Silicon Times Report The Original Independent OnLine Magazine" (Since 1987) September 13, 1996 No.1237 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 Voice: 1-904-292-9222 10am-5pm 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! Client/Server BBS Version 5 95/NT Featuring a Full Service Web Site http://www.streport.com Voted TOP TEN Ultimate WebSite Join STReport's Subscriber List receive STR through Internet MULTI-NODE Operation 24hrs-7 days Analog & ISDN BRI Access 904-268-4116 2400-128000 bps V. 120-32-34 v.42 bis ISDN V.34 USRobotics Courier Internal I-MODEM FAX: 904-268-2237 24hrs BCS - Toad Hall BBS 1-617-567-8642 09/13/96 STR 1237 The Original Independent OnLine Magazine! - CPU Industry Report - Epson Color Printer - Dvorak NEWS - AOL Slapped Down - NEW MS Publisher - PANIX Paralyzed - Corel PDA Soon - WEB Suit Dismissed - DELL CUTS $$$ - CA MD Busted! - People Talking - Jagwire Apple Unveils WebScanner Maxtor Lays Off Up to 200 IRS SCRAPS CYBERFILE 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 International BBS, invites all BBS systems, worldwide, to participate in the provision and distribution of STReport for their members. You may call The STReport Home BBS, The Bounty @ 1- 904-268-4116. Or obtain the latest issue from our WebSite. Enjoy the wonder and excitement of exchanging all types of useful information relative to all computer types, worldwide, through the use of the Internet. 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 ~ AOL IMPORTANT NOTICE STReport, with its policy of not accepting any input relative to content from paid advertisers, 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. With the user in mind, STReport further pledges to maintain the reader confidence that has been developed over the years and to continue "living up to such". All we ask is that our readers make certain the manufacturers, publishers etc., know exactly where the information about their products appeared. In closing, we shall arduously endeavor to meet and further develop the high standards of straight forwardness our readers have come to expect in each and every issue. The Publisher, Staff & Editors Florida Lotto - LottoMan v1.35 Results: 9/07/96: 4 of 6 numbers, three 2 number matches From the Editor's Desk... Well now, its Friday the thirteenth! How well I know. This afternoon at approximately 3pm my System Registry gains almost a megabyte in size... I am now beginning to finish up the issue... its 8pm. It took roughly five hours to save my butt. If I could only have my hands around the throat of whomever devised this registry thing. As fate would have it, my regular tape B/U program is giving me a fit... so there is/was no emergency restore. It had to be done the old fashioned way.... format - install W95 - install TBU software - restore files... But there is a catch wit this software... it balks at doing over writes of files in use... so naturally it isn't worth a squirt in restoring registry files. Like I said ... I don't know what I'd give to be able to put my hands around the throat of the urchin who devised this registry thing. Another Hurricane has breezed right on by us. I kid you not. This lovely town of ours is charmed. I must admit I'm tired and will make this short. A host of new software is due in the next sixty days from almost every direction. Its creeping up on Fall Comdex. Some of the new software has already arrived and its mahvelous! We'll be writing about the new goodies in the next few weeks. So stay tuned. 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. STReport's managing editors DEDICATED TO SERVING YOU! Ralph F. Mariano, Publisher - Editor Dana P. Jacobson, Editor, Current Affairs Section Editors PC Section Mac Section Atari Section R.F. Mariano J. Deegan D. P. Jacobson Portables & Gaming Kid's Computing Corner Marty Mankins Frank Sereno STReport Staff Editors Michael Arthur John Deegan Brad Martin John Szczepanik Paul Guillot Joseph Mirando Doyle Helms John Duckworth Jeff Coe Steve Keipe Victor Mariano Melanie Bell Jay Levy Jeff Kovach Marty Mankins Carl Prehn Paul Charchian Vincent P. O'Hara Contributing Correspondents Dominick J. Fontana Norman Boucher Daniel Stidham David H. Mann Angelo Marasco Donna Lines Ed Westhusing Glenwood Drake Vernon W.Smith Bruno Puglia Paul Haris Kevin Miller Craig Harris Allen Chang Tim Holt Ron Satchwill 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 AOL STReport Internet rmariano@streport.com Internet CZGJ44A@prodigy.com Internet RMARIANO@delphi.com Internet 70007.4454.compuserve.com Internet STReport@AOL.Com WebSite http://www.streport.com STReport Headline News LATE BREAKING INDUSTRY-WIDE NEWS Weekly Happenings in the Computer World Compiled by: Dana P. Jacobson AOL Weighs Junk E-Mail Options America Online is reportedly considering its alternatives after a federal court judge ordered it to stop blocking junk e-mail from a Philadelphia company. "We have a number of options," America Online attorney Michael Grow told the Reuter News Service. "We're weighing them right now." Grow added that the company hoped to have a decision later Friday. On Thursday, U.S. District Court Judge Charles Weiner ordered America Online not to block e-mail from Cyber Promotions Inc., pending a November trial on a lawsuit Cyber Promotions filed against the online service. Junk e-mail is a rising concern among online services and their subscribers, many of whom find themselves inundated by unsolicited messages. Phone Scam Involves 809 Number Phone industry officials are warning consumers across the country not to return calls to the 809 area code unless they know the caller. In a statement from Everett, Washington, GTE officials says scam artists are trying to get around U.S. regulations governing pay-per-call service in the 900 area code by operating overseas and using an 809 number as a pass-through to 900 number service. Says the statement, "Customers report that they are receiving 'urgent' or 'important' messages on their answering machines telling them to call a number beginning with the 809 prefix. When they dial the number, they reach a long recorded message. When their phone bill arrives there is a huge charge relating to the call." GTE public affairs manager Marilyn Hoggarth commented, "Not all numbers in the 800 prefix series are toll free." Judge Rules on Web Jurisdiction Putting up a site on the Internet's World Wide Web doesn't in itself subject someone to being sued anywhere in the country, a federal judge in New York has ruled. U.S. District Judge Sidney Stein has dismissed a trademark-infringement suit filed by the operator of New York's famed Blue Note jazz club against a Columbia, Missouri, music club of the same name. "The issue in the pretrial ruling," wrtes reporter Paul M. Barrett in The Wall Street Journal this morning, "was whether the Missouri club's World Wide Web site -- an address on the international computer network known as the Internet -- provided a basis for the New York club to sue in federal court in New York. Judge Stein said it didn't." Observing that the owner of the Missouri club used his Web site to promote his establishment locally, the judge ruled, "Creating a site, like placing a product into the stream of commerce, may be felt nationwide -- or even worldwide -- but, without more, it is not an act purposefully directed toward" New York. Reacting, Robert Bourque, a New York lawyer for the Missouri Blue Note club, told the paper, "What Judge Stein's ruling means is that the operator of a regional business can't be hauled into court in a remote place just because somebody thinks they've been hurt by a Web site." But attorney Dorothy Weber, representing the New York Blue Note, says her client now will take its suit to a federal court in Missouri, asserting that jurisdiction should have been found in New York because the Missouri club's Web site specifically allowed Internet users to jump by hyperlink to the New York club's Web site. "In any event," writes Barrett, "the New York club intends to argue in its refiled suit that its registered trademark to the Blue Note name is being damaged and 'diluted' by the Missouri club's Internet activity." Weber contends customers are being confused and that in one instance, someone who wanted to buy 20 tickets in New York had sent a check to Columbia, Missouri. Meanwhile, the Journal notes Stein's decision is far from the last word on jurisdiction. For instance, the federal appeals court based in Cincinnati recently came to a different conclusion in a similar case involving CompuServe. There, the appeals court ruled CompuServe could file suit in its home state of Ohio seeking a ruling that it hadn't infringed the copyrights of an Internet user from Texas who was creating software for CompuServe subcsribers. Barrett reports, "The appeals court emphasized that the Texas defendant had targeted his activities at Ohio -- a fact that distinguished the CompuServe case from the Blue Note dispute in Judge Stein's eyes." Study: Cyberspace at Crossroad Cyberspace is at a crossroad, according to a new study issued by Yankelovich Partners Inc. The Norwalk, Connecticut, market research firm's study reveals that while online growth continues at a "breathtaking rate," it is declining compared to last year. Between May 1994, and May 1995, "cybercitizenry" doubled, says the study. During the same period, the annual average growth rate eased to 50 percent. However, the study predicts the growth rate will decline to 20 percent by year-end unless there is either a widespread movement among businesses to give employees online access or the costs of access tools such as computers and modems dramatically fall. Another red light identified by the study is the declining average number of hours spent online in a month. Between May 1995 and May 1996 average online time fell by 25 percent, from just over 16 hours to 12 hours. "Slower growth and declining usage suggest marketers need to look beyond the faddish curiosity that has so far characterized online's evolution. Marketers now need to identify compelling new reasons for people to log on and new ways of sustaining existing cybercitizen interests," says J. Walker Smith, managing partner of Yankelovich Partners. "Consumers and marketers embraced cyberspace in 1995 without necessarily questioning why. The time has come for marketers to demonstrate a return can be made from online investments. Unless this happens, marketing dollars will be kept where they can be seen and measured for effectiveness." Lexmark, Polaroid Form Alliance Lexmark International Inc. and Polaroid Corp. have announced an alliance to pursue the joint marketing and development of high-definition color image printers and consumables worldwide. The companies say the alliance establishes a framework for the sales of matched combinations of products through existing channels, joint development of new hard-copy imaging systems for the home and office and enhancements to the compatibility of the companies' products. "There is a rapidly growing demand for the combination of digital imaging and high-quality color ink-jet printing," says Marvin . Mann, chairman and CEO of Lexmark. "The technologies developed by Lexmark and Polaroid mesh well and this agreement is just our first step in bringing affordable, high-quality color photo reproduction to the office and home markets." Adds Gary DiCamillo, chairman and chief executive officer of Polaroid, "The alliance with Lexmark is an important milestone in Polaroid's strategy for digital imaging. In recent years Polaroid has introduced a number of high-performance, value-added products for digital imaging, including a digital camera, film and print scanners, color film printers and LCD panels and projectors. With this alliance, we expect to continue to expand that product lineup, so Polaroid can more fully address the imaging needs of the digital generation. Packard Bell Resolves Suit Remaining legal issues with the attorneys general of 22 states have been resolved by Packard Bell Electronics Inc. related to its sale of PCs that have recycled components from returned computers. Reporting from the company's Sacramento, California, headquarters, the Dow Jones news service quotes Packard Bell as saying it is company policy to disassemble all returned systems, including those returned by retailers in boxes which have never been opened, and re-test components at the factory to newly manufactured standards before allowing any component to be recycled into systems sold as new. The wire service notes that in the first settlement, Packard Bell agreed to label the outside carton of computers with components from a previously sold computer as such. "Packard Bell will pay $70,000 to each of the 22 states for their respective costs and attorneys' fees," DJ says. "No fines or penalties are involved and no litigation has been or will be filed against Packard Bell." In the other matter, which involves recycled parts in personal computers sold through military post exchanges and to government agencies, the suit was dismissed and Packard Bell was released from all claims and allegations. "While denying any wrongdoig," says Dow Jones, "Packard Bell agreed to pay $3.5 million as part of the settlement. No fines or penalties are being paid by Packard Bell." 'Intel Inside' Logo to Change The ubiquitous "Intel Inside" logo marking new personal computers made with Intel Corp. is being given a new look. Starting in January, it will sport a flash of color. The Reuter News Service reports, "That flash - a corner of orange, pink, yellow and green on the edge of the logo's traditional grey plane with the blue circle -- will mean the PC holds an Intel microprocessor with multimedia-enhancing MMX technology. Intel's plans to build MMX technology into microprocessors for shipping in January and thereafter." Intel says Pentium processors with MMX features render graphics and audio and video 20 percent to 50 percent faster and clearer than Pentium processors without MMX. "Indeed," adds Reuters, "a movie he showed from the monitor of an MMX holding-PC looked almost as good as television quality." Intel CEO Andrew Grove told the wire service, "This is the first change in the basic Intel processor architecture since the 286. It is the next step in the evolution of the PC." He said it coincides with changes in typical uses for the PC to today's popular uses for multimedia applications and Internet connection. National Semi Loses $207.6 Mil. A loss of $207.6 million -- or $1.51 a share -- for its first quarter ended Aug. 25 has been reported by chipmaker National Semiconductor Corp. Reporting from the firm's Santa Clara, California, headquarters, United Press International says the loss includes pre-tax charges of $285.6 million for spinning off its Fairchild lines and the acquisition of PicoPower, compared with earnings of $73.5 million in the year-ago quarter. Sales were down to $566.1 million from $698.8 million. UPI notes that National Semi has been trying to concentrate its efforts on its more profitable products, following the departure of top executive Gilbert Amelio in February to head Apple Computer. The company filled the chief executive officer slot in May with industry veteran Brian Hallam of LSI Logic. Hallam told the wire service, "The Fairchild spinout was a logical step in focusing the company and ensuring its long-term health. In addition we took some major cost-cutting actions throughout the corporation and we believe we are now better positioned going forward. Bookings showed improvement throughout the quarter, but we will maintain guarded optimism for a while longer before declaring a trend." Maxtor Lays Off Up to 200 Some 150 to 200 employees are being cut by computer-components producer Maxtor Corp. later this month. The Milpitas, California, company currently has a worldwide work force of 4,800 employees. Maxtor officials told the Reuter News Service the majority of jobs will be cut at its Longmont, Colorado, facility. The company makes information storage products for desktop and mobile computer systems. IBM Not Interested in Olivetti IBM says it isn't currently interested in taking over the loss-making personal computer business of struggling Italian information technology group Olivetti. In Cernobbio, Italy, Lucio Stanca, chairman of IBM Europe, told the Reuter News Service, "In business affairs one can never say never. If the right opportunity presents itself we might think about it but for now there is no contact." Olivetti's PC business lost 200 billion lire in 1995 and some 10 billion lire in the first half of 1996, but Olivetti chief executive Francesco Caio has said that Olivetti would continue to streamline its PCs business and has not said directly that the company was looking to sell it. Microsoft Publisher Updated Microsoft Corp. has updated its Microsoft Publisher low- end desktop publishing program to include several new features, including the capability to design personal Web pages. Microsoft Publisher 97 also helps users create newsletters, greeting cards, letterheads and a wide range of other printed documents. On-screen wizards guide users through the process of developing both print and online documents. The software's 5,000-image Clip Gallery now supports OLE objects, including video clips and sounds, in addition to clip art and digital stock photos. Users can also download additional content from a Web site. "Our design goals for Publisher 97 were to continue to make powerful functionality easy to use and discoverable," says Alex Loeb, a product unit manager at Microsoft. "Users will find it even easier to create professional-looking print publications and to extend the automated design capabilities to the World Wide Web." Microsoft Publisher 97 is set to arrive in stores in October for $79.95. Toshiba Desktop PCs Make Debut Toshiba America, a long-time force in the notebook computer field, has unveiled its first desktop PC line. The company's home-oriented Infinia series comes in sleekly styled mini-tower cnfigurations with silver accents. Buyers can choose from a 133MHz, 166MHz or 200MHz Pentium processor, hard drives ranging up to 3GB and 16MB or 32MB of EDO memory (expandable to 128MB). An on-screen interface offers one-touch access for checking telephone messages, making a phone call, playing a favorite CD or tuning into the system's TV or FM radio. The Infinia PCs sell for between $1,699 and $2,799 and are now available at CompUSA and Best Buy stores. "The computer has evolved from being strictly a business productivity tool to its role today as a personal productivity appliance," says Tom Scott, general manager for Toshiba's computer systems division. "With solutions such as Infinia, consumers can use their home PCs to leverage the power of knowledge to manage their business and home affairs, communicate, educate and entertain." Corel Plans to Enter PDA Market Corel Corp. says it plans to enter the personal digital assistant market with a sub-$500 unit that it hopes to ship by mid-1997. Besides standard scheduling, contact management and voice annotation capabilities, Corel's PDA will allows users to browse the World Wide Web, prepare notes using either a keyboard or handwriting recognition, and send and retrieve e- mail. Users will also be able to synchronize their databases with the office or home base while online or connected to a keyboard docking station. All applications, including the Web browser, will be written in Sun Microsystems' Java programming language and will allow users to run Java applets downloaded from the Internet. The open-standard operating system, which will allow third-party developers to write their own programs for the system, will be embedded as a kernel into the PDA with the Java Virtual Machine running on top of that kernel. "We are cutting new ground with this product in that it will be a complete software solution," says Michael Cowpland, Corel's president and CEO. "With an open-standard operating system, access to the Internet and the ability to fax and e-mail messages or synchronize data through a regular telephone line, our PDA will indeed be unique in the market place." Apple Unveils WebScanner Apple Computer Inc. says its new Apple Color OneScanner 1200/30 is the first flatbed scanner for the Macintosh market to offer optical character recognition (OCR) to HyperText Markup Language (HTML) conversion. The computer maker notes that the capability is the result of an exclusive software bundling agreement with Xerox for its TextBridge 3.0h software. With the scanner, users scan a document, apply OCR and drag-and-drop HTML to their Web authoring application within Apple's new OneScanner Dispatcher software. The $850 Apple Color OneScanner 1200/30 offers a 600 by 1,200 dpi optical resolution and a 4,800 by 4,800 dpi interpolated resolution. The unit provides 30-bit depth color, which recognizes over 1 billion hues. "The Color OneScanner 1200/30 offers integrated Web authoring capabilities and supports positive and negative film scanning with negative-to-positive automated conversion (with optional Transparent Media Adaptor)," says Kathi Fox, director of product marketing for Apple's imaging peripherals systems unit. IBM Developing Cyberphone A portable telephone with a built-in personal computer capable of showing images and text from the Internet is being developed by IBM. Visiting a computer trade fair in Tokyo, IBM Vice President Robert Stephenson told United Press International the phone can retrieve home pages and e-mail from the Internet and optically project their images onto a mirror built into the lower part of the phone. UPI says the images will appear larger than actual size due to the mirror's expanding effect, adding the cyberphone also has a built-in device similar to a mouse that can be easily manipulated by the user's thumb. The wire service notes IBM already has developed a tiny hard disk, capable of storing 100 megabytes of information, which will be built into the phone. Matsushita Licenses Zip Technology Iomega Corp. has licensed Japan's Matsushita Communication Industrial Co. Ltd. to manufacture and sell Zip drives. Under the agreement, Matsushita is granteda nonexclusive worldwide license to produce Zip drives and sell them under Matsushita's brand names as well as to original equipment manufacturers. Roy, Utah-based Iomega says Matsushita plans to begin production later this year. Iomega's Zip drive stores up to 100MB of data on a removable floppy-like disk. "This licensing agreement is significant to our overall strategy of establishing Zip as a worldwide standard," says Tony Radman, Iomega's senior vice president of strategic business development. Time Warner Cable Project Debuts In Akron, Ohio, the new Road Runner online service from Time Warner Inc. makes its debut this week, using an existing cable television system to provide high-speed computer links to the Internet. The Associated Press calls this the largest service to-date to use a coaxial/fiber-optic cable TV system already in place to provide connections more than 100 times faster than telephone lines. President Tim Evard of the Time Warner division overseeing the Road Runner rollout told the wire service, "This is not a test," adding that more than 2,000 cable TV subscribers are on a waiting list for the Road Runner computer connection in the Akron-Canton area. Time Warner expects to expand the service into Portland, Maine, this year, and then in San Diego in early 1997. For subscribers, the cost is $39.95 per month for unlimited Internet access, plus network storage space for a personal World Wide Web page and a collection of Time Warner information services. Analyst Robert Wells, senior analyst for Lennox Research in Boulder, Colorado, comments, "The whole world is watching northern Ohio now. Time Warner is really carrying the ball for the industry." Evard declined to discuss how many subscribers the company needed to turn a profit, but said the business would work well with less than 10 percent penetration, or 30,000 customers. IBM to Offer Office Net Computer IBM is set to offer its first "network" computer, a low-cost device aimed at replacing personal computers, targeting not the home market but corporate settings. Writing in The Wall Street Journal this morning, reporter Bart Ziegler says this means IBM "will be among the first computer companies to make good on a promise that has been setting the industry buzzing for months -- a cheap device that would link people to the Internet as well as provide typical applications such as word processing and spreadsheets." On Big Blue's plan to go for the business market, rather than the consumer sector that other network computer akers are eying, Ziegler says IBM's model in many uses "will replace decades-old 'dumb' terminals that allow corporate employees to tap into mainframes and minicomputers." Due out later this year, the new machine is expected to be priced below $700 without a monitor and will allow users to browse the Internet's World Wide Web as well as connect to whatever applications a company uses. The black-colored device, at 8-by-10-by-2 inches, resembles a laptop computer sitting upright, the Journal says. "The devices also are expected to be cheaper than PCs for a company to maintain," writes Ziegler, "as they contain fewer parts and software can be updated centrally instead of manually on each desktop. IBM, in fact, will claim their cost of ownership is less than half that of PCs over a five-year period, executives said. But some users may balk at not being able to load their own programs." The Journal says the machine contains one of IBM's PowerPC chips, but that most of the processing will take place at a distant server linked to it through a high-speed corporate network. Says Ziegler, "IBM plans a series of network PCs to further its "network-centric" computing strategy, which is designed to play to its strength in big central computers while circumventing the need for Intel Corp. microprocessors and Microsoft software on the users' desktops." PC Spare Parts Net Launched PC Service Source Inc. has launched PC Service Net, a real-time Internet-based ordering and information retrieval system for PC spare parts. PC Service Source says the system is designed to give service providers control over the entire parts acquisition transaction, including real-time access to pricing and availability, access to account and order status, reporting features and, in October, warranty claims processing. PC Service Net has a sophisticated keyword look-up capability, offering added convenience for users that do not know their part number. "The results of a month-long PC Service Net testing period have proven that the system mets the stringent requirements for usability and stability while exceeding customer expectations for functionality, says Mark T. Hilz, president and CEO of PC Service Source. Dallas-based PC Service Source is the world's largest supplier of service logistics to service providers and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in the PC industry. IBM Forms Online Banking Unit Joining with 15 major banks, IBM is forming a computerized banking network that it says could represent more than half of the 60 million households in North America's retail bank population. Reporting from New York, United Press International says that early next year the Integrion Financial Network will offer a broad range of interactive banking and electronic commerce services to banks in the United States and Canada. "Participating banks can rapidly deliver secure, convenient and reliable electronic banking services for the fast-growing segment of the population expecting to participate in electronic commerce over the Internet and other electronic channels," UPI reports. Joining IBM, initial owners of the system include ABN AMRO, Bank of America, Comerica, First Chicago, KeyCorp, NationsBank, PNC Bank and Royal Bank of Canada. "Each bank will be able to determine the manner, branding and format of the services so they're consistent with their existing operations," says the wire service. Banks that want to offer their customers access to their services through the public Internet "still face significant security issues around transmitting payments and other sensitive private information," UPI comments. "Integrion's answer is to provide public Internet access and parallel private-network access while addressing security and privacy issues in interactive banking." Home PC Market Seen Soft The home PC market may be softening, according to a retail industry market researcher. The NPD Group of Port Washington, New York, says that just over 2 percent of households plan to buy a PC during the next six months. By comparison, about 4 percent of households surveyed at this time last year said they were planning a computer purchase. NPD measures both consumer intent to purchase computer hardware for at-home use and actual sales at retail. "Last summer, consumers were geared up to buy a PC as Windows 95 and its compatible software were about to be introduced, so some decline in intent was expected," says Greg Starzynski, NPD's vice president of retail relations. "However, we now have seen two consecutive quarters in which the 'intent rate' has dropped significantly. The sales decline in the springshowed consumers followed through on their intent not to buy, and the latest decline does not bode well for the home market during the current quarter." Study Finds People Put Off PC Buys A new Dataquest Inc. study finds that many people who said in 1995 that they planned to buy a PC within a year held off on the purchase. A Dataquest survey conducted in July 1995 showed that 15 percent of U.S. households planned on buying a PC within one year. But a new survey of the same participants shows that only 32 percent actually purchased a PC in the nine months following the original survey. "Clearly the high cost of PCs and their perceived relevance to many American's lives continued to be an obstacle to consumer PC purchases during last year's somewhat disappointing holiday buying season," says Van Baker, director of demand side research for the San Jose, California, market research firm. "We have begun to see new, lower-priced entry-level consumer PCs during the second half of 1996, and we expect to see some exciting new systems in the fall that should provide the industry with an excellent fourth quarter," he adds. The new survey finds that slightly more than 41 percent of repeat/replacement buyers purchased their next PC during the survey period. However, only 26 percent of prospective first-time buyers actually bought a system. The two reasons most given by this market segment for not buying were that a PC did not fit into the family budget, and that the household did not need one or was not interested. California Doctor Charged With Porn A Palo Alto, California, doctor has been arrested on charges of child pornography. Authorities say the case may be only the beginning as they attempt to unravel what they believe is a large computer-based ring. Dr. Roger Mason Levin was arraigned yesterday on charges of possessing child pornography as well as illegally distributing prescription medicine. Writing in San Jose, California, Mercury News, reporter Cathie Calvert says Dr. Levin was taken into custody ner his Menlo Park home Friday afternoon by Palo Alto police Detective Michael Yore, who led the seven-month probe of the case. The doctor was booked into Santa Clara County Jail on a warrant accusing him of four felony and four misdemeanor charges related to possession of child pornography, providing drugs illegally and obtaining controlled substances by fraud. Authorities allege thousands of pornographic images have been retrieved from Levin's personal computer and that other local arrest could follow. "I'm not sure what you'd call prominent, but these are people who'll be very unhappy (to learn) about Roger's arrest," the detective told Calvert. Police still are sifting through hundreds of video tapes, photographs and computer disks found in a search of Levin's home and office, said Yore, who added, "It's a huge case -- the FBI is getting involved." Stylus Color 200 STR Infofile EPSON STYLUS COLOR 200 INK JET PRINTER Epson America, Inc. Features and Specifications Best print quality in its class ú 720 dpi Photo Quality color and laser quality black text Versatile color printing ú Artistic greeting cards and invitations ú Personal correspondence ú Colorful school projects ú Eye-catching T-shirt transfers, banners, and magnets ú Photos and more Includes top-rated Look Your Best Color Pak Best software, best extras, best value Works with Windows 95 and Windows 3.1x Unparalleled service and support Two-year limited warranty and toll-free EPSON Connection hotline Award-winning Photo Quality color for the whole family. Choosing a printer that fits the needs of your whole family has just become easier than ever before. Whether you're working in your home office, working on home finances or just printing homework, you'll find that the new EPSON Stylus COLOR 200 is the perfect choice. It's ideal for printing professional looking correspondence, dazzling charts and graphics or for expressing your creative side by printing greeting cards, flyers, banners and newsletters - all in stunning Photo Quality color. Even your kids will discover how much fun assignments can be when they use the EPSON Stylus COLOR 200 to incorporate vivid color in their school reports or create original color designs on magnets and T-shirts. EPSON's award-winning Piezo print technology and new Super Penetrating inks provide brilliant 720 dpi Photo Quality color and fast, laser quality black text on your choice of paper. And, the built-in parallel interface allows for a quick and easy Plug & Play connection to your PC. To help get those creative ideas flowing, we've included EPSON's top- rated Look You Best Color Pak. The Color Pak comes complete with an assortment of award-winning, easy-to-use software titles that include everything your family will need to design colorful and imaginative greeting cards, banners for special occasions, fun magnets, eye-catching T-shirts, professional looking newsletters and more. Whatever your home application, the EPSON Stylus COLOR 200 is the affordable solution for the whole family. (Now your only problem is deciding who gets to use it first!) EPSON STYLUS COLOR 200 PRINTER SPECIFICATIONS Product/Accessory Part Numbers EPSON Stylus COLOR 200 C199011 Black ink cartridge S020047 Color ink cartridge S020097 EPSON letter size coated paper for 360 dpi printing (100 ct.) S041060 EPSON letter size coated paper for 720 dpi printing (100 ct.) S041062 EPSON legal size coated paper for 720 dpi printing (200 ct.) S041048 EPSON letter size high quality glossy paper for 720 dpi printing (15 ct.) S041072 EPSON letter size transparencies (30 ct.) S041064 EPSON media starter pack S041032 20 sheets 360 dpi letter size paper 20 sheets 720 dpi letter size paper 5 sheets transparencies EPSON Iron-on Transfer Paper SE41001 Printing Method 3 color (CMY) Drop-on-demand piezoelectric inkjet Nozzle Configuration Monochrome head: 64 nozzle Color head: 60 nozzle (20 per color) Resolution 3 modes to chose from: 720 dpi* 360 x 360 dpi 180 x 180 dpi * At 720 dpi the Stylus COLOR 200 prints at 360 x 360 dpi on a matrix of 720 dots per inch using smaller dots than the 360 x 360 dpi mode. The dots print in an alternating pattern in which horizontal and vertical dots are non-contiguous. Contiguous printing of dots is available only on the diagonal plane. The result is a significantly denser dot pattern, finer detail and smoother edges than output produced by 360 x 360 dpi printing. 720 dpi is available on plain paper for black printing and on EPSON 720 dpi paper for color printing. Print Speed* Text: Up to 2.5 PPM Color: 2.5 MPP (typical presentation page at 360 dpi) * Print speeds will vary depending on system configuration, software application, page complexity, amount of page covered, and print settings. Print Characteristics Bitmap LQ fonts: EPSON Roman, EPSON Sans Serif, EPSON Courier Scalable fonts: (8-32pts.): EPSON Roman, EPSON Sans Serif, EPSON Roman T, EPSON Sans Serif H Character tables: 9 character tables; 14 international character sets 1 legal character set Sound Level 45 dB(A) Printer Language EPSON ESC/P 2 Software Driver Windows 95, Windows 3.1x, Windows for Workgroups 3.1x Dimensions 15.6" x 8" x 5.9" (W x D x H) 8.6 lb. (excluding print head and cartridge) Input Buffer 2.5Kb/15Kb (depends on monochrome/color selection) Interface 8-bit bidirectional parallel interface (IEEE-1284 nibble mode supported) Print Direction Bidirectional with logic seeking in text and graphic modes Printable Area 8.00" x 10.34" (letter size) Top margin: .12" Left margin: .12" Right margin: .38" Bottom margin .54" Paper Capacity Input paper tray: 100 sheets/10 envelopes Output paper tray: 30 sheets Paper Handling Single sheets: Letter, legal, A4, statement, executive Thickness: .003" to .004" Weight: 17 to 24 lb. Types: plain, bond, EPSON 360 dpi coated paper, EPSON 720 dpi coated paper, EPSON High Quality Glossy paper, EPSON transparencies, EPSON Iron-on Transfer paper Envelopes: No. 10, DL Thickness: .006" to .02" Weight: 12 to 24 lb. Types: Plain, bond, and air mail paper Environmental Characteristics Temperature: Operating: 50 degrees to 95 degrees F (10 degrees to 35 degrees C) Storage: -4 degrees to 140 degrees F (-20 degrees to 60 degrees C) Humidity: Operating: 20 to 80% relative humidity Storage: 5 to 85% relative humidity (no condensation) Safety Approvals Safety Standards: UL1950 with D3, CSA C22.2 950 with D3; R.F.I. FCC Part 15 subpart B class B Reliability Print head life: 500 million dots/nozzle (color and monochrome) Total print volume: 25,000 pages (Letter or A4) Electrical Requirements Rated voltage: 12W AC +/- 10% Rated frequency: 50 to 60 Hz Rated current: 0.5 Amp Power consumption: Approx. 15 W (self test mode) Ink Cartridge Life Black ink life: 540 pages at 5% coverage at 360 dpi Color ink life: 320 pages at 15% coverage at 360 dpi (5% each cyan, magenta, yellow) Shelf life: 2 years from production and up to 6 months after opening package Warranty 2 year limited in the U.S. and Canada Support - The EPSON Connection Technical Support U.S. & Canada (800) 922-8911 Fax-on-Demand/EPSON Sound Advice (800) 442-2110 Download Service (800) 442-2007 Pre-Sales Support U.S. & Canada (800) 463-7766 Internet Website http://www.epson.com Photo quality color Print dazzling 720 dpi color on EPSON premium paper. Print faster and still get rich vibrant color at 360 dpi on plain paper. Laser quality black text, print 720 dpi laser quality text on plain paper. Separate black cartridge allows you to print even faster and still get sharp text at 360 dpi. Fast print speeds Prints black text documents at up to 2.5 pages per minute. Special spooling software lets you continue working while printing. Award-winning Look Your Best Color Pak Sierra Print Artist and Adobe PhotoDeluxe for PC, 25 Funtastic Fonts, Outrageous Iron-on Art, over 100 high resolution Fab photos, Jump Start Guide, Work and Play Right Away tips, valuable coupons for EPSON products and lots more. Super penetrating Inks New color inks provide rich, fast drying, water resistant output on a wide variety of media, including plain paper. Windows compatible Built-in IEEE-1284 parallel interface allows for easy Plug & Play connection to a PC. Compatible with virtually all Microsoft Windows applications and supports Windows 95 ICM. Your choice of paper Prints on plain letter and legal size paper, envelopes, labels, transparencies, and EPSON's Iron-on Transfer paper and premium coated or glossy papers. Also prints on continuous paper for banners. Easy to-use control panel Simple two button control panel makes daily operations easier than ever before. Includes single button cleaning for black and color cartridges. Compact and quiet Small size and quiet 45 dB(A) noise level make it ideal for home use. Unbeatable service and support Two-year limited warranty and toll-free EPSON Connection technical support hotline. YOU'VE GOT TO SEE IT IN EPSON COLOR: USA: Call 1-800-463-7766 for the nearest dealer location. Epson America, Inc. 20770 Madrona Ave, Torrance, CA 90503 Canada: Call 1-800-463-7766 Epson Canada, Ltd. 550 McNicoll, Willowdale, Ontario M2H 2EI Fax 416-498-4574 Latin America: Call 1-305-265-0092 Epson Latin America Inc. 6303 Blue Lagoon Drive, Miami, FL 33126 Fax 301-265-0097 Specifications are subject to change without notice. Epson is a registered trademark and EPSON Stylus is a trademark of Seiko Epson Corporation; EPSON Connection is a service mark of Epson America, Inc. All other product and brand names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies. EPSON disclaims any and all rights in these marks. The Energy Star Emblem does not represent EPA endorsement of any product or service. Copyright 1996 Epson America, Inc. CPD-3552 50M 8/96 CG EDUPAGE STR Focus Keeping the users informed Edupage Contents Judge Tells AOL To Stop Blocking Junk Mail Scientologists Fight For Copyright Protection On Net Hughes Seeking To Expand Satellite Empire IBM Ups The Ante In Banking, Network Computing Copyright Law Archived On The Net New Angle On Web Surfing Netscape Targets Intranet Market Congress, Not The Courts, To Resolve Copyright Issues Sega Opens Virtual Theme Park In Europe Where Wizards Stay Up Late Wired World Will "Diminish National Sovereignty" Web Site Suit Dismissed Banks Join IBM To Offer Home Banking Services FlashPix Are No Flash-In-The-Pan, Says Sculley Toshiba Offers New Line Of Desktop Systems Dell Slashes Server Prices Bell & IBM Sign Deal Corel's New PDA, WordPerfect for Java Oracle CEO Predicts Phone Companies Will Offer NCs Internet Archive Cracker Attack Paralyzes Panix IBM Global E-Commerce Alliance Network Solutions Contemplates Public Offering IRS Scraps Cyberfile Faster, Cheaper Alpha Chips From Digital Speedier Modems From U.S. Robotics, Rockwell U. Of Arizona Forms Alliance With Lucent Technologies Iomega Signs Zip Drive Licensing Deal With Matsushita MCI Targets Mid-Size Businesses SGS-Thomson Takes Aim At DVD Piracy CNN Sends News Briefs To Pagers IBM Voice-Recognition Software JUDGE TELLS AOL TO STOP BLOCKING JUNK MAIL Pending a trial scheduled for mid-November, a federal judge has ordered America Online to refrain from blocking delivery of unsolicited e-mail sent by Cyber Promotions Inc. AOL had refused to accept messages from sites used by Cyber Promotions because they were the source of hundreds of thousands of unwanted mail delivered to AOL subscribers. AOL is appealing the judge's order. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution 7 Sep 96 E3) SCIENTOLOGISTS FIGHT FOR COPYRIGHT PROTECTION ON NET Police investigators in Helsinki say the Internet "anonymous remailer" site anon.penet.fi was shut down partially because of a copyright dispute with the Church of Scientology (and not because the site was a primary conduit for child pornography, as was previously reported). The Church of Scientology, which has been successful in convincing the courts that its teachings are validly copyrighted material, was pursuing an individual who used the anonymous remailer site to post Scientology texts without the Church's permission. The operator of the site decided to close it down rather than reveal the individual's name to Helsinki police. The Church says it was not opposing the existence of the server: "We have no opposition to there being anonymity for private, consensual communications. What we oppose is using anonymous servers for the purpose of permitting criminal or other unlawful acts." (New York Times 6 Sep 96 C2) HUGHES SEEKING TO EXPAND SATELLITE EMPIRE General Motors' Hughes Electronics Corp. is pursuing deals with two satellite companies that would greatly expand the company's global footprint at an estimated cost of $4 billion. Hughes is negotiating a $3 billion acquisition of PanAmSat, which already spans 98% of the world and by 1998 plans to have a total of eight satellites offering a variety of electronic feeds. A separate arrangement with Nethold, a Netherlands-based supplier of satellite- television services, would cost an additional $1 billion. "Hughes is making a very, very big statement" about its interest in dominating global services for television, video, telephone and data services, says a British satellite consultant. The proposed satellite and broadcast system would be second in size only to Intelsat, the international satellite consortium. (Wall Street Journal 6 Sep 96 A3) IBM UPS THE ANTE IN BANKING, NETWORK COMPUTING IBM has formed a consortium comprising more than a dozen major banks, aimed at providing consumer banking services over the Internet. The alliance, dubbed the Integrity project, will be owned equally by IBM and each of the partners. Financial institutions will be able to use IBM's worldwide private network in addition to the Internet to enable customers to do their banking online. (Investor's Business Daily 9 Sep 96 A21) Meanwhile, IBM unveiled its $700 Network Station, which is expected to hit the shelves later this year. It is the first network computer to be offered by a major computer maker. Other NC manufacturers include Acorn Computer, Akai Electric, Funai Electric, Idea, Olivetti, Uniden and Wyse Technology. (USA Today 6 Sep 96 B1) COPYRIGHT LAW ARCHIVED ON THE NET The Stanford University library is working with the Council on Library Resources to compile an electronic archive of information on copyright law in an effort to keep educators and others aware of the ongoing debate over the "fair use" doctrine. The Stanford site < http://fairuse.stanford.edu > contains the full text of court decisions, legislation and international copyright agreements, as well as related articles on the topic. (Chronicle of Higher Education 6 Sep 96 A42) NEW ANGLE ON WEB SURFING BroadVision's new Web site, called The Angle, features the company's One-To- One intelligent agent and WebPoint content management technologies. "What intranets are looking for are ways to help users of their site get information they need, and are entitled to, quickly and efficiently without too much surfing," says the company's CEO, who touts his service as an efficiency-booster for corporate technology managers. Unlike its rival, Firefly, which is used to direct music seekers to selections they might like based on similar buyers' tastes, the One-To-One agent software is built on rule-based reasoning. BroadVision is considering licensing Firefly's technology, which uses a personalization algorithm to identify trends among users and personal tastes, to expand its offerings. (Interactive Age Digital 4 Sep 96) NETSCAPE TARGETS INTRANET MARKET Netscape's new AppFoundry offers a collection of canned applications developed by other companies for Netscape's intranet software suite. "We see AppFoundry being the first jumpstart kit for intranet development," says Netscape's director of server product marketing. AppFoundry software includes a job- listing program from Austin Hayne Corp., and software for managing sales and marketing data from Sage Solutions, Inc., as well as basic development tools from Next Inc. and Borland International Inc. "Most of these applications would be considered examples to work from," says a Gartner Group analyst. "No one gives away the store." Still, "This helps solve the chicken-and-egg problem cropping up as companies build intranets - - that they need applications and tools to make them useful," notes a Yankee Group analyst. (Investor's Business Daily 9 Sep 96 A6) CONGRESS, NOT THE COURTS, TO RESOLVE COPYRIGHT ISSUES The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office is shifting gears in its drive to resolve electronic copyright issues, and is now working with members of Congress to develop a legislative solution to the issue of online service provider liability, which has been a sticking point in efforts to pass new copyright legislation. "We are looking for a way to define the nature of the provision of mere telecommunications services, for which telecommunications providers should bear no liability for copyright infringement. We are trying to define where the dividing line is between someone who actively engages in the provision of information versus someone who is a mere conduit," says a senior legal counselor for the PTO. The PTO originally believed these issues could be resolved through the court system, but now says it will work with Congress and industry to develop legislative solutions. (BNA Daily Report for Executives 4 Sep 96 A4) SEGA OPENS VIRTUAL THEME PARK IN EUROPE Sega, the Japanese games group, and Trocadero, a U.K.-based entertainment company, is opening Europe's first interactive theme park as a retail and entertainment complex in Piccadilly, London. Segaworld combines virtual reality and advanced computer graphics to create interactive entertainment instead of the movement on which traditional theme park rides rely. Sega already operates two such parks in Tokyo and plans to open other ones in Sydney and elsewhere. (Financial Times 7 Sep 96) WHERE WIZARDS STAY UP LATE The NY Times Sunday Book Review says the Hafner/Lyon book on the origins of the Internet ("Where Wizards Stay Up Late") compiles a great deal of much- needed information and "shows just how striking an innovation and collaboration the Arpanet really was. One central focus of the book (excerpted in the Sep/Oct Educom Review) is the contribution of the brilliant psychologist and computer scientist J.C.R. Licklider, who predicted an era when "human brains and computing machines will be coupled ... tightly, and ... the resulting partnership will think as no human brain has ever thought and process data in a way not approached by the information- handling machines we know today." (New York Times Book Review 8 Sep 96 p19) WIRED WORLD WILL "DIMINISH NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY" A leading Clinton Administration official on information security and cryptography matters says that traditional notions of sovereignty, national security and warfare will be undermined by the year 2020, when the whole world is "wired" and e-cash is the norm. The result will be less powerful governments in relation to criminal organizations such as the Mafia and international drug cartels, says Michael Nelson, who adds that organized crime members are already some of the most sophisticated users of computer systems and strong encryption technology. In addition, computer crackers will pose a more significant threat. In response, Nelson advocates resolving the issue of whether unauthorized access of a computer is an "act of trespass" or an "act of war," and prosecuting the intrusions accordingly. (BNA Daily Report for Executives 6 Sep 96 A14) WEB SITE SUIT DISMISSED A federal judge in New York City has dismissed a trademark-infringement lawsuit filed by the operator of the Blue Note jazz club against a Columbia, Missouri music club of the same name. The Blue Note music club had used its Web site to promote its business locally, the judge observed: "Creating a site, like placing a product into the stream of commerce, may be felt nationwide -- or even worldwide -- but, without more, it is not an act purposefully directed toward (New York)." "What Judge Stein's ruling means is that the operator of a regional business can't be hauled into court in a remote place just because somebody thinks they've been hurt by a Web site," says the Missouri Blue Note club's attorney. The New York Blue Note plans to refile its suit, arguing that its registered trademark to the name "Blue Note" is being "diluted" by the Missouri club's use. (Wall Street Journal 10 Sep 96 B10) BANKS JOIN IBM TO OFFER HOME BANKING SERVICES IBM and seven large banks (NationsBank, Banc One, Bank of America, First Chicago NBD, Fleet Financial, Keycorp, and PNC) have created a venture called Integrion to compete with software companies such as Microsoft and Intuit that provide home banking services. NationBank's president said that if the banks hadn't joined this project, "we ultimately would be reduced to commodity providers, and our own brands would disappear." Integrion will develop standards for transactions but will contract most of the actual processing. (New York Times 10 Sep 96 C2) FLASHPIX ARE NO FLASH-IN-THE-PAN, SAYS SCULLEY Live Picture, which counts former Apple Chairman John Sculley as one of its investors, is hoping that its FlashPix technology will set the standard by which all photographs will be stored on computers. FlashPix technology is designed to trim the amount of time it takes to work with color pictures on a PC, by making it ossible to work with only a small portion of the image file and still generate high-quality results. Although FlashPix faces competition from several PC software products already on the market, Sculley predicts FlashPix will do for high-quality color images what desktop publishing did for black-and-white layout. The technology also has an Internet tie-in -- rather than sending an entire picture file across the Net, users can send just a sampling of the file. Live Picture is collaborating with Eastman Kodak, Microsoft and Hewlett Packard in its FlashPix venture. (Wall Street Journal 9 Sep 96 B8) TOSHIBA OFFERS NEW LINE OF DESKTOP SYSTEMS Toshiba, best known for notebook computers, is now offering a line of desktop machines called Infinia, made to operate like computer appliances, with features such as radio-style dials to turn up the volume and push buttons to control other computer operations. Infinia computers can play CDs, serve as a phone answering machine, and receive TV and radio broadcasts. (New York Times 10 Sep 96 C6) DELL SLASHES SERVER PRICES Dell Computer has priced its new line of computer servers as much as 50% below comparable models. The new machines are based on Intel's Pentium Pro processors and start at $3,799. (Wall Street Journal 9 Sep 96 B8) BELL & IBM SIGN DEAL Bell Canada and IBM Canada have signed an agreement worth hundreds of millions of dollars to swap key Canadian operations. IBM will take over data processing for Bell, while Bell will assume control over the operations of IBM's data communications networks for such customers as Air Canada and the National Bank of Canada. (Toronto Globe & Mail 10 Sep 96 B1) COREL'S NEW PDA, WORDPERFECT FOR JAVA Corel has developed a new generation of personal digital assistants (PDAs) and is now seeking a manufacturer for the units. The Corel PDA will allow users to browse the Web, do e-mail, etc. (Ottawa Sun 10 Sep 96 p18) Meanwhile, the company will offer a public beta version of Corel WordPerfect for Java later this month. The new WordPerfect for Java is written entirely in Sun Microsystems' Java programming language and will be available at Corel's home page < www.corel.com >. (Information Week 2 Sep 96 p24) ORACLE CEO PREDICTS PHONE COMPANIES WILL OFFER NCs Oracle Chief Executive Larry Ellison is predicting that some phone companies will begin consumer trials of Internet appliances sometime during the next six months, with the appliance being distributed to phone customers along with communications services for one monthly fee. But Ellison warns that to make the venture a success, phone companies will have to make surfing the Web as simple as using a telephone. (Wall Street Journal 10 Sep 96 A7) INTERNET ARCHIVE A group of history-conscious Web surfers have created a nonprofit organization to log and document information on the Web and make it available for future historians. "We don't know what early TV looked like, because no one was recording it," says the Internet Archive's president. "No one knows in any real way what the Web looked like a year ago." The archive can be found at < http://www.archive.org >. (St. Petersburg Times 9 Sep 96 p8) CRACKER ATTACK PARALYZES PANIX Repeated attacks by a computer cracker have virtually shut down New York's Public Access Networks Corp., better known as Panix. The attacks have overwhelmed the computers' capacity to respond to requests for an "electronic handshake" by sending as many as 150 bogus requests a second. "This is the first major attack of a kind that I believe to be the final Internet security problem," says a Lucent Technologies Internet security expert, who says he "has been waiting" for just such an event. Internet computers have no quick way of distinguishing these bogus requests from real ones, and even when security software is upgraded to ease the problem, the crackers could respond with even more intense assaults. "There's going to be the usual arms race," predicts the Lucent security expert, between improved security measures and crackers' ability to disable them. (Wall Street Journal 12 Sep B1) IBM GLOBAL E-COMMERCE ALLIANCE IBM has forged an alliance with Washington, D.C.-based Universal Business Exchange (UNIBEX) to offer companies in various parts of the world access to a secure electronic system for doing business with each other. The alliance hopes to make international commerce easier for organizations using different languages and different customs to communicate and trade. One key service will be the ability to issue and administer electronic signatures on a global basis, with UNIBEX administering the process and IBM providing the technology. Other members of the alliance include the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Deloitte & Touche, Dun & Bradstreet, Simon & Schuster and Chase Manhattan Bank. The members will collaborate on content, services, distribution channels and technology. (Investor's Business Daily 11 Sep 96 A5) NETWORK SOLUTIONS CONTEMPLATES PUBLIC OFFERING Network Solutions Inc. (NSI), the Herndon, Va., company designated by the National Science Foundation (NSF) since 1992 to register Internet domain names is showing signs of wanting to make a public stock offering. Critics predict a furor among the Internet community if the company makes money from "public funds," but NSF spokesperson Elizabeth Gaston say there is nothing in the contract to preclude the company from taking such action, and NSI chairman Michael A. Daniels says: "If anybody stops to think about it, the original basis for Netscape was software developed in a government-funded research project." (New York Times 12 Sep 96 A1) IRS SCRAPS CYBERFILE The Internal Revenue Service has pulled the plug on "Cyberfile" -- a system designed to allow PC users to file their tax returns electronically over the Internet. The agency has already spent $17.1 million of the $22 million budgeted for the project. The IRS says it is "still committed to the concept of from-home filing" and is expected to announce an alternative strategy in the next couple of months. (Wall Street Journal 12 Sep 96 A2) FASTER, CHEAPER ALPHA CHIPS FROM DIGITAL Digital Equipment Corp. will debut a high-speed, third-generation Alpha microprocessor that runs twice as fast as the current 500 MHz Alpha chip. (Wall Street Journal 12 Sep 96 B4) Meanwhile, next year Digital will unveil a low-priced Alpha geared toward the PC market. The new chip, developed in collaboration with Mitsubishi Electric Corp., will run about $400 and will be more powerful than the lowest-priced Alpha chip available today. (Investor's Business Daily 12 Sep 96 A7) SPEEDIER MODEMS FROM U.S. ROBOTICS, ROCKWELL U.S. Robotics and Rockwell International are planning new modems with speeds up to 56 kbps a second, almost double the speed of the fastest rate now available. The new devices should be available by the end of the year, although their top speed initially may be less than 56 kbps. (Wall Street Journal 12 Sep 96 B11) U. OF ARIZONA FORMS ALLIANCE WITH LUCENT TECHNOLOGIES The University of Arizona and Lucent Technologies have formed the UA/Lucent Technologies Alliance for Learning. The Alliance will collaborate on creating a "virtual classroom" and designing instructional software tools and collaborative environments based on users' personal learning styles, interest and real-world needs. In addition, the Alliance plans to develop a user-friendly multimedia administrative system and integrate UA's telephone, data and video equipment and services into a multimedia network connecting buildings, homes and businesses. (The Heller Report Sep 96) IOMEGA SIGNS ZIP DRIVE LICENSING DEAL WITH MATSUSHITA Iomega Corp. has signed a deal with a unit of Matsushita Electric Industrial Corp. allowing Matsushita to produce compatible versions of Iomega's popular Zip drive. The additional production capability is expected to boost Zip's bid for becoming the industry standard for removable drives. Currently, seven major vendors are using the Zip drive in some of their PCs. (Wall Street Journal 11 Sep 96 B4) MCI TARGETS MID-SIZE BUSINESSES The new networkMCI Enterprise Management service will build, manage and maintain desktop computer networks for mid-size businesses, enabling them to cut their annual computing costs as much as 70%. Clients pay a flat annual fee of $2,700 per computer. The company figures it costs businesses somewhere between $6,000 and $12,000 annually per desktop user. (Wall Street Journal 12 Sep 96 B4) SGS-THOMSON TAKES AIM AT DVD PIRACY SGS-Thomson Microelectronics has developed a computer chip that prevents would-be DVD pirates from making unlawful copies of movies from digital video disc players. The chip scrambles the disk's coding if it's duplicated on a VCR. (Investor's Business Daily 11 Sep 96 A6) CNN SENDS NEWS BRIEFS TO PAGERS Becoming the first major news organization to distribute its content through wireless technology, CNN in Atlanta will provide national and international news, sports scores, weather reports, stock prizes, almanac information, and a news quiz to 600,000 alphanumeric pagers distributed by Dallas-based PageNet. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution 12 Sep 96 F1) IBM VOICE-RECOGNITION SOFTWARE IBM has developed voice-recognition software that can be used by radiologists to prepare their reports. Running on a Microsoft Windows NT operating system and a PC with a 200-megahertz Intel Pentium processor, the software will recognize about 25,000 English words spoken in a conversational tone, and system accuracy can be improved by training it to recognize an individual's speech pattern. The system costs $12,000-15,000 and will be useful in other specific disciplines where many of the same technical phrases are repeated frequently. (New York Times 12 Sep 96 C) 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). ... 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