 of Internet Studio for publishing on the Web will be released in 1996. What Platforms does Internet Studio support? Internet Studio pages can be viewed by any Web browser on any platform. How does Internet Studio compare to HTML? Internet Studio 1.0 outputs HTML, so standard Web browsers on any platform can display Internet Studio content. In addition, Microsoft is proposing, through the Internet Engineering Task Force, additional open extensions to the HTML standards that provide users with a richer interactive experience. Both Internet Studio and Microsoft Internet Explorer will support these and other approved extensions to HTML, thereby providing users with an interactive Web experience. Microsoft will also provide a free, downloadable, viewer application that will enable the current version of existing browsers (such as the Netscape Navigator and Spyglass) on Windows 95 and Windows NT to view Internet Studio sites including the full range of new HTML capabilities. But even if a customer does not have a browser that supports all of the HTML extensions, sites developed with Internet Studio are fully "downlevel" compatible, so that these customers can still see the information. Does a user need an Internet Studio browser or viewer to view Internet Studio sites on the World Wide Web? No, Internet Studio pages can be viewed by any standard Web browser on any platform. How does Internet Studio compare to SUN's Java? Internet Studio and Java are very different. Java is a programming language while Internet Studio is an online publishing system. Java is designed for programmers while Internet Studio is designed for online publishers. As a publishing system, Internet Studio includes open scripting capabilities, but also includes a frame-based layout environment, hypertext authoring, content management, one-button publishing, and extensible third-party design components (based on OLE). While Microsoft will include VBA and C++ scripting capabilities directly with Internet Studio, other programming languages, like JAVA, can be plugged in based on the open scripting architecture. Can I create custom processing scripts in Internet Studio? Yes. Information on creating Internet Studio extensible actions is provided with the Internet Studio Technical Reference. These actions are automatically added to the Internet Studio action dialog so that non- programmers can easily integrate custom scripts into their pages. Internet Studio scripting can be done in C++ and Visual Basic for Applications, as well as other scripting languages based on Internet Studio's open scripting architecture. Will Internet Studio include Visual Basicr Scripting? Yes. Visual Basic will be incorporated as an integrated scripting language for Internet Studio 1.0. How much does Internet Studio cost? How will I buy Internet Studio? Packaging and pricing have not been announced. Does Internet Studio include content authoring tools? Internet Studio works with existing Microsoft and third-party content authoring tools. For instance, graphics, sound, and other multimedia content can be authored in third-party tools (such as Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop, Macromedia Freehand, etc.), then integrated within Internet Studio pages using the Internet Studio designer. Internet Studio supports most popular graphic formats, including BMP, TGA, TIF, PCX, WMF, GIF, DIB, and JPG. Also, any application supporting the OLE document standard can be used to author Internet Studio content (for instance, Microsoft Excel charts and tables, CorelDraw illustrations, etc.) can be embedded in Internet Studio pages and published online. Internet Studio also includes Internet Assistant for Microsoft Word for easily authoring hypermedia documents with links and graphics. Does Internet Studio support VRML? Yes. Microsoft has announced that Intervista is providing enhanced VRML capabilities for Internet Studio. Microsoft has also licensed 3D editing software from Calagari to include with Internet Studio allowing designers to create rich 3D worlds published online. Finally, programmers can create sophisticated 3D animations within Internet Studio titles using Windows 95 based technologies such as Reality Labs and OpenGL 3D APIs. Does Internet Studio support Macromedia Shockwave? Yes. Macromedia demonstrated an OLE Control for delivering and viewing Shockwave for Director movies within Internet Studio pages at their recent User's Conference. Does Internet Studio support Adobe Acrobat? Yes. Internet Studio pages will be able to take full advantage of content stored as Acrobat PDF files. Adobe has announced an Acrobat control for Internet Studio that enables Acrobat files to be used directly within Internet Studio pages. Can I create Electronic Eforms in Internet Studio? Yes. Microsoft will supply a set of Internet Studio Eform controls that allow content providers to create rich MAPI-based Eforms without any programming. Internet Studio will also support all standard HTML forms. Does Internet Studio support secure transactions? Yes. Internet Studio sites will support Secure Transaction Technology (STT) for financial transactions, and SSL and PCT for secure communications across the Internet. What about security when downloading OLE components? There will be security measures for downloading OLE components that are part of Internet Studio pages. Companies will be able to certify their OLE components and code scripts so consumers can choose to only download components supplied by clearly identified, known companies (based on digital signatures). Can I use Internet Studio to develop CD-ROM titles? Yes. While Internet Studio is optimized for developing online interactive pages, content providers can publish standalone Internet Studio applications to CD-ROM. Can I use Internet Studio to develop applications for Interactive TV? Microsoft has announced no plans for Interactive TV and Internet Studio. Microsoft is committed, however, to ensuring that content providers' investment in content creation and content authoring tools follows a logical progression from narrow-bandwidth media to higher-bandwidth media. c1995 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft Visual Basic and Windows are registered trademarks and MSN and Windows NT are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. All other products or tradenames mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners. The information contained in this document represents the current view of Microsoft Corporation on the issues discussed as of the date of publication. Because Microsoft must respond to changing market conditions, it should not be interpreted to be a commitment on the part of Microsoft, and Microsoft cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information presented after the date of publication. This document is for informational purposes only. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN THIS DOCUMENT. A T T E N T I O N-A T T E N T I O N-A T T E N T I O N FARGO PRIMERA PRO COLOR PRINTERS - 600DPI For a limited time only; If you wish to have a FREE sample printout sent to you that demonstrates FARGO Primera & Primera Pro SUPERIOR QUALITY 600dpi 24 bit Photo Realistic Color Output, please send a Self Addressed Stamped Envelope [SASE] (business sized envelope please) to: STReport's Fargo Printout Offer P.O. Box 6672 Jacksonville, Florida 32205-6155 Folks, the FARGO Primera Pro has GOT to be the best yet. Its far superior to the newest of Color Laser Printers selling for more than three times as much. Its said that ONE Picture is worth a thousand words. Send for this sample now. Guaranteed you will be amazed at the superb quality. (please, allow at least a one week turn-around) A T T E N T I O N-A T T E N T I O N-A T T E N T I O N Apple/Mac Section John Deegan, Editor EDUPAGE STR Focus Keeping the users informed Edupage Contents CompuServe's Can Of Worms New Supercomputing Competition Two Phone Companies Want ISDN Rate Increases AT&T Lured To The Web More Pentium Power Boosting Internet Bandwidth Canada's National Education Network Satellite Provides Remote Links Online Shopper Demographics Net Spreadsheets Barons Of Bytes Among Canada's Richest Court Rejects Challenge To Indecent Broadcast Laws Court Hears Lotus, Borland Case Blizzard Strains Online Resources Chip Sales Up 40% 64-Bit Chips Set To Overtake 32-Bit Cousins DSVD Modems -- Poor Man's ISDN? IRS, FBI Eye Internet With Suspicion Students In Cyberspace Bell Canada Fights Back Microsoft's "Simply Interactive" Plans Human Rights Group Wants Ban On Cyberhate Internet Hangover? CompuServe's Motives Questioned Oracle Plans To Ship First Internet PC In March Compu-Toys Cell Phone Rates On Their Way Down Smart Phone NCR Retakes Its Maiden Name Internet Provider Takes On Phone Company Canada A Hotbed For Crackers Dole Criticism Of Telecom Bill Perot Systems Links With Swiss Bank Corporation Apple Loss Higher Than Anticipated Resume Buzz Words For '96 CompuServe's CAN OF WORMS which is increasingly popular with After cutting off subscribers' computer users connecting to the access to more than 200 electronic Internet. The two companies have bulletin boards that feature adult found that average subscribers use material last week, CompuServe now the service 47 hours a month, or is trying to find a technical way more than three times what had been to block only German subscribers, anticipated when the companies set whose government originally had the current rates. Industry lodged the complaint against the analysts are questioning the wisdom commercial online provider. of raising ISDN rates at a time Industry executives are pointing when cable companies are beginning out that this would set a bad to provide low-cost high-speed precedent, possibly encouraging digital phone service and access to other governments to make their own computer networks. (New York Times demands regarding content 5 Jan 96 C2) restrictions. Every country will AT&T LURED TO THE WEB now jump in and say we don't want AT&T is abandoning the proprietary any antigovernment propaganda. system it spent $50 million on a Every country in the world will year ago in favor of moving its push its own local hot button," business-oriented online service says a University of Pennsylvania directly to the Internet. The AT&T professor. (WSJournal 5 Jan 95 B2) Business Network will open its site NEW SUPERCOMPUTING COMPETITION on the World Wide Web in mid- 1996. The National Science Foundation is "We believe that some people will planning a new competitive process want to buy just plain Internet for allocating funds to access," says the president of AT&T supercomputer centers, beginning New Media Services. "Others will in 1998, after funding for the four want something more -- they'll want currently supported supercomputing to buy that access along with centers expires. The four centers meaningful content." AT&T's -- located at Cornell University, current Interchange system offers the University of California at San information from CNN, McGraw Hill's Diego, the University of Illinois Standard & Poor's Rating Group and at Urbana-Champaign, and a Dow Jones & Co. (Wall Street collaborative effort between the Journal 5 Jan 95 B2) University of Pittsburgh and MORE PENTIUM POWER Carnegie Mellon University -- share Intel has two new super-speedy about $65 million a year in Pentiums for use in home and small government funds. The new program office desktop computers -- running will encourage consortial at 150- megahertz and 166- arrangements among companies, state megahertz, respectively. Officials governments, universities and other at IBM, Dell Computer and Hewlett- federal agencies. "It's an attempt Packard all said their companies to draw more of the resources of would be building computers using the country into the program," the new chips, and Advanced Logic says NSF's assistant director. The Research says it has a 150- program solicitation can be found megahertz machine for sale now at: starting at $2,195 and a 166 model for $2,495. (Investor's Business (Chronicle of Higher BOOSTING INTERNET BANDWIDTH Education 5 Jan 95 A23) Internet service provider iStar TWO PHONE COMPANIES WANT ISDN RATE beefed up the capacity of its INCREASES network with new links between Pacific Bell and U S West are Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa and the seeking to more than double the American portion of the Internet rates they charge for ISDN service, and increased its Internet bandwidth 28 times. (Toronto RICHEST Financial Post 5 Jan 96 p39) Pioneers on the information highway CANADA'S NATIONAL EDUCATION NETWORK have been ranked as among the A $500,000 pilot project will richest people in Canada. Ted evaluate a proposed National Rogers of cable giant Rogers Education Network that will bring Communications came in fifth with a together Canada's commercial personal fortune of $1.4-billion. training schools, universities, (Ottawa Sun 5 Jan 96 p4) colleges, non-profit schools and COURT REJECTS CHALLENGE TO INDECENT school boards. (Ottawa Citizen 5 BROADCAST LAWS Jan 96 A1) The Supreme Court has rejected, SATELLITE PROVIDES REMOTE LINKS without comment, a constitutional Ottawa-based TMI Communications saw challenge to a 1992 federal law its $500-million MSAT satellite that bans indecent radio and TV investment start to pay off: the programming during daytime and world's most powerful satellite "primetime" evening hours. The will provide voice and data Federal Communications Commission transmission service throughout defines indecency as "language that Canada, the US, Mexico, the depicts or describes, in terms Caribbean and Latin America to patently offensive as measured by millions of people in remote areas, contemporary community standards including Canadians who live in the for the broadcast medium, sexual or 85% of the country outside the excretory activities or organs." reach of cellular phone systems. The appellate court judgment, now This mobility comes at a price, upheld by the Supreme Court, ruled however, since handsets with that the law served the antenna cost between $5,000 and government's interest in $6,000 and calls are $2.50 per "supporting parental supervision minute (Ottawa Citizen 4 Jan 96 C5) of what children see and hear on ONLINE SHOPPER DEMOGRAPHICS the public airwaves." One of the "It's mostly young, male nerds... unsuccessful appeals argued that techno-weenies. The buying the law would restrict American TV population on the Net is and radio audiences "to watching essentially social misfits. People and hearing only programming fit who are comfortable in public will for children." (New York Times 9 go to a store," says Seymour Jan 96 A5) Merrin, head of a technical COURT HEARS LOTUS, BORLAND CASE research firm, who estimates that The Supreme Court heard arguments online shopping ultimately could by Lotus's lawyer that Borland represent 6% to 8% of all mail- International Inc. violated Lotus order sales. (Investor's Business Development Corp.'s copyright on Daily 8 Jan 96 A10) its Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheet NET SPREADSHEETS commands by using all 469 of them Formula One/Net, in Borland's former Quattro at:, software. "The expression is in offers Web surfers using Netscape a deciding what words to use," he way of viewing and manipulating told the court. Borland's lawyer spreadsheets embedded on Web pages. disputed the claims, however, For example, a site might allow saying that the software allowed investors to make online "what if" users to choose between Borland- comparisons of different investment designed commands or Lotus strategies based on financial data commands, because so many already which it provides to those visiting were familiar with the Lotus the site. (Computerworld 26 Dec software. "Whatever word Lotus 95/2 Jan 96 p68) used to operate its system, that BARONS OF BYTES AMONG CANADA'S word is not copyrightable," he said. Lotus is seeking more than $100 million in damages for copyright violation. (Investor's experts emphasize the need to Business Daily 9 Jan 96 A28) expand the horizon beyond 64: BLIZZARD STRAINS ONLINE RESOURCES "Today's move toward 64-bit file There's no such thing as a snow day systems and 64-bit processing are anymore for many knowledge workers, just stages in the evolution of and the stress placed on telephone information technology. It is and online services yesterday important to recognize this and not proved it. UUNet's president develop solutions for 64-bit that estimated that high-speed business are not sufficient for 128-bit and use of the Internet was down by as beyond." (Information Week 1 Jan much as 15% yesterday, while dial- 96 p39) up home users' rose 60%. America DSVD MODEMS -- POOR MAN'S ISDN? Online reported a 60% increase from Digital Simultaneous Voice and Data normal levels, and AT&T said long- modems can deliver some of the bang distance calls were up 35% of ISDN modems without having to yesterday morning, with a 15% shell out the bucks. The modems increase in conference calls allow simultaneous transmission of during the day. Nynex said the voice and data to the same person number of residential calls was up equipped with the same kind of 60% and Bell Atlantic reported DSVD modem. Although the their residential call load had stipulations are restrictive, it nearly doubled. (Wall Street could conceivably allow you to Journal 9 Jan 95 B1) receive technical support from a CHIP SALES UP 40% help desk while staying in voice Revenue from sales of contact with them, or allow you to semiconductors rose 40% last year, work on documents simultaneously to $154.7 billion, according to with a long-distance co-worker preliminary results compiled for a without the added expense of a new study by Dataquest. North second phone line. International American chip makers' lead over Data Corp. predicts as many as 35% Japanese competitors narrowed to of the 19 million modems sold in 0.3%, down from 1.2% last year -- 1996 will be DSVD devices, selling with North American suppliers for around $300. "DSVD will be the claiming 39.8% of the market to next major modem advance throughout Japan's 39.5%. Dataquest predicts the world," says a manager for healthy sales in the future, fueled MultiTech Systems Inc., which by global demand for PCs and manufactures the modems. corporate networks, and estimates (Investor's Business Daily 8 Jan 96 chip sales will top $300 billion A10) by the year 2000. (Wall Street IRS, FBI EYE INTERNET WITH Journal 9 Jan 95 B2) SUSPICION 64-BIT CHIPS SET TO OVERTAKE 32-BIT The Clinton administration's COUSINS reluctance to ease up on export If you think you're on top of controls for encryption software things because you just switched stems in part from pressure from over to a 32-bit system, think U.S. law enforcement agencies, and again -- 64-bit chips are expected the owner of a New York-based to be the norm by the year 2000. software company sees heavy Driving the change is the need for lobbying behind the government's speed to run graphics-intensive desire to regulate content on the computing applications and heavy- Internet: "I think the Internal duty databases. So far, Digital Revenue Service and the FBI are Equipment Corp. is one of the few watching this one very carefully. 64-bit chip suppliers with its own They wouldn't mind seeing the 64-bit operating system -- a must government set a precedent for for taking full advantage of the 64- deciding what can and cannot go on bit architecture. But industry the Internet." The IRS fears that easy access to cheap and sophisticated encryption software will make income and sales tax Engineering conference in April. evasion too easy, and the FBI (New York Times 8 Jan 1996 C2) worries about criminal and HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP WANTS BAN ON terrorist plots hatched in CYBERHATE cyberspace, but some observers say The Simon Wiesenthal Center is government control tactics are too asking university presidents, little, too late. A Hudson Internet access providers, Institute economist says, commercial online services such as "Electronic money gets really AOL, CompuServe, Prodigy and MSN to interesting when you realize how make a voluntary pledge to refuse impossible it is to put national service to any individual or group walls around it, mandate the use of that wants to use the Net to national currencies, or require promote racism, anti-Semitism, that transactions go through mayhem and violence. A spokesman banks... The country will have no for the Center, a well- known practical choice but to rely more Jewish human rights group, says than ever on voluntary tax that the Internet gives people compliance. That means tax rates "incredible power to promote will have to be kept as low as violence, threaten women, possible on people and on denigrate minorities, promote businesses." (Investor's Business homophobia, and conspire against Daily 9 Jan 96 B1) democracy." Some civil liberties STUDENTS IN CYBERSPACE organizations are characterizing Officials in Ontario's Ministry of the Wiesenthal Center's proposal as Education are developing plans to censorship and the director of the introduce credit courses that would Institute for Historical Review, be available through a computer which challenges the existence of network for high school students. the Holocaust, calls the proposal Students in rural centers and "outrageous and hypocritical." adults trying to complete high (New York Times 10 Jan 96 A1) school through correspondence INTERNET HANGOVER? programs could see courses online A senior VP at International Data by this fall. (Toronto Globe & Corp. predicts widespread consumer Mail 9 Jan 96 A3) disillusion with the Internet: "We BELL CANADA FIGHTS BACK also believe the Internet and Bell Canada criticized independent World Wide Web phenomenon will go Internet service providers for from an intoxication stage to a making "entirely untrue" statements hangover stage during the next two alleging that the phone company's years. About 20% of the large marketing teams are sending firms will jump off the Web because potential customers to BellSygma, the consumer demographics are not which operates the company's developing quickly enough. But Sympatico Internet service.(Toronto just as those 30 to 35 companies Star 9 Jan B3) jump off, another 175 will hop on. MICROSOFT'S "SIMPLY INTERACTIVE" The growth in online subscribers PLANS will continue to be very strong, With a new development program but there will be underlying high called "The Simply Interactive PC turnover rates as users who are for 1997," Microsoft hopes to work underwhelmed by content on the Web closely with hardware cancel and turn on their TVs." manufacturers to make the PC a (Investor's Business Daily 10 Jan consumer-friendly "appliance" that 96 A6) will "turn the PC into the best CompuServe's MOTIVES QUESTIONED platform for entertainment, CompuServe's recent action to shut Internet access and down subscriber access to 200 communications." The plan will be newsgroups carrying sexual content presented at the Windows Hardware was motivated more by U.S. politics than German objections, growing at about 28% a year, and apparently. Reports that the sales of educational and reference action was in response to Bavarian software grew by 142% last year, government complaints are false -- according to IDC/Link Inc. Not to the incident was sparked by an be left out, Packard Bell expects inquiry from a district attorney in to launch its family-oriented add- Munich regarding the alt.sex ons, dubbed Packard Bell groups. Leaders of all four parties Interactive, and rumor has it IBM in the Bundestag have spoken out and Microsoft also are developing against any legislation to regulate child-sized hardware and software the Internet and agree that this year. (Business Week 15 Jan existing criminal law in Germany is 96 p38) sufficient to handle any potential CELL PHONE RATES ON THEIR WAY DOWN legal misconduct. It's rumored Cellular phone rates, which have that, rather than reacting to remained high for years in the face German authorities, CompuServe's of enormous consumer growth, may restrictions were enacted in finally be responding to response to legislation pending in competitive pressures and beginning Congress against "indecent" digital to drop. Subscriber growth rates content in an effort to bolster are slowing down, and wireless wars CompuServe's reputation as a have ignited in New York, Chicago morally responsible online service and Washington, DC. Figures for provider. (STERN Infomat 03/96) the largest 15 carriers in the U.S. ORACLE PLANS TO SHIP FIRST INTERNET show a 12% growth rate in 1995, PC IN MARCH down from 63% the previous year. Oracle Corp. is putting the And the advent of personal finishing touches on its first communications services may push Internet PC, which it says will prices down even further, possibly ship in March, and is working with another 10% to 40% according to an Acorn Computer Group on a second analyst at EDS Management version. The new device will meet Consulting Services. (Wall Street the $500 price goal, but will come Journal 11 Jan 96 B1) without a monitor. Instead, SMART PHONE consumers will use cables to hook Colonial Data Technologies' it up to their television sets or Telesmart 4000 phone incorporates PCs. The manufacturing cost, the ability to send e-mail over the according to Oracle's VP of network Internet, pay bills and bank computing, is under $200 -- $100 electronically, type and send text for four megabytes of RAM, $30 for messages directly to pagers, shop an ARM 7500 microprocessor, and from electronic catalogs, and the rest for the keyboard, mouse manage calls via a full range of and network connections. (Wall Caller ID services. The device Street Journal 11 Jan 96 B2) includes a graphic display screen, COMPU-TOYS magnetic card reader, alphanumeric One of the widely awaited products keypad, v.22 modem and processor, debuting at the recent consumer and is priced at $289.99. electronics show was the new line (Newspage Business Wire 8 Jan 96) of brightly colored and over-sized NCR RETAKES ITS MAIDEN NAME computer attachments built for kids NCR, which became AT&T Global by Compaq Computer in league with Information Systems when AT&T Fisher-Price Inc. The first fruits acquired it in a hostile takeover of the partnership are a $150 in 1991, will become known again Wonder Tools Cruiser -- a driving as NCR, now that the current AT&T toy that steers a toddler through a reorganization is spinning it off computer game -- and a $130 as a separate company. The keyboard scaled to fit a small company, whose initials originally child's hands. The team may hit it stood for National Cash Register, big this year -- shipments of electronic learning toys are will return to focusing on the Systor, which is SBC's information manufacture of computer systems technology subsidiary. (Financial for retailers, banks, and large Times 10 Jan 96 p14) companies. (New York Times 11 Jan APPLE LOSS HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED 96 C5) Although Apple had already INTERNET PROVIDER TAKES ON PHONE projected losses for its fiscal COMPANY first quarter, which ended December Canada's largest Internet service 29th, the actual figure for the provider iStar is challenging the loss turns out to be about twice phone companies head-on by offering what analysts had expected ($68 private networks to businesses million), putting more pressure on communicating on the Internet. Apple CEO Michael Spindler. (New Secure*net, known in the industry York Times 11 Jan 96 C1) as a virtual private network allows companies to transmit data to RESUME BUZZ WORDS FOR '96 remote offices over lines dedicated Employers of information systems to one client for a fraction of the experts in 1996 will be looking for cost many companies pay for leasing people who know the Internet, transmission lines from phone client-server computing or companies. (Ottawa Citizen 11 Jan networking, according to hiring 96 C6) executives. "IS organizations are CANADA: HOTBED FOR CRACKERS looking for people experienced in Security consultants say computer working with the Internet, hackers have breached a leading particularly regarding security American satellite TV direct-to- issues and building firewalls," home company's security system to says the CEO of a Santa Monica, steal programming for decoding Calif. consulting firm. In the signals. (Toronto Financial Post client-server area, expertise in 11 Jan 96 p3) C++, Visual Basic and Forte DOLE CRITICISM OF TELECOM BILL programming is in demand, as well Senator Majority Leader Bob Dole as front-end graphical user says there need to be changes in interfaces, relational databases the telecommunications bill and help-desk support. Programmers recently negotiated by a House- who otherwise would be in the Senate conference committee, $50,000 to $60,000 salary category because the proposed legislation might see an extra $10,000 to would contain a provision he says $20,000 tacked on for these would provide "corporate welfare" skills, say some recruiting to TV broadcasters by allowing them experts. (Information Week 1 Jan to use, without charge, a portion 96 p64) of radio spectrum for digital services such as high-definition TV and interactive TV. The Federal Communication Commission has indicated that the spectrum at issue could be worth $40 billion on the open market. (New York Times 11 Jan 96 C4) PEROT SYSTEMS LINKS WITH SWISS BANK CORPORATION Perot Systems and Swiss Bank Corporation will jointly develop and market financial industry related information technology products and services, and Perot Systems will buy a 40% stake in Edupage is written by John Gehl (gehl@educom.edu) & Suzanne Douglas (douglas@educom.edu). Voice: 404-371-1853, Fax: 404-371-8057. Technical support is provided by the Office of Information Technology, University of North Carolina. EDUPAGE is what you've just finished reading. To subscribe to Edupage: send a message to: listproc@educom.unc.edu and in the body of the message type: subscribe edupage Marvin Minsky (assuming that your name is Marvin Minsky; if it's not, substitute your own name). ... To cancel, send a message to: listproc@educom.unc.edu and in the body of the message type: unsubscribe edupage... Subscription problems: educom@educom.unc.edu. 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