Silicon Times Report The Original Independent OnLine Magazine" (Since 1987) October 11, 1996 No.1241 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 10/11/96 STR 1241 The Original Independent OnLine Magazine! - CPU Industry Report - SEGA Troubled? - S. Cray Dies - Lexmark Optra C - HP LaserJet 6 Ships - N64 Sold Out - Caldera Updates - Dole WebSite - Frankie's Corner - Internet II On - HP 1600cm - Dana's Tidbits Mac Awareness Campaign CA to Acquire Cheyenne LAPTOPS RISKY AT 30,000 FEET? 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: 10/05/96: 2 of 6 numbers, no matches From the Editor's Desk... This is one of those quiet weeks, where you know there's all sorts of great things on the horizon but its just not quite ready to divulge. Comdex is promising all sorts of wonderful new goodies from the very basic software packages to the most sophisticated of hardware setups. I know of a number of new goodies that are about to hit .. We'll tell you all about them the moment we have the green light. In the meantime some very real and terrific products are going to become available at some surprisingly affordable numbers. Take advantage of the new model and package announcements. You can own last year's models at a fraction of their cost last year. Stay tuned.. we'll be showing a bunch of them... Joe Mirando is still fighting that pesky bug.. He'll be back next week. 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. 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 Beginner's Section R.F. Mariano J. Deegan Lloyd E. Pulley Gaming & Entertainment Kid's Computing Corner Dana P. Jacobson 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 WebSite http://www.streport.com STReport Headline News LATE BREAKING INDUSTRY-WIDE NEWS Weekly Happenings in the Computer World Compiled by: Dana P. Jacobson Computer World Mourns Seymour Cray The computer industry today mourns the death of Seymour Cray, who pioneered use of transistors in computers and later became the father of supercomputers developed to run business and government information networks. Cray died yesterday of complications from severe head and neck injuries suffered in a three-car traffic crash. His Jeep was hit by another car Sept. 22 and rolled three times. Cray took a sudden turn for the worse Friday after being listed in critical condition earlier this week at Penrose Hospital in Colorado Springs. He is survived by his wife, Geri Harrand, two daughters, a son, a sister and five grandchildren. Memorial services in Colorado Springs and Chippewa Falls have not been scheduled. "In a world where time is measured in increments faster than the blink of an eye, Cray's benchmark achievements were accompanied by painful setbacks," Associated Press writer Jennifer Mears commented this morning. "Still, Cray spent 40 relentless years searching for a scientific Holy Grail, the world's fastest supercomputer." For many years, Cray Research was the U.S. leader in supercomputers, multimillion-dollar machines used for sophisticated tasks like forecasting weather or building bombs. In fact, "There wouldn't really be a supercomputer industry as we know it except for Seymour Cray," said Larry Smarr, director of the National Center for Supercomputing Applications at the University of Illinois. "I really think his achievement was the creation of computers that were essential for solving the nation's grand challenges." Cray's work was used in physics research and weapons development. One computer he developed was used to simulate nuclear experiments, which helped eliminate the need for physical tests, noted John Rollwagen, who worked with Cray for 14 years at Cray Research Inc. "He provided so many of us -- maybe without even knowing it -- such a wonderful opportunity of working with and developing this important technology," he added. However, the end of the Cold War diminished the demand for the massive machines, while advances in computer technology were allowing smaller computers to reach the processing speeds of supercomputers. "That meant tough times for Cray," noted Mears. "In 1995 he was forced to close the doors of his 6-year-old Cray Computer Corp. after the Cray-4, which cost about $360 million to build, failed to entice a single buyer." Undaunted, last August he opened SRC Computer Inc., a Colorado Springs-based company that employed five. The mission, simply, was to "build computers." Born Sept. 28, 1925, in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, Cray began nurturing a passion for science as a youngster, collecting chemistry and radio sets in his basement. In 1950, Cray graduated from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis with a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering. He obtained a master's degree in applied mathematics the following year. Cray began his career at Control Data Corp. in the late 1950s, developing one of the first computers to use radio transistors instead of vacuum tubes, which weighed tons and sapped huge amounts of electricity. The transistors allowed for the miniaturization of components. He also invented RISC, Reduced Instruction Set Computing, a technology that allows desktop computers to process tasks more quickly. In 1972, Cray left CDC and founded Cray Research Inc. in Eagan, Minnesota, where, four years later, he unveiled the Cray-1 supercomputer. It was 10 times faster and more powerful than any machine on the market. He topped that with the Cray-2 in 1985, which was 10 times faster than the Cray-1. Microsoft Aligns With WebTV Microsoft Corp. says it has formed a strategic relationship with WebTV Networks Inc. to cooperate in the development of technologies for delivering Internet content to television. Microsoft also says it has taken a minority equity position in WebTV Networks. As part of the association, Microsoft and WebTV Networks will collaborate on the development of technologies and related standards for delivering Internet browsing for display over televisions. WebTV Networks intends to integrate elements of Microsoft Internet Explorer technology, adapted for television display by Microsoft, into a future release of the WebTV browser system. The WebTV browser featured in several current and planned Internet TVs and terminals. Microsoft and WebTV Networks will also work closely with each other, and with additional third parties and standards organizations, to promote the results of their collaboration as accepted extensions to current Internet standards. "WebTV Networks has clearly established its leadership in delivering Internet content through the television," says David Cole, vice president of Microsoft's consumer platforms division. "Microsoft's relationship with WebTV Networks demonstrates our commitment to adapting Microsoft Internet Explorer to provide consumers access to the Web through a broad range of communication and entertainment devices. We are confident that we can combine the advantages of Microsoft Internet Explorer with the innovations of WebTV Networks to deliver a compelling Internet experience over the television." AT&T, Microsoft Court the Net AT&T and Microsoft Corp. are packaging each other's Internet products, a move analysts say gives Microsoft a leg up in its Web browser battle with Netscape Communications Corp. Users of Microsoft's Windows 95 operating system will get the firm's Internet Explorer 3.0 when they sign up for AT&T's Internet access service, AT&T WorldNet Service, writer Therese Poletti of the Reuter News Service reports. She quotes AT&T as saying it designated Internet Explorer 3.0, the latest version of Microsoft's software for accessing the Web, as the default browser for WorldNet. Before yesterday, AT&T was offering Netscape Navigator as the sole browser software for WorldNet. "AT&T will still offer Navigator, but customers will have to specify it when ordering the Internet service," Poletti says, adding, "The move was seen as yet another blow to Mountain View, California-based Netscape, which has asked the Justice Department to investigate Microsoft's Internet marketing tactics and whether they violate the software giant's 1994 consent decree with the department." Wall Street isn't happy. Netscape stock dropped $3 yesterday to $45 on the Nasdaq. And Microsoft Vice President Brad Chase, a general manager in Microsoft's Internet division, hinted at more deals with other online services and Internet access services but declined to be specific. Reuters quotes industry sources as saying Prodigy is expected to announce a similar deal next week, though that is unconfirmed. Chase also said Internet Explorer's market share has doubled since the company unveiled Version 3.0 six weeks ago, jumping from 5 percent to 10 percent of the market, to 10 percent to 20 percent. "As part of its deal with AT&T," the wire service reports, "Microsoft will offer WorldNet software bundled with Windows 95, and WorldNet will appear as an icon in the software's online services folder when users start up their new PCs. Most computers with Windows 95 delivered during the upcoming holiday season were expected to include WorldNet." Meanwhile, analysts told the wire service that even as Microsoft makes inroads in the browser market, Netscape still retains a dominant, growing stake in the arena for Internet server software, which functions as printing press and warehouse for Web pages. Steve Harmon, senior investment analyst at MecklerMedia Internet Consulting, commented, "Microsoft has been pretty aggressive about going after every partner Netscape has." But he pointed out that the browser, or client, software is just the front door to the server software -- which is generating revenues. "Netscape is the leader in server software," he said. "While the client wanes, the server market is going strong." Allegro, Software Pub to Merge Struggling industry veteran Software Publishing Corp. of San Jose, California, is being gobbled up by a newer, smaller firm, tiny Allegro New Media Inc., a Fairfield, New Jersey, company that had only $1.4 million in sales last year. The deal calls for Software Publishing shareholders to receive 0.26805 shares of Allegro common for each Software Publishing they hold, "and," says Computergram International this morning, "reflecting the discrepancy in size, Software Publishing holders will end up with 45 percent of the enlarged Allegro." CI notes Allegro was last heard of when it announced plans to acquire Nashua, New Hampshire, desktop publishing and graphics company Serif Inc. in April. The newsletter says Software Publishing, which has made several rounds of layoffs this year, now becomes a subsidiary of Allegro, but continues to operate under the Software Publishing name, and key officers will become Allegro officers. CA to Acquire Cheyenne Computer Associates International Inc. says it plans to acquire Cheyenne Software Inc. for $1.2 billion in cash or $30.50 per share. Both boards have approved the deal. CA says it intends to retain all of Cheyenne's employees, adding that Cheyenne will operate as a CA division. "We are extremely excited by the synergistic nature of this acquisition," says CA Chairman and CEO Charles B. Wang. "Cheyenne is the recognized leader in storage management solutions for the Windows NT and NetWare environments. The addition of its product suite will strengthen our efforts in the desktop and LAN environments." "This is a tremendous opportunity for our clients, business partners, employees, and shareholders," adds Cheyenne Chairman and CEO ReiJane Huai. "CA's unparalleled development and support capabilities and financial resources will now be available to our clients, along with Cheyenne's award- winning solutions in storage management, anti-virus, and communications software." HP Unveils New Printers Hewlett-Packard Co. today introduced its first LaserJet 6 Series printers, the LaserJet 6P and 6MP, as well as two new color ink-jet models. The new laser printers, which replace the LaserJet 5P and 5MP models, offer new performance enhancements at lower prices than their predecessors. The LaserJet 6P and 6MP are expected to sell for less than $800 and $950, respectively. The laser printers offer an 8-page-per-minute (ppm) print speed, a 600 dots-per-inch (dpi) output resolution and several paper-handling capabilities. For Windows 95 users, the LaserJet 6P and 6MP provide a simple software interface that provides real-time printer-status messages and makes it easy for customers to access printer features. The LaserJet 6MP offers the same features as the HP LaserJet 6P, plus compatibility across Macintosh and Windows PostScript environments. The DeskJet 690C and DeskJet 693C ink-jet printers are designed to produce photo-quality color images. Both models generate documents at up to 5 ppm for black and 1.7 ppm for color. An HP Printer Toolbox feature gives users on- screen information about printing functions, as well as instructions for solving common printing problems and for performing tasks such as printing envelopes and banners. The DeskJet 693C printer, which comes with the HP home project kit, is expected to sell for $349. The DeskJet 690C printer, which is identical to the DeskJet 693C, is packaged without the home project kit and is expected to sell for about $329. Epson Has Improved Digital Camera Epson America Inc. is hoping to make an impact in the burgeoning digital camera market with its new PhotoPC 500, an enhanced version of its original PhotoPC. The unit is set to ship in November for $499. Compared to the earlier model, the PhotoPC 500 is smaller and offers improved optics, increased storage capacity and a red-eye reduction flash. The PhotoPC 500 also has an optional $199 PhotoView color liquid-crystal display (LCD) monitor that lets users preview, playback and perform other functions. The PhotoPC 500 has the look and feel of a traditional 35mm film camera. The product weighs less than 1 pound and measures 6.5 by 3.25 by 2 inches. The PhotoPC 500 takes pictures in 24-bit color (16.7 million colors). Users can choose between high- and standard-resolution settings of 640 by 480 and 320 by 240, respectively. The PhotoPC 500 stores up to 30 high- or 60 standard- resolution images. Optional PhotoSpan memory modules increase total storage capacity to 100 high- or 200 standard-resolution images. Net Responds to Dole's Web Page The Net's credibility as a political force got another boost last night when, as the last word in the first televised presidential debate of the campaign, Republican Bob Dole plugged the online address of his campaign's home page on the World Wide Web. Saying he wanted to direct his two-minute closing statement "to the young people of America," Dole spoke out against drug abuse, then said, "If you really want to get involved, just tap into my home page: www.dolekemp96.org." The Net responded. The Associated Press reported this morning that in the hour after Dole's invitation to visit his Web site, "it was downright impossible to do so: It seemed too many other people were trying." The wire service reports, "Viewers who immediately went to their keyboards were rewarded with the page's initial text, and sometimes some partial graphics, before eventually receiving a 'time out error' -- typically associated with heavy usage. But after the logjam cleared, it was possible to zip onto the site, which allows visitors to choose from a number of graphically rich options, including a chronological database of Dole's recent speeches." Meanwhile, the 90-minute prime-time debate also increased online activity at the Clinton-Gore site (www.cg96.org) and the Perot venue (www.perot.org), and in real-time chat rooms in political sites all around the Web. Before Dole's Web remark at the end of the evening, the Internet and computers were mentioned three times during the debate: ú In his opening statement, President Clinton said, "Most important, let's make education our highest priority so that every eight-year-old will be able to read, every 12-year-old can log on to the Internet, every 18-year-old can go to college." ú Later, in response to a question about difference between himself and Dole, Clinton renewed an education promise he's made on the stump, namely, "hooking up all of our classrooms to the Internet by the year 2000." ú And Dole, in discussing his proposed 15-percent across-the-board tax cut, noted that for a family making $30,000 a year, it would amount to $1,261. Maybe to some, he said, "that's not a lot of money, but people watching tonight with a couple of kids, a working family, that's four or five months of day care, maybe a personal computer, it may be three or four months of mortgage payments." Mac Awareness Campaign Unveiled Apple Computer Inc. has unveiled a new communications campaign aimed at promoting third-party software titles for Mac OS, the Macintosh operating system. The campaign, dubbed "All Great Software Wears this Face," is designed to raise the visibility of third-party software for the Mac OS by making it easier for customers to identify, locate and purchase Mac OS software products through various distribution channels. Apple says the campaign is primarily designed to address issues surrounding what are called "hybrid" CDs. Hybrids account for a large percentage of overall Mac OS software titles, but may not be sold in the Mac OS section of a software retailer, potentially creating the perception that there are fewer software titles for the Mac OS. Hybrid CDs are also the fastest growing type of CD distribution in the software industry. Trade associations and other organizations that monitor the software industry are just beginning to implement mechanisms for tracking these products. "The main issue surrounding hybrid CDs is that, although they contain a Mac OS version, they are often times stocked only in the Windows section," says Jonathan Fader, director of Apple's developer marketing group. "When customers walk into their favorite software retailer, their perception may be that there are fewer products that run on the Mac OS. In fact there are actually more, they're just not all in the Mac section. In partnering with retailers, our goal is to show customers that these titles exist throughout the store." The campaign's in-store merchandising will include banners, posters and floor decals. Displays in the Mac OS section of selected retailers will identify the hottest new software to hit the market for Macintosh computers. Brightly colored pamphlets will offer customers peel-off notes containing descriptions of the hybrid issue and how to identify all software that runs on the Mac OS. Additional tote boards, shelf cards, and labels will help shoppers pinpoint Mac OS software titles outside of the Mac section. All collateral will sport the Mac OS logo and the tag line "All Great Software Wears this Face". The campaign will be reinforced by targeted advertising in major publications, says Apple. Microsoft Lobbies FCC on TV Rule The Federal Communications Commission is being urged to accommodate Microsoft Corp. and its industry allies by altering planned technical standards for digital television broadcasting. The New York Times reported this morning Microsoft is arguing in its lobbying to the commission that the standards could hamper the computer industry's future use of the broadcast spectrum. The Reuter News Service reports the television industry has rejected Microsoft's arguments, saying the standard would enhance the computer industry's entry into broadcasting by digitizing transmissions and allowing data to be sent while video was played. The Times says the debate is over whether the 18 video formats specified in the standard should be retained. Execs Just Say No to Buzzwords Is talking the talk turning off the customers? Some leading computer industry spokesmen admit they use too many buzzwords. Not only that, some even acknowledge they build complicated products that are not always useful in everyday life. Reporting from Lake Buena Vista, Fla., writer/columnist Russell Blinch of the Reuter News Service says a blue-ribbon panel from Silicon Valley and elsewhere has agreed that building easier-to-use products is the best way of bringing more people into the new digital world. Still, the panel says consumers have all too often been bombarded with needless software updates while being distracted by competing software "wars" waged by the big computer players. Gateway 2000 Chairman Ted Waite told the wire service, "People do want more stability and things have to become more simple," adding consumers have every right to be frustrated with personal computers that have become difficult to use and cost too much to maintain because of their complexity. Reporting to an annual Gartner Group computer conference, the executives said consumers at home and at work are confused by a huge selection of products. Said Vice Chairman Gary Fernandes of the consulting firm EDS Corp., "We are tyrannized by the amount of choices out there. The product life cycle is getting smaller and smaller. ... We have technical clutter. We speak in buzzwords and acronyms." Blinch says the exec acknowledged there has been too much emphasis on the various competing operating software "platforms" available while the market was also being hurt by software updates that in fact offer very little in useful new features. The industry also needs to drop the jargon and speak clearer so consumers can make proper choices. Meanwhile, Apple Computer Chairman/CEO Gilbert Amelio said all the attention focused on the so-called "browser wars" -- that is, whether Microsoft Corp. or Netscape Communications Corp. offered better software to cruise the Internet -- was really a waste of time. Browsing, he said, is essentially an unproductive activity and companies really need to focus on making products that make the Internet a useful tool for people to find information and to communicate. Said Amelio: "Right now browsing has a negative productivity factor, instead of a positive one. The question is how do we get people more productive." Linux & Caldera STR Infofile Caldera Ships Caldera Solutions CD (Online catalog available) Scott Dowdle - Great Falls, Montana - Linux OS User dowdle@icstech.com CD-ROM Contains Inter/intranet Solutions from Caldera and Other Industry Leaders Provo, UT October 7, 1996 Caldera , Inc. today announced the release of the Caldera Solutions CD containing Inter/intranet software from Caldera and its Independent Vendor Partners (IVPs). These best-of- breed products range from graphics development tools and web site builders to databases, scheduling/task management programs and other applications that may be downloaded for a fee. The Caldera Solutions CD will ship with all Caldera system software products and be made available to all registered Caldera customers. "Caldera customers wanted the best industry applications and development tools ported to Caldera's Linux- based environment," said Ransom Love, vice president of marketing and sales for Caldera, Inc. "The Caldera Solutions CD coupled with Caldera Network Desktop (CND) provides resellers, ISPs (Internet Service Providers) and their customers with a complete set of Linux-based applications for customized turn-key solutions. In turn, the Caldera Solutions CD program provides third-party developers with instant access to the global Linux channel." The Caldera Solutions CD includes the following products and company information: ú ADABAS D (Database) Software AG ú ASWedit (HTML Editor) AdvaSoft ú CIOS (Caldera Internet Office Suite) Caldera, Inc. ú CorelDraw 3 (graphics package) Corel Corporation ú Crisp (Text Editor) Vital ú Cyclom -Ye/PCI (PCI RISC-based multi serial board) Cyclades ú EditTable & ChartObject (graphics development tools) INT (Interactive Network Technologies) ú FlagShip 4.4 (applications development language and database) WorkGroup Solutions ú Labtam X-WinPro (enables Windows based PC's to become fully-functional remote/networked Caldera Workstations that can run CND and many host-based applications simultaneously) Labtam Finland Ltd. ú MetaCard 2.0 (GUI development and multimedia authoring tool) MetaCard Corporation ú Metro-X (X-Server) MetroLink ú Motif (Full Motif Development Libraries) MetroLink ú NetCat Product Suite (Interactive Inter/intranet catalog ordering and quotation system) DynamicWeb ú PartitionMagic (hard-disk manager) PowerQuest ú Starter Kit (web site builder for commerce and information exchange on Inter/intranets) Stallion Technologies Inc. ú Stronghold : The Apache -SSL-US (secure web server product) Community ConneXion ú Synchronize (scheduling and task management) CrossWind Technologies, Inc. ú X11 PrintManager (printing for X11 environment) Ematek The Caldera Solutions CD may be obtained by calling (800) 850-7779 or by E- mail to: orders@caldera.com. Product specific news releases may be obtained from Caldera's web site at http://www.caldera.com/ or from the individual product vendors. Caldera AE Announces New Caldera OpenLinux (COL) Platform and Three-Tier Product Strategy New Technology and Stratified Products to Ship in 4th Quarter 1996 and Throughout 1997 Provo, UT October 9, 1996 Caldera Inc. today announced the development and implementation of Caldera OpenLinux (COL), a new 32-bit, Linux 2.x-based platform for extending local area networks (LANs) to the home, branch office, remote user, Inter/intranet and embedded systems. To extend the LANs in an economical and easily managed way, COL technology will be offered in three product stratifications; base, workstation and server. Caldera the leader in commercial Linux-based system software debuted COL this week at UNIX Expo in New York. "Caldera first met customer demand for commercial Linux solutions by combining Linux technologies with enterprise standards like NetWare and Netscape Navigator ," said Ransom Love, vice president of marketing and sales for Caldera. "From the best of these and other technologies have evolved the Caldera OpenLinux platform and stratified products. Caldera product offerings will now be based on the COL platform with complete stratified solutions for workgroup and network/server environments." The secure, peer-to-peer COL platform first evolved from the synthesis of Caldera's existing Linux-based technologies and those acquired from Lasermoon of Wickham, England, pioneers of the Linux migration towards X/Open standards and other certifications. The efforts of the Linux System Technologies (LST) of Erlangen, Germany, completed the evolution of COL by integrating the Caldera and Lasermoon technologies with additional Internet technologies and LST's Linux 2.x-based products. COL is the official upgrade path for Lasermoon customers. Certification Currently, Caldera is working with the Linux community in making COL compliant and certified with industry standards like POSIX.1 (FIPS 151-2), Single UNIX Specification APIs and X-Open branding. These additions will be in future releases of COL stratified products when the enhancements have been integrated by key Linux developers. All of the work for standards compliance will be freely contributed back to the Linux community. Languages Caldera is committed to providing products for the global Linux market. COL stratified products will ship with an installation localized into English and German. Additional components of the product will be localized into English, French, German and Spanish. Caldera also plans product localization for the Japanese and Chinese markets. COL base The COL base product includes the following: ú Linux 2.x (multi-tasking, multi-user, 32-bit kernel with firewall facilities and comprehensive system utilities open source code included on CD- ROM) ú LookingGlass (graphical user interface with icon bar, drag and drop, comprehensive file typing and user-defined configuration, etc.) ú Netscape Navigator 2.02 (the widely popular client software for enterprise networks and the Internet) ú X-Inside 1.3 (accelerated X-Window system with more than 400 graphical drivers) ú CrispLite (powerful, graphical text editor) ú Caldera Solutions CD (fee-based, commercial, Linux-based software applications from Caldera and other industry leaders) ú ... and other technologies The COL base product provides Linux users and first time UNIX buyers with a comprehensive UNIX system that can run on Intel-based PCs including laptops with 16 MB of RAM. COL will be made available to hardware and software OEMs, Channel Partners and be the industry- standard platform for ISVs porting applications to Linux. The Caldera Solutions CD allows resellers and Linux users to purchase and install from the CD-ROM Linux- based software applications to facilitate the creation of customized solutions.. COL workstation Plans for the COL workstation product include: ú COL base product (Linux 2.x, LookingGlass, X-Inside 1.3 and CrispLite, etc.) ú Netscape Navigator 3.0 Gold (Java , news reader and authoring tools) ú NetWare Client and NetWare Administration Enhancements (Increased and enhanced NDS, bindery and print administration utility. Enhanced GUI desktop utilities, tightly integrated with the Looking Glass desktop) ú Market-leading, commercial, secure, web server (a complete solution for creating and managing web sites plus, the development and deployment of live, network-centric, media-rich applications for the Inter/intranet) ú Caldera Solutions CD ú ... and other technologies COL workstation is the Inter/intranet workstation solution providing client and server capabilities for NetWare, UNIX and Windows NT in conjunction with full Inter/intranet, authoring, publishing and browsing capabilities. All services on the local network may be extended down-the-hall, to-the-home or around the world across a high-speed connection by simply adding a frame relay or ISDN commodity card to Intel-based PCs. COL workstation is the second-generation solution for Caldera Network Desktop (CND) customers and replaces CND. COL server ú COL workstation product (Linux 2.x, Netscape Navigator 3.0 Gold, NetWare Client Enhancements, commercial, secure, web server etc.) ú Novell Cross Platform Services (NCPS) (includes license for Novell Directory Services (NDS) and five-user NetWare File and Print ) ú Caldera Solutions CD ú Novell GroupWise (Caldera has contracted to include a five-user license) ú ... and other technologies The COL server is designed for the workgroup and small office environments that need to fully utilize all systems. The COL server combines a complete applications server with all necessary Inter/intranet technologies enabling an organization to publish and interoperate with the Internet in a secure fashion. The COL server complements all NetWare, UNIX and Windows NT environments. Future Development and Internet/Linux Community Funding Caldera will continue to collaborate with developers in the Internet and Linux communities to develop and refine technologies that add the specific functionality requested by Caldera's customers. In addition, Caldera will provide a percentage of net revenues from COL-based products back to the Internet and Linux communities through funding for future technology development. Customer Support Support for the COL base product will be Internet-based, using the WWW and FTP. In addition to the Internet-based support, support for the workstation and server products will include free thirty-day installation support as well as fee-based, per incident support calls. Pricing The COL base product is scheduled to ship in November, 1996 for a suggested retail price of $59 US. The COL workstation product will ship for a suggested retail price of less than $300 US. The COL server product will ship for a suggested retail price of less than $1500 US. Promotions and Upgrades Until December 31, 1996, current registered CND users and those who purchase and register CND between now and December 31, or while supplies last, may purchase COL workstation for $59 US. The COL base product is not an upgrade to CND. Users of the COL base product will be provided an upgrade to both COL workstation and COL server when these products ship. Until December 31, 1996, current users of any Linux operating system (WGS LinuxPro, Red Hat, Slackware, Yggdrasil Plug and Play Linux, etc.) may upgrade to the COL base product for $45 US. Proof of usage may be presented to any Caldera Channel Partner or Caldera, Inc. Caldera, Inc. designs, develops and markets a line of full-featured, economical system software for the Internet, by the Internet, providing stable, high-quality alternatives to NT , Sun Solaris and SCO UNIX. Caldera uses its own technological and marketing resources to leverage technologies including the Linux operating system created by independent developers worldwide. For more information, visit the Caldera web site at http://www.caldera.com/. Caldera is a registered trademark; and Caldera Network Desktop, Caldera Solutions Partners CD, Caldera OpenLinux, Caldera OpenDOS and Caldera Appends are all trademarks of Caldera, Inc. UNIX is a registered trademark, in the United States an other countries, licensed exclusively through X/Open Company Limited. All other products, services and publications are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. Caldera is a registered trademark; and Caldera OpenLinux, Caldera Network Desktop, Caldera Solutions CD and Caldera OpenDOS are trademarks of Caldera, Inc. UNIX is a registered trademark, in the United States and other countries, licensed exclusively through X/OPEN Company Limited. Netscape Communications, the Netscape Communications logo, Netscape and Netscape Navigator are trademarks of Netscape Communications Corporation. All other products, services, companies and publications are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. Caldera Press Contacts: Lyle Ball Nancy Pomeroy lyle.ball@caldera.com nancy@caldera.com Tel: (801) 377-7687 x305 Tel: (801) 377-7687 x206 U.S. Navy Selects Microsoft Internet Explorer as Primary Browser Microsoft Internet Technology Now Available to More Than 600,000 Navy Users Worldwide REDMOND, Wash. - Oct. 2, 1996 - Microsoft Corp. today announced that the U.S. Navy has selected Microsoftr Internet Explorer as the Web browser for its Navy Internet Kit (NIK). Microsoft Internet Explorer version 2.1 for the Windowsr operating system version 3.1 will be included in the NIK, a set of innovative tools custom-designed to help Navy personnel communicate and connect to and use the Internet. As part of the kit, Microsoft Internet Explorer will be made available to more than 600,000 users worldwide. In addition, the Navy plans to distribute Microsoft Internet Explorer for the Macintosh, Windows 95 and UNIX platforms at a later date. Microsoft Internet Explorer, available today for Windows 3.1, Windows 95, the Windows NTr operating system and Macintosh platforms, is the Web browser that puts users a step ahead on the Internet. Microsoft Internet Explorer is optimized for each platform, delivering great performance to users. "Like many customers, the Navy wanted advanced browser capabilities for its entire range of users," said Brad Chase, vice president in the Internet platform and tools division at Microsoft. "Microsoft's focus on delivering versions of Microsoft Internet Explorer that are optimized for each platform gives the U.S. Navy what it asked for - great performance and advanced capabilities on the computers its personnel use today. We're proud to be part of the U.S. Navy's technology arsenal." The optimum performance, small size and customization capabilities of Microsoft Internet Explorer were key determining factors in the Navy's decision to upgrade the Navy Internet Kit with Microsoft Internet Explorer. Microsoft Internet Explorer will allow the Navy to preconfigure the browser with a long list of "must have" Web site addresses, including links to popular Navy sites, the U.S. Congress and the executive branch. The integration of Internet technology into the NIK enables the exchange of information between ship and shore facilities across the nation and worldwide. All versions of Microsoft Internet Explorer are available for no-charge download (other than the cost of online connect time, if any) from the Microsoft Web site at http://www.microsoft.com/ie/. Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day. Microsoft, Windows and Windows NT are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries. EDUPAGE STR Focus Keeping the users informed Edupage Contents Seymour Cray Dies Casie Goes To Bat For Online Advertising Standards AT&T, Microsoft Sign Quid Pro Quo Agreement Olivetti Abandons PC Business Internet Rationing Hits Higher Ed Graphical Interfaces Pose Obstacle To The Blind "Strong Brands Are Essential On The Web" Internet Suppression In Burma Kodak May Buy Wang's Imaging Software Business Internet II Gets The Green Light Castanet, Intermind Speed Up Downloads NII Protection Act Passes Senate Supreme Court Considers FCC's "Must Carry" Rule AOL And MSN Consider Flat-Rate Pricing Web Graphics Get A Face Lift Vendors Line Up Behind JavaTel "A List" For Internet Service Providers Administration Reverses Itself On Digital-TV Plan New Version Of Microsoft Network Web Surfing On The Go CAI To Buy Cheyenne Iran Wary Of World Wide Web Hughes Launches DirecPC California's Go-It-Alone Approach To Distance Learning Are Laptops Risky At 30,000 Feet? Clinton's $500-Million Internet Expansion Plan Intranet Used To Ease Mainframes Into 21st Century Netscape Says Browser War Unimportant IBM's Global Campus Network MicroTouch Wants To Reach Out To Consumers FedEx To Carry New Package: Electronic Services SEYMOUR CRAY DIES Supercomputer pioneer Seymour Cray, who was critically injured in an auto accident two weeks ago, died Saturday morning in a Colorado Springs hospital at age 71. Cray once recalled that an engineer at his very first job taught him to put his intuition to work. "I thought, 'Wow, here's something new.' So I put away my circular slide rule, and after that I usedintuition," he said. "That was my very first lesson. The site < http://pro.med.umn.edu/bmec/hoff/hoff_sc.html > is one of a number of sources on the Web providing information about Seymour Cray and the companies he created. (Washington Post 5 Oct 96) CASIE GOES TO BAT FOR ONLINE ADVERTISING STANDARDS A trade association for advertisers and advertising agencies called Casie (the Coalition for Advertising Supported Information and Entertainment) is proposing standards for the sizes and layouts of ad banners and buttons. The group says standardization will reduce production costs, simplify the process of creating ads, and make it easier to compare ad rates. (New York Times 4 Oct 96 C5) AT&T, MICROSOFT SIGN QUID PRO QUO AGREEMENT AT&T says it will make Microsoft's Explorer browser software easily available to AT&T WorldNet subscribers, in exchange for Microsoft including a WorldNet desktop icon in its next version of Windows 95 operating software. The move signals an about-face for AT&T, which had launched its Internet access service using Netscape's Navigator browser. MCI and America Online both recently defected to the Microsoft camp as well after initially forging relationships with Netscape, and Prodigy Services and Sprint are said to be considering similar moves. (Wall Street Journal 4 Oct 96 B2) OLIVETTI ABANDONS PC BUSINESS Olivetti S.p.A. is selling off its personal computer business, reversing its previous intention to retain the PC division of the company until it had restored it to profitability. By the end of next year, Olivetti will also sell off its share of Omnitel Pronto Italia, the mobile phone company which it owns with various other partners, including Bell Atlantic. (New York Times 4 Oct 96 C1) INTERNET RATIONING HITS HIGHER ED Some universities are finding they need to set limits on students' use of public workstations or campus phone lines to make their availability more equitable. The University of Pennsylvania has established a number of "express" phone lines, which limit users to 15-minute online sessions. All other lines have a one-hour limit for people with 28.8-kbps modems and two hours for those with slower models. "It's unpopular, but so is any form of rationing," says Penn's vice-provost for information systems. Meanwhile, MIT is considering installing "Quickstations" designated for short tasks, such as checking e-mail, and Brown University students must use a password to gain access to computers in some public labs, a precaution against suspected use by students from nearby schools. (Chronicle of Higher Education 4 Oct 96 A23) GRAPHICAL INTERFACES POSE OBSTACLE TO THE BLIND Dan Wakefield, a government computer specialist who is blind, says that things have never been worse for blind computer users, because the Internet, which started out as a "life-saver" for blind persons, has become predominantly graphics-oriented and mouse-driven rather than keyboard-driven. But some recent developments offer promise of improving this situation: Microsoft has released an Active Accessibility applications development kit and has provided a text-only option in its new version of Explorer; Netscape's version of the Navigator browser for IBM's OS/2 Warp 4 will offer speech-recognition capabilities; PWWebSpeak 1.2 from Productivity Works in Princeton, N.J. provides a Web browser that understands HTML; and Nynex Information Resources has a text-based version of its Web directory < www.bigyellow.com >. (Computerworld 30 Sep 96 p16) "STRONG BRANDS ARE ESSENTIAL ON THE WEB" The executive VP at Turner Broadcasting Sales points out that name recognition is important for success in new media: "Strong brands are particularly essential on the Web." Meanwhile, Time Inc.'s Pathfinder president notes: "There's a continuum from content and brands to marketing. There's no `there' there, with millions of people just milling around." The Web is "a different experience for each person using it." Pathfinder soon plans to switch to a subscription-based format to capitalize on its ability to deliver those individual experiences. (Broadcasting & Cable 30 Sep 96 p29) INTERNET SUPPRESSION IN BURMA In an attack on the country's political dissidents, the military regime in Burma has outlawed the unauthorized possession of a computer with networking capability, and prison terms of 7 to 15 years in prison may be imposed on those who evade the law or who are found guilty of using a computer to send or receive information on such topics as state security, the economy and national culture. (Financial Times 5 Oct 96) KODAK MAY BUY WANG'S IMAGING SOFTWARE BUSINESS With its microfilm and microfiche business under pressure from technologies that can transfer images directly onto a computer without needing to be placed on film, Eastman Kodak has begun negotiations to buy Wang's document imaging software unit, which produces imaging software bundled with the Microsoft Windows 95 and NT operating systems. It also produces document handling software that manages the workflow of graphical information between different parts of an organization. One industry analyst said that the move would benefit Kodak because "film-based information is a dying business." (New York Times 4 Oct 96 C16) INTERNET II GETS THE GREEN LIGHT Computing officials at 34 research universities have agreed to work together to build Internet II, a nationwide computing network that will operate at speeds several times faster than today's Internet. The universities have pledged to create a new organization, financed by membership fees, which will help to fund the effort. Partners in the effort will include computer and telecommunications companies, in addition to the higher education community. The new network will be used only for communications between the campuses that choose to participate -- all messages heading toward other locations will still use the Internet. Educom VP Mike Roberts notes that the plan calls for involving as many corporate partners as possible: "The challenge here is not to invent it, but to integrate it." He adds that Internet II would solve the current "chicken-and-egg" problem, here the telecommunications companies are reluctant to invest in the next generation of network technology until there is a critical mass of potential users. (Chronicle of Higher Education 11 Oct 96 A29) CASTANET, INTERMIND SPEED UP DOWNLOADS Marimba Inc. is introducing software called Castanet which speeds up the process of downloading files from the Internet by making it possible to download only the updated portions of textual or graphical information, and to do so on a "time release" basis, making it an efficient way for an organization to distribute new versions of software to its workers during off hours. Castanet currently works only with Java programs but will be extended to work with other programming languages as well. (New York Times 7 Oct 96 C5) Meanwhile, Intermind Corp. is also unveiling its version of software that allows users to set personal preferences for information they would like to receive from specific Web sites. The data could then be retrieved automatically by their computers at designated intervals. (Wall Street Journal 7 Oct 96 B9) NII PROTECTION ACT PASSES SENATE The NII Protection Act (S 982) has passed the Senate and a companion bill has been introduced in the House. The Senate bill's sponsor, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) says the bill is intended to provide better protection for computer systems from "hackers, high-technology criminals and spies." The legislation marks a shift in focus away from protecting the computer system itself and toward protecting the information on that computer. Under the Act, it would be unlawful merely to "obtain information" without authorization from a computer or computer network. The bill would give prosecutors considerable leverage in prosecuting cases of computer network trespassing. (BNA Daily Report for Executives 4 Oct 96 A34) SUPREME COURT CONSIDERS FCC'S "MUST CARRY" RULE The Supreme Court has begun hearings on the FCC's "must carry" rule, which stipulates that cable operators must carry most over-the-air stations rather than only those stations the cable owners select on their own. The government is arguing that the rule is necessary to maintain a "robust array of quality programming" because without the rule, broadcast stations denied a place among cable offerings will lose advertising revenue and wither away. The cable operators are arguing that the rule limits their free speech because it precludes them from using certain channels for programs of their own choice. The Justices seem to be sympathetic to the position of the cable operators. (New York Times 8 Oct 96 A22) AOL AND MSN CONSIDER FLAT-RATE PRICING America Online and Microsoft Network are considering adopting the same pricing strategy. AOL now charges its subscribers $2.95 an hour for time spent online over the basic service agreement ($9.95 a month for 5 hours or $19.95 a month for 20 hours). The company recently acknowledged in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission that its customer retention rate has suffered because of competition from Internet service providers that offer flat-rate pricing. (Wall Street Journal 8 Oct 96 B8) WEB GRAPHICS GET A FACE LIFT Members of the World Wide Web Consortium have endorsed the Portable Networks Graphics specification, enabling Web users to enjoy truer colors and faster downloading of graphics. Currently, the colors are determined by what type of PC is doing the browsing, but the new standard will enable graphic files to be seen exactly as intended, regardless of the hardware used. (Investor's Business Daily 7 Oct 96 A8) VENDORS LINE UP BEHIND JAVATEL Six hardware and software companies have signaled their support for Sun Microsystems' Java Technology Toolkit, or JavaTel, a cross-platform product designed to link any telephone, appliance or networked computer to any Java- based application. IBM, Intel, Lucent Technologies, Nortel and Novell have said they'll support the standard, and more companies are reportedly ready to join the pack, according to Sun's director of market strategies and technologies. JavaTel will offer software developers and device manufacturers a uniform interface for driving basic telephony functions, such as call setup, disconnect, hold and call transfer. A series of JavaTel Extension Packages will deliver interfaces such as advanced call control, media services, terminal management, call center management and mobile services. (Interactive Age Digital 4 Oct 96) "A LIST" FOR INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS The Washington Post reports that the automobile industry is unhappy over the uneven performance of many Internet service providers, and is gearing up to establish some accountability through a consortium of companies that will rate providers against a set of performance standards. The Automotive Industry Action Group will publish its findings periodically, and only those that make the grade will be certified to participate in an Internet-based computer network for the industry. "Industries change best when their consumers push them to change, and we need to get this Internet industry to change," says a technical support specialist at Chrysler. Industry analysts say the automobile list could gain the influence of a sort of "Consumer Reports" on the Internet, and eventually could serve as the benchmark for people seeking good service. The first certifications could be completed by the middle of next year. (St. Petersburg Times 7 Oct 96 p15) ADMINISTRATION REVERSES ITSELF ON DIGITAL-TV PLAN Backing away from the digital TV conversion plan it offered just three months ago, the Clinton Administration shows signs of heeding complaints from Silicon Valley and Hollywood that the plan unwisely favors TV technology over computer technology and would result in TV screens poorly shaped for watching films. (Wall Street Journal 8 Oct 96 B10) NEW VERSION OF MICROSOFT NETWORK Microsoft is introducing version 2.0 of its commercial online service called Microsoft Network (MSN). The network will emphasize entertainment as well as stock-trading, shopping, and other transaction services. (New York Times 7 Oct 96 C5) WEB SURFING ON THE GO AT&T's Wireless Services unit will offer a portable PocketNet Phone that provides Web access, fax and e-mail capabilities. It contains a custom- developed browser for viewing Web pages, and will be priced around $600 when it hits the shelves later this year. (Investor's Business Daily 7 Oct 96 A8) CAI TO BUY CHEYENNE Software giant Computer Associates International, which supplies software to manage enterprise-wide computer ystems, is planning to buy Cheyenne, which makes software for managing data stored on networks and specializes in products for Microsoft's NT operating system. Cheyenne also sells antivirus software. (New York Times 8 Oct 96 C1) IRAN WARY OF WORLD WIDE WEB With access to the Internet increasing in Iran, the government there is trying to centralize all access through the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications in order to ban sites of the Mujahedeen Khalq and other opposition groups, as well as sites of the B'ahai religion, pornography, or "Western propaganda." A senior Iranian official says: "There is stuff on the Internet that people have access to that is as offensive as 'The Satanic Verses' and it is updated every day. We believe a certain level of decency must be provided." (New York Times 8 Oct 96 A4) HUGHES LAUNCHES DIRECPC Satellite giant Hughes Electronics Corp. is launching its high-speed, satellite-to-home DirecPC service, offering Internet users download speeds more than 10 times faster than is possible using standard telephone lines. Initially, the $699 hardware packages, which include a 21-inch-wide elliptical dish and related equipment, will be available only in California CompUSA computer stores, but eventually the DirecPC kit will be sold in more than 100 CompUSA outlets nationwide. Monthly service charges can range from about $40 to $130 a month, plus Internet access charges. "We are the ideal choice for people who regularly download large files and can't wait for future technologies because they need greater speed now," says DirecPC's head of marketing. (Wall Street Journal 10 Oct 96 B5) CALIFORNIA'S GO-IT-ALONE APPROACH TO DISTANCE LEARNING Stating it wants to do its own thing, the state of California has announced its intention to create a rival organization to the widely publicized "virtual university" under development at the Western Governors Association. "California is uniquely positioned to become a world leader in the development and distribution of college-level software, courses and programs, with its outstanding institutions of higher education, its thriving technology and entertainment industries, and its aggressive international state marketing programs," says California Governor Pete Wilson. Unlike the Western Governors' "virtual university," the California entity would not seek separate accreditation authority. (Chronicle of Higher Education 11 Oct 96 A34) ARE LAPTOPS RISKY AT 30,000 FEET? A new report by RTCA Inc., a nonprofit group that advises the airline industry, recommends tougher restrictions on the use of portable electronic devices during "all critical phases of flight." Some experts are even calling for a complete ban on all devices during flight. Currently, the Federal Aviation Administration leaves that decision up to individual airlines. In addition, the report recommends a total ban on all devices that transmit radio waves, such as a pager that automatically acknowledges receipt of a message by sending one back, or a laptop equipped with a wireless modem. Studies have shown that some of the strongest electromagnetic fields come from laptop computers, as the shielding that protects against unintended radio emissions tends to deteriorate over time. A laptop with a 90-Mhz microprocessor can leak radiation at that frequency as well as at higher, so- called harmonic frequencies, interfering with a plane's navigation and communications capabilities. (Business Week 14 Oct 96 p90) CLINTON'S $500-MILLION INTERNET EXPANSION PLAN President Clinton is getting ready to propose a five-year, $500-million Internet expansion plan to help 100 universities and other institutions to access the Internet at speeds 100 to 1,000 times faster than is currently possible. The plan is designed to promote experimental use of new computer networking technologies. (Washington Post 10 Oct 96) INTRANET USED TO EASE MAINFRAMES INTO 21ST CENTURY A U.K. consulting company called the PHD Group is using a network solution to overcome the "millennium problem" that faces organizations relying on mainframe software, which -- unless recoded at great expense -- will cause havoc with various date-dependent calculations (such as mortgage payments). Generally, such software uses a two-digit format (to save computer memory) and so can not identify what century a given date is in. The PHD Group's solution is to connect the mainframe to an organizational intranet and change dates on the intranet. (Financial Times 10 Oct 96) NETSCAPE SAYS BROWSER WAR UNIMPORTANT With the large Internet service providers continuing to abandon the Netscape Navigator browser software in favor of Microsoft's Explorer, Netscape chief executive James Barksdale is downplaying the importance of the browser wars and arguing that the more important contest is over the server software used to run organizational intranets. Prodigy has just announced its commitment to the Explorer software, as has AOL, AT&T WorldNet, Netcom, and MCI. (New York Times 9 Oct 96 C1) IBM'S GLOBAL CAMPUS NETWORK IBM has established a Global Campus Network linking more than 30 universities worldwide, giving students access to electronic application procedures and using Lotus Notes to link students with off-campus experts in various disciplines. Among the initial group of participating schools are the University of Minnesota, Rutgers University, the University of Nebraska and the California State University system. Non-U.S. participants include universities in Canada and Latin America. Eventually the network will be used to offer programs to off-campus students and those living outside the U.S. (Wall Street Journal 10 Oct 96 B7) MICROTOUCH WANTS TO REACH OUT TO CONSUMERS MicroTouch Systems, which makes touch-screen products for kiosks and video games, is expanding its horizons with a new business unit focused on developing and marketing consumer-oriented products. The first product is an electronic white board dubbed Ibid. Ibid works like an ordinary white board, and uses standard white board markers, but its output can be sent to a PC, a printer or a network. The technology is not new, but MicroTouch's board is priced aggressively at $500, while rival products run about $2,000. (Investor's Business Daily 9 Oct 96 A6) FEDEX TO CARRY NEW PACKAGE: ELECTRONIC SERVICES Shipping giant Federal Express will offer software called BusinessLink designed to allow companies to buy and sell goods over the Internet, as well as to pay for the purchases and arrange for delivery. The company's announcement mirrors recent announcements by AT&T, IBM and Microsoft on their intentions to provide business-oriented electronic commerce services. (Wall Street Journal 9 Oct 96B3) 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. EDUCOM REVIEW is our bimonthly print magazine on learning, communications, and information technology. Subscriptions are $18 a year in the U.S.; send mail to offer@educom.edu. When you do, we'll ring a little bell, because we'll be so happy! Choice of bell is yours: a small dome with a button, like the one on the counter at the dry cleaners with the sign "Ring bell for service"; or a small hand bell; or a cathedral bell; or a door bell; or a chime; or a glockenspiel. Your choice. But ring it! EDUCOM UPDATE is our twice-a-month electronic summary of organizational news and events. To subscribe to the Update: send a message to: listproc@educom.unc.edu and in the body of the message type: subscribe update John McCarthy (assuming that your name is John McCarthy; if it's not, substitute your own name). INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE The CAUSE organization's annual conference on information technology in higher education is scheduled for the end of this month in New Orleans. The conference will bring together administrators, academicians and other managers of information resources. For full conference information check out or send e-mail to conf@cause.colorado.edu. ARCHIVES & TRANSLATIONS. For archive copies of Edupage or Update, ftp or gopher to educom.edu or see URL: < http://www.educom.edu/>. For the French edition of Edupage, send mail to edupage-fr@ijs.com with the subject "subscribe"; or see < http://www.ijs.com >. For the Hebrew edition, send mail to listserv@kinetica.co.il containing : SUBSCRIBE Leketnet-Word6 or see < http://www.kinetica.co.il/ newsletters/leketnet/ >. For the Hungarian edition, send mail to: send mail to subs.edupage@hungary.com. An Italian edition is available on Agora' Telematica; connection and/or free subscription via BT-Tymnet and Sprint (login: ) and each issue of AC will feature an article from one of their back issues, Chris is one of the best writers I have come across and no matter the subject, he can make it good reading. Ho dear, the very next page see's A message and Three articles from Issue #2 of the excellent ATARIPhile, Personally I read all the diskzines and readable releases I can find on the ST, so in my humble opinion I would not be too pleased reading so many articles I have already read in Diskmagazines for free?, Full credit has been given to the diskmagazines for these articles etc, but..... Anyway as I was saying, There is also a Q & A section in this issue, with the contributors this magazine boasts then I cannot see any question going un answered :), we can all learn from other people's questions so this makes a good read. There are of course advertisements from various companies, these are well laid out and in my opinion just the right amount, you are not hit in the face every other page with a full page advert, there are not too many, and not too few, just right. :) The magazine does not waste space, no gaping white squares that could have been filled with text, all the space on every page seems to have been used to its greatest potential. Articles, some great reading here, quite a lot in helping keep the ATARI community together, Three pages starting with "STAG NIGHT" take us through everything you need to know about user groups, featuring STAG,WSAUG and WAG, with hefty (and quite rightly to) references to AAUG the Association of ATARI User Groups. "ON THE NEST" takes us through everything you need to know about joining the BBS network of systems, mainly NeST, reason enough alone for getting a Modem, if you have a local BBS that carries NeST then use it! There are of course lots more articles, all of interest to the majority of ATARI users, by no means for the techies only. Reviews, Alright this was/is one of my main reasons for subscribing to the magazine, I have to admit to having been a little worried on this front, for some reason ATARI World has been used a lot in pre-comparisons, With Joe Conner doing the honors this made me even more worried as he has a self confessed biased towards GEM based products, where personally I hate GEM. Worried for nothing, I was more than pleasantly surprised at the amount of software reviewed, the way it was reviewed and the various types of software reviewed, no preferences by anyone here, From serious GEM applications to simple games, there are all there, I give the magazine one hundred percent marks for there direction in software reviewing. Ok....I will be back for more, and will re-subscribe, it is definitely worth the money and worth waiting for, a good read. Announcement of NetBSD/Atari 1.2 I originally tried to post this to the atari.announce group, but the moderator seems to be unreachable.... I am happy to announce the release of NetBSD/Atari-1.2 What is NetBSD? NetBSD is a Berkeley Networking Release 2 (Net/2) and 4.4BSD-Lite-derived system. It is a fully functional UN*X-like system which runs on several architectures and is being ported to more. NetBSD, as the name implies, is a creation of the members of the network community and without the net it's likely that this release wouldn't have come about. I didn't know that it existed for Atari! That might well be possible. Although it has been available since May 1995, this is already the second 'official' release of NetBSD that incorporates support for the Atari platform! What hardware does it support? Currently NetBSD/Atari runs on the TT030 and the Falcon. Supported devices are: 1. - The built-in SCSI host adapter 2. - Should support most SCSI disks/tapes/CDROMs/MO drives. 3. - The built-in video controller 4. - The built-in (720Kb/1.44Mb) floppy drive 5. - The serial2/modem2 ports 6. - The Falcon FX memory expansion 7. - The atari keyboard & mouse 8. - The centronics parallel printer 9. - FPU-emulation. 10. - X11R6 - mono & colour. Although not hardware, I think it's worth mentioning. What's different with respect to the 1.1 release? Apart from lots of bugfixes and enhancements to the general system, some new atari specific features were added: 1. - Support for SCSI MO-drives 2. - Parallel printer support 3. - Bootblocks 4. - Support for multiple keyboard layouts Where can I get it? The 'home' site of NetBSD is: ftp.netbsd.org . The NetBSD/Atari-1.2 release can be found in the directory: /pub/NetBSD-1.2/atari . The installation guide can be found in 'kernels/INSTALL'. It contains all information necessary to get you started, like which files you should fetch to start installing the system. ftp.netbsd.org will probably be pretty busy after the 1.2 release, but it's always possible to get the distribution at a mirror site. The following sites spring to mind: ú ftp.uni-regensburg:/pub/NetBSD-1.2 ú ftp.funet.fi:/pub/unix/NetBSD/NetBSD-1.2 Where should I go for more info? If you want more information about NetBSD, for instance general info on NetBSD, mirror sites, mailing-lists and so forth, visit our www server at http://www.netbsd.org . One mailing list is of special importance to NetBSD/Atari, the 'port-atari' list. On this list, you can ask questions that are specific to the Atari port of NetBSD. To subscribe to this list, send email with body text "subscribe port-atari" to: majordomo@netbsd.org. I should probably also mention that you can get help by sending a body text "help" and an overview of the available lists with "lists". Good Luck, Leo. Phoenix-The Fall & Rise of Home Videogames Besides Zap, the Rise and Fall of Atari, you might take a look at Phoenix, The Fall & Rise of Home Videogames by Leonard Herman. This is a comprehensive book covering the beginnings of video games (Spacewar) all the way up to Atari and Nintendo and a lot of stuff in between. It's also fun to read. The book itself goes up to 1993 but you can get supplements that bring it all the way up to 1995. You can get it from Rolenta Press, P.O. Box 3814, Union, NJ 07083-1891. Email: 72750.2244@compuserve.com or Rolenta@aol.com. It probably sounds like I'm connected with the company, but I'm not. It's just a great book. Rick Murray rmurray@net-link.net CONTACT: Roberts, Mealer & Co./PR Leilani Smith/Brian McVicar Phone: 714/957-1314 Fax: 714/957-0805 lsmithrmc.xo.com bmcvicarrmc.xo.com JTS Corp. Announces South American Distribution SAN JOSE, CALIF. (Oct. 7) BUSINESS WIRE -Oct. 7, 1996--JTS Corp. (AMEX:JTS), a world leader in the development of ultra-slim hard disk drives and portable storage solutions, on Monday announced distribution agreements with South American distributors FutureTech and MarkVision. The agreement calls for FutureTech and MarkVision to distribute JTS' full line of 3.5-inch and 3.0- inch hard disk drive storage products. "By working together with South America's premier distributors, JTS will achieve a heightened channel awareness, widespread product access and improved customer service in key Latin American markets," said Tom Mitchell, president and chief executive officer of JTS Corp. "We're pleased to have the support of FutureTech and MarkVision as we enter our most innovative year ever in terms of new product offerings." JTS' current products include a family of low profile, high capacity 3.5-inch disk drives designed for desktop applications and JTS' Nordic line of ultra- thin, high capacity 3.0-inch disk drives for mobile computing with z-heights as thin as 10.5mm. JTS' products are encapsulated to lock in quality while allowing for ease of installation. This encapsulation technology has allowed the company to achieve field return rates approximately 300 percent lower than industry averages. "The strengths of JTS and its innovative products and our access and knowledge of the South American hard disk drive market is a winning combination," said Lou Leonardo, president of FutureTech and MarkVision. "We are pleased to provide the high quality JTS product family to our growing customer base." "With FutureTech and MarkVision, JTS has created an unstoppable South American distribution network," Mitchell added. "We are very excited to be working together." JTS Corp., with headquarters in San Jose, was founded in 1994 to design, manufacture and supply enhanced-capacity hard disk drives for the notebook and desktop personal computer market. JTS offers an innovative line of ultra- slim 3.0-inch disk drives that provide higher capacity and lower cost per megabyte than competitive alternatives in the portable computer markets. The president and chief executive officer of JTS, Tom Mitchell, was formerly the president and chief operating officer of Conner Peripherals and co-founder, president and chief operating officer of Seagate Technologies. The company currently employs more than 4,300 people worldwide. For more information, contact JTS Corp. at 166 Baypointe Parkway, San Jose, Calif. 95134. Phone: 408/468-1800. Fax: 408/468-1619. Entertainment Section Nintendo 64 Sells Out?! PSX Crash Bandicoot! Telegames To Publish 4 New Jaguar Games!? Goodbyes? And more... From the Editor's Controller - Playin' it like it is! Although not officially announced by Telegames, we've learned that they will be releasing four new Jaguar games in late November: Towers II, Breakout 2000, Zero Five, and one other title (Skyhammer?). We know that Towers II is a definite and I'll go out on a limb and state that I believe that the two other announced titles will also likely appear. Since I don't definitely know the fourth title yet, I won't comment on that one. We'll keep you posted on these (and other?) new games as we learn more. In the meantime, the Nintendo 64 seems to be doing quite well these days. I still think that Nintendo is shooting themselves in the foot with limited quantities of the console in the United States; and, only have two games available for it now, and likely no new games to arrive until after Christmas. Shades of Atari holiday seasons! I've started receiving Sony PlayStation press kits recently. The first "batch" of info that I have pertains to "Crash Bandicoot," the new action and adventure platform game. Reading about this game reminded me of the Jaguar's "Rayman;" it certainly sounds as exciting. I'm looking forward to seeing this one although I'm not much of a platformªgenre enthusiast. In this issue, I've included a lot of information about this game and hope that you enjoy reading about it. Bandicoots? Amazing, but this is a real creature! Look it up in your Funk & Wagnalls! Until next time... Industry News STR Game Console NewsFile - The Latest Gaming News! Sold Out: Nintendo 64 Flies Off Shelves Interactive Week Online (October 3, 1996) - Consumer demand for Nintendo America's next-generation video game system exceeded even the lofty expectations of its manufacturer, as the initial shipment of 350,000 N64 game machines flew out of retail stores in the product's first three days of availability. Widely anticipated in the U.S. market for more than a year, the 64-bit game machine made its debut Sunday. More than 175,000 of the $199 game systems were sold on the first day of availability, according to Nintendo officials. Based on the initial response from U.S. consumers, Nintendo is projecting it will sell more than 1.5 million units before the 1996 holiday season. In July, Nintendo was projecting U.S. sales of about 1 million units in the first nine months of availability. Nintendo America's chairman, Howard Lincoln, said he is optimistic that the parent company, Japan-based Nintendo Co., can meet the increased demand. In addition to hardware units, Nintendo resellers sold about 350,000 copies of the Super Mario 64 software title. The game machine was released to the Japanese market earlier this year, where consumers bought more than 800,000 units the first month it was available. Nintendo can be reached at www.nintendo.com Contacts: Molly Smith Sony Computer Entertainment America 415-655-6044 Samantha Sackin Fleischman Hillard, Inc. 213-629-4974 Introducing "Crash Bandicoot(tm): Ready To Save the World FOSTER CITY, Calif. Marking the one year anniversary of Sony Computer Entertainment America's introduction of the PlayStation game console, is the nationwide launch of "Crash Bandicoot." Developed exclusively for the PlayStation game console, Crash Bandicoot is the premiere title for the system's fall line up, that will include more than 150 titles in time for the holidays across all genres, including platform, sports, action, fighting, puzzle and role playing games. "Crash Bandicoot is the game that will bring the PlayStation game console to the mass market consumer," said Andrew House, vice president of marketing, Sony Computer Entertainment America. "With its brilliant graphics, unique characters and solid gameplay, "Crash Bandicoot" is going to be the start of a whole new PlayStation gaming revolution." Enhancing the gameplay experience are a number of factors that make "Crash Bandicoot" a standout title: a humorous storyline; lush, organic 3D environments; multiple camera perspectives; fully modeled and texture mapped cartoon characters; music and sound effects created by professional movie effects editors; and controls that feel as solid as the best action games around. The game starts off with our hero, Crash, a peaceful, ground dwelling bandicoot living on a small, three island chain off Australia being captured and brainwashed by the evil Dr. Neo Cortex. It's all part of the doctor's plan to turn the island's animals into an army of super intelligent, devoted followers who will help him and his assistant Dr. N. Brio, take over the world. When Dr. Cortex's plan backfires, all of the animals become raving lunatics. Crash changes too ª but into a crazy, lovable character. Upon realizing the doctor's plan, Crash sets out on a rescue mission to defeat Cortex and save his girlfriend, Tawna, who is next in line for the experiment. "Crash Bandicoot" was produced by Universal Interactive Studios, Inc. (UIS), created and developed by Naughty Dog, Inc., an independent development company working at the UIS headquarters on the Universal Studios lot in Universal City, California, and published by Sony Computer Entertainment America. Crash, an original character with a distinctive spirit and sense of zaniness, was created by Universal Interactive Studios, Naughty Dog, Inc., and leading Hollywood animators, Joe Pearson and Charles Zembillas. "Technologically, the PlayStation is the only gaming platform that could do justice to our concept and design for "Crash Bandicoot," said Rob Biniaz, chairman, Universal Interactive Studios. "We are extremely pleased that this key product for us will receive the benefit of Sony's formidable marketing and distribution strength." In a classic fight of good versus evil, gamers must guide Crash Bandicoot on his dangerous journey through an amazing 3D world using every ounce of skill, courage and luck they have to dispatch the doctor's horde of mean and deranged henchmen with frenetic spins or jump attacks. There are also moving platforms, dropping bridges and trampolines to negotiate; bonus items that will gain extra lives and special powers to collect; and secret gems to unlock hidden levels. Gamers who survive the journey and reach the castle must be prepared for a final showdown with Dr. N. Brio, Cortex's right-hand man - who's capable of morphing into the Brio- Monster and the evil one himself, Dr. Neo Cortex. "Crash Bandicoot" includes all the favorite features gamers love, including power ups, hidden bonus levels, moving platforms, chasms, disappearing bridges, fiendish traps, and secret pathways and shortcuts. Gamers will experience the true sensation of a fully animated cartoon world come to life. Universal Interactive Studios, Inc. is a subsidiary of MCA Inc., a unit of the Seagram Company Ltd., a global beverage and entertainment/communications company. UIS develops and publishes videogame software for a variety of platforms based on both original concepts and MCA-owned motion picture and television properties. Sony Computer Entertainment America, a division of Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc., is based in Foster City, California. The company markets the PlayStation game console for distribution in North America, publishes software for the PlayStation game console for the North American market, and manages the U.S. third party licensing program. Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. is a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America. CONTACT: Nancy Tully Acclaim Entertainment 516.656.5000 Acclaim Entertainment Announces Alliance With Ocean GLEN COVE, N.Y. (Oct. 7) BUSINESS WIRE - Oct. 7, 1996 -- Acclaim Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ:AKLM), one of the world's largest publishers of interactive entertainment, today announced that it has entered into a one- year agreement with Ocean, Europe's leading developer of interactive games, to publish and market Ocean's PC and video games. The two companies will focus on games for the Sony PlayStation, Sega Saturn and PC hardware platforms to be distributed in the North American market. One of the first Ocean titles Acclaim will market is Tunnel B1, an action- packed first-person "shooter" game in which the pilot of the B1 craft navigates through enemy strongholds to eliminate the "ultimate weapon." In previewing Tunnel B1, Next Generation Online wrote, "Spectacular lighting effects and smooth gameplay make this title stand out." Reviews have called it the "most frantic and compulsive video game ever created" and compared it to other top-selling games by commenting, "Doom meets Wipeout down a dark back-alley." Tunnel B1 is expected to ship in November for the Sony PlayStation, Sega Saturn and PC-DOS. "The teaming of Acclaim and Ocean brings some of Ocean's hottest titles to the North American market more quickly through Acclaim's extensive distribution network. Both companies also will benefit from the synergy of our combined marketing efforts. This exciting partnership also will enhance the Acclaim line of titles for the PC platform, and we look forward to a robust relationship," Jim DeRose, president and chief operating officer of Acclaim's North American operations, said. Ocean is part of the French-based Infogrames Entertainment SA. Its U.S. subsidiary, Ocean of America, has its headquarters in San Jose, Calif., and is a leader in the U.S. interactive home entertainment market. "We are very pleased to partner with Acclaim in publishing our exciting new line for the upcoming year. This important strategic alliance will enable Ocean to remain concentrated on developing the best content both in Europe and at our U.S. company in San Jose, dovetailing our products with the strength of Acclaim's operation in the North American market to achieve maximum sales," David Ward, Ocean chairman, said. Ocean, founded in 1983, together with its U.S. subsidiary Ocean of America, Inc., develops and publishes interactive entertainment software for all Nintendo, Sega and Sony hardware systems as well as high-profile games for PC and Macintosh personal computers. In April, Ocean merged with the leading French interactive company, Infogrames Entertainment SA, Europe's top games publisher. Recently released titles include EF2000 flight simulators and Worms. Acclaim Entertainment, Inc., a leading worldwide publisher of software for Nintendo, Sega, Sony and personal computer hardware systems, also publishes comic books under a variety of imprints. In addition, Acclaim develops coin-operated arcade and ticket-redemption games; operates blue screen and motion capture studios; and, through A.D.I., globally sells and distributes products from a variety of entertainment software publishers including Interplay, Marvel, Pulse Entertainment and Take 2. Acclaim also has a joint venture with Tele- Communications, Inc. for electronically distributed interactive entertainment. This press release contains forward-looking statements. There are certain important factors that could cause results to differ materially from those anticipated by the statements made above. Such risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the growth of the installed base of 32-bit and 64-bit gaming and PC systems, the timely availability and acceptance of Acclaim's future products for such systems, the competitive environment in the consumer software and related industries, the management of inventories and growth, and other risks and uncertainties that may be detailed from time to time in Acclaim's reports files with the Securities and Exchange Commission. LSI Debuts DVD Chip MILPITAS, Calif., Oct. 7 (UPI) -- Advanced chip design specialist LSI Logic Corp. reported Monday it has developed a chip for the fledgling digital video disc market, joining Toshiba and Hyundai. The product will be shipping in volume to LSI Logic customers during the second quarter. DVDs, also called digital versatile discs, are optical discs with seven times the capacity of a CD-ROM that can be used to store high-quality video, music and graphical material. The first DVD products were expected to hit stores this fall at price tags as little as $500 but the question of rotecting the movie and music industries from widespread copying has not been resolved. LSI said the chip combines nine separate core areas, with more than 2 million transistors and 45 memories. "With its high resolution, high storage capacity and affordable price, DVD will truly have a profound impact on the digital electronics industry for years to come," said Wilfred J. Corrigan, chairman and chief executive. "Just as audio compact discs with their improved sound quality changed the music business, DVD will change how video is stored, ultimately replacing the VCR." Corrigan said the by rapidly developing cost-effective DVD products, LSI will help play a significant role in accelerating the widespread adoption of DVD products. LSI has already supplied chips for other prominent consumer electronics categories such as digital set-top boxes for EchoStar's satellite TV system, digital video cameras, and 32-bit video games, including the Sony PlayStation. The company said the chip will be able to play back movies with high clarity and superior picture and bring multimedia capabilities to the personal computer. Dataquest has estimated shipments of DVD players and drives are expected to reach sales of more than 33 million units by the year 2000. "Crash Bandicoot" Fact Sheet Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America System: PlayStation game console Available: Now Price: $59.95 MSRP Category: 3D Action Platform Rating: KA (Kids to Adult) # of Players: 1 Skill Level: Intermediate Target Audience: Primary, Males 12-24 Secondary, Males & Females 8-11, 25 and up Peripheral Support: Memory Card (optional) Game Storyline: On a small, three island chain off the southeast coast of Australia, a maniacal scientist has set up his headquarters. Bent on world domination, Dr. Neo Cortex has determined that his goal can be accomplished with the help of an army faithful only to him. Cortex, with the help of Dr. N. Brio, decides to brainwash the various creatures indigenous to the islands so that they have not only super human intelligence, but also absolute devotion. Two diabolical machines are created...the EvolvoªRay and the Cortex Vortex. The EvolvoªRay gives the animals superior brain power. The Cortex Vortex is supposed to make them allegiant only to Dr. Cortex, but it doesn't work right. Instead of being devoted geniuses, the animals become raving lunatics. While each attempt has been a failure, his greatest failure is Crash Bandicoot, who realizes that what the doctor is doing to the animals is wrong. Cortex is so frustrated with the crazed bandicoot that he boots him out of the castle. Crash washes up two islands away, confused, but with resolve. His girlfriend Tawna is scheduled to be the next experiment. He must get back to the castle, defeat Dr. Cortex and save Tawna. Game Play: Gamers guide Crash through beautifully rendered, 3D environments. Players are challenged in more than 30 levels, utilizing controls that provide movements in all three directions. Enemies are eliminated by using a frenetic spin attack or by jumping on them. Powerªups can be obtained during the journey including invincibility. Join forces with AKU AKU, the village witch doctor. Not only will he use his magic experience, he'll also transform into a magical orb that circles Crash, protecting him from damage. Negotiate Crash down pathways that include many fiendish traps and other familiar platformªgenre hazards. A number of obstacles get in your way, testing your skills. Collect bonus items like fruits and characters to gain extra lives and special bonus stages. Key Game Elements: Crash Bandicoot redefines the category as it pushes the absolute limits to deliver a truly revolutionary platform game experience exclusively for the PlayStation game console. Face the challenge of maneuvering in all three dimensions as you guide Crash across three beautifully rendered islands, 30+ levels, three different perspectives and controls that feel as solid as the best action games around. Find all your favorite features including hidden bonus levels, moving platforms, chasms, disappearing bridges, fiendish traps and secret pathways and shortcuts. Hilariously rendered characters with real personalities, music and sound effects scored by professional movie effects editors and digitized speech add to the fantasy of this cartoon world leaving you wondering ª is it real? Experience the sensation of a fully animated cartoon world come to life. Enormous levels, unbelievable graphic detail, realªtime lighting and flood with obstacles means it's good looking, with great sound and packed full of solid gameplay. Character "biography": Crash Bandicoot: Our hero, Crash, is a superªevolved bandicoot that is both lovable, brave, funªloving AND totally confused. A peaceful bandicoot that was snagged in the prime of life by Dr. Neo Cortex and subjected to the Evolvo Ray and Cortex Vortex, Crash is willing to put his life on the line to rescue the love of his life, Tawna. To rescue her and win her affections, he will swim any river, climb any mountain and fight any number of foes to reach her side. He also wants to save the world. Tawna: Tawna is a female bandicoot with both the intelligence and allure to attract Crash and serve as a worthy subject for the evil Dr. Neo Cortex. She hates the laboratory and is pinning her hopes on Crash to save her from the Evolvo Ray and Cortex Vortex. Dr. Neo Cortex: Dr. Neo Cortex is a mad genius intent on nothing less than total world domination! He is motivated by the desire to take vengeance on humanity that has always spurned and humiliated him. Ruthless and obsessive, Dr. Cortex will go to any lengths to see his schemes realized. Possessed with a tremendously high I.Q., he is constantly infuriated by the inferior mentality of his underlings. A lifelong loner, the closest thing to a human friend is his assistant and childhood associate, Dr. N. Brio, whom he treats with the contemptuous affection of a master to a pet (when he's not screaming at him). Dr. N. Brio: A calm center in the vortex of insanity that is Castle Cortex, Dr. Brio is a man of few words, but with great devotion to his "master." As Dr. Cortex's chief assistant and fall guy, Dr. Brio is the closest thing the madman has to a friend. Logical and deadpan to a fault, devoid of normal human emotions, he is the logical "voice of reason" (if doctors bent to brainwash animals have reason), to Dr. Cortex's manic highs and lows. He was instrumental in developing the Evolvo Ray, but its continued malfunctions are not his fault and are more likely the result of the egomaniacal Dr. Cortex's tampering with the original design. Jaguar Online STR InfoFile Online Users Growl & Purr! Ralph, Steve, and all others interested..... I talked to Peter Curry today to get an answer concerning the announcement and here's what I found out. There's basically two announcements. The first one is the fall in price of the Jaguar system to $59.95 with Wolf 3D. The second announcement comes from Telegames that they will be releasing a total of four new Jaguar titles including Zero Five, Breakout 2000, Towers II and an unknown title. This announcement from Telegames is not yet official. The tentative release dates for all four games is late November. The reasoning for releasing the four simultaneously is for economy's [sic] of scale purposes. Hope this helps. -Steve Gameware Express Don Thomas "UpFront" STR Focus Did you hear anyone say "Goodbye"? by Donald A. Thomas, Jr. (10/4/96) It's odd to imagine an institution, which was as big and as powerful as Atari once was, to have been shut down in recent days. The real amazement for me is that it was all accomplished without a measurable flinch from within or outside the gaming industry. I can understand that gamers wanted to push Pong out the door early in the timeline. I can appreciate that the classics such as Missile Command and Asteroids do not push 32-bit and 64-bit systems to any technological limits. I know all these things intellectually, but the heart cannot face the truth that the world and the corporate machine known as Atari could not find an amicable way to coªexist. On Tuesday, July 30, 1996, Atari Corporation took each and every share of it's company (ATC), wrapped them all in a tight bundle and presented them to JTS Corporation; a maker and distributor of hard disk drives. On Wednesday, the shares were traded under the symbol of JTS. Within a few weeks, the remaining staff of Atari that were not dismissed or did not resign, moved to JTS' headquarters in San Jose, California. The three people were assigned to different areas of the building and all that really remains of the Atari namesake is a Santa Clara warehouse full of unsold Jaguar and Lynx products. It was only as long ago as mid '95 that Atari executives and staff believed things were finally taking a better turn. Wal*Mart had agreed to place Jaguar game systems in 400 of their Superstores across the country. Largely based on this promise of new hope and the opportunities that open when such deals are made, Atari invested heavily in the product and mechanisms required to serve the Wal*Mart chain. But the philosophical beliefs of the Atari decision makers that great products never need advertising or promotions, put the Wal*Mart deal straight into a tailspin. With money tied up in the product on shelves as well as the costs to distribute them to get there, not much was left to saturate any marketplace with advertising. While parents rushed into stores to get their kids Saturns or PlayStations, the few that picked up the Jaguar were chastised by disappointed children on Christmas day. In an effort to salvage the pending Wal*Mart situation, desperate attempts to run infomercials across the country were activated. The programs were professionally produced by experts in the infomercial industry and designed to permit Atari to run slightly different offers in different markets. In spite of the relatively low cost of running infomercials, the cost to produce them and support them is very high. The results were disappointing. Of the few thousand people who actually placed orders, many of them returned their purchases after the Holidays. The kids wanted what they saw on TV during the day! They wanted what their friends had! They wanted what the magazines were raving about! In early 1996, Wal*Mart began returning all remaining inventory of Jaguar products. After reversing an "advertising allowance" Atari was obligated to accept, the net benefit Atari realized was an overflowing warehouse of inventory in semi-crushed boxes and with firmly affixed price and security tags. Unable to find a retailer willing to help distribute the numbers required to stay afloat, Atari virtually discontinued operations and traded any remaining cash to JTS in exchange for a graceful way to exit the industry's back door. Now that JTS has "absorbed" Atari, it really doesn't know what to do with the bulk of machines Atari hoped to sell. It's difficult to liquidate them. Even at liquidation prices, consumers expect a minimal level of support which JTS has no means to offer. The hundreds of calls they receive from consumers that track them down each week are answered to the best ability of one person. Inquiries with regard to licensing Atari classic favorites for other applications such as handheld games are handled by Mr. John Skruch who was with Atari for over 13 years. In spite of Nintendo's claim that their newest game system is the first 64- bit game system on the market, Atari Corporation actually introduced the first 64-bit system just before Christmas in 1993. Since Atari couldn't afford to launch the system nationwide, the system was introduced in the New York and San Francisco markets first. Beating the 32-bit systems to the punch (Saturn/PlayStation), Atari enjoyed moderate success with the Jaguar system and managed to lure shallow promises from third-party companies to support the system. Unfortunately, programmers grossly underestimated the time required to develop 64-bit games. The jump from 8-bit and 16-bit was wider than anticipated. In addition, Atari was already spread thin monetarily, but were required to finance almost every title that was in development. After the initial launch, it took Atari almost a year before an assortment of games began to hit store shelves. Even then, having missed the '94 Holiday Season, many of the planned titles were de-accelerated to minimize problems caused by rushing things too fast. Consumers were not happy and retailers were equally dismayed. The few ads that Atari was able to place in magazines were often stating incorrect release dates because that information changed almost every day although magazines deadline their issues up to 120 days in advance. It was in 1983 that Warner Communications handed Jack Tramiel the reins of Atari. By this time, Atari was often categorized as a household name, but few households wanted to spend much money on new software and the systems were lasting forever. No one needed to buy new ones. That, combined with Warner's obscene spending, amounted to a *daily loss* of over $2 million. Atari was physically spread all over the Silicon Valley with personnel and equipment in literally 80 separate buildings; not considering international offices and manufacturing facilities. Mr. Tramiel took only the home consumer branch of Atari and forced Warner to deal with the arcade division separately. Within a few years, Jack took the company public, introduced an innovative new line of affordable 16-bit computers and released the 7800 video game system. To accomplish these miracles for Atari, Jack implemented his "business is war" policies. While people who publicly quoted his statement often felt that policy meant being extremely aggressive in the marketplace, the meaning actually had closer ties to Tramiel's experience as a concentration camp survivor. Of the 80 buildings in Sunnyvale, Santa Clara and Milpitas, almost every one of them were amputated from Atari's body of liabilities. The people, the work, the heritage, the history were fired or liquidated. Those who survived were unsympathetically required to fill in the gaps and while most tried, few actually found a way to be successfully do what a dozen people before them did. Atop the mountain, Jack pressed with an iron thumb. All Fed/Ex mailings were required to be pre-approved by one of a handful of people. "Unsigned" purchase orders went unpaid regardless of the urgencies that inspired their creation. Employees found themselves spending valuable time trying to find ways around the system to accomplish their jobs. Many of them lost their jobs for bending the rules or never finding a way to make things work. As horrible as it all sounds, it actually was the only way to protect Atari as a company and give it a chance to survive, as it did and did very well. Jack's introduction of the 16-bit computer was initially hearty in the United States but it went extremely well in Europe. Europeans were not accustomed to "affordable" technology and although the Atari computers were not IBM compatible, it didn't matter because people could afford them. Jacks' private laugh was that the computers were sold at prices much higher in Europe than Americans were willing to pay. As a result, most of the machines made were being shipped to European destinations to capture the higher margin. This enraged the people in the United States that had been Atari loyalists. While waiting months for stores to take delivery domestically, international magazines were touting ample supplies. Those in the know within the U.S. became dismayed. The remainder never knew Atari was slowly abandoning the value of Atari's name recognition as it became easier and easier to forget, some assuming Atari had long filed for bankruptcy. On a technical level, Atari 16-bit computers were designed beyond their time. For less than $1,000, consumers could enjoy "multimedia" before the phrase was ever really widely used. The icon-based working environment proceeded Windows popularity although the essential attributes of the two environments were very similar. MIDI was built-in and became an instant hit in the high- end music industry. Tasks were activated and manipulated with a mouse and the system accepted industry standard peripherals such as printers, modems and diskettes. With all the genius that went into the technology of the machines, very little of equivalent genius went into the promoting and marketing the machines. Mr. Tramiel was the founder of Commodore Business Machines. When he introduced the PET computer in 1977, Jack discovered he didn't have to call a single publication. Instead they all flocked to his door demanding an opportunity to see the product. News magazines. Science Journals. Business newsletters. Newspaper reporters. They were all there with microphone, camera and pen in hand. And they kept coming back. Adding a switch, announcing a new 4K application or signing a new retailer were all big stories the press wanted to handle. Today, a new video game announcement may generate a request from any of the dozens of gaming magazines for a press release, but a lot of costly work has to be done to assure fair or better coverage. Editorial people are literally swamped with technical news. Samples are mailed regularly to their attention. Faxes fly in through the phone lines and e-mail jams up their hard drives. It takes a lot to grab their attention. While Atari retained hopes to be successful with the Jaguar, Atari's marketing people were fighting established standards in the industry with severe handicaps. Since cartridges (the Jaguar was/is primarily a cartridge- based system) were so expensive, editorial people were required to return them before new ones would be sent. Editorial people like to assign review projects. So finding cartridges they sent out was not always easy to do. Additionally, reviewers often love their work because they get to keep what they write about. Regardless, the few magazines willing to cover Atari products were more often turned away because of a lack of programmable cartridges or any number of other indecisive barriers. In-store signs and posters were sometimes created, but many retail chains charge premiums to manufacturers that want to display them. Some direct mail campaigns were implemented, but Atari often could not afford to keep those things being advertised on schedule. Therefore, the advertisements were published and distributed, but the product was not available. Clearly, Jack's experience with the world beating a path to the door of a company making a better mousetrap no longer applied. The world had revolved a few times beneath him and he never noticed. The tactics used to successfully sell Commodore computers were simply antiquated notions from the past. Meanwhile, Sony launches the PlayStation with over $500 million in marketing funds. Today, the PlayStation is considered the most successful next-generation gaming machine throughout the world. Sony bought the market. Tramiel's Atari never learned how to do that. Actually, they never could afford it anyway. After the 1990's got underway, Europe as well as the rest of the world, discovered that IBM-compatible computers were becoming more powerful and more affordable. The world always did want computers at home just like in the office and companies like Dell and Gateway exemplified the industry's trend toward home-based office computers. As a result, companies like Commodore, Atari and Next couldn't compete any longer. While the dedicated user base of each of them felt abandoned by these companies having to leave the computer market, the inevitable prevailed. Commodore jumped ship, Next changed business goals completely and Atari invested what they had left in the Jaguar game system. Even today, Apple is kicking and screaming. As good as Apple was at creating a huge niche for themselves, they focused more heavily on education. When kids grow up and get jobs, they want business machines. IBM was always the business standard. When one examines the history of Atari, an appreciation can grow for how many businesses and people were a part of the game over the years. Chuck E. Cheese Pizza was started by Atari's founder, Mr. Nolan Bushnell. Apple Computer was born in a garage by ex-Atari employees. Activision was founded by Ace Atari programmers. The list goes on and on. But for some pathetic reason Atari's final days came and went with no tribute, no fanfare and no dignified farewells. Why? Where did all the talent go? Where are all the archives? Where are the vaults? Where are the unpublished games and where are the originals of those that were? Why has no company stepped forward to adopt the remaining attributes Atari has to offer? Where are the creditors? What has happened to all the properties and sites? Where are the databases, warranty cards, promotional items, notes on meetings, unanswered mail? Who owns P.O. Box 61657? Who goes to work in Atari's old offices? Where do consumers have their systems fixed? Who is publishing new games? Who still sells Atari products? Why are there still a lot of people talking about Atari on-line? I'm an ex-Atari employee and proud to have been. I'm still an Atari devotee and proud to be. To me, these are questions which all deserve an answer, but who will ask them? The best people to ask these questions are those who have exposure to the public. If you believe Atari left us without saying goodbye, contact Dateline at dateline@nbc.com. If you REALLY believe, then send this article to 10 of your friends in e-mail. AND if YOU REALLY, REALLY believe, mail a few to newspapers or other news programs. A letter in your own words would be great! I'd spend money for a thorough retrospect on Atari. Wouldn't you? Wouldn't it at least be nice to say "Goodbye"? --Don Thomas 75300.1267@compuserve.com Permission is granted to freely reprint this article in it's entirety provided the author is duly credited. Publisher Note: Don, Sometimes. just saying "goodbye" is one of the hardest things in life to do. Lord knows .if it was easy, I would've said goodbye at least eight years ago. As I am sure many others will agree. But I am not saddened by Atari's demise. After all, the memories are wonderful (well, most anyway. a few creeps tried to make them otherwise). I'll always have a fond thought or two about my Atari years. you see, its where it all be Next! by Bill Kunkel Report from the Front As the city of games begins to dig out from beneath the rubble created by the long-delayed launch of the N64 into the next generation wars, I am forced to contemplate an extended engagement involving three fronts. Since it's often difficult to tell the players without a scorecard, let's look at both the valiant dead and the still surviving forces in this epic struggle for supremacy at the next level of electronic gaming. System: CD-i Manufacturer: Phillips Status: Deceased Strengths: Surprisingly, has not begun to stink, despite the fact that it's been dead for over a year. This was the first army to launch a next wave assault. Weaknesses: They are dead, cut down like the first troops hitting the beaches at Normandy as competitors step over the inert corpse, they collect its dogtag and move on. System: : 3DO Manufacturer: Matsushita, Others Status: Comatose; Medics offer no hope for recovery Strengths: Fascinating concept and Trip Hawkins writes one hell of an IPO. It was an easy system to develop for; and had nice controllers. May have sired an heir in the M2 that may succeed where its parent failed. Weaknesses: All sorts of problems including failure to get development tools distributed in a timely manner. But, hey, who wants to beat a horse on life support. The fatal flaw in the entire 3D paradigm was Trip Hawkins naive belief that they could develop hardware which could not be trumped for at least five years. Unfortunately, a major programming development occurred within six months of the 3DO's launch and was partially responsible for the system's early obsolescence. System: Jaguar Manufacturer: Atari Corp. Status: Missing in action, presumed dead Strengths: The system was actually built on a fairly sound technological basis. There was actually some genuine enthusiasm for the system in game magazines and many in the industry were rooting for an American-based company to get back into the hardware fray. Weaknesses: When the people who own the company are clueless, foolish, and arrogant, you've got a hard row to hoe. System: Saturn Manufacturer: Sega Status: Alive, but seems about as healthy as Boris Yeltsin Strengths: Brilliant multi-processor technology. A good, balanced, software line with strong sports titles and two strong holiday lead-ins: NiGHTS and the next-gen Sonic entry. And, of course, Sega's greatest strength: it can not only recognize a good game when it sees one, but can generate enough first rate software on its own to keep the hedgehog running. Weaknesses: The multi-processor technology has been extremely difficult for third-party developers to crack. Probably, however, the biggest strike against the Saturn, was Sega's ill-advised and failed attempts to upgrade its successful Genesis system to next-gen quality. Between the Sega CD and 32X, Sega turned off so many gamers, that it lost its edge in the next gen war. Right now, despite the fact that the Saturn has more quality games than the PlayStation, momentum is clearly swinging away from Sega. (Note: In its ubiquitous, and extremely unimpressive Crash Bandicoot ads, Sony ignores Sega entirely and goes after Nintendo.) System: PlayStation (PSX) Manufacturer: Sony Status: Alive, growing, not thriving Strengths: As stated above, right now, the PlayStation is kicking the Saturn's butt at retail in both the US and Europe. Momentum and perception are illusive qualities, but Sony is a powerful company with a lot of leverage among retailers. Weaknesses: Almost no truly exciting games are available for this system-- unless you're a devotee of 3-D fighters. Very poor catalog selection, not nearly enough sports, puzzle, and RPG titles. You cannot remain successful in the US without a killer sports line. (Look at the edge that EA Sports gave the Genesis before the games became available on the SNES.) Sony's main defect, however, is its almost total dependence on third-party developers; while Sega and Nintendo can reliably produce their own first-rate software, Sony has to pray that its third-party creatives deliver the goods. Also, the TV marketing stinks. System: Nintendo 64, N64 Manufacturer: Nintendo Status: Newly delivered, somewhat smallish, but makes enough noise for an infant twice its size Strengths: The Nintendo name. Skillful marketing, probably the best in the business right now. And, of course, Myamoto-san. Weaknesses: How about $US70 cartridges for a start? Then there's the fact that there is [sic] only two games, and the company will be lucky to get another five out before Christmas. Nintendo has actively discouraged third- party developers, and this company has never been able, unlike Sega, to generate large quantities of software. Then, too, there's the fact that Nintendo will try to sell a peripheral drive for the N64 (non-CD based, it runs on heavy water or something) about six months to a year down the road. This means consumers will have to shell out another $US150 or so, and may very well be perceived by the parental end of the customer base as something as a scam. Unless Nintendo finds some way around these problems, this system is going to be in trouble. Final prognosis As we can see, even the most well-situated combatants are waging war atop a shifting and uncertain landscape. Then, of course, there's always the possibility of yet another player showing up with an even bigger gun. Reporting from the front, Bill Kunkel, over and out. STReport Confidential News, Tips, Rumors, Expos‚s1, Predictions - San Jose, CA. SEGA'S HARDWARE DAYS NUMBERED! As usual, our Super Snoop has uncovered something many would rather not read or hear. But. get this, Sega is about to go software only. PC gaming Software at that. Seems they feel the real BUX are in that direction. It all sounds far too familiar. Another long time gaming console company went basically the same route. and then on to oblivion. Anybody recall the Atari story? - San Francisco, CA SCAMS AND SCHEMES ABOUND AROUND ATARI CADAVER! It's a sad thing to see happening. but our snoop has found a number of "so-called" great deals surrounding the now, very dead Atari Jaguar "64bit" game machine. Seems a few "wise entrepreneurs" are trying to sell a "package deal" to the consumers. It goes something like this; ú A combo package of the Jaguar and a (1) game ($US 59.95!!) that was originally released on the PC platform years ago. The game Wolf 3d, is a decent enough game but its as old as the characters it portrays. Most industry observers call the Jaguar Platform like it really appears. "Dead, but with an occasional nerve spasm" that has no hope to offer.. STReport's "Partners in Progress" Advertising Program The facts are in... STReport International Online Magazine reaches more users per week than any other weekly resource available today. Take full advantage of this spectacular reach. Explore the superb possibilities of advertising in STReport! Its very economical and smart business. In addition, STReport offers a strong window of opportunity to your company of reaching potential users on major online services and networks, the Internet, the WEB and more than 200,000 private BBS's worldwide. 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STR, CPU, STReport, are trademarks of STReport and STR Publishing Inc. STR, CPU, STReport, its staff and contributors are not and cannot be held responsible in any way for the use or misuse of information contained herein or the results obtained therefrom. STR OnLine! "YOUR INDEPENDENT NEWS SOURCE" October 11, 1996 Since 1987 Copyrightc1996 All Rights Reserved Issue No. 1241 _______________________________ 1