Silicon Times Report "The Original Independent Online Magazine" (Since 1987) June 20, 1997 No.1325 Silicon Times Report International Magazine Post Office Box 6672 Jacksonville, Florida 32205-6155 R.F. Mariano, Editor STR Publishing, Inc. Voice: 1-904-292-9222 10am-5pm EST FAX: 904-268-2237 24hrs STReport WebSite http://www.streport.com STR Publishing's FTP Support Server 10gb - Back Issues - Patches - Support Files (Continually Updated) ftp.streport.com Anonymous Login ok - Use your Email Address as a Password Check out STReport's NEWS SERVER NEWS.STREPORT.COM Have you tried Microsoft's Powerful and Easy to Use Internet Explorer? Internet Explorer is STReport's Official Internet Web Browser. STReport is prepared and published Using MS Office 97, Corel Office Perfect 8 & Adobe Acrobat Pro Featuring a Full Service Web Site http://www.streport.com Voted TOP TEN Ultimate WebSite Join STReport's Subscriber List receive STReport Via Email on The Internet Toad Hall BBS 1-617-567-8642 06/20/97 STR 1325 Celebrating Our Tenth Anniversary 1987-97! - CPU Industry Report - Corel NewsWire - NET PCs RSN - Grolier in WP8 Pro - Online Banking - Thumbs Plus 3.0gb3 - Top Ten Games - World Tour Racing - Shareware Listings - E3 Show Report - People Talking - Classics & Gaming FCC Chairman Nixes AT&T/SBC Merger ClariNet News Service Sold AOL Not Liable! STReport International Magazine Featured Weekly "Accurate UP-TO-DATE News and Information" Current Events, Original Articles, Tips, Rumors, and Information Hardware - Software - Corporate - R & D - Imports Adobe Acrobat Pro 3.0 Please obtain the latest issue from our Auto Subscription, Web Site or FTP Site. 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. 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 1987-1997 Florida Lotto - LottoMan v1.35 Results: 06/07/97: two of six numbers with no matches From the Editor's Desk... Tomorrow morning is officially the beginning of the Summer Season. Summer Solstice I believe is the name. Full Moon, Higher than high Tides. also known as Neap Tides will occur. Summer means Outdoor Activities, Sun, Fun, Beaches, BBQ's and of course, travel. All I ask is that when it comes to the Travel, please what ever means you are using or doing. do it safely. And if any of you are in Our Hometown area, look us up for a hello or two. Cakewalk 6.0 Pro is out and I might add it's a dilly. Talk about a powerhouse of a Midi Application! This one literally takes the Cake! We will be doing a full review of the program. At this point, its best said in one word; Wow. Musicians check this Midi Package out you will not be sorry. We have tried to make a good thing even better for you. L.E. Pulley's Shareware Listings is a great feature article each week. We have now made it even better. Directly from the PDF edition one may click on the Hot Links in the Shareware list and the system's browser will be immediately called. Of course you must be "connected" to the Internet via your ISP or whatever you use for a gateway to the `Net. You can breeze right out to any hot link, look over the site and perhaps download the program. You can then drop the browser and move to the next item in the issue. Every week, a FRESH up to date listing of the latest and greatest of shareware made directly available to you. Enjoy. Of Special Note: http://www.streport.com ftp.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/FTP Site, 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. You'll be pleased to know you are able to download STReport directly from our very own FTP SERVER or WEB Site. While there, be sure to join our STR AutoMailer list which allows a choice of either ASCII or Acrobat PDF. STReport's managing editors DEDICATED TO SERVING YOU! Ralph F. Mariano, Publisher - Publisher, Editor Dana P. Jacobson, Editor, Current Affairs Section Editors PC Section Mac Section Shareware Listings R.F. Mariano Help Wanted Lloyd E. Pulley Classics & Gaming Kid's Computing Corner Dana P. Jacobson Frank Sereno STReport Staff Editors Michael R. Burkley Joseph Mirando Victor Mariano Vincent P. O'Hara Glenwood Drake Contributing Correspondents Jason Sereno Jeremy Sereno Daniel Stidham David H. Mann Angelo Marasco Donna Lines Brian Boucher Leonard Worzala Please submit ALL letters, rebuttals, articles, reviews, etc., via E-Mail w/attachment to: Internet rmariano@streport.com STR FTP ftp.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 FTC Warns Junk E-Mailers The Federal Trade Commission is firing a warning shot across the bow of the junk e-mail industry, saying regulators will punish businesses that put false information in the unsolicited mail sent to millions of World Wide Web users. Business writer David E. Kalish of The Associated Press the commission also has asked the online industry to figure out ways to stem the flood of commercial mail that has clogged the Internet, making it difficult for users to go online. Look for the FTC to ask industry groups to supply lists of junk-mail senders to help its new drive to detect fraud. "Penalties for junk mailers who break the law," says Kalish, "could include court injunctions to stop the practice. ... Repeat offenders could face fines of tens of thousands of dollars." FTC commissioner Christine Varney told the wire service, "We will try to go after them and prosecute some fraud." The commission says it will focus on two types of e-mail scams: ú Businesses using a bogus name or Internet address, leaving consumers with no way of stopping the junk mail because their messages bounce back from the false addresses. ú Junk mailers who lie to consumers in an effort to lure them into investment, business opportunity or other scams. AP says several major emailers and industry groups said they would cooperate with the FTC and would supply names of fellow mailers. Sanford Wallace, president of the controversial super-spammer Cyberpromotions Inc., told AP, "We have to play by the rules. We want to set an example." Meanwhile, the FTC has decided for now to let industry figure out how to slow the flood of unsolicited mail instead of pushing for government rules, such as an outright ban on junk mailings. Regulators at yesterday's FTC hearing asked industry and consumer groups to create a group to examine the problem and report back in six months. E-Mailers Try to Reform Image A new group called the Internet Marketing Council has been formed by a number of direct marketing firms to try to change their image as a venue for junk e-mail. For the Newsbytes computer news service, writer Bill Pietrucha reports from Chevy Chase, Maryland, that the goal of the IMC is, according to director Jay McCrensky, "to create a positive and receptive environment for commercial e-mail, and put an end to the misuse of deceptive and unwanted mail sent through computers." Said McCrensky, "Although there is tremendous potential in commercial e-mail, the industry has suffered from a backlash to e-mail marketing, and the real cost of the backlash is to the consumer." IMC Vice President Douglas Wood, the group's legal counsel, adds, "The Internet is so vast, open, and unregulated that virtually anyone can offer products for sale. Unfortunately, you cannot market online through Web sites alone. The most effective way is through direct response marketing, including e-mail." Pietrucha says the group is establishing a "certification" and "labeling" program for member commercial e-mail To obtain the IMC endorsement and the right to use the certified log on the address and heading, an applicant to the IMC must provide: ú A significant give-away or discount to the recipient. ú Credit or points toward free Internet access and product discounts to the recipients for receiving and looking at e-mail. ú -A commission to member Internet service providers on each certified e-mail received and looked at. Judge Says AOL Not Liable A judge in West Palm Beach, Florida, has ruled America Online is not liable for customers who use the service to peddle pornography in cyberspace. Judge James Carlisle says federal law leaves it up to parents to police their personal computers. AOL was sued in January on behalf of a 14-year-old boy who was sexually assaulted by Richard Lee Russell in 1994. The two met by exchanging messages in an AOL "chat room." The Associated Press notes Russell, who pleaded guilty to federal and state charges stemming from the assault and is in federal prison, said he used AOL to talk to other pederasts around the country, according to the lawsuit. The suit contended AOL's rules prohibiting customers from posting obscene or illegal material were so poorly enforced that the provider became "a home shopping network for pedophiles and child pornographers." However, Judge Carlisle cited the Communications Decency Act of 1996. "Though the bulk of the law consists of anti-pornography measures, which have been put on hold pending a U.S. Supreme Court ruling," says AP, "one section says companies such as AOL cannot be sued for the statements of others. It also says service providers cannot be sued if they prohibit certain material from being transmitted but don't police themselves well." As reported here earlier, the legal action sought $8 million in damages, $1 for each American Online subscriber. The boy's lawyer, Brian Smith, said he plans to appeal Carlisle's ruling. A separate lawsuit is pending against Russell. AOL attorneys have said it is impossible to monitor all of its chat rooms, where 14,000 conversations can take place simultaneously, and that the company has employees who search for pedophiles. Feds Brace for Porn Ruling While saying it hasn't changed its stance on restricting the availability of pornography to children on the Internet, the White House is acknowledging it is weighing what to do if the U.S. Supreme Court strikes down a controversial law that limits such access. The Reuter News Service quotes White House spokesman Mike McCurry as saying, "Our administration views are those that we've argued in front of the court. We want to look ... at ways that we can help families that want to protect kids from smut and indecency." However, McCurry also notes the White House is studying what to do if the Supreme Court strikes down 1996's so-called "Communications Decency Act," which makes it a crime punishable by two years in prison and a $250,000 fine to transmit such material on the Internet in a manner available to minors. The New York Times reported yesterday the White House may be preparing a new policy undercutting its strong support of the law until now. On this, McCurry says the White House wanted to keep pornographic material away from children. "We're figuring out how to do that depending on what the court might rule." The CDA already has been struck down by lower federal courts as being unconstitutional. The Supreme Court judgment is expected any time within the next few weeks. Ramsey Probe Intruder Target? Word from Boulder, Colorado, is that documents containing information on the JonBenet Ramsey case may have been stolen from a police computer. Authorities told United Press International someone gained access to a computer early last Saturday in the so-called "war room," used by detectives and prosecutors working on the 5-month-old case. The room was set up the previous Monday. Detective Commander John Eller told the wire service, "We don't believe anything has been lost, but we don't know what, if anything, has been copied." Police have asked the Colorado Bureau of Investigation to launch a probe. There were no signs of forced entry to the room, which is protected by electronic security, police said, adding that in the wake of the breach in security, the system is being upgraded. UPI characterizes this episode as "the latest wobble in a murder investigation that has drawn a great deal of attention, not only because of the mystery surrounding the slaying but criticism of how the probe has been handled." The 6-year-old beauty queen was found strangled in the basement of her parents' Boulder home on Dec. 26. There have been no arrests. Financial Encryption Code Cracked The encryption technology that has protected electronic financial transactions since the 1970s has been cracked by a group of programmers and researchers, using tens of thousands of computers across the Internet. Writing in The Wall Street Journal this morning, Reporter Don Clark says the group was able to decode a message that had been scrambled using the Data Encryption Standard, "which," he notes, "most banks and many companies rely on to protect sensitive information from thieves and eavesdroppers." (The Data Encryption Standard uses a 56-bit key.) Adds Clark, "The result of the four-month computing effort, in response to a public challenge by the encryption company RSA Data Security Inc., is believed to be the first time anyone has claimed to have cracked the code." The paper comments that while it may be years before criminals could mount such an attack, "the breakthrough highlights the long-term threat to codes that protect electronic money transfers, ATM transactions and private documents moving electronically around the globe." Also, look for the breakthrough to be used as further ammunition for Clinton administration critics in their efforts to persuade the government to relax export controls on encryption technology. Writes Clark, "The administration still contends that the standard is adequate protection under most circumstances. Government agencies have long opposed export of stronger products because the technology would make it difficult to read the messages of terrorists or criminals." Loveland, Colorado, programmer Rocke Verser, who helped lead the decoding effort, told the Journal, "We have demonstrated that DES can be cracked, and it's not difficult to do it. It means that we need to take a very serious look at how data is encrypted and stored and passed." Competing against a team in Sweden, Verser drew assistanc from university students, scientists and companies around the country to run a software routine that he developed to try out all of the mathematical possibilities for a key that might decode a message that RSA posted in its challenge. Participants made use of spare time on an assortment of large and small computers in what is called a "brute force" attack. Says Clark, Cracking the message meant that the team faced the theoretical possibility of having to test 72 quadrillion possible numbers as a potential key to decode the message. As it turned out, a personal computer operated by a Salt Lake City company called iNetZ Corp. stumbled on the correct number after about 25 percent of the possible numbers had been tried." Quebec Demands French on Web In Montreal, a computer store has been warned by the agency that enforces Quebec's language laws that its English-language Web site violates a law requiring businesses to use French. The Associated Press says owners of Micro-Bytes Logiciels were given until July 2 to provide a French version of the Web site or face a fine of up to $1,000. "The store initially decided to shut down the home page," says the wire service, "but has reinstated it after supporters encouraged them through email messages, phone calls and visits." Store manager Marc Silverman told AP, "It's totally a matter of principle. I got a lot of French supporters telling me they have French Web pages on the Internet and they're going to translate them into English-only pages." AP adds, "The watchdog agency -- known among Quebec's English-speaking minority as the language police -- has received a wave of electronic hate mail since reports of the May 29 warning surfaced in the Montreal media last weekend." Agency spokesman Gerald Paquette told the wire service, "It's not pleasant, but we're used to it." The agency says the store's Web site didn't comply with a section of the language law requiring that catalogs brochures and other commercial publications be in French. Paquette notes the Internet hadn't been mentioned specifically in the law, but has now been included. Says Silverman, "The question right now is whether Quebec has the right to control what goes on the Internet. Our position is, `No, they don't have that right.'" Right now, the store is working on a bilingual home page, but owner Morty Grauer said he wasn't sure if it would be ready by July 2. Mom Accused of 'Net Addiction' A Cincinnati mother of three is accused by authorities of devoting so much time to her computer and to the Internet's World Wide Web that she dangerously neglected her children. The 24-year-old mother -- who is ironically named Sandra Hacker - was released on bond yesterday after pleading not guilty to charges of child neglect. Authorities are telling reporters the situation may have resulted from Hacker's possible "addiction to the Internet." The Associated Press quotes Hacker's estranged husband as saying her compulsion to surf the Internet broke up their marriage and, adds AP, "now her preoccupation has led authorities to take away her children." Hacker was arrested Saturday by police who said the playroom of her apartment had broken glass, debris and children's hand prints in human feces on the walls. Said Sgt. Paul Neudigate, "She would lock the children in the room so not to be bothered. The place was in complete shambles, but the computer area was clean -- completely immaculate." Alexander Hacker, who moved out of the house two weeks ago, told police his wife spent up to 12 hours a day on the Net. He complained Saturday that the couple's children -- aged 2, 3 and 5 -- were not receiving adequate care. AP says police turned the children over to the Hamilton County Department of Human Services. Meanwhile, psychologist David Greenfield of Hartford, Connecticut, told AP he likened Net addiction to gambling, saying, "It's potent. There's instant gratification. It becomes a pretty powerful drug. ... The normalcies for time and space disappear." And Kimberly Young, an assistant professor of psychology at the University of Pittsburgh who also has studied the condition, says exaggerated computer use should be recognized as an addiction. Young, in a study of nearly 400 people she considered psychologically dependent on the Internet, found users sometimes sneak online in the middle of the night, or skip work to stay home and surf the Internet. Pre-Millennium Bug Found While there has been much talk in computerdom about the millenium bug -- that is, what will happen when clocks in older computers try to click over in the year 2000 -- researchers now say there is a pre-millenium flaw that could strike in 1999. London's Financial Times carries a report today that programmers in the 1970s had entered the date Sept. 9, 1999 (that is "09/09/99" or "999999") to denote the end of a project or set of records. Writes the Reuter News Service, "The code was devised to ensure records were processed in the right order. The first file was numbered 000000. As Sept. 9, 1999, approached, many of the end-dates would be activated and bring programs to a premature halt." This would appear to pre-date the problems anticipated with the millenium bug. That difficulty stems from computer systems using two digits to show the year, which programmers originally used to save scarce processing capacity. "At the turn of the century," notes Reuters, "many computers will show 00 for the year and interpret it as 1900, potentially causing havoc. Companies are now racing to reprogram old software." Netscape to Fix Bug Next Week Confirming a bug in its Internet browsers that allows unwanted access to users' personal computers, Netscape Communications Corp. says it should have a fix available for the problem by next week. As reported, the flaw was found by a Danish consultant who reported it to Netscape. Reporter Samuel Perry of the Reuter News Service says the consult reportedly demanded money in exchange for details. Jennifer O'Mahony, spokeswoman for the Mountain View, California, software publisher said her firm assigned engineers to find a solution to the problem after the consultant demanded more than the customary $1,000 that Netscape pays for bug reports. She said, "We have created a fix which we are currently testing extensively," adding the bug was "quite complex to recreate. The bug requires that you create a malicious World Wide Web site and have knowledge of the names and locations of the files on the users' machines." Reuters says the bug can occur in older versions of the product: Navigator 2.0 and 3.0, as well as the browser supplied with the new Communicator software package released on Wednesday. Netscape has received no reports of incidents involving the bug, O'Mahony said, adding the first fix will be supplied for Communicator and fixes for the earlier versions right afterward. NEC and IBM in Hard Drive Pact NEC Corp. and IBM Corp have signed an agreement that calls for NEC to manufacture specific IBM-developed 3.5-inch desktop disk drives. NEC is set to begin shipping the drives early next year. IBM will also continue manufacturing the drives, which will be sold by both companies under their respective brand names. To accommodate the new production, NEC will expand a Philippines manufacturing plant to a capacity of five million disk drives per year by late 1998. "Due to a high demand for PCs and servers, there is a strong demand for 3.5-inch hard disk drives," notes a statement issued by the companies. "Computer software applications have become more complex, driving the requirement for higher capacity hard drives. NEC and IBM have formed this business relationship in order to help meet this demand for high performance desktop hard drives." For more information on IBM storage products, visit the company's Web site at http://www.storage.ibm.com. NEC's Web site address is http://www.nec.co.jp. Microsoft Buys Java Developer Microsoft Corp. has acquired Cooper & Peters Inc., a Boulder, Colorado-based developer of object-oriented user- interface framework technologies for the Java and Smalltalk environments. The move is designed to accelerate the acceptance of Microsoft Application Foundation Classes (AFC), a set of Java class libraries that help developers create Java applications more quickly. The deal's terms weren't disclosed. "With nearly a decade of object-oriented design experience, Cooper & Peters brings a proven expertise that can help extend the Application Foundation Classes' lead as the industry's most comprehensive foundation classes for Java," says John Ludwig, vice president of Microsoft's Internet client and collaboration division. "More world- class talent means Microsoft can move even faster on its goal to deliver the world's best solutions for developers of Java and other object-oriented languages." "We want to make the largest possible impact on the industry, and Microsoft is the place to do that," adds Ted Peters, principal at Cooper & Peters, who along with fellow principal Ken Cooper will join Microsoft's AFC development team. "The opportunity to help drive the next generation of user interface frameworks is a win-win for us, Microsoft and our customers." Toshiba Makes Pocket Camera What is said to be the world's thinnest, lightest digital still camera is being launched this summer by Toshiba Corp., going on sale next month in the U.S. and in August in Japan. Reporting from Tokyo, the Reuter News Service says the pocket-sized PDR-2 -- to be called the Allegretto in Japan - - measures 105mm by 55mm by 20mm and weighs 130 grams, excluding the battery. Toshiba officials told the wire service the product is the first to use a one-quarter inch 330,000-pixel complimentary metal oxide semiconductor image sensor as the eye, which uses one-10th the power of models with commonly used image sensors, a Toshiba spokesman said. "The camera uses SmartMedia, a 0.76mm thick removable stamp-sized flash-memory storage card," adds Reuters. "A built-in personal computer card allows the camera to be plugged into a computer to download the images." ClariNet News Service Sold In a stock deal said to be worth about $7.7 million, ClariNet Communications Corp., an Internet news company, is to be purchased by electronic publisher Individual Inc. Reporting from Individual's Burlington, Mass., headquarters this afternoon, the Reuter News Service quoted officials with Individual as saying the privately held ClariNet has annual revenue of about $3.9 million and has shown a positive cash flow in each of the last five years. Reuters says ClariNet was employee-owned "and funded predominantly from internal cash flow," adding it has 1.5 million licensed readers as of early 1997. "ClariNet's services are provided to more than 350 Internet Service Providers, corporations and educational institutions, who in turn incorporate ClariNet in their own services," the wire service adds. ClariNet founder Brad Templeton and Roy Folk, its president and chief operating officer, will become officers of Individual in addition to their operating roles at ClariNet. Templeton also will be one of Individual's largest shareholders, with about 7 percent of the outstanding shares. All 40 of ClariNet's staff will become Individual employees. Reuters says ClariNet will continue to operate from its headquarters in San Jose, Calif. Individual has been on a shopping spree. Earlier this month, it acquired CompanyLink, a research product from Delphi Internet Services. Adds Reuters, "Individual said it will explore ways to add advertising to ClariNet's products. Advertising revenue now accounts for less than 5 percent of ClariNet's revenue, which is dominated by subscription fees." Editor Decries Apple Knockers Editor-in-Chief Scott Kelby of Mac Today, a new Macintosh-oriented magazine, thinks the media is giving Apple Computer a bum rap. "How is it that a computer company ranked 22 spots higher than Microsoft in the latest Fortune 500, which has $1.4 billion in the bank and sold over four million computers last year -- more than even IBM -- is branded as beleaguered, troubled and struggling?" he asks. Kelby says the bimonthly Mac Today, which bills itself as "the Alternative Macintosh Magazine," was created to counter the doom-sayers and "provide Mac users with plenty of 'ammo' in their war against the misinformation about Apple and the Mac." "It seems like the only news the public hears about Apple is bad news, so we set out to be an alternative to the Apple-bashing," says Kelby. More details are available on the publication's Web site: http://www.mactoday.com. Net PCs Begin Their Debut Pared-down, Internet-ready "Net PCs" are having their debut this week as major computer makers unveil machines that cost as little as $1,000 and are touted as being cheaper to maintain than traditional desktops. "The machines run on Intel Corp. chips and Microsoft Corp. operating software, like most traditional personal computers," notes The Associated Press this morning, "but they are less expensive than PCs because they would download software from a central mainframe machine -- instead of requiring each PC's hard drive to be periodically updated with new software." Backers says the systems will save thousands of dollars in annual maintenance costs for each desktop. Starting with this week's PC Expo computer industry trade show in New York, makers are demonstrating their systems, many of which go on sale this summer. While an Intel spokesman declined to name the manufacturers ahead of a Manhattan event, three of the largest makers of PCs -- Compaq, Dell and Hewlett-Packard -- have helped lead Intel's drive. And reporter Therese Poletti of the Reuter News Service says IBM, Mitsubishi Corp., and others also are expected to unveil scaled-down, diskless PCs designed as lower-cost devices for corporate networks. President Tim Bajarin of Creative Strategies Inc. told Poletti, "The NetP is the big thing to watch. You will want to see what the response is from corporate buyers." Notes Reuters, "The NetPC evolved after Microsoft and Intel saw that industry officials were intrigued by Oracle Corp. Chairman Larry Ellison's plans for a network computer, a stripped-down PC designed to access corporate networks and the Internet." Poletti comments that Ellison and Sun Microsystems Inc. CEO Scott McNealy have attacked the PC as being too difficult to use, with hefty, unwieldy software programs that have too much code and are too costly to maintain and run, even for corporations. Analyst Louis Mazzucchelli of Gerard Klauer & Mattison says "What they are finding out is that customers actually want this. With this next wave of PCs in the $1,000 area, people are realizing they can get a whole lot done" for less money. Meanwhile, detractors say the widely touted features of the NetPC -- such as the ability to be managed in a network -- already are being incorporated into standard PCs. Also, says Reuters, "users may object because NetPcs are "sealed," meaning they cannot be opened if users want to install memory, graphics cards and other add-ons." Microsoft Releases Word Converter Microsoft Corp. has released an add-in utility that lets Word 97 users convert word processing files created with Word 95 or 6.0. The Word 6.0/95 Binary Converter for Word 97 is designed to replace a built-in conversion utility that has been severely criticized by many Word 97 users. The new Binary Converter allows users of Word 97 to save documents with a true .DOC file extension by default. "We are committed to listening and responding to our customers," says Dennis Tevlin, Microsoft's director of desktop applications. The Binary Converter is available for downloading from the Microsoft Web site at http://www.microsoft.com/office/. Next month, Microsoft is planning to ship the Office 97 Service Release, which will incorporate the Word 6.0/95 Binary Converter, enhanced support for POP3 and SMTP Internet e-mail in the Outlook desktop information manager and other minor enhancements. PlanetWeb First to Provide Internet Chat Server MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIF. (June 16) BUSINESS WIRE -June 16, 1997 -- Internet appliance users can now connect to virtually any IRC compatible chat server with PlanetWeb Browser Software to debut at E3. PlanetWeb, Inc., a leading developer of consumer Internet software, announced that its popular World Wide Web Browser will now incorporate IRC Internet chat capabilities. For the first time ever, consumers accessing the Internet from TV-based Internet appliances can hold real-time discussions with multiple people on any platform using the industry standard IRC potocol. "We want to give people more bang for their buck when it comes to surfing the Web from their television." said Kamran Elahian, chairman and CEO of PlanetWeb. "In fact, PlanetWeb as a company is all about providing easy-to-use and affordable Internet solutions. We leverage the benefits of existing consumer electronic products, such as video game systems, with the strength of our standards compatible software. Once again, PlanetWeb is leading the way by offering the first IRC chat solution without the expense and complications of a personal computer." "PlanetWeb's IRC chat solution brings an exciting new dimension to consumer Internet appliances," commented Ken Soohoo, vice president of engineering and CTO of PlanetWeb. "We've expanded our Browser features so that people can participate in live IRC Internet chat sessions from TV-based Internet appliances." PlanetWeb's chat feature is industry standard Internet Relay Chat (IRC) compatible, offering a text-based, real-time chat for multiple users. Users need only click on a hypertext link, or type in the IRC server they wish to connect to and then engage in real-time discussions. PlanetWeb software is currently shipping with the Sega Saturn(TM) Net Link product. A beta version of the software upgrade for Sega Saturn Net Link users is available for free to download off the PlanetWeb website (www.planetweb.com). Production software will be available from Sega of America. The PlanetWeb Browser makes it simple, easy and fun for consumers to surf the Internet and send email. Moreover, the Browser works with existing hardware designs and allows users to choose their own Internet Service Provider (ISP). The portable architecture, small memory requirements and lack of need for an operating system enables it to be quickly and inexpensively customized for a wide variety of Internet appliances. PlanetWeb software also incorporates a proprietary Internet filtering system that allows parents to either use age-based default settings or customize specific levels of access for their children. A T T E N T I O N-A T T E N T I O N-A T T E N T I O N LEXMARK OPTRA C COLOR LASER PRINTER For a limited time only; If you wish to have a FREE sample printout sent to you that demonstrates LEXMARK Optra C SUPERIOR QUALITY 600 dpi Laser Color Output, please send a Self Addressed Stamped Envelope [SASE] (business sized envelope please) to: STReport's LEXMARK Printout Offer P.O. Box 6672 Jacksonville, Florida 32205-6155 Folks, the LEXMARK Optra C has to be the very best yet in its price range. It is far superior to anything we've seen or used as of yet. It is said that ONE Picture is worth a thousand words. The out put from the Lexmark Optra C is worth ten thousand words! Send for the free sample now. (For a sample that's suitable for framing, see below) Guaranteed. you will be amazed at the superb quality. (Please.. allow at least a two week turn- around). If you would like a sample printout that's suitable for framing. Yes that's right! Suitable for Framing. Order this package. It'll be on special stock and be of superb quality. We obtained a mint copy of a 1927 COLOR ENGRAVER'S YEAR BOOK. Our Scanner is doing "double duty"! The results will absolutely blow you away. If you want this high quality sample package please include a check or money order in the amount of $6.95 (Costs only) Please, make checks or money orders payable to; Ralph Mariano. Be sure to include your full return address and telephone number . The sample will be sent to you protected, not folded in a 9x12 envelope. Don't hesitate.. you will not be disappointed. This "stuff" is gorgeous! A T T E N T I O N-A T T E N T I O N-A T T E N T I O N Shareware Treasure Chest STR Feature "The Latest & Greatest" Shareware Treasure Chest By Lloyd E. Pulley lepulley@streport.com ------------ Name/Version Release Date Size Price Seterra 1.10 6/12/97 348kb Shareware $30.00 A very comprehensive geography program with more than 50 map exercises and six quiz exercises. Learn about countries, capitals and cities all over the world! Examples of exercises: countries in Europe; American states; American state capitals; French cities; cities in Mexico; countries in Asia, etc, etc... Runs in English or Swedish. Each exercise has a high score list to keep track of your progress. A colorful and addictive way to learn geography! Home Page Site - http://www.arrowartoft.se/produkter/seterra/index_eng.html Name/Version Release Date Size Price SB NewsBot 32-bit 4.5 6/13/97 .46mb Shareware $15 SBNews/News-Robot is designed to automatically download and uudecode files from binary newsgroups. Binary newsgroups contain binary files which are typically encoded via uuencode and sent as text. These newsgroups are a popular means of distributing images across a wide area, and this is the primary purpose that SBNews was designed for. It has some nice features including a built in JPEG viewer, Dupe-Checking capabilities, logging, and some miscellanious statistical functions. Home Page Site - http://smbaker.simplenet.com/sbnews/sbnews.html Name/Version Release Date Size Price Championship Spades for 95 3.0 6/11/97 1,746kb Shareware $39.00 Provides a polished Spades card game for serious players. Features good layout, fast game play,rich sounds, extensive options, and good help and tutorials. Specializing in multiple, editable, computer personalities for very challenging play. Spades is more interesting than Hearts, but not quite as complex to learn as Bridge. Home Page Site - http://www.dq.com/spades.htp Name/Version Release Date Size Price Thumbs Plus 32-bit 3.0g beta 3 6/13/97 2.60mb Shareware $65 ThumbsPlus is a graphic file viewer, locator and organizer which simplifies the process of finding and maintaining graphics, clip-art files, fonts and animations. It displays a small image (thumbnail) of each file. You can use ThumbsPlus to browse, view, edit, crop, launch external editors, and copy images to the clipboard. You can use drag-and-drop to organize graphics files by moving them to appropriate directories. ThumbsPlus will also create a slide show from selected graphics, and install bitmap files as Windows wallpaper. You can print individual graphics files, or the thumbnails themselves as a catalog. ThumbsPlus can convert to several formats, either one at a time or in batch mode. You can also perform image editing in batch mode. ThumbsPlus will also convert metafile graphics to bitmaps (rasterize). One important new feature in 3.0g is the ablity to generate Web pages of thumbnails. Home Page Site - http://www.cerious.com/ Name/Version Release Date Size Price Igames 2.92 6/13/97 2,146kb Demo Unique Internet chat room with multiplayer card and board games that occupants can play. Current games include Spades, Hearts, Cribbage, and Backgammon. Many more games being added! Home Page Site - http://www.igames.com/ Name/Version Release Date Size Price Abuse.net 32-bit 2.1 6/13/97 .95mb Shareware $10 Abuse.Net is the ultimate file protector utility for Microsoft Windows 95/NT systems. It protects your files from copying, viewing, removing and executing, while you are surfing on the net. It protects against file attacks from the outer space. Intruders -- including ActiveX controls and Java applets (!) -- can't open your locked files. 100% (operating system level) protection for the selected files, so no more browser and other Internet application security holes on your computer! Home Page Site - http://www.datanet.hu/BusinessNet/index.html Name/Version Release Date Size Price TypeTool 1.0 6/10/97 2,487kb Demo $99.00 Design your own fonts or convert and modify existing fonts with this affordable, easy-to-use, powerful program. Now you can create specialized characters, logos, foreign language characters and more. Home Page Site - http://www.pyrus.com/ Name/Version Release Date Size Price Twinsen's Odyssey for Win95 6/13/97 15.00mb Commercial Demo The sequel to the sleeper hit "Relentless: Little Big Adventure". Twinsen's Odyssey is a mixture of action and adventure (kind of like Tomb Raider) and features beautiful texture mapped enviorments and smooth 3d characters. Home Page Site - http://www.activision.com/ Name/Version Release Date Size Price Hezal Player 1.5 6/12/97 445kb Freeware A small CD, video and sound player. It supports a variety of files, including WAV, AU, AIF, MOV, AVI, MPG, MPEG and MIDI. Using the same button interface, users can view movies, listen to sounds and play CD music. Lights indicate playing status, and track length is displayed in minutes, and seconds. Home Page Site - http://pegasus.acs.ttu.edu/~z4d36/download/download.html Name/Version Release Date Size Price PhoneFree 32-bit 1.1M plug-in 6/13/97 .19mb Free PhoneFree is the first Internet Telephony application to cut through the Tower of Babel and offer compatibility where it counts: *PhoneFree is an intergrated Netscape and Internet Explorer Plugin Module, no need to learn a new and confusing interface... just click on someone's name to call them! *PhoneFree is compatible with Vocaltec's Internet Phone(TM) and Netscape's Cool Talk(TM), offering you the ability to place calls to more people then any other product. *PhoneFree features integrated Voice Mail to any user with an email address... and they don't need any special software to retrieve their messages! Home Page Site - http://www.phonefree.com/ Name/Version Release Date Size Price Postmark 32-bit 1.0 beta 1 6/14/97 3.20mb Shareware $29.95 Anawave Postmark represents a breakthrough for people who desire a fast, 32-bit, "knock-your-socks-off" e-mail client. In addition, Postmark's colorful user-interface makes sorting, searching, reading and composing e- mail messages fun! And, that's not all. This powerful new application features HTML & RTF support (as well as plain text), drag & drop attachments, built-in address book, spell checking, auto-forwarding, pager support, advanced inbound and outbound message filters, multiple POP accounts, as well as MIME & uuencode. And, best of all, Postmark includes great sound effects, "smileys" and interface "themes", as well as a fully customizable toolbar. Home Page Site - http://www.anawave.com/postmark/index.html Name/Version Release Date Size Price Idyle Phone Book 97 2.12 6/10/97 1,210kb Shareware $15.00 Tired of having to buy new address books when they're full, can't read your girlfriend's phone number on this piece of paper that went in the washing machine? Idyle Phone Book 97 is here to help. Maintain your phones, addresses and internet information on a nice user interface, preview and print pocket-sized phone books, address books, franklin, dial phone numbers, leave e-mail and connect to the web. Also new, import data, exports to netscape, internet explorer and print envelopes. Idyle Phone Book PRO 97 2.12 6/10/97 1,240kb Shareware $25.00 Trying to find a contact manager? Try this one out. You can keep record of all your business or personal addresses, phones and internet information. The user interface is quite intuitive, and the options are many. Dialing, leaving e-mail and browsing the web are a mouse click away. Keep printed copies of your phone book with you so you can have all this information whenever you need it. PB97 can print it in several ways: pocket booklet, franklin type, or full page. New version includes birthday reminder and quick preview search. Home Page Site - http://pages.infinit.net/idyle/idyle-soft/ Name/Version Release Date Size Price Super Wave Player 1.0 6/14/97 254kb Shareware $10.00 A full featured Jukebox for playing wave files. Special features include a command line interface (convient for useing as an alarm clock), a randomizing feature, and a loop Feature. Home Page Site - http://www.toptown.com/hp/zero_999/wave32.htm Name/Version Release Date Size Price Adobe PageMill 32-bit 2.0 (release 5) 6/14/97 5.00mb Shareware $99 This demo version has the save feature disabled If you're a serious Web page designer, for example, you'll appreciate PageMill 2.0 software's support for multimedia design, including frames, tabular layouts, right-aligned text, and much more. Highly technical users can take advantage of the program's source-code viewing feature to develop industrial-strength sites, while the home or small business user will feel comfortable with PageMill full WYSIWYG editing environment. Home Page Site - http://www.adobe.com/prodindex/pagemill/ Name/Version Release Date Size Price Install-us Wizard 2.2 6/1497 1,538kb Shareware $50.00 A setup-toolkit, which helps you to create installations for Windows within seconds. Features: compressing and splitting files; different configurations; Uninstall via Control Panel or programgroup; filename- extensions; registry and ini-file modification; Drag and Drop; password; expiration; dictionary-import possible (standard: english, french, german), and more... at a very low price! Home Page Site - http://www.donau.de/privhome/ds/index.htm Name/Version Release Date Size Price Tanarus 32-bit beta .90 (formerly called Armorgeddon) 6/14/97 10.00mb Free Tired of playing against your computer? Then prepare yourself for the ultimate online challenge in Sony Interactive Studio America's ArmorGeddon, a futuristic multi-player action/strategy tank game in which all the competition are other players just like yourself. Oh and this version adds 3dfx support so if you have a Monster 3d, Flash 3d,etc you are in for a treat. Home Page Site - http://armorgeddon.station.sony.com/ Name/Version Release Date Size Price EZ Loan Manager 97 4.20 6/14/97 1,440kb Shareware $10.00 EZ Loan Manager 97 for Windows 95 (Version 4.20) provides a very easy and flexible tool for you to evaluate and manage your loans and mortgages. EZ Loan Manager is just for you, whether you have a fixed, adjustable or biweekly loan, or like to save interest money with early extra payments. If you pay your loan early, EZ Loan Manager will show you how much interest you will save. For home users, the registration fee is $10.00 ($5.00 if you register before June 30, 1997). This is a one tme registraion which means that you get any future upgrade for free. For business users, please see details in the readme.txt file in the distributed files. Home Page Site - http://gsanet.com/www/Joy/ Name/Version Release Date Size Price FTP Explorer 32-bit 1.00.010 6/14/97 .71mb StatusFree for personal use A FTP Client thats an extension of Win95. You can make shortcuts to files or directorys,right click access to options, etc. It has many nice features such as download or upload files to one or more servers while browsing and selecting files to tranfer on another. That's right!, FTP Explorer handles all file transfer requests in the background, so you don't have to wait while files copy to continue browsing the current server you can even connect to a different server, and the program will automatically log off of the original server once the requested transfer has completed, and the new Transfer Manager allows you to ascertain the details of download or upload requests at a glance. The source, destination, and status of each request is detailed in the Transfer Manager window to keep you apprised of multiple connections, and make it easy to see which files have been transferred. Home Page Site - http://www.ftpx.com/ Name/Version Release Date Size Price Dungeons 1.1 6/15/97 846kb Freeware Travel into a dark sinister world of evil as you get thrown into the dungeon fo Diablo. Fight enemies and Diablo to escape from the Dungeon. Home Page Site - http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Way/7888/index.html Name/Version Release Date Size Price Net Term 32-bit 4.2.1 6/15/97 812kb Shareware $20 A windows communications program that provides a combination of ethernet and dial up telnet, ansi bulletin board support , and dialer programs, all in one. Enables fast dial up for SLIP/PPP Internet providers, as well as Internet SHELL access. At last, zmodem file transfers over the Internet! NetTerm will even allow editing a host file on your local computer, with just one command, 'netedit'. Need to print a unix file on your local printer, no problem, NetTerm will do that! NetTerm now supports International keyboards and VT100 line drawing support. Home Page Site - http://starbase.neosoft.com/~zkrr01/netterm.html Name/Version Release Date Size Price Super '97 Software Games Collection Release 1 6/14/97 5,757kb Freeware A Collection of games programmed by James Pickering, for Super '97 Software. Includes Alien 3-D 2, Doom Pinball and The Ping Collection (available here), as well as such games as Doom Fighter, Pets, Alien 3-D 1, Edu-Snooker and Schoolyard Soccer, plus many more. Home Page Site - http://web.ukonline.co.uk/members/james.pickering/limited.html Name/Version Release Date Size Price Real Player 32-bit 4.0 6/16/97 1.10mb Free From the makers of Real Audio comes Real Video, the only player you need to get all the great RealAudio and the new RealVideo content on the web -- all without download delays. - Stereo audio at 28.8, near-CD quality at higher bitrates, AM-quality audio at 14.4 - - Newscast-quality video at 28.8 and full-motion at higher bitrates. Home Page Site - http://www.real.com/ Name/Version Release Date Size Price BuenSoft Spanish 1.0 6/15/97 2,840kb Shareware $19.99 An innovative listening-based interactive program designed to give adult and adolescent learners a fast and easy way to learn or improve their Spanish. BuenSoft Spanish is not based on the same format as many others Spanish Software programs with fixed content, instead BuenSoft Spanish was created as a conversational utility where users can add to the program only the phrases they want to learn. Many Subjects ( of phrases) are now available by mail or download from the Internet. There are several Subjects to choose from, personal introductions, numbers, months of the year, jobs, family relationships, daily expressions and much more. Every BuenSoft Subjects are supported by high-quality audio and recorded with native speaker voices. Home Page Site - http://www.cport.com/~jlewis/index.html Name/Version Release Date Size Price WetSock 32-bit 3.0 beta build 19 6/16/97 1.10mb Shareware $12 WetSock shows your current weather conditions and forecasts as an icon on the tray notification area of the system taskbar.Designed specially for Windows 95, WetSock will keep you updated about the weather over Internet without even needing to dial into your Internet Service Provider. If you periodically dial in for surfing, checking your mail etc., WetSock will connect to the weather server and get the weather information in the background , but can also dial in and hang-up by itself. WetSock is a Winsock compliant weather client for PCs running Windows 95. Home Page Site - http://www.locutuscodeware.com/wetsock.htm Name/Version Release Date Size Price Add/Remove Cleaner 1.0 6/15/97 130kb Freeware A Windows95/NT program for cleaning up that list of application uninstallers. If you anything like me you probably have tons of programs that you have deleted listed there. This will let you take them off the list with a click or two. This program does not delete any files, anything you remove from the list will still be on your hard drive. Home Page Site - http://www.distortions.com/software/addrmclr.htm Name/Version Release Date Size Price Hex WorkShop 32-bit 2.53 6/16/97 1.00mb Shareware An excellent file and disk editor that features: Edit multiple files of unlimited size. *Edit both logical disks and raw fixed disks. *Print high quality customized hex dumps. Find and Replace Hex or ASCII values. *Goto from the start, end, or cursor position within a file or disk. *Use the Compare Tool to find differences in files. *Calculate Checksums for all or part of a file. *Use preferences to create a custom hex editing environment (screen shot). *Search across multiple sectors on a Disk. *Get File/Disk properties with the click of the mouse and much more. Home Page Site - http://www.bpsoft.com/ Name/Version Release Date Size Price WinZip 6.3 Beta 17-Jun-97 705kb Shareware WinZip 6.3 allows users to download and open archives from the Internet with one click via Microsoft's Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator. There is no need to Save to disk and then switch to WinZip or to the Windows Explorer or File Manager to open the downloaded file. In addition, all files that have been downloaded are automatically copied from the Internet Browser's temporary folders to a folder of the user's choice; this ensures that a permanent copy of the download is saved on the user's system, even if the downloaded file is automatically deleted by the browser. WinZip 6.3 also features an updated zip/unzip engine with automatic built-in disk spanning support for multi-disk Zip files. If you create a zip file on diskettes and the first diskette fills, then disk spanning is automatically activated, and you are simply prompted to put in a new diskette to continue the archive. There is no need to specify that you want to span before you start. Home Page Site - http://www.winzip.com/ Name/Version Release Date Size Price Multimedia Xplorer 32-bit 1.22 6/17/97 .80mb Shareware $20 Multimedia Xplorer is a new, powerful 32-bit application (Windows 95/NT 4.0) for handling most types of multimedia files including images, sounds, videos and icons. Main idea is to provide ONE application that handles all these different media types easily, so no need to mess with different applications. It is designed to be powerful for powerusers and at the same time it is as simple as possible, so novice users can view and manage files easily. Multimedia Xplorer has some unique ergonomy features that make it very handy to use. Home Page Site - http://www.moonsoftware.ee/ Name/Version Release Date Size Price WinImage Professional 3.00.03.3036 Pro 6/16/97 258kb Shareware $60.00 Self extractor with unlimited redistribution licence, print the directory of the image, edit boot sector properties (i.e. load another boot sector file, edit a text in the boot sector). Home Page Site - http://www.winimage.com/beta.htm Name/Version Release Date Size Price Pacific General for Win95 6/17/97 19.00mb Commercial Demo Pacific General is a turn based strategy/wargame set in the Pacific theater of conflict in World War II, pitting the Japanese Empire against the combined might of the Allied forces.In this game, it is possible to take either side in the conflict, which can be played from the dawn of combat in 1937 through to the historical or hypothetical outcome(s) of the war. Land, air, and naval operations play a key role in the battles to be fought. Pacific General is based on the 5-Star General engine first seen in Panzer General. Pacific General has a unique naval combat system and AI to handle the all important sea war. This unique system, coupled with other enhancements, make Pacific General a top-notch finish to the 5-Star Line. Home Page Site - http://www.pacificgeneral.com/ Name/Version Release Date Size Price Fish Weight Estimator 1.0 6/15/97 600kb Freeware You enter the length and girth of the fish, choose the species, and the program estimates the fish's weight. Home Page Site - http://www.geocities.com/Baja/2857/fish.html Name/Version Release Date Size Price Netscape Communicator 32-bit 4.01 6/17/97 13.00mb Free The newest version of Netscape navigator. It features: Enhanced visual appearance and user interface, Taskbar that enables easy access to Communicator components, HTML Editing, Collabra Conferencing and a lot more. Home Page Site - http://www.netscape.com/ Name/Version Release Date Size Price DriveMonitor 2.1 6/17/97 471kb Shareware $10.00 When you shutdown your PC, notifies ejects and then closes CD Drives, Floppy Drives, and Removable Drives that still have Disks In them. Stop's those nasty occasions when you boot from floppy disk (aaarrgghh boot virus!). Or, when you shutdown your computer and leave a CD in the drive. Take the empty case home (thinking the CD was in it) or lend it to a freind, or go to play it in your hi-fi, only to find that the disc is still inside your powered down computer! Requires the VB 5.0 Runtimes. Home Page Site - http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/8477/ Name/Version Release Date Size Price Postmark 32-bit 1.0 beta 2 6/18/97 3.20mb Shareware $29.95 Anawave Postmark represents a breakthrough for people who desire a fast, 32-bit, "knock-your-socks-off" e-mail client. In addition, Postmark's colorful user-interface makes sorting, searching, reading and composing e- mail messages fun! And, that's not all. This powerful new application features HTML & RTF support (as well as plain text), drag & drop attachments, built-in address book, spell checking, auto- forwarding, pager support, advanced inbound and outbound message filters, multiple POP accounts, as well as MIME & uuencode. And, best of all, Postmark includes great sound effects, "smileys" and interface "themes", as well as a fully customizable toolbar. Home Page Site - http://www.anawave.com/postmark/index.html Name/Version Release Date Size Price Signature Master 3.0.1 6/16/97 4,585kb Shareware $5.00 32-bit E-mail Signature/Tagline Generator. Primary and Alternate Signatures. Up to 255 lines per Signature. The Tagline database can hold millions of Taglines. Imports, filters Taglines. Date & Time Stamping. Completely user configurable. Home Page Site - http://www.wa.net/~voxpop/ Name/Version Release Date Size Price PureVoice Player-Recorder 32-bit 1.0 beta 3 6/18/97 1.30mb Free Introducing PureVoice Technology and its first Internet application: A Player-Recorder for voice messages that you can use with your email software. There's a Plug-in specifically for Eudora software, and a separate application for other email products." The sound quality is about the same as you'd expect on a standard telphone call and are very small. PureVoice files can be up to ten times smaller than comparable .wav files. Home Page Site - http://www.eudora.com/eudorapro/purevoice.html/ Name/Version Release Date Size Price Spam Exterminator 1.2 6/16/97 999kb Shareware $27.95 Unlimited ways to exterminate SPAM from your e-mail.! In addition to the included list of 1,500 known Spammers, you can also set any number of "Rules" that SpamEx will use to weed out unwanted SPAM messages. Optional retaliation options allow you to reply and report the SPAMer to thier domain postmaster. Plus, quick mail preview feature allows you to instantly see if and what mail is waiting for for you before you download it. This is absolutely the most powerful and easy to use product in it's class. Don't waste your time with the others -- arm your self against Spam. Home Page Site - http://www.unisyn.com/ Name/Version Release Date Size Price Jackhammer 32-bit 1.05 6/18/97 2.00mb Shareware $25 Next time you hit roadworks on the information superhighway, Jackhammer will help you dig yourself out of the hole. Whenever you find a site that's too busy to get on to, or an FTP server that's always full, paste the URL into Jackhammer. Set it hammering and it will try the sites until it can get on - and then launch a new browser window for you or automatically download the file! Home Page Site - http://www.sausage.com/ Name/Version Release Date Size Price The Bat! 1.00.81 Beta 6/16/97 608kb Shareware $35.00 Powerful and easy-to-use e-mail client for Windows 95 & NT working with SMTP/POP3 transport, truly multi-threaded Win32 application. Now with Mail Dispatcher which allows to manage mail on server on-line. Supports unlimited e-mail accounts with secure or insecure access to messages, comprehensive message filtering, multi-lingual interface, MIME standards and UUEncode, comfortable text editor with message templates, text highlighting which allows to read text easily and lots more other little useful features. Home Page Site - http://www.ritlabs.com/the_bat/ Name/Version Release Date Size Price Wallaby 4.01 6/16/97 2,047kb Shareware $20.00 It's a fast and easy way to zip and unzip in Windows '95. But that's not all - Wallaby can also create Self-Extracting EXE's - perfect for installation and distribution, it also has a unique "Favorite Folders" which will seek out and locate your files. Wallaby is also tightly integrated with the Windows 95 shell, right-click any folder or drive and in minutes it will be compressed. Home Page Site - http://www.wallaby95.com/ Name/Version Release Date Size Price Time & Chaos 32-bit 5.2.9 6/19/97 2.70mb Shareware $45 A really nice PIM that allows you to send email, faxes, make phone calls, and visit web sites all from the "phonebook". It also has to do lists, appointments books, and more. Home Page Site - http://www.isbister.com/ Name/Version Release Date Size Price Blast Doors 1.0 6/17/97 2,240kb Shareware $10.00 Nuclear Family Feud! Heavily armored bunkers lob colorful bombs at each other, vaporizing the 3d rendered terrain. Similar to the classic cannons game, Blast Doors is a high quality strategy / arcade game. Home Page Site - http://www.ffiends.com/ Name/Version Release Date Size Price Cripton Book Store 1.0 6/17/97 2,548kb Freeware Lets you keep a database of all of your books. Areas covered are Book Type, Author, ISBN Number, Category, and many many more. In addition, you can easily create a web page, or a regular report containing all of the items in your database. A must have for all book lovers! Home Page Site - http://www.cripton.com/ Name/Version Release Date Size Price AOL Instant Messenger 32-bit 1.0 beta 6 6/19/97 2.20mb Free AOL Instant Messenger is for anyone who wants to communicate "instantly" with friends, family and business colleagues, on the Internet and AOL, anywhere in the world. AOL Instant Messenger combines AOL's popular Buddy List and Instant Message features. The Instant Message feature lets users send and respond to messages immediately while the Buddy List feature lets users know instantly when friends are online. Previously only available to its 8 million members, AOL is now delivering these features to Internet users worldwide. Home Page Site - http://www.aol.com/buddylist/ Name/Version Release Date Size Price Splitty 1.5 6/16/97 275kb Shareware $10.00 Enables you to split large files into smaller files that can be regrouped later to reconstitute the original file. It is particularly useful for sending large files over unreliable networks, and for saving large files to floppy disks or other modest storage media. Home Page Site - http://www.basta.com/ProdSplitty.htm EDUPAGE STR Focus Keeping the users informed Edupage Contents Majority Of Colleges Charge Technology Fee Digital Seeks "No Gab" Order FTC Versus Spammers Protecting Net-Kids Netscape Fixes Bug Found By Bounty- Hunter Data Mining For Fool's Gold ISDN Pushes Data McNealy Touts A Java Future Cheaper Chips = Cheaper PCs Language Rules Log On And Play Ball Edupage 101 White House Does Somersault On Decency ActNew Access Fees Will Hasten ISP ShakeoutInternet Use Leveling OffE-Commerce RulesAmazon.com Slashes PricesIndividual To Acquire E- Publisher Clarinet Micronics Courting Hayes Microcomputer New Help From Microsoft For People With Impairments Amelio: "This Stuff Is Complicated" Hooked On The Net FCC Chairman Opposes AT&T- SBC Merger PlansFinancial-Data Encryption Code CrackedEncryption Bill Introduced In Senate Ivy League Eyes Distance Learning Minding The Business Deep Blue Does Data Mining Packard Bell NEC Plans Direct Sales Online Banking Ada Gets Pentagon Demotion In Grade Internet Growth Figures MAJORITY OF COLLEGES CHARGE TECHNOLOGY FEE More than half of all U.S. public higher education institutions charged some type of technology fee last year, according to a survey by Claremont Graduate School's Kenneth C. Green. Such fees have become a "tried and true" way to fund technology upgrades, says a spokesman for the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. "They are not as controversial as they were when they started. When you go to college, you expect you'll have an e-mail account and go on the Web," he says, but the cost of providing these services "was not built in or funded in the past." Still, not everyone thinks the fees are a good idea: "An institution proud of its technology environment and of its cost management doesn't need such tricks," says John Stuckey, director of university computing at Washington and Lee U. "Collecting it independent of overall tuition and fees is, at this time, little more than a ruse for hiding or denying some of an institution's cost." (Chronicle of Higher Education 13 Jun 97) DIGITAL SEEKS "NO GAB" ORDER Digital has filed a motion to prevent a former employee now working at Intel Corp. from divulging information about his previous work. Also, as part of the move, Digital has asked that Intel be ordered to preserve correspondence, including e-mail, regarding the patent infringement lawsuit Digital recently filed against Intel. "This is a huge area because every engineer knows something about his or her employer that the employer doesn't really want to share with the competition," says an antitrust attorney. Digital says its real purpose in making the request is to prevent other former Digital employees now working at Intel from violating Digital's confidentiality agreement. (Wall Street Journal 13 Jun 97) FTC VERSUS SPAMMERS FTC commissioner Christine Varney says the Federal Trade Commission will increase its efforts under existing fraud laws to punish e-mail spammers, saying: "A lot of the problem with unsolicited e-mail is that it is fraudulent and we want to start enforcing the laws in this area." Spamming (unsolicited mass mailing by e-mail, which costs the sender virtually nothing), has become so pervasive, that it's estimated that unsolicited Internet messages account for 5 to 30% of the 15 million messages received by America Online subscribers every day. (Washington Post 13 Jun 97) PROTECTING NET-KIDS A presidential task force is demanding assurances from the information agency that children will not be allowed to give out their names, ages, or other personal information unless it can be verified that they have obtained parental permission to do. Ira Magaziner, the task force head (though better known as architect of the Clinton health care plan) says: "If the industry doesn't do it, we may have to legislate." (AP 13 Jun 97) NETSCAPE FIXES BUG FOUND BY BOUNTY-HUNTER Netscape has written code to fix a serious security flaw in its Navigator software found by a Danish computer consultant who had demanded a reward far larger than the standard $1,000 bounty Netscape pays to bug finders. If uncorrected, the problem might have allowed a Web site operator to appropriate files stored on someone's personal computer. The consultant, Christian Orellana, sent Netscape a message saying "`I think the person most suited for handling this is somebody in charge of the company checkbook." Orellana also threatened to release the information to news organizations and said: "I'll leave it to you to estimate what impact that would have on Netscape stocks.'' (San Jose Mercury News 14 Jun 97) DATA MINING FOR FOOL'S GOLD Along the same lines as the theory that a bunch of chimps locked in a room with a bunch of typewriters could eventually come up with Shakespearean prose, a finance professor at MIT warns: "Given enough time, enough attempts, and enough imagination, almost any pattern can be teased out of any data set." Wrong-headed correlations among financial indicators are common, says the managing director of First Quadrant Corp., who illustrates his point with "Stupid Data-Miner Tricks": for instance, after sifting through a United Nations CD-ROM, he's discovered that the single best predictor of the Standard & Poor 500-stock index was butter production in Bangladesh. The problem will only get worse, say industry observers, who point out that more powerful desktop machines will be capable of making even more bizarre statistical predictions. (Business Week 16 Jun 97) ISDN PUSHES DATA Pacific Bell, Southwestern Bell and BellSouth will unveil new ISDN services next week that provide "push" technology to users. The new service makes use of the ISDN D channel -- which handles the signaling between the subscriber and the phone company central office -- to transmit data such as e-mail, stock quotes or credit-card transactions. "What's wonderful about this is that we already have a network that supports it," says a Pacific Bell spokesman. (Communications Week Interactive 13 Jun 97) MCNEALY TOUTS A JAVA FUTURE Speaking at last week's Netscape Developer Conference, Sun Microsystems' CEO Scott McNealy outlined a future in which the Java programming language is embedded in a range of computational devices, from the mainframe to the smart card. At the same time, he down-played Microsoft's efforts to steal Java's thunder: "When you hear the word 'thin client,' you may think of this," he said, pulling a smart card out of his wallet. "See how thin this is? Now can you imagine any Windows technology on a smart card? If you wanted to put it in your wallet, you'd have to redesign every pair of trousers on the planet." Java's scalability allows it to fit into tiny places, such as a wristwatch which, combined with a hand-held antenna, could act as a debit card, a car key or an airline boarding pass. (TechWire 14 Jun 97) CHEAPER CHIPS = CHEAPER PCs Intel has found a way to shrink its Pentium and Pentium MMX chips by about 10%, thereby raising the number of chips it can squeeze onto a single silicon wafer and cutting manufacturing costs per unit. As a result, the company plans to reduce the price of a 200 MHz Pentium MMX processor from $492 to about $240 in July. "That shows aggressive pricing," says an industry observer. "Intel's strategy is to make sure MMX plays through all price points." The new prices will mean computer manufacturers will be able to offer $1,000 desktop machines and $1,500 notebook PCs later this summer. (InfoWorld Electric 13 Jun 97) LANGUAGE RULES Micro-Bytes Logiciels, a Pointe Claire, Quebec, computer store, has removed most of its home page from the Net after receiving notice from the Office de la Langue Francaise that the company is in violation of the French Language Charter. The store owner said: "I don't need subpoenas, fines or going to court so that was the easiest thing to do." The charter states that catalogues, brochures, leaflets, commercial directories and all other publications of that nature must be in French. (Montreal Gazette 14 Jun 97) LOG ON AND PLAY BALL Major League Baseball has rescinded a directive issued in April prohibiting teams from cybercasting games over the Internet. An executive of the Internet radio network AudioNet in Dallas, Texas, estimates says that Net markets for baseball in cities such as Baltimore and San Francisco have reached about 5,000 for some games. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution 13 Jun 97) EDUPAGE 101 As you may imagine, Edupage is used in a number of technology-related courses as supplementary material. Here's how one college teacher included Edupage in the final examination for his computer science course: "I asked them (one on one), specifically: 'Did Edupage encourage you to think of the breadth of computing?' (Using Edupage is part of our effort to instill in first-year students the fact that computing is much more than programming)." The response? "Student feedback is lively, typically around one issue they followed, e.g., the year 2000 date problem; and students used the material to help them 'tell stories' -- in computing, a valuable skill for sharing information." (Marc LeBlanc, Wheaton College) WHITE HOUSE DOES SOMERSAULT ON DECENCY ACT A policy statement being drafted by a Clinton Administration task force headed by Ira Magaziner seems to be a repudiation of the administration's earlier position on the Communications Decency Act (CDA), which makes it a federal crime to transmit indecent material over the Internet in a way that makes it accessible to minors. Pleading before the U.S. Supreme Court in March, the government defended the CDA enthusiastically and called the Internet "a revolutionary means for displaying sexually explicit, patently offensive material to children in the privacy of their own homes"; now, however, the administration seems to be anticipating that the court will rule the CDA to be unconstitutional, and is taking the position that regulation of the Net should be left to industry. Privacy advocates are pleased but startled by the sudden change of position. David Sobel of the Electronic Privacy Information Center says: "To come in right after the Supreme Court decides the issue and say we didn't really mean what we said up to now -- I can't imagine anything that would be seen as more of a waffle than that. It raises waffling to an art form." (New York Times 16 Jun 97) NEW ACCESS FEES WILL HASTEN ISP SHAKEOUT UUNet's decision to start charging smaller Internet service providers for use of its backbone network will accelerate the ISP shakeout that industry analysts have been predicting for some time. "The window of opportunity is closing for smaller ISPs," says a senior analyst with Jupiter Communications. Under the new deal, service providers that don't qualify as UUNet "peers" -- those whose network runs at a rate slower than 45-Mbps and can't connect into the backbone at four or more locations -- will pay $2,000 a month for a T1 connection and $6,000 a month for a fractional T3 connection. "We are not abandoning peering," says UUNet's VP of marketing and business development. "This monthly charge is not going to break any ISP, unless they didn't have a viable business plan in the first place." A Zona Research analyst says, "Consolidation is coming and there will be hundreds, not thousands, of ISPs." (Investor's Business Daily 16 Jun 97) INTERNET USE LEVELING OFF The number of new Internet users appears to be stabilizing, with growth rates hovering at less than 5%, according to a demographics study released last week by the Georgia Institute of Technology. According to Tech's survey, the number of users is now around 30 million -- that's a good bit lower than Nielsen's recent estimate of 50 million. "What brought people online were all the different service providers really gearing up," says a Tech researcher. "We don't know whether it will pick up again. There hasn't been that much change of the last three surveys." (Tampa Tribune 16 Jun 97) E-COMMERCE RULES A group of international business leaders is warning governments they must negotiate trade treaties to include electronic commerce or risk seeing tax revenues vanish through a hole in cyberspace -- saying that national laws are no longer adequate to cover e- commerce, where it is difficult to determine where buyers and sellers reside, or even where the sale took place. In its report titled "Electronic Commerce: Opportunities and Challenges for Government," the group advocates speedy action on international agreements that will close the loopholes created by differing national policies on such transactions. (Toronto Globe & Mail 13 June 97 B7) AMAZON.COM SLASHES PRICES Suddenly faced with online competition from rival bookseller Barnes & Noble, Amazon.com says it will cut its prices for online book purchases as much as 40% on select titles. The company says hardcover discounts will start at 30%, and paperback at 20%. Barnes & Noble says it has no plans to match the price cuts. (St. Petersburg Times 16 Jun 97) INDIVIDUAL TO ACQUIRE E-PUBLISHER CLARINET In its latest move to bolster its online content, Individual has agreed to buy ClariNet Communications, an electronic newspaper publisher, and will incorporate its breaking news products into Individual's service. The deal follows Individual's June 6 purchase of Delphi Internet Services. (InfoWorld Electric 16 Jun 97) MICRONICS COURTING HAYES MICROCOMPUTER Micronics Computers Inc., best known for making motherboards, is in talks with Hayes Microcomputer Products regarding a possible purchase, but so far there's no letter of intent or binding agreement. Hayes has bounced in and out of bankruptcy proceedings over the past couple of years and is the No. 2 modem maker after U.S. Robotics. (Wall Street Journal 16 Jun 97) NEW HELP FROM MICROSOFT FOR PEOPLE WITH IMPAIRMENTS Later this year Microsoft will provide new technology to allow developers to add closed- captioned titles to Web pages and multimedia software; the company is also busy developing technology that will generate audio descriptions for the blind. (Z-D News Network 17 Jun 97) AMELIO: "THIS STUFF IS COMPLICATED" Asked whether he might someday run for political office, Apple chief executive Gil Amelio says "people ask me about that all the time"; he is active in Republican circles and shares a mentor with Newt Gingrich -- Georgia Tech computer science professor emeritus Pete Jensen. But Amelio says that Apple currently has his full attention, and that he plans to devote his full energies to company for the next six or seven years: "I think of myself as an intellectual leader. Can you imagine Albert Einstein being asked by someone in the press to explain E equals MC squared in seven seconds? This stuff is complicated.'' (San Jose Mercury News 8 Jun 97) HOOKED ON THE NET Police in Cincinnati have taken placed into protective custody two children whose mother neglected them to spend up to 12 hours a day on the Internet. A policeman said: "She would lock the children in the room so as not to be bothered. The place was in complete shambles, but the computer area was clean." (Washington Post 17 Jun 97) FCC CHAIRMAN OPPOSES AT&T- SBC MERGER PLANS Reed E. Hundt, outgoing chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, has decided to go public in criticizing the proposed merger of phone giants AT&T and SBC: "I don't think people who are exploring deals should be left in the dark about what the Government is likely to say. People need to be able to decide which board room discussions are a waste of time." Why would they be wasting their time? "Congress, in my view, intended these companies to be in separate war rooms, planning strategies directed at each other's markets. Congress did not intend AT&T and the Bells to be in each other's board rooms, discussing combinations." (New York Times 19 Jun 97) FINANCIAL-DATA ENCRYPTION CODE CRACKED It took four months and tens of thousands of computers, but a group of programmers and researchers, has succeeded in cracking the Data Encryption Standard that's used to protect most financial transactions, including electronic money transfers, ATM transactions, and other private documents. The group, which was competing against a team in Sweden in response to a challenge by RSA Data Security, used the "brute force" approach - running software that theoretically would test all of the 72 quadrillion possible number combinations to decode the 56-bit key. As it turned out, the key was discovered after testing only about 25% of the possible combinations. "We've been saying for a long time that DES is no longer secure and here is the proof," says RSA president Jim Bidzos, who had offered a $10,000 bounty to the successful code-cracker. (Wall Street Journal 19 Jun 97) ENCRYPTION BILL INTRODUCED IN SENATE Senators John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Bob Kerrey (D-Neb.) have introduced the "Secure Public Networks Act," calling for the establishment of a key management infrastructure for key recovery encryption products.. The act would allow the export of encryption products "based on a qualified system of key recovery" following a one-time review, and without any restrictions on the strength of the product. Export licenses could be denied if the Commerce Department finds evidence that the product was destined for military, terrorist or criminal use, or for re-exportation to third countries, or for acts against the national security, the public safety, transportation systems, communications networks, financial institutions or other essential interstate commerce systems. (BNA Daily Report for Executives 18 Jun 97) IVY LEAGUE EYES DISTANCE LEARNING Elite private institutions are beginning to compete for distance learning dollars, focusing initially on offering continuing education courses to alumni and professionals in need of further educational opportunities. Johns Hopkins, Cornell, Duke, Rice and Stanford Universities are just a few that have recently created or expanded their distance learning opportunities, and Yale and the University of Chicago are considering similar moves. Behind the momentum is the fear of losing out on the next big thing in education: "You could be, at some point, like the Post Office, watching Federal Express and UPS taking away a piece of your business," says the vice-provost for information systems and computing at the University of Pennsylvania. But distance learning courses at Ivy League prices are a difficult sell: "The one thing (Ivy League schools) sell is that the people sitting next to you are smart people. (They haven't figured out) how to recruit a comparatively talented pool over the Internet." Still, most schools are coming to the realization that some type of electronic learning program is essential to future survival. "This is evidence that there's money to be made in this business," says Jim Mingle, executive director of the State Higher Education Executive Officers. "This is a search for new markets." (Chronicle of Higher Education 20 Jun 97) MINDING THE BUSINESS Electric Minds, the "virtual community" created by well-known writer and cyber-enthusiast Howard Rheingold, is having financial difficulties and may not last for the rest of this month. The Electric Minds site has about 6,000 members. Rheingold says: "It was not a fad. The enterprise was culturally successful. That didn't fail. What failed was the business." (San Jose Mercury News 19 Jun 97) DEEP BLUE DOES DATA MINING The leader of the IBM team that designed the chess-playing Deep Blue machine says the company already is finding new ways to use the computer's technology to research new drugs and maximize stock market returns: "One of the things we're looking into is portfolio management. Deep Blue-style computers could do economic modeling of large databases very fast. Some of the mathematics for such an application would be very similar to what we used for Deep Blue to play chess. Data-mining algorithms can search through millions of data and draw logical inferences to make conclusions. Several New York investment firms have already expressed interest in Deep Blue." (Investor's Business Daily 18 Jun 97) PACKARD BELL NEC PLANS DIRECT SALES The world's fourth-largest PC maker says it will join direct sales pioneers Dell Computer and Gateway 2000 in selling its computers directly to business customers, bypassing the computer reseller middlemen. Packard Bell NEC says it will still sell to customers through stores, and that corporate clients will have the choice of buying directly from the company or through the existing resell channel. The new program, called NEC Now, is a risky move, say industry analysts, who point out that the dual strategy could be confusing for customers, while running the risk of alienating dealers. "The very little channel support they have is what they will be sacrificing," says one reseller, who adds: "To me, it's just a joke and I don't think it's going to fly." Meanwhile, Packard Bell's CEO says, "Our formula is not to undercut the resellers but to benefit them." (Wall Street Journal 18 Jun 97) ONLINE BANKING A study by the Ernst & Young consulting firm says that Canadians are ahead of the rest of the world in online banking applications. A fourth of the 16 financial institutions surveyed had Internet transaction processing up and running in 1996, and all will make it available by 1999. In contrast, only 13% of the 130 financial institutions surveyed worldwide allowed transactions on the World Wide Web, and about 80% plan to offer the service by 1999. (Ottawa Citizen 19 June 97 D1) ADA GETS PENTAGON DEMOTION IN GRADE The Pentagon is planning to reduce the status of Ada, the Pascal-like language used throughout the Department of Defense, from "mandatory" to "preferred." Although the language is still best for building real-time, dependable, custom software for battle- related applications, it no longer is the best choice for many other DoD software projects. (Computer magazine Jun 97) INTERNET GROWTH FIGURES A Georgia Institute of Technology group has disputed the interpretation placed by the Tampa Tribune on its recent survey of Internet use. The study can be found at ech.edu/user_surveys/survey-1997-04/ (Edupage 17 Jun 97) 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: - Corel Corporation, award-winning developer and marketer of productivity applications, graphics and Internet software, announced today it will be licensing the 1998 Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia from Grolier Inc. for inclusion in Corelr WordPerfectr Suite 8 and Corel WordPerfect Suite 8 Professional editions. "We are very excited to be including the Grolier Encyclopedia with our Corel WordPerfect Suite 8," said Dr. Michael Cowpland, president and chief executive officer of Corel Corporation. "The Grolier Encyclopedia's ease of use and efficient organization fits well with our new comprehensive Corel WordPerfect Suite 8." "The Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia and Corel WordPerfect Suite 8 compliment each other for the complete reference solution," said David Arganbright, president of Grolier Interactive. The 1998 Deluxe Edition of the Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia, to be included in Corel WordPerfect Suite 8 Professional, consists of improved Help and Quick Tour features to make it faster and simpler to find answers. Volumes of information are stored on two CD-ROMs and organized intuitively by subject to facilitate in-depth research. The 1998 Deluxe Edition of the Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia features the Online Knowledge ExplorerT which will provide one-stop entry to thousands of Grolier-approved resources. The Online Knowledge Explorer provides online access to articles from two other encyclopedias published by Grolier, The New Book of Knowledge and the Encyclopedia Americana; the Grolier Internet IndexT, a proprietary tool developed by Grolier to link articles to editorially-selected Web sites; and numerous article updates. Other features in the Encyclopedia include a drill-down Atlas, Interactivities, Multiplex Presentations, Guided Tours and Timelines. The Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia has been the recipient of a number of industry accolades. In January 1997 PC Computing claimed, "its (Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia) atlas has the best and most detailed interlinked maps. And its activities...are spectacular." Family Life, in its March/April 1997 issue, said the Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia is "more solid than Encarta or Compton's, less weighty than Britannica....". The Standard version of the Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia, consisting of one CD-ROM, will be included in Corel WordPerfect Suite 8. The Deluxe version of the Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia, contained on two CD-ROMs, will be included in Corel WordPerfect Suite 8 Professional. CorelCENTRALT, the new personal information manager in Corel WordPerfect Suite 8 with exclusive integration with Netscape CommunicatorT, was not included in the initial release of the suite due to the fact that Communicator will not ship until late June. Customers who purchase Corel WordPerfect Suite 8 without CorelCENTRAL 8 receive a voucher to obtain the software upon its release. As an added bonus, the 1998 Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia CD- ROM will be shipped to these customers along with CorelCENTRAL. Additional taxes, shipping and handling charges apply. Corel Corporation Incorporated in 1985, Corel Corporation is recognized internationally as an award-winning developer and marketer of productivity applications, graphics and Internet software. Corel's product line includes CorelDRAWT, Corelr WordPerfectr Suite, Corelr Office Professional, Corelr WebMaster Suite, CorelVIDEOT and CorelCADT. Corel's products run on most operating systems, including: Windowsr, Macintoshr, UNIX, MS-DOS, and OpenVMS and are consistently rated among the strongest in the industry. The company ships its products in over 17 languages through a network of more than 160 distributors in 70 countries worldwide. Corel is traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (symbol: COS) and the NASDAQ - National Market System (symbol: COSFF). For more information visit Corel's home page on the Internet at http://www.corel.com. Corel, WordPerfect, Presentations, CorelDRAW, CorelVIDEO and CorelCAD are registered trademarks or trademarks of Corel Corporation or Corel Corporation Limited. Sylvan and Sylvan Learning Systems Centers are registered trademarks and Authorized Prometric Testing Centers and Sylvan Prometric are trademarks of Sylvan Learning Systems, Inc., in the U.S. and Canada. All product and company names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. STReport's "Partners in Progress" Advertising Program The facts are in... STReport International 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. With a readership of better that 200,000 per week, this is truly an exceptional opportunity to maximize your company's recognition factor globally. (STReport is pronounced: "ES TEE Report") STR Publishing's Economical "Partners in Progress" Plans! "Partners in Progress" Program.. Call Today! STR Publishing, Inc. (STR, STReport, CPU Report); ú maintains a commitment to utilizing the power of the Internet and Web to keep computer users, worldwide, both private and commercial, informed of new trends in equipment, upgrade reports and future planning. ú offers highly informative Hardware and Software Reviews, Press Releases, hands-on stories, user experiences and show reports. ú presents the NEWS about new hardware, new software and how-to publications within HOURS of its being made public. ú is dedicated to keeping the users informed of what your company has to offer at incredibly, almost the moment its offered! Take full advantage of STReport's Exciting "Partners in Progress" Programs! MAXIMIZE your Company's Presence Worldwide. TODAY! Eighth Page - $50.00 Quarter Page - $100.00 per issue per issue Half Page - $200.00 per Full Page - $400.00 per issue issue Your company's color ad, as described/submitted by you or designed by us, will appear in STReport International Magazine. STReport is published and released weekly on Fridays Evenings. All sizes based on a full color, eight and a half by eleven inch page. Trade-outs and Special Arrangements are available. Email us at or, for quick action call us at: VOICE: 904-292-9222 10am/5pm est FAX: 904-268-2237 24hrs Or, write us at: STR Publishing, Inc. P.O. Box 6672 Jacksonville, Florida 32205 Special Notice!! STR Infofile File format for Articles File Format for STReport All articles submitted to STReport for publication must be sent in the following format. Please use the format requested. Any files received that do not conform will not be used. The article must be in an importable word processor format for Word 6.0 and/or Word Perfect 7.. The margins are .05" left and 1.0" Monospaced fonts are not to be used. Please use proportional fonting only and at Twelve (12) points. ú No Indenting on any paragraphs!! ú No Indenting of any lines or "special gimmickery" ú No underlining! ú Columns shall be achieved through the use of tabs only. Or, columns in Word or Word Perfect format. Do NOT, under any circumstances, use the space bar. ú Most of all.. PLEASE! No ASCII "ART"!! ú There is no limits as to size, articles may be split into two if lengthy ú Actual Artwork should be in GIF, PCX, JPG, TIF, BMP, WMF file formats ú Artwork (pictures, graphs, charts, etc.)should be sent along with the article separately ú Please use a single font only in an article. TTF New Times Roman 12pt. is preferred. (VERY Strong Hint) If there are any questions please use either E-Mail or call. On another note. the ASCII version of STReport is fast approaching the "end of the line" As the major Online Services move away from ASCII.. So shall STReport. All in the name of progress and improved readability. The amount of reader mail expressing a preference for our Adobe PDF enhanced issue is running approximately 15 to 1 over the ASCII edition. I might add however, the requests for our issues to be done in HTML far outnumber both PDF and ascii. HTML is now under consideration. We'll keep you posted. Besides, STReport will not be caught in the old, worn out "downward compatibility dodge" we must move forward. However, if the ASCII readership remains as high, rest assured. ASCII will stay. Right now, since STReport is offered on a number of closed major corporate Intranets as "required" Monday Morning reading.. Our ascii readers have nothing to worry themselves about. It looks like it is here to stay. Many grateful thanks in advance for your enthusiastic co-operation and input. Ralph F. Mariano, Editor rmariano@streport.com STReport International Online Magazine Classics & Gaming Section Editor Dana P. Jacobson dpj@streport.com From the Atari Editor's Desk "Saying it like it is!" VACATION!!!! Finally, I can kick back, pop open a cold one, and relax. In fact, I can do absolutely nothing if I so choose! A couple of weeks to just be concerned with everyday life without the pressures and responsibilities of work. A little golf, some house-hunting (okay, a lot of house-hunting!), catch up on some reading, and who knows what else. At this time of the year, the focus is on Atlanta and the gaming world. Just about everything else in the computing world comes to a standstill! So goes this week's issue - I've been spending most of the past week checking out E3 news for the show that rocks the gaming industry. Suffice to say, Atari computing news is taking a back seat. As to whether or not the next couple of issues will be jam-packed with _any_ news will depend on a number of factors; but, vacations are vacations! We'll see. Until next time... Hi all! Think You've found out that I'm using frames now at my homepage; maybe it all looks better now, who knows. Users of CAB v2.0a or CAB v2.0a Demo can switch off the frame support and everything will be as before. (If You touch the little frame window at the top gives the same result). Think that my new buttons gives a better overview now; each color corresponds to it's own Language, so You will know what Language the Webpage is written in. To access these smaller buttons You have to, of course, click on one of the Language buttons first. aFTP is a FTP-Client made by ATACK from The Czech Republic and it now works with STiNG and STiK (There's still a version for MiNT/MiNTnet). aFTP uses a GEM file display window, similar to the installed one on the desktop. You can use this window as an ordinary one, copy, move and rename files and it's possible to use Drag&Drop too. With aFTP You can move your off-line made homepage from your computer to your provider's server for Internet WWW access and of course access FTP-Servers worldwide. I've made an english support page too where you can view a snapshot, download and read about the program. For swedish spoken users, I can tell that I've just translated the program along with the Hyp manual and have sent the whole package to the Authors. Peter Rottengatter have made some new updates in some of his packages for STiNG. You will find them at: http://www.stud.uni-hannover.de/~perot/STinG.dl-bay-e.html I've met Peter at The Nordic Atari Show here in Gothenburg, he held, like myself, a seminar about TCP/IP and about how Atari Computers can connect with each other in a network. My seminar was about how You can make your own homepage with CAB/QED/HP Penguin/OLGA and some other apps. Best Regards Mille Babic eMail: mille@mail5.tripnet.se http://www5.tripnet.se/~mille (English, German, Swedish, Croatian) Gaming Section Gearing Up for E3!! Jaguar's 'World Tour Racing"! From the Editor's Controller - Playin' it like it is! As mentioned a few paragraphs ago, this is the beginning of the E3 show. All of the big guns will be in Atlanta for this industry show. This is the place to be to learn what's to come for the next big push in the gaming world. In past years, we might have had the opportunity to also see Atari at these shows. Alas, it's not to be any longer - nor has it been the past few years. Anything that comes forth for the Jaguar will be learned by word-of-mouth and messages on the Internet - typical for Atari supporters. Enjoy what we can, for as long as we can... Meanwhile, PC games and the flourishing game consoles will be amply represented at E3. Many of us have multiple platforms, so the news of E3 will be informative and we'll be anticipating seeing the fruits from this showing. Let's see what some of the fun is that's to come! Until next time... Industry News STR Game Console NewsFile - The Latest Gaming News! E3 - Electronic Games, Internet, & DVD Lead Show ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1997 JUN 18 (Newsbytes) -- By Patrick McKenna. Three years ago, Electronic Entertainment Expo began as a business-to-business show for the video gaming industry. As the third annual show opens tomorrow, attendees will witness a grand display of the latest and greatest games and supporting technologies. Multi-player Internet games, DVD technology, and MMX games will lead more than 1,500 titles on display. E3 is about video gaming on personal computers, Sony's PlayStation, Sega's gaming console, and Nintendo's 64-bit console. Every corner of the equivalent of 35 football fields will be packed with gaming sounds in excess of 100 decibels, actors in costumes designed to replicate game characters, $5 million booths by Sega and Nintendo, and aisles packed with attendees. E3 is not open to the public. "This is a business-to-business show," began Douglas Lowenstein, president of the Interactive Digital Software Association (ISDA). "This is the place for gaming professionals to meet, to make deals and learn what others are doing." A recent ISDA survey forecasts that computer and video gaming industry sales will grow from the $3.7 billion in 1996 to $5.8 billion this year. While 37 percent of the games debuting at the show are fast-action and adventure titles, strategy, puzzle, sports, and edutainment titles round-out the show. The latest joysticks, controllers, special keyboards, and three-dimensional (3-D) glasses will also hold their place in Atlanta for the next three days. But some new technologies never make the show floor. Behind the doors of small conference rooms, some companies show their future technologies. For example, one company, Comfy Interactive Movies, is showing D-Zone, a pad a player stands on and moves across to enhance play on standard games. Tom Brokaw, NBC broadcaster will open the show with the first keynote address. On Friday, Andy Grove, co-founder of Intel will begin the second of three days of games, games, and games. Midway Rocks the House at 1997 E3! ATLANTA (June 16) ENTERTAINMENT WIRE -June 16, 1997 -- Midway Home Entertainment introduces eight new video game titles at: 1997 Electronic Entertainment Expo ELECTRONIC ENTERTAINMENT EXPO (E3) - Midway Home Entertainment Rocks the House at this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo with the introduction of eight of the industry's most eagerly anticipated video game titles. With titles representing a wide array of different video game genres, including exciting new sports, fighting, shooting, and driving games, as well as sequels to popular existing titles, Midway Home Entertainment offers something for everyone! Here's a look at the explosive Midway Home Entertainment titles scheduled for preview at the 1997 Electronic Entertainment Expo: Live by the Sword...Kill for the Mace...Everything's a Weapon! Mace(TM): The Dark Age: Midway Home Entertainment presents Mace: The Dark Age, the wildest 3D fighting game ever. Based on the popular arcade game, Mace boasts ten all-new player-selectable characters, two amazing bosses and seven hidden characters - each possessing complete 3D movement and set within unique ground-breaking interactive backgrounds. Each character is fully equipped with a cool weapon, unparalleled fighting style, and the desire to inflict serious pain. Mace: The Dark Age will be released for the Nintendo 64 and Sony PlayStation in September 1997. Pull the trigger! Maximum Force(TM): It's you versus the terrorists... they must be stopped at all costs and only you can stop them! From the team that created the breakthrough sci-fi adventure hit arcade shooting game Area 51(TM), this powerful precision-based shooter for 1 or 2 players features incredible live-action cinematic styling that catapults the player right into the action. Maximum Force boasts thousands of shootable bad guys and objects set within interactive backgrounds, making it the deepest gun game ever. Coupling explosive graphics with heart-pounding game play, Maximum Force pits the player against near impossible odds in a series of three power-packed missions. The storyline involves three groups of oddball terrorists who are out to unleash their own brand of chaos on the world. The player's goal, not surprisingly, is to stop them at all costs. Maximum Force will be available for play on the Sony PlayStation in September 1997. The Mortal Kombat(R) Saga continues with an entirely new chapter! Mortal Kombat(R) Mythologies: The Adventures of Sub-Zero(TM): Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero, the first brand new Mortal Kombat game developed specifically for the next generation video game systems, features a mix of 2D and 3D elements and a totally fresh in-depth storyline that embellishes the ongoing Mortal Kombat saga and catapults its myth to a whole new level. Developed by John Tobias, one of the original Mortal Kombat creators, this all-new action-adventure game is the prequel to the events featured in the first three Mortal Kombat games and offers the unique combination of hard-core action and hours of heart-pounding excitement that gamers expect from the Mortal Kombat brand. While most of the action takes place in true Mortal Kombat style, Mortal Kombat Mythologies also incorporates features found in roll playing games and adds many new moves. Mortal Kombat's signature 2D digitized actors are now uniquely combined with fully rendered 3D sprites and intermixed with such intense realism that gamers are virtually plunged into the most exciting fighting game experience of their lives. Mortal Kombat Mythologies: The Adventures of Sub-Zero will make its national retail debut on the Nintendo 64 and Sony PlayStation in October 1997. Lace up your high-tops, hit the hardwood and slam one home! NBA Hardwood Heros (TM): Midway's new high-flying, five-on-five hoop simulation is officially licensed by the NBA and features hi-tech wizardry, state-of-the-art graphics and multi-tap support for up to ten players in fierce five-on-five player competition. NBA Hardwood Heros boast special, never-before-seen animations, play modes, and gameplay options -- offering players the most ultra-realistic basketball video game playing experience available! NBA Hardwood Heroes is scheduled for a November 1997 release on the Sony PlayStation. The Most highly anticipated computer game since DOOM(R) hits the Nintendo 64 QUAKE(R) 64: Midway's translation of the notorious, nightmarishly intense 3D shoot-em-up computer game, will fully utilize the spectacular technological capabilities of the Nintendo 64 system, letting gamers rip through QUAKE'S worlds at incredible speeds - without sacrificing the game's intense graphics. QUAKE 64 will feature in-your-face lightning-fast game play, intense weapons and monsters, amazing sound effects, and mesmerizing environments for the most extreme battling experience possible on a home video game system. QUAKE(R) 64 is currently scheduled for a late 1997 retail release. They're coming to your house! They Can't be stopped! Rampage(TM) World Tour: This eagerly awaited home video game adaptation of the smash-hit arcade game of the same name, as well as the sequel to the phenomenally popular classic Rampage game is a wild smash 'em up romp with universal appeal. Rampage World Tour is simple enough to be played by gamers of all ages, yet so chock-full of enough exciting gameplay depth and challenge that it will satisfy the thirst of hard-core gamers too! In Rampage World Tour, up to three players will embark on a killer "Rampage" inflicting as much damage and destruction as "humanly" possible. Along the way, they will demolish buildings, swat down aircraft, eat people and rack up points, as they demolish entire cities! Rampage World Tour will be available for the Sony PlayStation in November 1997. Is it real? Or is it Rush? San Francisco RUSH(TM) Extreme Racing: The eagerly awaited home video game version of the smash-hit arcade game of the same name brings all of the adrenaline-pumping gameplay home to the Nintendo 64 and Sony PlayStation. Engineered like a fine sports car, San Francisco RUSH has what it takes to become a classic! Offering everything from a simple and forgiving solo driving game to a full blown simulated maniacal EXTREME racing competition for up to four players, San Francisco RUSH combines an unparalleled level of realism, racing excitement and game depth to provide gamers with an experience far beyond that found in any other driving game. San Francisco RUSH Extreme Racing will be available in November 1997. He shoots... He scores! The Great One's legacy continues! The NHLPA(TM) & NHL(R) Present Wayne Gretzky's 3D Hockey(TM) '98: Hammer the puck and rip the net...with the world's best in The NHLPA & NHL Present Wayne Gretzky's 3D Hockey '98, the eagerly awaited sequel to the 1996 top-selling hockey video game from Midway Home Entertainment. This fast action-thriller stars hockey legend, Wayne Gretzky, and features the National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA) and the National Hockey League (NHL) licenses. Playable in either simulation or arcade mode, Wayne Gretzky's 3D Hockey '98 boasts all 26 NHL teams, team logos, uniforms and players, including player name and physical likenesses, plus all the moves you'd expect from a simulation and the action demanded for pure entertainment. The NHPA & NHL Present Wayne Gretzky's 3D Hockey '98 will be released for the Nintendo 64 and Sony PlayStation in November 1997. Hasbro Interactive Reinforces Mission to Lead the Family BEVERLY, Mass., June 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Furthering its mission to be a leader in the interactive games industry with products that appeal to an increasingly mass-market population of consumers, Hasbro Interactive will unveil new games in every major entertainment software game category, as well as its first titles for the Sony PlayStation(TM), at the Electronic Entertainment Expo this week in Atlanta. "Our commitment to delivering high quality, multi-player interactive games is stronger than ever," says Tom Dusenberry, President of Hasbro Interactive. "Hasbro Interactive's new product line up offers a broad range of titles that will not only appeal to the serious gamer, but will delight every member of the family." "This year we are going beyond the classic games genre, " adds Dusenberry. "We are releasing exciting new entries into the action game category, that will not only strengthen our overall position in the interactive games market, but will enable us to appeal to a larger number of consumers." Hasbro Interactive headlines three stellar action games that are sure to fire-up the fingers and imaginations of avid gamers: Frogger(R), a brilliant revival of the coolest, high-jumpin', tongue-flickin' Atari game from the '80s, is sure to become an all-family favorite in the '90s. Hasbro Interactive's Frogger has been rebuilt with sophisticated 3D graphics, redesigned for fast action single and multi-layer, split screen Internet game play, and will include over 50 levels in 10 new Frogger worlds. The new Frogger will remain true to the addictive play patterns of the original arcade game, but will appeal to a whole new generation of gamers with its new look, new features and hoppin' music. (Oct./WIN 95 and PSX) H.E.D.Z. - Head Extreme Destruction Zone(TM) -- Gamers are sure to lose their heads over Hasbro Interactive's first original content game that features a cast of 225 irreverent "heads" characters, each with their own special physical attributes and battle powers. It's a totally original action game concept that invokes collectability and adrenaline-pumping fun. Try the fighter plane-launching Aircraft Carrier Head on for size or the flesh-eating Velociraptor Head. Network and Internet play take collectability to a whole new level! (Fall/WIN 95) Beast Wars, based on the top-rated Transformers toy line and television series, is a fast-action, shoot 'em up game that features 3D rendered models that morph from Beast to Transformer in spectacular fashion under the player's control. Pick from two opposing factions - the Maximals and Predicons -- and battle for control of the universe. The game features include 10 different characters for each mission, 32 missions in six high-resolution 3D environments, and ear-pounding sound effects. (Sept./WIN 95 and PSX) Family Fun Joining the Monopoly(R) Game CD-ROM in the family category this fall will be Sorry!(R) CD-ROM, the classic chase and race game. Sorry! CD-ROM is based on the classic board game, but in this version the character tokens have their own distinct personalities. The tokens spring to life as they bump, hammer and hop over their opponents, adding even more humor to the game's playful on-board antics. Sorry! CD-ROM includes four games in one - from the classic game, "everyone for himself," to Team Sorry!, where tokens must collaborate to make their way home and win. Voice and text chat allow the players to scream "Sorry!" across the "wired" miles as they play their opponents over the Internet. Sorry! CD-ROM is sure to be one of the most popular Internet games for children and the entire family, with its fully-animated tokens that banter and playfully bop each other as they try to slide "home." (Nov./WIN 95) One of the world's most popular word games explodes onto CD-ROM! Boggle CD-ROM offers something for everyone at any level with five unique word games in one. The game features multiple skill levels and many ways to compete -- against yourself, with a friend, or with multiple players over the Internet. Now Boggle lovers young and old can find a challenge, any day, any time. Pictionary(R) CD-ROM will light up the house, with hours of picture-guessing and mouse-drawing fun. Pictionary CD-ROM is "the game of quick draw" and more! The game features six exciting new ways to play, including incredible "computer drawing" variations, full color picture reveals, and hundreds of picture-guessing rounds. Humorous banter and dialogue, along with great music definitely let players have a party on their PC. Players can play the Pictionary CD-ROM game solo, in teams or over the Internet. Pictionary CD-ROM will be enabled for play over Microsoft's Internet Gaming Zone(TM) (www.zone.com), for spontaneous Pictionary "parties" on-line. (Sept./WIN 95) adults will also love the first Puzz 3D(R) adaptation for the PC, as they recreate the enthralling Notre Dame Cathedral. Puzz 3D CD-ROM gives a new dimension to puzzles. As the player pieces together the walls of the famous cathedral in realistic 3D fashion, he is rewarded with the keys to unlock each room's mystery. Wander through dozens of rooms that are brimming with centuries of historical tales. (Aug./WIN 95.) New Titles for the Youngest Gamers in the House New children's games from Hasbro Interactive include a sequel to the award-winning Tonka(R) Construction CD-ROM, called Tonka Search and Rescue CD-ROM, and the Mr. Potato Head(R) Activity Pack, starring everyone's favorite spud! Hasbro Interactive has specially designed both titles to encourage creative play on and off the computer. Tonka Search and Rescue CD-ROM celebrates Tonka's 50th anniversary with 22 3D Tonka vehicles to master and maneuver through 12 different land, air and sea rescue missions. Kids are in command of their own rescue squad made up of the most formidable Tonka vehicles, including construction trucks, helicopters, fire engines and rescue boats. In the print shop, children can create and print custom license plates and decals that adhere to their real Tonka trucks, for hours of additional fun away from the computer. (Oct./WIN 3.1, WIN 95 and MAC) Mr. Potato Head Activity Pack CD-ROM is loaded with fun-filled creative activities for preschoolers, including a puzzle maker, a connect-the-dots game, and a dress-up activity in which children adorn Mr. Potato Head with all sorts of crazy outfits! Each play area has three different skill levels rich music, fun and wacky sounds, and of course, plenty of spud humor. Reward animations will keep kids delighted as they reinforce word associations. Special printing features will enable kids to extend their play away from the computer. (Sept./WIN 3.1, WIN 95 and MAC) More Ways to Play While each of Hasbro Interactive's games delivers great solo play, Hasbro Interactive recognizes that one of the best features of every great game is its ability to bring people together. So this year, Hasbro Interactive will begin enabling its entire line of games for Microsoft's Internet Gaming Zone (www.zone.com), which offers easy Internet connection and round-the-clock player-matching. "Multi-player gaming is the hottest area in the interactive games industry today," says Tom Dusenberry. "The idea of playing games with friends and family from around the world is a wonderful way to bring people together. We are very pleased to be able to lead the social gaming movement on the Internet." Internet play of several of Hasbro Interactive's games also will continue through MPath's MPlayer gaming network. In addition, several of Hasbro Interactive's action, strategy and family games are playable on a LAN and modem-to-modem. Hasbro Interactive offers game samples and player registries at its own web site, www.hasbro.com. Frogger(R), The Blockbuster Video Game He's Revived, Rebuilt And Ready To Hop Onto PSX And PC CD-ROM Hasbro Interactive President Tom Dusenberry Leads the Initiative to Bring FROGGER(R) to a New Generation of Gamers BEVERLY, Mass., June 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Who's the coolest, high jumpin', power croakin', tongue flickin' amphibian in town? He's FROGGER! Hasbro Interactive and Konami Co., Ltd. join forces to unveil the hot new FROGGER(R) action game for Sony PlayStation(TM) and PC CD-ROM. Based on the blockbuster arcade game of the early 1980s, the new FROGGER will be true to the addictive play patterns of the original game, but will be rebuilt with sophisticated 3D graphics, redesigned for fast action, single or split screen, multi-player game play, and will include numerous levels in multiple unique play environments. "We are extremely excited to bring the beloved FROGGER game back to life," says Tom Dusenberry, President of Hasbro Interactive. "FROGGER has a special place in my heart, since I helped launch it fifteen years ago as part of the Parker Brothers Arcade Action Series." "When we first started the Hasbro Interactive company, I definitely had FROGGER in mind as a premier, all-family entertainment title for the '90s," adds Dusenberry. "FROGGER was an icon in the gaming industry during the '80s, and I am thrilled to recreate it with modern technology for a whole new generation of gamers to enjoy." Konami Co., Ltd. headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, brought FROGGER to life as an arcade game in the early 1980s. Parker Brothers partnered with Konami Co., Ltd. to develop the first version for home use and it became a huge success. Designed for the Atari and Commodore platforms, FROGGER was quick to leap onto Billboard's best-selling video cartridge and computer game charts. In addition, the program won a number of industry honors, including Best Arcade Video/Computer Game Merit Award from Electronic Games Magazine. Now Hasbro Interactive and Konami Co., Ltd. team up again to create a new FROGGER for the modern era. As gamers leap into the crazy 3D computer world of FROGGER, they must guide their frogs to safety through a number of dangerous obstacles including multiple lanes of busy traffic; a treacherous river filled with moving logs, swimming turtles, and hungry alligators; a desert wilderness of stampeding buffalo, vicious rattlesnakes and tumbling mountain boulders, and much more! Powerful new abilities have been added to the game such as super jump, the power croak and a heat seeking tongue. Multiple original music scores in surround sound will keep players hoppin' for hours. In the multi-player game mode, up to four players can try to beat their opponents on the time clock and obtain power ups as they race simultaneously through specially designed world maps in split screen. The new FROGGER is scheduled for worldwide release this fall for gamers age 10 and up. The approximate street prices will be $49.99-$59.99 for Sony PlayStation and $39.99 for CD-ROM. E-3 Media Alert -- Kalisto Unveils New Multimedia Titles (June 16) BUSINESS WIRE - ADVISORY...For Thursday (June 19) Who: Kalisto(TM) Entertainmnent (formerly Mindscape Bourdeaux) and its publishers/distributors: NEC, Electronic Arts and Sony Computer Entertainment What: Four new multimedia titles: -- Dark Earth (TM): Two years in the making and heralded as the PC game which promises to "revolutionize" the adventure game category, Dark Earth is a stunning 3D adventure in real time set in an original universe for Windows 95. Features include incredible realism, totally immersive environments with 250 pre-rendered backgrounds, over 90 stunning characters animated in real time and more than 5,000 animations. -- Nightmare Creatures (TM): a revolutionary 3D fighting adventure game for SONY PlayStation. -- Ultimte Race(TM): This PowerVR(TM) title is an 3D arcade racing multiplayer game for Windows 95. This realistic computer environment game provides highly detailed visual effects and gives gamers an "arcade-like" game play experience on a PC. Gamers can experience new realism in a racing game with incredible effects. -- Fifth Element(TM): Kalisto will provide a "sneak preview" of this 3D adventure game based on this summer's blockbuster movie from Gaumont studio starring Bruce Wills. Phil Hartman Teams Up With PlayStation FOSTER CITY, CALIF. (June 17) BUSINESS WIRE -June 17, 1997--Sony Computer Entertainment America announced that it has signed accomplished character actor, Phil Hartman, to provide the voice for its first originally-created superhero, Captain Blasto(TM), the feature character in the upcoming PlayStation(TM) videogame title. Scheduled for release in October 1997, Blasto is being developed bySony Interactive Studios America exclusively for the PlayStation game console. Blasto is a character-driven 3D action/platform PlayStation videogame with stunning 3D animation and interactive environments. Created in a style and tone reminiscent of 1940's big-studio cartoon features, Blasto combines the best elements of platform, action and shooter games with capabilities never seen before in previous titles. "PlayStation will bring a new kind of gaming to its fans with Blasto," said Andrew House, vice president, marketing, Sony Computer Entertainment America. "The addition of Phil Hartman as the voice of Captain Blasto will bring to life the personality of this pompous superhero and emphasizes the degree to which Blasto will appeal to all age groups." Hartman has appeared as many of the most lively and memorable characters in movies and television, from such films as "Jingle All the Way" and "Sgt. Bilko" to his portrayal of Bill McNeal on the hit television series "NewsRadio." He can be heard weekly as the voice of Springfield's B-movie actor and foremost spokesperson, Troy McClure on "The Simpsons" and was a cast member for eight seasons on "Saturday Night Live." Psygnosis Showcases Newest Games at E3 FOSTER CITY, CALIF. (June 17) BUSINESS WIRE -June 17, 1997--For E3 '97, Psygnosis will push the envelope with third-generation PlayStation game console titles that take the format to new heights of excellence in graphics and gameplay. The company has also been working on bringing the same degree of finesse and excitement to the PC marketplace. Utilizing the latest advances in 3D acceleration technology, Psygnosis will debut PC titles at E3 '97 which will turn heads in the same way the company's first PlayStation efforts did at the very first E3. As this trade event grows, Psygnosis continues to grow with it. G Police(TM) G Police for the PlayStation and Windows 95 PC CD-ROM is an all-action flight-shooter set in a gritty, urban jungle environment, with unrestricted, "fly-anywhere-shoot-anything" freedom. Patrol the skies of a futuristic cityscape as a member of the ultimate law-enforcement agency, the G Police, in the DASA-Kamov Havoc close air-support gunship. Over 35 missions test both flight skills and battle instincts to the full as the game's true 3D flight model allows for awesome inner-city, mid-air shootouts and more strategic 'copter adventure. On the PC, G Police takes 3D accelerated arcade action to the next level with dazzling explosive effects, as you blast away at enemy vehicles on land and in the air. For PlayStation, Psygnosis re-affirms their reputation as the premier developer on the console format, with a technologically inspiring game that's the jewel in this year's Psygnosis portfolio. Formula 1 '97 The sequel to the million units worldwide blockbuster Formula 1, Psygnosis' Formula 1 '97 takes pole-position as the leading sports-racing title for fans of arcade racing with realistic simulation options. Formula 1 '97 for PlayStation and Windows 95 PC CD-ROM gives players all new features the fans demanded, including split-screen two player racing and more spectacular, dramatic collisions and crashes. The latest statistics plus all the teams and drivers of the 1997 season are ready to race over 17 circuits, with even more of the attention to detail and finesse that made Formula 1 a legendary release. Formula 1 '97 lets gamers experience the thrill, speed and excitement of the ultimate racing challenge. Sample the driving dynamics and pit stop tactics that make the world of F1 so exciting, driving the meticulously recreated curves and straights of representations of the world's finest tracks. Colony Wars(TM) Colony Wars, exclusively developed for the PlayStation game console, is a real-time 3D space-shooter combining arcade action with epic drama, in a galactic adventure spanning five solar systems. The player is invited to sign up as a rookie pilot in the League of Free Nations, caught in the middle of a vicious war to free the Colony Worlds from the stranglehold of the Empire. With dizzying space dogfights, spectacular, pyrotechnic weaponry and involving strategic missions, Colony Wars plays out this bold story with all the impact, action and awe of a Hollywood blockbuster -- only this time, the player is really in control. The Psygnosis Liverpool studio is creating this non-linear adventure with over 60 intricate missions, which fall into 18 acts. Dramatic, fully rendered 3D sequences tell the story of the Colony Wars (and six drastically different endings to the game). But the emphasis is on interactivity, not FMV. Real time databases update with strategically vital info on both spacecraft and planetary activity as the game unfolds, and the player enjoys full flight freedom for white-knuckle combat missions. Psybadek(TM) Developed by the creators of the acclaimed PlayStation classic WipeOut(TM), Psybadek combines the fun of 3D platform-style gameplay with the constant, kinetic motion of snowboard-style "hoverdeks". Featuring Xako and Mia -- the most contemporary characters in gaming, with a look that's half skate-punk, half Manga (Japanese animation) - Psybadek is a game that'll appeal to both connoisseurs of cutting-edge game development and mainstream gaming fans who are looking for the next level in 3D platform fun. Psybadek's gameplay is fast and fluid. Mastering the skills of hoverdek stunts is crucial to completing the game's ten "go anywhere" locations, collecting power-ups, avoiding bad guys and confronting level-bosses. Cool weapons like magnetic mines, "snowball" bombs, smart-bombs and boomerangs keep the action frantic, while a huge selection of collectibles will reveal secret levels, provide extra stunt-boosting energy and offer bonuses like temporary invulnerability. Shadow Master(TM) Boasting lush, other-worldly environments and bizarre, bio-mechanical enemies, Shadow Master is a graphically intense real-time 3D shooter inspired by the vision of renowned fantasy artist Rodney Matthews, whose distinctive landscapes and strange creators have graced many sci-fi book covers and album sleeves. Shadow Master is under development for the PlayStation and Windows 95 PC CD-ROM. Your mission in Shadow Master is to protect your planet from a dictatorship that has stripped bare the resources of the other planets in your system. You must do battle with insectoid and bio-mechanical lifeforms in your fight to confront the leader of this evil dictatorship, traveling across seven different worlds, each of which has different characteristics -- an arid desert environment, a lush fertile world with lakes and forests, a seascape with volcanic islands and several other locations and terrains where your gaming mettle will be tested. Overboard!(TM) Overboard! brings havoc to the high seas with a nautical mix of scrolling shoot 'em up action, brain-teasing, puzzle-packed level design and swash-buckling strategy, all from a free-reaming, top-down 3D perspective that lets you gaze out over hazard-packed oceans and coves. Captain a heavily galleon on a quest to discover a long lost treasure and annihilate your pirate nemesis, Blowfleet. Along the way you'll destroy enemy strongholds, ports and shipyards while building their own fleet of strangely enhanced ships and various add-ons (for example, ships can morph into Jules Verne-style airships in this swashblucking extravaganza). Overboard! is under development for the PlayStation and Windows 95 PC CD-ROM. Rascal(TM) Rascal is set to storm the exciting 3D platform gaming genre with a distinctive blend of "old school" gameplay values and up-to-the-minute, free-roaming 3D environments. Rascal is the latest creation of notable developers Travelers Tales, the team behind console classics Mickey Mania and Toy Story. Bringing extra spice to the mix is the Jim Henson Creature Workshop (London), who have collaborated on character design, helping make the eponymous Rascal a new gaming icon who is set to capture the imagination of gamers everywhere. Our hero is a street-smart kid who takes his scientist father's prototype time-machine for a test drive and into twenty-one levels of "go-anywhere" mayhem. Rascal's lightning fast 60 frames per second graphics, and fully-explorable environments, combined with the tried-and-tested gameplay skills of the platform experts at Travelers Tales are set to make our hero king of the hill in the emerging real-time 3D platform genre. Rascal is under development for the PlayStation and Windows 95 PC CD-ROM. Nintendo's E3 "Powerhouse Series" Advances Game Technology ATLANTA (June 18) BUSINESS WIRE -June 18, 1997 Industry Leader Introduces Revolutionary Nintendo 64 Graphics, Game Play For Award-Winning System; Introduces Color For Game Boy pocket Hardware The power of Nintendo continues to dazzle and amaze! Building on the strength of its incomparable video game hardware, Nintendo of America Inc. today announces a new series of 64-bit, advanced technology video game titles featuring new realism for true 3-D graphics and character interaction. Having jump-started the video gaming industry in 1996 with the launch of Nintendo 64 (N64), Nintendo "expands the magic" in 1997 with the introduction of phenomenal games including Star Fox(R)64, Banjo-Kazooie(TM), GoldenEye 007(TM), Conker's Quest(TM) and Major League Baseball(R) Featuring Ken Griffey, Jr. This powerhouse line-up, being unveiled at this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Atlanta, is projected to keep Nintendo 64 as the hottest selling video game system in America. "Our new 'powerhouse series' not only exceeds current expectations for the 64-bit system, it continues to demonstrate our dedication to quality and innovation," says Howard Lincoln, chairman, Nintendo of America. "For nearly a decade, consumers have seen the best video games on Game Boy, Super NES and most recently Nintendo 64. It's been an exciting ride, and it'll keep getting better as developers produce games that make use of the technological prowess of Nintendo 64." Shigeru Miyamoto, the world's most revered video game designer, brings Fox McCloud and friends back to their arwings in Star Fox 64 - a game already receiving accolades from gaming experts and offering new concepts in 3-D space shooting. Also exploring the breadth and depth offered by the N64 is the world-famous video game design team at U.K.-based Rare, Ltd., who have teamed with Nintendo to create two breath-taking action/adventure series additions - Banjo-Kazooie and Conker's Quest - both with thrilling escapades, loveable new characters, lush landscapes and inspiring graphics. Further demonstrating the power of Nintendo 64, Conker's Quest characters actually show emotion and are aware of their environmental conditions. These conditions assist players through the game in numerous ways from pointing out missed objects to alluding to impending trouble based on the character's facial expressions. In the strategy/action genre, the Nintendo/Rare collaborators shake (not stir) it up even further with the mission-based GoldenEye, a video game simulation based on the box-office smash featuring secret agent and adventure hero Bond...James Bond. For those interested in heroes of the sports variety, Nintendo and Angel Studios, along with the help of the best player in Major League Baseball(R) (MLB), Ken Griffey Jr., have developed Major League Baseball Featuring Ken Griffey Jr. Created using the new proprietary Nintendo Reality System - which takes advantage of Nintendo 64's unparalleled artificial intelligence features - Griffey showcases intricately detailed MLB stadiums that include more than 35,000 frames of motion-captured character animations. Additionally, Nintendo has secured a license with the Major League Baseball Players Association(R), which allows the game to feature the complete 1997 MLB roster. And, if this isn't enough, Nintendo also will provide sneak peeks of other upcoming Nintendo 64 titles including Zelda 64, Yoshi's Island 64, Body Harvest(TM), Tetrisphere(TM), F-Zero(R) 64...and more! In addition to the Nintendo 64 "powerhouse series," Nintendo also unveiled new releases for its Super Nintendo Entertainment System (Super NES) and Game Boy platforms - two tried-and-true systems that have maintained their unwavering popularity with Nintendo fans of all ages for years. For Game Boy, Nintendo showed heightened fashion sense this spring with the introduction of new Game Boy pocket "Colors." This handful of entertainment now is available in six new color casings including green, red, yellow, black, transparent and silver. In other bytes, Nintendo will release new 16-bit Super NES and Game Boy games including perennial favorites for its Player's Choice Series. For the Super NES, new games include Arkanoid(TM), Space Invaders(R), Super Star Stacker and Kirby 3. Also, the re-release of Super Metroid(R), Tetris(R)/Dr. Mario(R), F-Zero(R) and Donkey Kong Country(TM) will add to the current Player's Choice Series. Game Boy titles being released are Donkey Kong Land(TM) 3, Ken Griffey Jr. Presents Major League Baseball(R): Game Boy Edition(R), Tetris Plus(TM), Wario Land(TM) 2, Game and Watch Gallery(TM) 2 and James Bond 007(TM). Similarly, Nintendo has added Donkey Kong Land(TM), Metroid II(R) - Return of Samus(TM), Little Mermaid(R) and Mickey's Dangerous Chase(R) to the Game Boy Player's Choice Series. Bandai Launches CD-ROM Version Of Tamagotchi TOKYO, JAPAN, 1997 JUN 19 (Newsbytes) - Tamagotchi, the small egg-shaped "virtual pet" that is sending the stress level in kids up all over the world, can now be as near as the nearest computer desktop. Bandai Digital Entertainment Co. (BDEC) launched a CD-ROM version of the pet in Japan earlier this week and will debut it in the United States today, at the E3 show in Atlanta. Bandai, Japan's biggest toy company, is keen to expand those caring for Tamagotchi to as wide a range of people as it can. The company's press release, announcing the US launch, says the CD-ROM, like the toy, "is designed for children 8 years through adults" and talks about the disc enabling users to "expand the personal care experience." Just like the pocket version, owners will have to care for their pet, play with it, clean-up after it and feed it for it to live a long and happy life. Failure to do so will lead to a spoilt chicken, for that's what a Tamagotchi is, that gets up late and goes to sleep way past bed-time. The PC version includes several different games and extras, like a screen saver, said Bandai. In the future, Bandai said it will be building an entire community based on the creature, including chat areas, virtual day care centers and more. The CD-ROM will be available from September and cost $24.95. In Japan, the company has promised versions for the Apple Macintosh and Pippin AtMark (World in the United States) soon. It recently launched a version of Tamagotchi for the Nintendo GameBoy Pocket. And the Winners Are... Interactive Gaming Enthusiasts Pick Favorite Games For The Sixth Annual GamePro Readers' Choice Awards ATLANTA, June 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Interactive gaming enthusiasts throughout the country are eagerly waiting to see if their favorite games for 1996 are sure winners. All votes are in and tabulated -- GamePro Media Group, the world's largest interactive entertainment information provider, today announced the winners of The Sixth Annual GamePro Readers' Choice Awards. GamePro readers were asked to pick their favorite games in various categories in the March issue of GamePro magazine and on The GamePro Online Network (http://www.gamepro.com and America Online Keyword: GamePro) during the month of March. Readers eagerly cast their votes for their favorite games in 1996: Best Action/Adventure Game Super Mario 64 by Nintendo for Nintendo 64 Best Fighting Game Tekken 2 by Namco for PlayStation Best First-Person Shooter Die Hard Trilogy by Fox Interactive for PlayStation Best Racing Game Wave Race 64 by Nintendo for Nintendo 64 Best Sports Game Wayne Gretzky's 3D Hockey by Midway Home Entertainment for Nintendo 64 Best Vehicle Shooter Game Twisted Metal 2 by Sony for PlayStation Best Action/Adventure Game for 16-Bit Systems Donkey Kong Country 3 by Nintendo for Super NES Best Sports Game for 16-Bit Systems Ken Griffey Jr.'s Winning Run by Nintendo for Super NES Best Role-Playing Game Super Mario RPG by Nintendo for Super NES Best PC Game Duke Nukem 3D by GT Interactive Software Best Arcade Game Tekken 2 by Namco Best System Nintendo 64 The GamePro Readers' Choice Awards is in its sixth year, solidifying GamePro magazine's loyal readership and a name that teens trust for quality information about interactive gaming. "GamePro reaches 3.7 million gamers and represents the core interactive gaming enthusiast," says Wes Nihei, Editor-in-Chief of GamePro magazine. "The GamePro Readers' Choice Awards is the only industry event representing the true judges of what makes a great game -- the teen gaming enthusiast." Sony Computer Entertainment America Experiencing Lead FOSTER CITY, CALIF. (June 19) BUSINESS WIRE -June 19, 1997-Offering videogame players the freedom to choose from an industry leading library of more than 250 diverse, high-quality games, PlayStation software sales have achieved an unparalleled tie-ratio of more than five software games to each PlayStation game console. In comparison, the Nintendo 64 is only selling 2.5 games per system, according to an industry tracking study, TRSTS, by the NPD Group. With more than four million PlayStation game consoles already sold in North America -- in comparison with approximately 2.6 million for N64 -- plus more than twice the worldwide installed base of N64, PlayStation is clearly the dominant global and domestic videogame system. Further cementing its leadership in the new generation videogame market, fiscal 1998 North American PlayStation brand retail sales - including hardware, software and peripherals -- are expected to exceed $3 billion, with worldwide retail sales expected to exceed $9 billion; again substantiating a dominant domestic and worldwide leadership position. Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. expects fiscal year 1998 first and third party software sales of more than 40 million units. In addition to providing the most compelling video game software, Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. also expects 1998 fiscal year PlayStation hardware sales of six million units, for an expected 1998 fiscal year end cumulative North America installed base exceeding nine million PlayStation units. "The primary reason behind the PlayStation's success is the fact that we remain keenly aware that consumers make videogame purchases based the quality, rapidly increasing diversity and quantity of PlayStation games, and affordable software pricing," said Ken Kutaragi, chairman and chief executive officer, Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. "Our unprecedented software sales speak directly to that." "The degree of global dominance the PlayStation has experienced is unprecedented in the videogame industry," said Kaz Hirai, chief operating officer, Sony Computer Entertainment America. "PlayStation's success is testament to the fact that our business model provides the technologies to assist in creating a wide variety of software. This new concept, the concept of expanding the horizon of videogame entertainment, has been overwhelmingly embraced by gamers." With leading sports, fighting, platform, action-adventure and role playing games -- and lots of them -- PlayStation offers consumers a comprehensive library of games in every genre. In fact, continuing its solid commitment to diversity in software -- which is made possible on a CD-based platform -- the PlayStation and will introduce 100+ new titles at this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3). As of end of May 1997, the worldwide PlayStation companies have collectively shipped 16 million units of hardware (7.5 million in Japan, 4.8 million in North America and 3.7 million in Europe) and 114 million pieces of software (59 million in Japan, 30 million in North America and 25 million in Europe). 1997: So Far, The Year of Nintendo; Company Sales ATLANTA (June 18) BUSINESS WIRE -June 18, 1997--Resounding consumer demand for the new Nintendo 64 video game machine has boosted year-to-date company sales 156 percent from levels for the comparable period of 1996. From January 1 through April 30, 1997, independent sales data show the world's first and only 64-bit game machine is selling more than 60 percent ahead of its nearest rival, Sony's 32-bit PlayStation. Additionally, the industry's seven top-selling games are available exclusively for Nintendo 64. Nintendo 64 has remained the top-selling system in America for each of the eight months since its introduction (Sept. 29, 1996), according to TRSTS sales data gathered by NPD Research, Port Washington, NY. "As a company, we're known for making aggressive business plans," says Peter Main, Nintendo of America executive vice president of sales and marketing. "But even we failed to predict the magnitude of Nintendo 64's success." Nintendo's leadership also extended to its two other video game systems. The Super Nintendo Entertainment System (Super NES) platform has moved to a 66 percent share of the 16-bit category thus far in 1997, with the Super NES game, Donkey Kong Country 3 also joining the seven Nintendo 64 titles on the list of top ten sellers. The portable Game Boy system, newly launched in the "pocket" color versions, is running at 90 percent of the hand-held category, with revenue volume up 15 percent compared to 1996. In total, Nintendo year-to-date is the industry's leading seller of hardware systems and games, and accounts for 56 percent of all industry revenues. For its fiscal year, beginning April 1, 1997, Nintendo of America predicts growth of 37 percent for total first-, second- and third-party retail revenues to $2.5 billion. The company projects that amount will represent 51 percent of the entire U.S. video game industry. The Nintendo 64 system is a product of the worldwide joint development and license agreement combining Nintendo's expertise in video game development with Silicon Graphics Inc.'s (NYSE:SGI) renowned visual computing technologies as used to create special effects in numerous blockbuster motion pictures. Developed in partnership with SGI, the revolutionary Nintendo 64 system launched in the U.S. on September 29, 1996, and has sold more than 2.8 million units to date. Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, is the leader in the worldwide $15 billion retail video game industry. Nintendo manufactures and markets hardware and software for its best-selling home video game systems, including the hand-held Game Boy, the 16-bit Super Nintendo Entertainment System, and the 64-bit Nintendo 64, the fastest selling video game system in history. As a wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America Inc., based in Redmond, Washington, serves as headquarters for Nintendo's operations in the Western Hemisphere, where more than 40 percent of American households own a Nintendo game system. For information about Nintendo products and past press releases, log on to Nintendo's web site at www.nintendo.com. Jaguar Online STR InfoFile - Online Users Growl & Purr! World Tour Racing By Patrick Holstine I've been playing World Tour Racing the last couple of days, and I find it to be a decent game. Its biggest problem is a somewhat-slow framerate: not as bad as Supercross 3D, but not as good as Super Burnout. When you get into heavy traffic, or use 2-player mode or crash into a wall, the slowdown is more apparent. It's very difficult to play something like F1 or Ridge Racer on PlayStation and then enjoy WTR as much on Jag CD. Still, as a big Atari fan, it's nice to see all the Fuji logos and Atari signs all over the many tracks and cars in the game. WTR (developed by Teque, published by Telegames) comes packaged in a Jaguar cartridge-size box, with nice cover art and full-color illustrations. Inside, the CD is in a plain jewel case, and the instruction manual is in black and white, looking just like the one for Breakout 2000 (also published by Telegames). There are lots of options available in WTR, including three racing modes, one or two-player competitions (two-player contests offer a split-screen), 12 tracks, customizable races and cars, three levels of difficulty, and eight different viewpoints. It's quite easy to customize the game to suit your playing style, and this is perhaps WTR's best feature. When you turn the game on, you are treated to a nice FMV intro that shows off the benefits of the CD format. Of course, when the game starts you are left wishing that the in-game graphics looked more like the intro sequence. Once you select your options and get into play, you roll out of pit lane and onto the track for some racing action. You can toggle on/off the texture mapping on the track by pressing "8" on the Jaguar keypad. WTR also makes use of the Jaguar Pro Controller for certain options. WTR is very playable, and the car controls nicely with none of the annoying Checkered Flag-type handling problems. The short but tasteful FMV sequences are great, especially the ones for pit stops where it shows your front wing being replaced, or tires being changed, etc. There are other good ones too, like when you select the arcade mode, and a standup arcade size WTR machine breaks through the wall of your living room and knocks over your TV, or when you lose in arcade mode and a giant "Game Over" crashes down on your car, creating a nifty scene of destruction. It's especially cool when the driver's helmet comes tumbling back down after a few seconds (minus the driver!). However, as we all know, you can't play FMV sequences. The game itself is what has to be scrutinized, and in many areas, WTR holds up quite well. There are 12 different tracks to race on and they are quite varied, offering nice background scenery and scrolling clouds. The tracks are lined with advertisements for Atari and games like Doom and Super Burnout. When you choose either the single race or championship season modes, you are given the choice of free practice, qualifying, or just starting the race. You will notice that the frame rate is higher when you are on the track by yourself in the practice mode when compared to actual race conditions. At the end of a race in the championship season mode, you are given a password to write down so that you can turn off the game and resume later for your next race. Unfortunately, the game relies on this password system instead of making use of the Memory Track. It would have been nice to be able to save the game on the Memory Track instead of having to write down a 32-number password after every competition. Racing sim fans will enjoy the car workshop available in WTR, where you can customize your tires, wings, gearbox ratios and brake balance. Make no mistake though: WTR is an arcade-style racer with only limited sim features. If you're looking for the authentic Formula One-type experience, stick to PC games like F1GP2. When you crash into other cars on the track during a WTR race, or when you hit the wall, you easily bounce right back into place most of the time, often maintaining speeds over 100 miles per hour. When playing at higher difficulty levels, it seems like you are more likely to lose your front wing or otherwise damage the car and have to make a pit stop, costing you valuable time during the race. So overall, it is difficult for me to fairly evaluate WTR. I am a big fan of Atari, and to have another piece of Atari 'memorabilia' and another decent game for my Jaguar CD is a big bonus. To say that WTR is truly worth $59.99 is a bit of a stretch. You would probably be better off buying three copies of Ridge Racer for your PlayStation at $19.99 each. Despite its 64-bit label and CD capabilities, the Jaguar CD just can't compete with PSX, Saturn or N64 in the racing arena. The slow frame rate in WTR is often annoying (not to the degree of Supercross 3D thankfully), and the graphics and gameplay don't really improve all that much on Virtua Racing for the Sega Genesis. It is still fun to play, but since I have been exposed to so many better games in the last couple years, it is hard to give WTR high marks after seeing F1 for PSX or Daytona CCE for Saturn. If you own nothing but a Jaguar CD, then WTR is definitely your best racing bet. If you are interested in a collectable game that is still fun to play and is packed with options, then WTR is still a decent bet. If you want good value for your money and you have other new systems like Saturn or PSX, then skip WTR and buy a more reasonably-priced (and far better) racing game for one of those systems. Nostalgia still packs quite a punch, but only serious Atari fans will want to fork over 60 bucks for a somewhat outdated racing experience. RATINGS GUIDE: ***** = Tempest 2000 **** = Missile Command 3D *** = Cybermorph ** = Club Drive * = 2600 Pac Man WORLD TOUR RACING RATINGS: Gameplay: *** Graphics: *** Sound: *** Replay Value: ***1/2 OVERALL: *** ONLINE WEEKLY STReport OnLine The wires are a hummin'! PEOPLE... ARE TALKING On CompuServe Compiled by Joe Mirando jmirando@streport.com Hidi ho friends and neighbors. Sorry for missing last week's column... I had it all done and had MIMEd it to send it on for publication, and it must have gotten messed up in transit... it ended up unreadable on the other end. Yepper, it's time to take a look at what's going on in the Atari world. No major announcements or break-throughs to talk about, just some good old fashioned questions and answers between people who have only one thing in common: Their use of Atari computers. Does that make us special? Probably not. Some of us don't care which computer we use. Some of us are 'stuck' with an ST and figure that, as long as we've got it, we'd might as well use it to its fullest potential. Still others _have_ made the jump to PC or Mac and like to keep in touch with what's going on in this little community of ours. Some even go as far as to buy a PC or Mac and then get an emulator to run Atari programs on them. I must admit that I don't understand this. There are lots of hot new programs (at least for the PC) that can do everything that their TOS counterparts do, only much faster, with more colors, and with more options. If you're going to use a PC, then use a PC. Of course there are those who just miss their familiar desktop and some of the more endearing programs (SEX! is one of my favorites and I'd try to find an equivalent program for a PC, but I doubt I'd find one, so for THAT I'd use an emulator)... and no, it's not what you think. The one thing that really galls me is when someone who used to use an Atari comes around and tries to talk 'down' to us. The conversation usually consists of the person trying to belittle one or more current Atari users and explaining that TOS is garbage and that anyone who uses it is a fool. It usually ends with the person asking for a TOS image copy so that he can try out one of the emulators that's around. Besides the obvious about-face that the person does, I normally point out that TOS is still a protected product of Atari, which is now actually JTS, and that it's pirating to distribute copies of TOS. The person usually responds with something to the effect that a copy of a 'dead' operating system isn't going to hurt anyone and that it's garbage anyway, so they certainly are not going to _pay_ for it. My response is normally, "So do without it." Heck, if it's garbage, you don't need it. And while it's true that JTS will probably never even care if it's distributed, the fact remains that it is their property and they have the right to do whatever they want to with it... even if they choose to do nothing at all. Now, I haven't seen this type of conversation on CompuServe much, but a while ago it was in several of the UseNet Atari news groups. Oh, by the way, did you know that you could view and reply to messages on the UseNet from CompuServe? Well you can. Just type GO USENET at any "!" prompt and follow the menus. I admit that CompuServe's UseNet reader is far from perfect, but it does work. So if you want to see what the UseNet is all about, this is an easy way to do it. And best of all, it doesn't require a special program. Whichever terminal software you're using now will work just fine. Check it out. Well, let's get to the reason for this column... all the news, hin... aw heck, you know the drill. From the Atari Computing Forum Folks are still trying to get WENsuite, the Web, Email, and News browser to work with CompuServe, and not having much luck. There seems to be something in the current program that doesn't like to log on to CompuServe. Ben at TOC Oz. has been helping out by posting what success he's had so far (getting to the PPP connection portion of the log on sequence). Karen Stimson tells Ben: "Thanks, Ben, for the info but I've tried your dialogue settings and, like you, still can't get through. After a message that I am "Connected" I get an ERROR message and it bombs. Although, from the tracer log file it does look like I'm getting a little bit farther (i.e. more lines in the log file). I found a file in the CIS Membership section (GO LOGON) which details how to connect a Mac to Compuserve's PPP and it lists the Domain Name Server number as "149.174.211.5" (without the quotes), if this helps anyone. The Mac file also says to put "compuserve.com" (without the quotes) in the Mac address settings, but when I try it in the WenSuite address settings it converts to the number "104.13.21.0". If anyone's had any better luck, please post a message..." Jerry Coppess tells Karen: "I have also been trying to log on with Wensuite without success. My first attempts failed at the ID: prompt, so I sent e-mail to OXO. You cannot put the %r or %w on the same line as the input. There are not enough lines in the dialog to get on CIS with single inputs so I tried the command ID: 12345,6789/GO:PPPCONNECT\\PASS#WORD (this worked in the PPP1_4 kit). Just letting it run from dialog to dialog. with a %r in the last dialog. There are still not enough dialogs to put it all on seperate lines so I left the first two line as they were, since they had been working. My last two logon attemps have failed on the first line even though I did not change those lines. I have not had any bombs from Wensuite so you should check your set-up. My decompression of the LZH file did not put all of the files in the correct folders. OXO also said to get the latest version because there were less bugs. The PPPLOG file I sent them had the version in it, so I assume the one we have is not the latest. QCIS deleted the message so I cannot post the version number. If some one could upload the latest version it would be appreciated." Ben jumps in again and posts: "I haven't got much further, but some Atarians that I know have already got theirs going with providers other than CIS. Though, in 'parameters', set compression for 'greyscale', I was told does the trick for a PPP link ... at the moment anyway. I'm still just getting garbage characters from CIS, so log-in doesn't get very far .... Next week I'll scout for a revision ." Sysop Jim Ness, no slouch when it comes to telecommunications, asks Ben: "Are you getting garbage just as you log in? There is a way to get around that." Well, c'mon Jim... drop the other shoe! HOW do you get around it? I'll keep you informed if Jim decides to let us in on the secret. Meanwhile, Michael Pappas asks for info: "Someone told me that some Web sites support text only and I was wondering how would you get to these sites through CompuServe. Is there anyway we can find out if a site supports text or pictures only? I have a TT and I was wondering if there are any good Web browsers available for it. One that is fully functional and supports sound, video and whatever else the web has to offer." Albert Dayes tells Michael: "Browsers on the PC such as Netscape allow you to turn off pictures so they do not load at all. The outline usually still appears on the screen but no pictures. Probably the biggest issue with text only browsers like lynx is that many extensions for netscape and Microsoft Explorer are not supported. That can cause problems since some web sites use those extensions extensively." Joe Villarreal posts info about something I had hoped to never see again: "I ran across the file "CARPDIEM.ZIP" on a FTP site recently. I downloaded it and ran the Ultimate Virus Killer version 7.0 on it. It showed to be a link virus. I've had a bad experience with this file in the past. It affects the desktop and programs. It creates a file in the autofolder called "~.PRG". Stay away from it." Our own Dana Jacobson tells Joe: "That's been a known infected file for some time now; I wonder why people leave it available (other than the obvious reason)??" Joe tells Dana: "I don't know. I do know that it caused some major problems on my system a a while back. Luckily, I figured it out about an hour after I started having problems and was able to correct it." Michel Tavir posts: "If this can be of any interest, a little late: We use a ST with a 540Mb interchangeable Nomai hard disk (similar to a Syquest, thus probably to a ZIP drive) and a Links96 DMA interface. When we want to transfer data to our MacIntosh PowerBook - and MagicMac - we unplug the hard disk from the Atari and plug it into the PowerBook before booting it. Now here's the trick: if the disk (Atari-formatted) is pushed in the Nomai (which has to be switched on, of course) at boot-up, then the Mac says that it cannot recognize this format and it wants to format it (but we have PC Exchange with System 7.5.5 and this does not occur with PC-formatted floppies). So, only after boot-up has taken place, from the Mac desktop, we push the disk in: when it is almost done initializing itself (you can actually hear this), we load MagicMac, which in turn initializes the Nomai's hard disk as a set of partitions supplementary to its own Magic partitions. And presto, the whole Nomai disk is accessible within MagicMac. Now, if we want to transfer any of the data under the MacOS, we copy it to one of the existing Magic partitions. These appear actually as folders on the Mac desktop. You can find the transfered data in these folders by opening them like any other Mac folder, actually without even leaving MagicMac, thus allowing you to repeat the operation as many times as needed. This should probably work in the same way with a ZIP drive." Gerd Brodowski tells Michel: "Thank you very much for your message. It is n-e-v-e-r too late! Well, unfortunately we have a lot of work since our message to the ATARI FORUM. But in 3 weeks the german schools will have holidays for 6 weeks - and we will have a bit more time to try out your suggestion and all the other ones, we have got. We are in big suspense, which of them will work." Well folks, that's about it for this week. Remember... Just Say NO to piracy! Tune in again next week, same time, same station, and be ready to listen to what they are saying when... PEOPLE ARE TALKING EDITORIAL QUICKIES Trivia Jewels Bank robber John Dillinger played professional baseball. If you toss a penny 10,000 times, it will not be heads 5,000 times, but more like 4950. The heads side weighs more, so it ends up on the bottom. The glue on Israeli postage stamps is certified kosher. The housefly hums in the middle octave, key of F. If your eyes are six feet above the surface of the ocean, the horizon will be about three statute miles away. The longest word in the English language, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis. The only other word with the same amount of letters is pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconioses, its plural. Hydroxydesoxycorticosterone and hydroxydeoxycorticosterones are the largest anagrams. Los Angeles' full name is "El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora la Reina de los Angeles de Porciuncula." Only one person in two billion will live to be 116 or older. An ostrich's eye is bigger than it's brain. STReport International Magazine [S]ilicon [T]imes [R]eport HTTP://WWW.STREPORT.COM OVER 200,000 Readers WORLDWIDE All Items quoted, in whole or in part, are done so under the provisions of The Fair Use Law of The Copyright Laws of the U.S.A. Views, Opinions and Editorial Articles presented herein are not necessarily those of the editors/staff of STReport International OnLine Magazine. Permission to reprint articles is hereby granted, unless otherwise noted. Reprints must, without exception, include the name of the publication, date, issue number and the author's name. STR, CPU, STReport and/or portions therein may not be edited, used, duplicated or transmitted in any way without prior written permission. STR, CPU, STReport, at the time of publication, is believed reasonably accurate. 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. STReport "YOUR INDEPENDENT NEWS SOURCE" June 20, 1997 Since 1987 Copyrightc1997 All Rights Reserved Issue No. 1325