ST Report: 9-Aug-96 #1232
From: Bruce D. Nelson (aa789@cleveland.Freenet.Edu)
Date: 08/09/96-05:02:38 PM Z
From: aa789@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Bruce D. Nelson)
Subject: ST Report: 9-Aug-96 #1232
Date: Fri Aug 9 17:02:38 1996
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August 09, 1996 No.1232
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>From the Editor's Desk...
The Olympics are over and so is the era of folks believing the FBI is
infallible. The manner in which the investigation in Atlanta has been
conducted is something of a spectacle that's just shy of a Max Sennett film
short. Its sad to see. However, it is reality. Now, the Feebs can go about
their business normally. Instead of being considered the immediate solution
of all problems.
On another front, the matter of truth in advertising is creating quite a
flap among observers in many fields. Especially the advertising fields.
They, the ad creators, had better pay attention. After all the Pepsico thing
is bound to set some very startling precedents. Since when is it ok to spoof
the public to sell a product? The Harrier Jet thing is merely the tip of the
iceberg. Advertising agencies have, along with various corporate executives
who're specifically involved, been taking some very liberal and dangerous
liberties in presenting their advertising. Its time the nation's courts
became involved before it all reverts back to the snake oil sales of days
gone by. Its bad enough that the promotional and marketing gurus are allowed
to colorize our fresh produce to make it more enticing but to outright lie in
a commercial is a bit much. Pepsico got caught with their neck stuck out.
The next area of questionable advertising and product sales is in the
computing industry. The Hardware and software sales "deals" are truly in
need of the ultimate test. Bundle deals, are they really deals? Software
support and update programs are they for real or merely delightful cash cows?
We'll be looking at this picture in the next few weeks. Stay tuned. its
going to get very interesting.
In the last twenty four hours. another of the, "Boy Who Cried Wolf",
has appeared busily denouncing Microsoft's Personal WebServer etc. as being
infested with security leaks. Hmm after careful examination, the alarm
sounded by this "expert" proved to be a very false alarm. One can only
wonder how many more will "jump up" taking cheap shots at MS in vain attempts
at making a name for themselves. Gotta admit it does make for an interesting
and diversified world though. Sorta reminds one of a set of Dice without all
the dots!
Next Week. Building a Powerhouse Computer on a Budget!
Ralph...
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STReport Headline News
LATE BREAKING INDUSTRY-WIDE NEWS
Weekly Happenings in the Computer World
Compiled by: Dana P. Jacobson
Software Causes 19 Hour AOL Crash
America Online was shut down for 19 hours yesterday the worst blackout in the
Vienna, Virginia, firm's 11 year history apparently because of a problem
with computer switches that route data from the external network that spans
the country into AOL's main network center. That problem seems to have been
fixed, but "AOL said, however, that the root of the problem has yet to be
determined and that the company would be studying the shutdown throughout the
night," writer Jared Sandberg of The Wall Street Journal reports this
morning.
The outage, which prevented any user from being able to get online with the
service, began at 4 a.m. Eastern Time yesterday and continued until after 10
p.m. Sandberg said the company didn't know how many of its members were
trying to get online yesterday, adding AOL said the blackout won't have a
material financial impact. "But," adds the Journal, "AOL's media partners,
which receive royalty payments from AOL based on subscriber usage fees, will
have missed a day's worth of revenue. Moreover, the potential for damage to
AOL's reputation for reliability, which has suffered in previous smaller
outages, could effect turnover among the company's customers."
Says the Journal, "Company executives have said that among longtime users who
leave the service, complaints concerning connection problems have been among
the most frequently cited reasons for leaving." Meanwhile, AOL officials
told the paper it will offer subscribers a credit of 3 percent of the $9.95
monthly fee it charges users, or 30 cents a customer. AOL Vice President
Jean Villanueva told Sandberg that though the company has backup systems for
various areas of the service, the affected internal network had no such
"redundancy," adding she didn't know by last night how many people called the
service to complain. "It was one of our busiest days."
Renewed Effort to Block Net Calls
A group of 175 small to mid sized long distance telephone companies is again
asking to FCC to take action against firms that offer Internet based voice
communications. Several companies currently offer software that allow users
to make long distance calls over the Internet. Although the voice quality is
far below that provided by standard telephone connections, users can place
calls for only a fraction of the price demanded by long distance carriers.
Last March, the phone companies, organized as America's Carriers
Telecommunication Association, petitioned the FCC to crack down on Internet
vendors that offer voice communications products. The FCC has since indicated
that it is in no hurry to address the issue, prompting the ACTA to issue an
open letter to FCC Chairman Reed Hundt. "Whistling by the cemetery,
Commissioner Hundt suggests that technology, competition and access charge
reform will 'make the problem go away,'" states the letter, signed by ACTA
General Counsel, Charles H. Helein. "If this were true, the Chairman seems to
have written the need for his agency's involvement out of the picture.
If there is no need for the Commission's involvement in such issues as raised
by Internet telephony, what is the purpose of having an 'expert' body to deal
with such far reaching issues?" The ACTA contends that the FCC must not wait
until Internet telephony "produces a more palpable impact on the nation's
traditional communications infrastructure."
Decency Act to Get Quick Action
Legal analysts are predicting the U.S. Supreme Court will move quickly to
review a new law regulating indecent material on the Internet now that a
second panel of judges has found portions of the act unconstitutional. As
reported, three New York federal judges have ruled the new Communications
Decency Act was overly broad because it bans constitutionally protected
indecent speech between adults while trying to shield children.
This is the second recent victory for the Net's free speech advocates. Last
month, a federal panel in Philadelphia also ruled parts of the act to be
unconstitutional, saying portions were too vague as well as too broad. This
week's second ruling "makes it even more inevitable that the Supreme Court
will take this quickly," attorney Steven Reiss of the New York firm Weil,
Gotshal & Manges told reporter Gail Appleson of the Reuter News Service. "I
would expect you would see an order this fall taking one of these cases."
The earliest the court might announce if it will review either case or a
combination of the two is the last week in September, a Supreme Court
spokeswoman told the wire service.
"While it is difficult to predict how the high court will rule," says
Appleson, "the fact that six judges see constitutional problems with the law
does not bode well for its future. ... Lawyers said Monday's ruling was also
significant because of the prominence of the panel members." The
controversial Computer Decency Act of 1996 was passed overwhelmingly by
Congress as part of the broader Telecommunications Act of 1996 and was
signed by President Clinton on Feb. 8. Since lawmakers expected immediate
constitutional challenges, they included provisions allowing hearings before
special panels of federal judges, whose decisions can be appealed directly to
the Supreme Court.
As reported, the U.S. Justice Department already has filed an appeal of the
June ruling and has 20 days to act on the New York decision. A spokesman for
the Manhattan U.S. attorneys office told Appleson that prosecutors still are
studying Monday's ruling and could not comment on whether they might move to
combine the cases.
IBM Upgrades Anti Virus Tool
IBM has announced an improved version of its IBM AntiVirus software. The
company says its IBM AntiVirus 2.5 has been enhanced to provide safer, faster
virus protection for the Internet, including the ability to scan Internet
documents for viruses before they can infect a computer. The software
provides protection from more than 8,000 strains of computer viruses,
including the Concept virus and other Word macro viruses. Macro viruses,
which infect macro programs embedded in documents, have emerged as a new and
rising problem. The Concept virus, which infects Microsoft Word documents,
was first seen less than a year ago and is now one of the most prevalent
computer viruses in the world.
The desktop version of IBM AntiVirus 2.5, which runs on Windows 95, Windows
3.1, OS/2 Warp and DOS computers, is scheduled to become available in mid
August for $49. A network version will ship at the same time. "Unlike other
anti virus products that are limited to specific Web browsers and sold
separately, IBM AntiVirus includes 'all in one' Internet protection," says
Steve Rosenblatt, worldwide segment manager for IBM AntiVirus.
Hare Virus Set to Strike
"Beware the Hare!" is the word from Cheyenne Software Inc., an anti virus
software publisher based in Roslyn Heights, N.Y. The Hare virus is difficult
to detect through traditional anti virus software and is considered a severe
and highly destructive threat, says Cheyenne. The virus is set to strike on
August 22nd and September 22nd. On these dates, Hare will destroy all data on
an infected PC by overwriting the computer's hard drive.
The Hare virus was first distributed over the Internet in May of this year.
Since then, two other versions of the virus have also been distributed in
files on a variety of Internet newsgroups. The Hare virus has been detected
in the United States, Canada and Europe. Perhaps the most widespread posting
of the Hare virus was in the pkzip300.exe file on the alt.comp.shareware
newsgroup, says Cheyenne. Users unwittingly can infect their PCs by simply
downloading and executing this file.
According to Cheyenne, Hare first infects the master boot sector of the PC
and, when the PC is restarted, installs itself into memory, thereby
contaminating .COM and .EXE files. Hare can avoid detection by traditional
anti virus software by remaining dormant within infected files and slowly
changing as it replicates. PCs infected with Hare will display the message
"HDEuthanasia..." when the PC is restarted on August 22nd or September 22nd,
says Cheyenne.
Hare will then overwrite the entire hard drive, deleting all data. After
attempting to destroy all data on the PC, Hare returns to dormancy and may
then replicate to any floppy diskette used to recover and reboot the damaged
PC. "The Hare virus is one of the most complex viruses in the wild today,"
says Ian Whalley, editor of Virus Bulletin, a U.K. based computer security
publication. "This virus will certainly present serious problems to users who
come into contact with it and who do not have adequate protection installed
on their systems."
Intruders Hit Scotland Yard
Scotland Yard reportedly has been targeted by computer vandals who broke into
a security system to make international calls at the expense of London's
famed metropolitan police headquarters. The Reuter News Service says a
police spokesman would not confirm a report in the Times newspaper that said
calls totalled $1.5 million, saying only the main computer network remained
secure. Said the spokesman, "There is no question of any police information
being accessed. This was an incident which was investigated by our fraud
squad and by AT&T investigators in the U.S."
The Times said AT&T investigators were involved because most of the calls
were to the United States. The newspaper reported the online vandals made
use of a PBX call forwarding system that lets employees to make business
calls from home at their employer's expense. "They dial a special number on
the company switchboard," says Reuters, "followed by a pass code, and then
the outside number they require." The police spokesman said the fraud
loophole was stopped in March last year, adding the equipment had been
supplied by a reputable firm and the matter was "subject to civil
proceedings."
Did U.S. Spies Invade UK System?
London's top newspaper is reporting U.S. Secret Service agents broke into the
computer systems of the European Parliament and the European Commission in a
campaign to steal political and economic secrets.
The Sunday Times alleges security officials in Luxembourg have discovered the
U.S. used the obtained information to help in negotiations last year on the
General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. The French Agence France Press
International News Service quotes Lord Plumb, leader of Britain's
Conservative members of the European Parliament, as saying he was shocked by
the disclosure and "I will be taking this up directly with the American
ambassador to the European Union."
The European parliament's computer system links about 5,000 MEPs, officials,
researchers and other staff with the European Commission headquarters in
Brussels and the Council of Ministers. Says AFP, "Suspicions were aroused
when officials suspected the United States had advance information about
confidential European Union positions in the GATT talks." An unidentified EU
source told The Times, "It was established that the system had been
penetrated just days before the talks. Our principal concern is not to
establish what has already been copied but to ensure that it does not happen
again."
Netscape, Microsoft Lock Horns
An unusual legal battle is shaping up between Microsoft Corp. and Netscape
Communications Corp. over one of the Internet's hottest markets. Writing in
The Wall Street Journal this morning, reporter Don Clark says the fight
likely is "adding a new issue to competitors' complaints about Microsoft's
businesses practices," because Netscape already has filed a complaint with
the Justice Department. At issue is software used to set up World Wide Web
sites and some controversial Microsoft licensing restrictions on the use of
its Window NT operating system.
"Microsoft, Netscape and several other competitors are selling the so called
Web server programs that run on computers that use Windows NT," Clark
reports. Microsoft last week "sent a letter to Netscape demanding that it
stop distributing a price comparison between the two companies' Web server
programs." The Journal says the letter alleges the comparison suggests Web
servers can be used with a low end version Windows NT designed for
workstations, potentially violating terms of Microsoft's licensing agreement.
The license provisions in quest "allow only 10 simultaneous electronic
connections to Windows NT Workstation, a restriction designed to encourage
people to use a more powerful version of the software that works on larger
computers called servers that tie together multiple desktop computers," Clark
notes. Microsoft's Web server software works only with Windows NT Server,
and comes bundled with the product. Noting the workstation version of Windows
NT sells for about $300, compared with about $1,000 for the server version,
Clark reports, "Netscape and other competitors argue that customers can still
pay less by using their Web server programs with Windows NT Workstation."
It seems like an arcane point, but Clark comments that the restrictions on
Windows NT have attracted unusual attention "because of the industry's
growing focus on the Web server market, and fears that Microsoft will
unfairly shift its dominance from personal computer software to the Web."
The paper says Microsoft originally planned to insert software code that
would block more than 10 connections from a new workstation version of
Windows NT, "but removed the code last month in response to complaints by
competitors and some customers." Microsoft's letter disclosed by long
time Microsoft foe, attorney Gary Reback gives Netscape until Aug. 15 to
"cease and desist" its pricing comparison, but, the Journal points out, does
not specify what it intends to do if Netscape does not comply.
Scientologists Settle Net Suit
A copyright dispute with an Internet provider that some say had many in the
computer industry worried it might lead to restricted freedom of expression
in cyberspace has been settled by the Church of Scientology.
Reporting from San Jose, California, The Associated Press says the church and
Netcom On Line Communication Services have agreed not to discuss details of
the out of court settlement reached Friday.
However, they did say the online service has posted a warning to its
subscribers telling them not to use Netcom to "unlawfully distribute the
intellectual property of others."
As reported earlier, the dispute arose when a former Scientology minister
became a vocal church critic and posted some of the church's writings on
private bulletin board to which Netcom arranged for its subscribers to have
access. "One posting," says AP, "was a 17 page transcript of confidential
lectures by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard. The Religious Technology
Center, a wing of the church, claimed copyright infringement, saying many of
its literary works are trade secrets. The church notified Netcom and the
bulletin board operator about the alleged infringement, but neither did
anything."
In February 1995, the church sued Netcom, the bulletin board operator and the
user who posted the writings, 48 year old Dennis Erlich of Glendale, winning
an order allowing its representatives to raid Erlich's home and seize
Hubbard's copyrighted work. Subsequently, Netcom and the bulletin board's
operator, Tom Klemesrud of North Hollywood, argued that they are only
conduits for material and are in no position to screen all messages.
Last November, a federal judge ruled:
z Netcom and Klemesrud were not directly responsible for the copyright
infringement.
z But that they may have contributed to the infringement by failing to
remove the documents once they were informed of them.
The church has other lawsuits pending against Klemesrud and Erlich.
North Korea Alleges Net Blocking
The official news agency in North Korea is blasting its neighbors to the
south for allegedly blocking its citizens' access to a new Internet page
sponsored by Pyongyang. "What Seoul should block," says the Korean Central
News Agency dispatch, "is not the North Korean Page but the U.S. channel
dealing with methods of murder and robbery and pornographic scenes too
shameful to watch." Reporting from Tokyo, United Press International says
the KCNA report quoted researcher Kim Hyong sok of the Information and
Culture Center of North Korea as saying the history of the Internet has seen
no example of people being punished for monitoring certain sites.
Said Kim, "Such punishment would cause bitter condemnation from the
international community." UPI reports, "Bristling with slogans about the
'great leader comrade Kim Il sung,' the Internet page has upset South Korean
leaders, said KCNA, to the point of having access to the site banned." South
Korean law specifically prohibits any newspapers or other publications from
receiving KCNA services on the grounds of "national security." As reported,
authorities in Seoul last June declared a Canadian university student's World
Wide Web site on North Korea "subversive" and forbade 14 local computer
networks from accessing it. Under South Korean law, it is a serious crime to
"manufacture, import, copy, possess or distribute data that can benefit,
eulogize or encourage the enemy."
Reached by UPI, a South Korean Embassy spokesman in Tokyo declined comment on
the KCNA report but said the Canadian student closed the WWW page of his own
volition. Says the wire service, "The two Koreas have technically remained
in a state of war since the 1953 armistice that ended the Korean War and the
Internet dispute is but the latest in a long history of jammed radio
transmissions and other banning of data transmissions across the 38th
parallel that divides the Communist North from the capitalist South."
Apple Unveils New Macs
Apple Computer Inc. today unveils new upgraded Macintosh computer models,
introducing high end Power Macintoshes that include the firm's first multi
processor machines and a new Macintosh Performa model.
The Reuter News Service characterizes this as "a bid to begin delivering on
Chief Executive Gil Amelio's plan to bring value added products to market
swiftly." The models are the first major products to be developed and
brought to market under the leadership of Amelio, who took over in February,
and his management team.
Editor Pieter Hartsook of the Hartsook Letter told the wire service this is
"certainly important from a symbolic perspective because this is really the
first introduction which Amelio and his crowd really had a hand in." The
six new Power Macintosh models range from a model with a 120MHz PowerPC
microprocessor up to a 9500/180 MP model, which is Apple's first
multiprocessor model and priced at $5,699. The high end Power Macintosh 9500,
priced at $4,899, is configured with a 200MHz chip.
Apple said its 132MHz Power Macintosh 7600 and 150MHz 8500, priced at $2,999
and $3,599, respectively, are available immediately with other models fully
available in September. Reuters quotes Apple executives as saying there will
be more Performa computers targeted at consumers before the end of the year,
including some at price points below $2,000.
Macintosh Still Holds On
A new survey conducted by trade journal MacWEEK finds that Apple Computer
Inc.'s Macintosh and Power Macintosh computers have attained a solid position
as mainstream business platforms. The survey also finds that the machines
also have a strong hold on creative niche applications such as graphic arts,
Internet content development and multimedia. The MacWEEK 200 survey of
largest Macintosh user sites finds that 98 percent of the sites are running
business productivity applications on 25 percent of their Macs. In addition,
90 percent of the Macs at 81 percent of the surveyed sites are running
business productivity applications.
"Clearly, reports of the Mac's death are greatly exaggerated, to paraphrase
Mark Twain's famous quip," says Rick LePage, editor in chief of MacWEEK. "Our
survey results this year confirm that the Mac now is more broadly established
than ever as a business productivity tool, while it also continues to
dominate its traditional creative niche markets as the computer platform of
choice. Indeed, 71 percent of the MacWEEK 200 sites will spend between
$50,000 and $2.4 million on Macs this year."
Upgraded Mac WordPerfect Unveiled
Corel Corp. has introduced Corel WordPerfect 3.5 for Macintosh and Power
Macintosh, an updated version of the venerable word processing program. The
new package includes a large collection of clip art, photos, sounds and
fonts, along with MasterJuggler Pro, a font management utility. Language
tools for writing in Spanish, French and German are also included.
"Corel is excited about the business prospects we see for supporting the
Macintosh platform. We think the Mac will play a major role in our future,"
says Michael Cowpland, Corel's president and CEO. "WordPerfect for Macintosh
has traditionally given users greater choice and flexibility in utilizing new
Apple technologies and Corel will continue to be the industry leader in word
processing innovation." Corel WordPerfect 3.5 for Macintosh and Power
Macintosh is expected to ship by the end of August for $295. Upgrades and
competitive upgrades will be priced at $89.
Microsoft Offers New Windows NT
Some computer makers believe a new version of Microsoft Corp.'s Windows NT
operating system could help spur new hardware sales to businesses.
Associated Press writer Rory Marshall says Microsoft "is making a push for a
bigger share of the market for systems that link numerous PCs into networks,
and that can run more complicated programs than the typical home PC would
use." Earlier this week Microsoft completed work Windows NT version 4.0 and
sent it to manufacturing sites in advance of a formal introduction of the
system today during a meeting with financial analysts. "Although Windows NT
is not designed for home or consumer use," notes Marshall, "a key advance
over previous versions is its adoption of the same appearance as Windows 95."
The recommended cost of the 4.0 server product will be about $1,000 for a
computer that works with 10 other PCs, says Jonathan Roberts, a Microsoft
marketing director. A desktop PC version, called Windows NT Workstation, will
cost $319. In technical features, the new Windows NT "will put Microsoft on
a more level footing with competitors such as Novell's NetWare, IBM's OS 2
and the various versions of Unix operating programs found in machines by IBM,
Sun Microsystems and Hewlett Packard and others," Marshall comments. "Such
programs are known by the technical label of '32 bit' for the size of
instruction they permit."
Meanwhile, Roberts told AP that while Windows NT had a slow start when it
first became available in 1993, the server product sold 450,000 units and
workstation version just over 1 million units last year. Adds Marshall,
"That's a reflection of how PCs, packed with more powerful processing chips,
have been chosen to do jobs that were previously done by more expensive Unix
workstations."
Intel Releases 150MHz Pentium
A 150MHz Pentium processor for mobile computers is being released by
chipmaker Intel Corp., which is selling the new chip for $341 each in 1,000
unit quantities. Reporting from Intel's Santa Clara, California,
headquarters, United Press International comments the announcement comes "at
a time when Intel is trying to become more of a communications and computing
company rather than only the maker of the microprocessors that power most of
the world's personal computers."
The wire service says the development also fits in with Intel's strategy to
turn PCs into a machine with far wider uses, thus expanding demand for new
PCs and chips. The previous fastest Pentium chip designed to run mobile
computers operates at a speed of 133 megahertz. Gateway 2000 and Packard Bell
NEC both announced plans to use the new chip in notebooks, UPI reports.
PC World Publisher Starts Web Mag
PC World publisher IDG Communications Inc. says it will produce a monthly
consumer magazine about the World Wide Web, starting next month. Called The
Web, the magazine will have celebrity features and columns about the computer
network and reviews of Web sites related to music, films, sex, politics,
sports and other topics, says The Associated Press. IDG, which also
publishes and several computer industry trade newspapers, "will aim the
magazine at 25 to 45 year olds who are interested in the Web as an
entertainment medium," the wire service says, noting the company's
traditional rivals all are producing Web magazines for consumers.
CMP Publications Inc. publishes NetGuide magazine, Mecklermedia has Internet
World, Ziff Davis has Internet Life and Newsweek publishes Virtual City. The
Web publisher Greg Mason told the wire service he hopes the magazine will
avoid the technology reviews and stories found in the other magazines,
adding, "Our goal is to tell readers what's `on tonight' and to help them
spend their Web watching time and money efficiently."
Science Fiction Author Signs Deal
Science fiction superstar Alan Dean Foster has signed a long term deal with
MagicMaker Inc. of Palo Alto, California, to create literary works that mix
interactive and online media. Michelle Kraus, MagicMaker's CEO, says Foster
will create stories for several properties due in late 1996 and 1997 as
online and multiplayer interactive media. The initial title will be available
on CD ROM in early 1997. Sequels will begin appearing soon thereafter,
together with books, soundtracks and other merchandise.
"I called this best selling author out of the blue and said, I want to come
and show you the future of entertainment and I want you to be a part of
it," says Kraus. Adds Foster, "When Michelle came to visit me in the desert,
I found her vision of where the company and its products were headed
compelling. It offered a creative challenge that I could not turn down. In
the future, I see MagicMaker's new products as only the beginning of a long
and fruitful creative partnership." Alan Dean Foster is one of the world's
best selling science fiction authors. He produced novelizations of Star Wars,
the three Alien films and Alien Nation. He also created the treatment for the
first Star Trek movie.
Sanyo Offers New Notebook
A new notebook PC featuring high speed microprocessors and a 2.1 gigabyte
hard disk drive is being introduced today in Japan by Sanyo Electric Co.
Reporting from Tokyo, the Dow Jones news service says the new product, called
Winkey, is Sanyo Electric's "latest foray in an increasingly competitive
market which has seen several rivals announce new products in the last few
months." Sanyo officials told the wire service the product is set to go on
sale in Japan Aug. 31 and it has no plans yet to sell the product abroad. The
new notebook features Pentium microprocessors with processor speed of 150MHz.
They also have an eight speed internal CD ROM drive, making them the fastest
on the market.
Acer Offers Machine Under $1,000
Acer America Corp. has followed AST Research Inc.'s lead to become the second
major PC maker offering a personal computer for just under $1,000. Targeting
college students and families with children in school, Acer calls the new
system Acer Back to School Aspire, says The Associated Press, which adds that
the price does not include a monitor, which costs $300 to $400 more.
AP says the machine comes in the emerald and charcoal casing that has
distinguished Acer PCs for a year and uses an 100MHz microprocessor, 8MB of
main memory and a 1 gigabyte hard drive. It has a 14,400 bits per second
modem and video and sound enhancing features. "Most PCs start at around
$1,500 and offer slightly more power than the Acer Back to School Aspire," AP
notes. "For example, computer stores in New York now charge about $1,500 for
a PC with a 133 MHz microprocessor and 16 megabytes of main memory." AST is
offering a $999 PC through Wal Mart that includes a monitor. However, the
machine is less powerful, using a 486 class chip, AP notes.
Net Seen as Expensive, Exclusive
The Internet will become an increasingly expensive and exclusive medium, says
cyberspace expert Robert Silverman, a senior writer for Inside Media
magazine. "As bandwidth increases, the cost of providing and receiving
content rich with audio and video will increase," said Silverman during a
debate at the Cyberspace and the American Dream Conference in Aspen,
Colorado. "Telephone modems already are being replaced with more expensive
cable modems, which will give way to still pricier fiber optics all to
better capture content. Meanwhile, content providers will be spending more
and more on technology to provide that richer content. The inescapable fact
is that accessing the Net will become considerably more expensive both for
end users and providers."
Silverman predicted the high cost of Internet technology will act as a
barrier to many on the lower end of the economic scale. "Indeed, some of the
larger content providers already are talking about and enforcing 'gated
communities' on the Infobahn," noted Silverman. "And even those with the
economic and technological wherewithal to make full use of Net will have to
pay subscription fees for the better sites. "Of course, these 'gated
communities' also will have their 'housing project' brethren," Silverman
added, stressing the inherent inequities such a paradigm would invoke. The
Great Equalizer? "That the Net politically empowers the little guy is also a
myth," said Silverman. "The ruling elite remain as distant as ever,
regardless if they are online or off line."
Dataquest Lowers Win95 Forecast
Windows 95 is on pace to become the No. 1 shipped operating system in 1996,
but Dataquest Inc. has reduced it's forecast for Microsoft's operating system
considerably. The San Jose, California based market researcher forecasts
that shipments of Windows 95 will reach 45.7 million units in 1996, down 27
percent from predictions made earlier this year. As it turns out, Microsoft's
biggest competitor is itself. Dataquest is lowering it's estimate for Windows
95 because of the continuing success of Windows 3.1x.
Earlier this year, Dataquest forecast that Windows 3.1x shipments would
shrink to 9.5 million units in 1996, but because of the demand for the
operating system in the first half of this year, Dataquest now expects
shipments to only fall to 20.9 million units this year. "Large and medium
size companies are driving the continuing strong demand for Windows 3.1x,"
says Chris Le Tocq, director and principal analyst of Dataquest's personal
computing software program. "IS managers' initial aggressive upgrade plans
have become a deferred 32 bit decision, driven by high expectations for
Windows NT 4.0 and an assessment that Windows 95 is an interim desktop
solution, a stepping stone to Windows NT."
Mac Still Leads in Schools
New market research shows that Apple Computer Inc.'s Macintosh is the leading
computer platform in the public kindergarten through high school market, and
the one most educators intend to buy in the coming school year. According to
Quality Education Data, the Macintosh now accounts for 41 percent of the
computers in the K 12 public education market, up five points from last year.
Vintage Apple II computers account for 20 percent of the installed base,
bringing Apple's total share of computers in U.S. K 12 public schools to 61
percent.
QED indicates that as the installed base of Apple IIs is replaced, educators
have turned to the multimedia rich Macintosh. It shows Macintosh as the
computer of choice for more than half (55 percent) of all intended school
purchases in 1996 97. This is more than seven times the number of computers
educators plan to buy from the next most mentioned brands, IBM and Compaq,
each with 7 percent. "There is no doubt that the preference for Macintosh
remains strong in the K 12 market," says QED president Jeanne Hayes. "Our
research clearly shows that Macintosh is by far the preferred computer
platform in the education market. The majority of school districts plan their
technology futures around this platform."
Poll Finds Mom Is Key to Home PC
Mothers play an important role in the purchasing of computers and software
for their families in some cases, a greater role than fathers says a
new survey. FamilyPC magazine, which conducted the research, says in a
statement, "The process of buying computers and software for families is
highly collaborative. Mothers and fathers play a dual role in this process,
often aided by their children. When it comes to buying software for children,
mothers play the leading role." The study found:
z When it comes to buying software, three or four different family members
play a role in the process.
z In buying a PC for the family, the decision making is usually done by
both mother and father, with children being the motivator for such a purchase
by expressing the need or desire to have a PC.
z Reviews in computer magazines, magazine awards and magazine advertising
are the most important factors when these families are in the market to
purchase software. Recommendations and advice from others are also very
important. When the respondents buy a PC, the key considerations are product
features such as 24 hour technical support, the reputation of the
manufacturer and the software bundle.
Net Bomb Injures Two Youths
Two boys, ages 11 and 13, are recovering today from burns suffered when a
"napalm bomb" they learned how to make on the Internet blew up in their
faces. Reporting from North Attleboro, Massachusetts, 30 miles south of
Boston, United Press International quotes police as saying the youngsters
were cooking a combination of soap shavings and gasoline on a kitchen stove
when the concoction burst into flames Tuesday morning.
The younger boy, Scott Landry, escaped with only minor burns, but his friend
Michael Caponigrow was rushed to the Shriners Burns Institute in Boston with
burns over 11 percent of his body. He was listed in fair condition last
night. In a frantic 911 emergency call from his family's home, Landry told
police he and Caponigrow got the recipe from an Internet site that told them
in detail how to make the device. He shouted over the phone, "Help! There's
fire in the house. I could die."
Police told UPI that investigators are trying to track down the author of the
online data "and find out how such dangerous information ever made its way
onto the worldwide computer network." Landry's mother told police the
formula had been spotted by her 14 year old son, who passed on the
information to his brother.
Town Police Chief John Doyle told the wire service the boys had planned to
use the homemade explosive "to blow up some rocks or something," adding, "I
don't even think they know what napalm is," referring to the highly flammable
chemical used to bomb enemy targets during the Vietnam War.
E TRADE Unveils Upgraded Site
E TRADE Securities Inc. today announced a major upgrade of its CompuServe
based online trading service. The revamped site includes a new look with
point and click access to all trading services, as well as current news,
price graphs and company reports for individual investors. In addition to the
new look and functionality, E TRADE's users may also continue to trade
securities through E TRADE's menu driven interface.
The new trading service enhancements include strategically placed direct
links to online help, such as instructions on how to enter a stock order or
how to add money to an account. Other new features will include access to
breaking news and price charts on more than 12,000 stocks. E TRADE users can
also tap into a wide array of fundamental and historical information and
earnings forecasts. Users can create personal Stock Watch lists that
automatically link them to this information. The new interface also takes
advantage of the capabilities of the Netscape Navigator browser that
CompuServe members can now download without connect time charges.
E TRADE users can choose from a vast array of financial services that allow
individual investors to easily identify investment opportunities, research
those opportunities, execute transactions 24 hours a day and monitor the
results of their investment decisions. "E TRADE has been a leading provider
of cost effective, round the clock online trading services for more than four
years to CompuServe members," says Scott Kauffman, CompuServe's vice
president for online services. "These new enhancements will make trading
online even easier and provide the trading information, online help and other
value added services that CompuServe is committed to giving our customers."
Foster Returns to Head Stratus
Stratus Computer Inc. founder/chairman Bill Foster is returning to the post
of CEO as well, replacing Gary Haroian at the helm of the Marlboro,
Massachusetts, firm. "Gary and I have had some philosophical differences
over the long term direction of the company," Foster said in a prepared
statement. "Because of this, Gary has decided to leave Stratus to pursue
other business interests." Foster added Haroian "has made innumerable
contributions to Stratus over his 13 years with the company," adding, "Much
of our success has been due to his hard work and dedication, and I know a
very successful future is ahead of him."
CD ROM's End in Sight
CD ROM's days are numbered, finds market researcher International Data Corp.,
which reports that the technology is about to be blind sided by the new kid
on the block DVD (digital video disk). According to IDC, worldwide DVD
ROM unit shipments will surpass CD ROM by the year 2000, climbing to 117.6
million in 2001. With this expected growth, DVD is well on its way to
becoming the next dominant technology in the removable storage market, says
IDC. "There appears to be a high level of DVD awareness among software
publishers," says Crawford Del Prete, IDC's vice president of storage
research. "We expect over 13 percent of all software will be available in DVD
format by the end of 1998."
For Immediate Release
Corel Updates and Re-releases
Corelr WordPerfectr 3.5 for Macintosh
OTTAWA, Canada -August 8, 1996-Corel Corporation and its subsidiaries are
pleased to announce the updated version of Corelr WordPerfectr 3.5 for
Macintoshr and Power MacintoshT. The new Corel version includes a large
collection of popular clipart, photos, sounds and fonts, along with
MasterJuggler ProT, the comprehensive font management utility. Language
tools for writing in Spanish, French and German are also included. The
product is expected to ship by the end of August.
Corel WordPerfect 3.5 is an updated version of the two time Eddy award-
winning WordPerfect 3.5, previously shipped by Novell, Inc. WordPerfect was
the first word processor to ship as accelerated for Power Macintosh and is an
established leader in support for Appler technologies. "Corel is excited
about the business prospects we see for supporting the Macintosh platform. We
think the Mac will play a major role in our future," said Dr. Michael
Cowpland, president and chief executive officer of Corel Corporation.
"WordPerfect for Macintosh has traditionally given users greater choice and
flexibility in utilizing new Apple technologies and Corel will continue to be
the industry leader in word processing innovation."
The new Corel package includes a collection of more than 150 TrueTyper fonts,
5400 clip art images, 187 textures, 67 sounds and 200 stock photos. For
managing new fonts and sounds, MasterJugglerT 2.0 Pro, the comprehensive
font, sound and desk accessory utility, is also provided. Spanish, French
and German language tools including a spell checker and thesaurus -
previously sold separately - are now also included in the new Corel package.
To continue helping users put the Internet to work, Corel has included the
updated Netscape NavigatorT browser version 2.02. Updated HTML features
include an HTML button bar and macros for creating custom HTML forms and
borders. Also, the HTML export now converts PICT images to JPEG format for
easy viewing on the World Wide Web.
Corel WordPerfect 3.5 easily converts many popular document types including
Microsoftr Word versions 4, 5, and 6, RTF (Rich Text Format) and Corel
WordPerfect 7 for Windows 95. A non-WordPerfect document can be opened
directly from the desktop into WordPerfect via support for Macintosh Easy
Open. Additional document types can be converted through support for XTND and
MacLink Plus conversion filters.
Highlights of Corel WordPerfect 3.5 include:
z Updated ruler interface
z Print Envelope Feature
z Automated Templates
z Make It FitT
z Text to Speech with MacinTalkT (System 7.5 only)
z Bookmarks with hyperlinks
z Internet Publishing Tools, with HTML import and export
Future Development
Corel is committed to providing Macintosh users with word processing
innovation by continuing its leadership in support of new Macintosh
technologies, attention to the Macintosh interface and strong commitment to
the Macintosh platform. Corel WordPerfect 3.5 for Macintosh will continue to
set new standards for Macintosh business applications and add support for
OpenDoc functionality and Macintosh OS 8 in future releases of Corel
WordPerfect for Macintosh.
Pricing
Corel WordPerfect 3.5 for Macintosh is available for a suggested retail price
of $249 US. WordPerfect users may upgrade for a suggested retail price of
$89 US, with competitive upgrades available for the same price. Qualifying
products include, but are not limited to, Microsoft Word, MacWrite Pro,
Claris Works, Nisus Writer, Now Write, and Full Write. Current WordPerfect
3.5 users will be able to download an update installer from the Corel web
site (www.corel.com), America Online, CompuServe, FTP, or Corel's BBS. The
update installer will only update current versions of 3.5 and does not
include the new fonts, graphics, sounds, or MasterJuggler Pro font utility.
System Requirements
For Macintosh computers, Corel WordPerfect 3.5 will require a minimum
configuration of a Macintosh II, LC or above, System 7.0 or above, 2 MB of
RAM, and will use at least 6 MB of disk space for a minimum install and 16 MB
for a standard install. For Power Macintosh computers, Corel WordPerfect 3.5
requires 5 MB of RAM, System 7.1 or above (System 7.5 recommended), and will
use at least 6 MB of disk space for a minimum install and 16 MB for a
standard install.
Customer Support
Corel is the only software vendor to offer free, unlimited technical support
(toll charges apply) for the life of the product. (Life of the product is
defined as the time between product introduction-up to and including-six
months after product is no longer sold by Corel). WordPerfect for Macintosh
support can be reached at (801) 765-4020.
Corel also offers these additional support options:
z IVAN: Corel's Interactive Voice Answering Network provides customers
with instant access to the most current product information available.
Customer can obtain this service 24-hours a day, 365 days a year by calling
(801) 765-4038. (Toll charges apply)
z Bulletin Board Service (BBS): A 24-hour product information and program
file resource that may be accessed at the following number: (801) 221-5197.
For an explanation of how to access and use the BBS, call (801) 765-4033.
z Fax on Demand Service: Customers may obtain faxed information by calling
(801) 765-4037.
z Searchable Knowledge Base: Access the same knowledge base used by
Corel's own customer support department to find "how to" information and
solutions for known problems. Available on the World Wide Web at
http://www.corel.com/support.
z WPMac News: This monthly online newsletter is written by Corel's
WordPerfect Macintosh support team. Each month they share tips & tricks, work
arounds, discuss common calls, and highlight a new feature each month. This
informative newsletter may be found at http://www.corel.com/wpmacnews, or
download on America Online (keyword = WordPerfect) or CompuServe (GO WPMAC).
Other Corel Products for Macintosh
In addition to Corel WordPerfect 3.5 for Macintosh, Corel Corporation has
more than 30 Macintosh titles on the market today and will soon ship
CorelDRAWT 6 for Macintosh. Also coming soon to the Macintosh platform is one
of the top selling consumer titles on the market, Corel Print HouseT, along
with CorelVIDEOT for desktop video and video conferencing.
Corel Corporation
Incorporated in 1985, Corel Corporation is recognized internationally as an
award-winning developer and marketer of productivity applications, graphics
and multimedia software. Corel's product line includes CorelDRAWT, the Corel
WordPerfect Suite and Corel WordPerfect Suite 7, Corel Office Professional,
CoreIVIDEOT and over 30 multimedia software titles. Corel's products run on
most operating systems, including: Windows, Macintosh, UNIX, MS-DOS and OS/2
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 world-wide. Corel is traded on the Toronto Stock
Exchange (symbol: COS) and on NASDAQ-National Market System (symbol:COSFF).
For more information visit Corel's home page on the Internet at
http://www.corel.com.
Corel and WordPerfect are registered trademarks and CorelDRAW, Print House
and CorelVIDEO are trademarks of Corel Corporation or Corel Corporation
Limited. Macintosh is a registered trademark and Power Macintosh is a
trademark of Apple Computer Inc.
All products mentioned are trademarks of their respective companies.
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EDUPAGE STR Focus Keeping the users informed
Edupage
Contents
U.S. Yields To Japan On Oversight Of Japanese Chip Imports
Radio Identification Chips Could Replace Some Bar Codes
New Apple Computers Target High-End Users
Will Gates Be The "Wintel Gorbachev"?
Utilities Commission Says: One Area, One Area Code
Nintendo's Hopes Built On New Game Player
Apple Offers Web Search System For Performas
Gasoline Wants To Be Free
Scientology And Netcom Settle Copyright Suit
Compaq Targets Workstation Market
Microsoft Hopes Its Talisman Will Work Magic
Intel Focuses On Hybrid Applications
IBM And Mercedes Team Up On Auto Electronics
"Smart Phone" Companies Merge To Form Tritech Corp.
Cairo To Have "Annuity" Upgrade Model
IBM Plans $2 Billion Investment In China
A PC For The Living Room
Microsoft, Netscape Escalate Browser Battles
MCI Tests News Distribution Via Computer
AT&T Sells Game Service To AOL
Microsoft Sues IRS For Export Tax Benefits
AOL Goes AWOL
Phone And Cable Convergence In Canada
Clinton On Education/Technology Joint Ventures
Look Down At Your Computer
Cybergangs
U.S. YIELDS TO JAPAN ON OVERSIGHT OF JAPANESE CHIP IMPORTS
American trade negotiators gave in to Japan's insistence that the U.S. cease
trying to provide oversight of Japanese imports. In any event, most
analysts think that such bilateral pacts are no longer relevant to the chip
industry, which economic forces have made more competitive (with countries
such as Taiwan and China now prominent in chip manufacture) and at the same
time more cooperative (with companies in various nations working together to
develop new chips). In 1986 the trade agreement called for Japan to import
20% of its chips; now one-third of all its chip purchases are imported.
(Atlanta Journal-Constitution 3 Aug 96 D3)
RADIO IDENTIFICATION CHIPS COULD REPLACE SOME BAR CODES
Chipmaker Micron Technology of Boise, Idaho, has developed a "radio
identification" chip likely to replace the traditional product bar code for
such uses as remote tracking of shipping containers. With support from the
Federal Aviation Agency, the company plans to develop an airline luggage
security system that would use the new chips to track every package on an
airplane, identify its owner, and call attention to possible bombs in
packages not properly identified. The chips are expected to be produced for
less than $1 each. (Wall Street Journal 2 Aug 96 B3)
NEW APPLE COMPUTERS TARGET HIGH-END USERS
With Apple's new Macintosh computers priced as much as $1,000 more than
competing PCs based on Intel chips and Microsoft Windows operating system ,
Apple is following through on chief executive Gil Amelio's plan to
concentrate on the needs of specialized high-end users such as professional
graphics designers. The new machines will range from $2500 for a home unit
to $5700 for a system with two PowerPC microprocessors to take advantage of
Apple's next-generation operating system's ability to have a task worked on
simultaneously by two separate chips. (Wall Street Journal 2 Aug 96 B3)
WILL GATES BE THE "WINTEL GORBACHEV"?
Red Herring magazine < http://www.herring.com/mag/issue34/letter.html > urges
Microsoft's Bill Gates to use a cross platform architecture for the
company's ActiveX software, arguing that "ActiveX is the right language for
the Intranet and for useful pages on the World Wide Web" but that "Java is
the right language for the emerging market of digital devices that will be
attached -- in ways that are still mysterious -- to the Internet... In
other words, Java is perfect for what it was originally designed for: the
embedded systems inside smart telephones, faxes, printers, set-top boxes,
and non-standard devices." The magazine admits that Gates could become "the
Wintel Gorbachev" by following its advice, but insists that Microsoft would
be foolish to hold onto proprietary standards too long. (Red Herring Aug
96)
UTILITIES COMMISSION SAYS: ONE AREA, ONE AREA CODE
Pacific Bell, the principal unit of the Pacific Telesis telephone group,
failed to get permission from the California Public Utilities Commission to
overlay new area codes in a geographical area on top of existing ones to
meet the burgeoning demand for new numbers caused by dramatically rising
numbers of fax machines, cellular phones, and pagers. PacBell rivals such
as AT&T and MCI said that overlays are anti-competitive, and the Commission
decided to continue dividing up overcrowded area codes into new areas and
forcing some customers to change their three-digit codes. (Los Angeles
Times 3 Aug 96)
NINTENDO'S HOPES BUILT ON NEW GAME PLAYER
Nintendo is hoping to reestablish its superiority in video games with its new
64-bit microprocessor designed by Silicon Graphics. The system features
fully rounded figures that can turn on their heels, rotating realistically
through 180-degrees on screen. Both of Nintendo's major competitors, Sega
and Sony, are thought to be losing money on each of the 32-bit machines they
sell, but making up their losses with royalties on sales of games that run on
them. (Economist 3 Aug 96)
APPLE OFFERS WEB SEARCH SYSTEM FOR PERFORMAs
Apple has developed a user-friendly Web search capability called Personalized
Internet Launcher for its 180 and 200 megahertz Performa computers. The
systems also offer built-in blocking software from SurfWatch, a Web
authoring tool for children, and a bundled browser from Netscape. Existing
Apple owners can go to
< http://myhome.apple.com > to obtain the software. (Interactive Age 2 Aug
96)
GASOLINE WANTS TO BE FREE
Author James Gleick says that the opponents of online copyright tend to be
people who have never tried to make a living from their writing. "The
writing of professors is subsidized. The new millions of impromptu Web
publishers have a different mentality, too; their work is rarely for pay,
and they are delighted if it is noticed and passed along." Dismissing the
slogan "Information wants to be free" as equivalent to the sentences "I want
information to be free ... and I want gasoline to be free," Gleick says the
best way to promote knowledge is to let people profit from the intellectual
products they create. (New York Times Magazine 4 Aug 96 p16)
SCIENTOLOGY AND NETCOM SETTLE COPYRIGHT SUIT
An out-of-court settlement closes the lawsuit the Church of Scientology
brought against Netcom, an Internet services provider, after an individual
hostile to the church posted to a Netcom private bulletin board a document
for which the Church claimed to hold a copyright. In late 1995 a federal
judge ruled that Netcom and the bulletin board operator did not themselves
violate the Church's copyright but may have contributed to the infringement
by failing to remove the documents once they were told that copyrighted
documents had been posted on their systems. Netcom will now warn its
subscribers not to "unlawfully distribute the intellectual property of
others." (Investor's Business Daily 6 Aug 96 A9) Internet personality
Howard Rheingold says: "I would hate to see Netcom to be put in the
position of having to police the material posted on its service. You can
sue a publisher for libel but of course you shouldn't be able to sue the
bookstore." (Washington Post 5 Aug 96 A11)
COMPAQ TARGETS WORKSTATION MARKET
No. 1 PC maker Compaq is getting into the workstation business, posing a
direct challenge to companies such as Sun and Hewlett-Packard, which
dominate the market. Compaq's workstations, which will be unveiled later
this year, will be based on Pentium Pro chips from Intel and Microsoft's
Windows NT software. Sun, HP, Digital Equipment, Silicon Graphics, and IBM
currently use different, proprietary chips in their workstation designs.
Compaq's latest move is expected to put pressure on other workstation
manufacturers to lower their prices and make machines that are easier to
integrate into office systems that already use Intel-based PCs. The company
has not said how much these machines will cost. (Investor's Business Daily 6
Aug 96)
MICROSOFT HOPES ITS TALISMAN WILL WORK MAGIC
Some industry observers are saying that Microsoft's two-year microchip
research project is bearing fruit, in the form of Talisman -- a chip that
delivers fast, realistic graphics using a $300 PC circuit board. The new
chip will be marketed as a way of enabling PC owners to produce graphics
similar in quality to those produced by 150,000 Silicon Graphics
workstations, resulting in a proliferation of animated, online, storefront
and other applications. One research industry president calls Talisman
"fabulous," and predicts it will inspire "killer" applications by 1998.
(Wall Street Journal 6 Aug 96 B4)
INTEL FOCUSES ON HYBRID APPLICATIONS
Intel is turning toward hybrid applications to bridge the gap between today's
computer network capacity and the futuristic expectation of unlimited
bandwidth. "The myth of the Internet is that there is plenty of bandwidth,"
says Intel CEO Andy Grove. "The hybrid application is what we will use for a
long time to overcome the limits of the available bandwidth." Such
applications involve, for instance, ways of compressing and downloading data
via telephone lines and then storing that data on a PC hard drive for
accessing later. In addition, Intel is developing Intercast technology,
which uses the television signal's vertical blanking interval to transmit a
limited amount of digital data. (Wall Street Journal 6 Aug 96 B12)
IBM AND MERCEDES TEAM UP ON AUTO ELECTRONICS
IBM and Mercedes-Benz will jointly work on development of an advanced
electronics system to monitor and control such automobile systems as lights,
engine, and climate control for the car's interior. The plan calls for
drivers to be connected eventually to the Internet for access to electronic
mail, driving condition reports, and road directions. (USA Today 6 Aug 96
1B)
"SMART PHONE" COMPANIES MERGE TO FORM TRITECH CORP.
U.S. Order Inc. and Colonial Data Technologies Corporation are merging to
form Tritech Corporation, which will pursue a strategy of providing a
"complete system," including phones, networks and services. Tritech's chief
executive officer says: "There are a lot of people saying, 'Here is a screen
phone, go do something with it. But a market doesn't just need hardware, it
needs end-to-end solutions." (New York Times 6 Aug 96 C2)
CAIRO TO HAVE "ANNUITY" UPGRADE MODEL
Microsoft says that its next-generation object-oriented operating system,
code-named Cairo, will follow an "annuity" upgrade model rather than rely on
rolling out all-in-one upgrade packages, such as Windows 95. The company
also plans to start promoting annuity programs for various other products.
(Computerworld 5 Aug 96 p93)
IBM PLANS $2 BILLION INVESTMENT IN CHINA
Between now and the end of the decade IBM will invest $2 billion in China, a
country in which it now has 11% of the PC market. (Computer Industry Daily
6 Aug 96)
A PC FOR THE LIVING ROOM
Asked about the new Simply Interactive Personal Computer (SIPC) that Intel
and Microsoft are working on, Intel chief executive Andy Grove explains that
"it's the entertainmentization of the personal computer: a set of design
concepts that move the personal computer to the center of the living room.
It's only confusing because it comes at the same time as network computer
stuff. It helps to remember that PCs in homes are in the den and in the
study, not in the living room. What we are asking is: 'How do we get these
things in the living room?'" (Red Herring Aug 96 p82)
MICROSOFT, NETSCAPE ESCALATE BROWSER BATTLES
Microsoft and Netscape Communications have extended their browser war to two
fronts: the marketplace and the courtroom. Lawyers for Netscape have
complained to the Justice Department over licensing restrictions that
Microsoft places on its Windows NT operating system, and Microsoft lawyers
last week sent a letter to Netscape demanding that it stop distributing a
price comparison between the two companies' Web server programs. "Netscape
has already caused irreparable harm to Microsoft, and further publication of
the deceptive information will only compound the damage," says the letter.
"This is their lawyers trying to intimidate a small company," responds
Netscape's attorney. "It's just very strange conduct by a monopolist."
(Wall Street Journal 7 Aug 96 B5)
MCI TESTS NEWS DISTRIBUTION VIA COMPUTER
MCI is funding trials at 20 television stations around the country of a
system that allows NBC to distribute TV news and program promotion spots to
its affiliates by computer. The system is designed to replace satellite
feeds for most purposes, and is being tested at 20 stations. MCI is now
trying to persuade other television networks to move to computer-based
distribution and retrieval of news video. ''It's literally video on demand.
I can call it up as available,'' says a news director at one NBC affiliate
station. (Investor's Business Daily 7 Aug 96)
AT&T SELLS GAME SERVICE TO AOL
AT&T has sold its ImagiNation Network online game service to America Online
for an undisclosed sum, rumored to be less than the $40 million that AT&T
paid for it in 1994. The network allows game enthusiasts to play each other
online, regardless of geographic location. "While gaming is an attractive
segment, it's not one that's consistent with our strategy," says an AT&T
spokesman. ImagiNation plans to introduce a newly packaged Windows 95-
compatible collection of games later this year. (Washington Post 7 Aug 96
F2)
MICROSOFT SUES IRS FOR EXPORT TAX BENEFITS
Microsoft has filed a lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service, in an
effort to recoup about $19 million paid as part of the company's 1990 and
1991 tax returns. The legal action ups the ante in the software industry's
bid for favorable treatment under a 1984 law that allows businesses to set up
foreign sales corporations, hereby exempting 15% of their export income from
U.S. taxes. Similar industries, including exporters of films, tapes and
records, have benefited from the 1984 provision. The software industry has
said it would save about $200 million over five years if it were allowed the
same protections. (Wall Street Journal 8 Aug 96 B4)
AOL GOES AWOL
America Online went off-line yesterday, stranding more than 6 million
subscribers in the real world of snail mail and "sneakernet," as one
consultant who depends on e-mail described it. The AOL computers were shut
down at 4:00 a.m. for routine maintenance, and then were unable to resume
function at the scheduled 7:00 a.m. power-up. While some people took the
outage with a dose of philosophy, others predicted this event was the
harbinger of more trouble in cyberspace. "Clearly the longer-term goal has
to be for the Internet to become more like the phone system is today," in
terms of reliability, says a director for AT&T's WorldNet service. "The
likely scenario is increasingly calamitous breakdowns," predicts an industry
columnist. Meanwhile, AOL CEO Steve Case expressed his regret over the
inconvenience via conventional news release. (Washington Post 8 Aug 96 A1)
PHONE AND CABLE CONVERGENCE IN CANADA
Canada's Cabinet endorsed a policy allowing cable and phone companies to
compete, but phone companies seem less excited about being in the cable
business than they were four years ago, and cable companies seem to be
concluding that the phone business is not as simple as they thought.
CLINTON ON EDUCATION/TECHNOLOGY JOINT VENTURES
In an election-year visit to Silicon Valley, President Clinton gave a speech
at a San Jose middle school praising the joint efforts of educators and high-
tech business leaders to reform education. All participating schools in the
"Challenge 2000" project are required to integrate technology into their
plans, which in many cases include the use of computer networking to allow
students to communicate with mentors in the business community. (San Jose
Mercury News 8 Aug 96)
LOOK DOWN AT YOUR COMPUTER
Health writer Jane Brody says you should position your computer so that the
center of the screen is four to nine inches below eye level and a little
farther away than the normal reading distance, and should keep reference
material close to the screen, perhaps on a screen mount. Wipe the screen
often with an antistatic cloth; minimize glare on the screen; and reduce
the brightness of the room lighting or use a three-sided computer or filter.
(New York Times 7 Aug 96 B6)
CYBERGANGS
The head of the gang task force for the Arizona Department of Public Safety
reports that a Web site established in Detroit offers a how-to guide for
gangster wannabes and is urging gang members everywhere to unite under its
umbrella to form the first cyberspace gang. The official says: "Now it's in
your home, your living room, your den... Unfortunately, these guys can talk
about anything they want and there's nothing law enforcement can do about
it." (Atlanta Journal-Constitution 8 Aug 96 F3)
Edupage is written by John Gehl (gehl@educom.edu) & Suzanne Douglas
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Links LS STR Spotlight "The VERY BEST Keeps getting BETTER!"
LINKS LS
from Access Software
Among those who enjoy the beauty and the challenge of golf, are a select
few who approach the grass canvas with the passion of Mozart and the
patience of Da Vinci. Only one master of the game transcends all others as
the personification of golf - Arnold Palmer. Mr. Palmer emerged from humble
beginnings with the will to abandon caution in a life-long pursuit of
victory. Flanked by loyal fans and determined to take the risks that defined
his game, Mr. Palmer has won countless triumphs and universal admiration.
Now, as the most recognized sports legend in the world, Arnold Palmer has
joined forces with the most recognized sports simulator in software history
- LINKS LS. LINKS LS was preceded by LINKS-The Challenge of Golf in 1989,
and in 1992 by the most award-winning golf simulation of all time, LINKS 386
Pro. Like Mr. Palmer, Access Software has captured the essence of the game,
and with unequaled passion and patience expanded the limits of technology to
bring you the most realistic golf simulation ever!
ARNOLD PALMER AT LATROBE - THE FIRST IN OUR TOUR PLAYER SERIES
Arnold Palmer at Latrobe - the first in our series of Tour Players
delivers far more than 18 holes of golf. The Arnold Palmer experience
includes a virtual reality tour of Arnie's workshop, office and trophy room.
Roam freely in 360 degrees and examine the tools of the trade behind the
legend. Listen to Arnie give insights and recollections about his PGA and
Senior PGA tours through Access Software's exclusive multimedia footage.
Discover the impact Arnie's father Deacon had on the champion as he grew up
in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. Chronicle Arnie's memorable triumphs that shaped
his character and will. Enjoy a virtual aerial flyby over Arnie's home
course while he gives tips on how to play each hole. Then tee off as or
against the digitized Arnold Palmer, who not only looks exactly like Arnie,
but plays with the same style and tenacity that defined the Grand Master of
golf. Experience the challenge and the heritage of The Latrobe Country Club
as you are tutored by a legend in sports.
KAPALUA RESORT IN MAUI - THE FIRST IN OUR RESORT SERIES
Resting on the wind-swept Coast of Maui, two stunning Hawaiian courses
have been selected to inaugurate LINKS LS as the first in the series of
Resort Courses. The Arnold Palmer-designed Kapalua Village Course has
distinctly European flavor and a commanding view of the West Maui mountains.
The 7,263 yard Kapalua Plantation Course showcases expansive slopes, deep
valleys and native vegetation unique to this historic property. Between
rounds, take the multimedia tours of local points of interest including the
Ritz Carlton Hotel, the Kapalua Bay Hotel, and the Kapalua Resort. Enter the
Virtual World in the Plantation Clubhouse with Access's exclusive VR engine
(created for Under a Killing Moon and The Pandora Directive). Escape through
LINKS LS into the resort community that has captured the spirit of the
legendary sport.
FEATURES OF LINKS LS
After winning nearly every award for a sports simulation possible with
LINKS 386, ACCESS Software had to dig deep and stretch the limits of
technology to bring you the next generation of LINKS-LINKS LS. So what's new
about LINKS LS? Every stroke, every blade of grass, every contour, every
chirp...Everything is NEW!
UNLIMITED SCREEN RESOLUTIONS AND UP TO 16.7 MILLION COLORS
Unlimited screen resolutions means that LINKS LS can match any monitor's
maximum viewing capabilities (even 1600x1200 and higher if you have the
video ram). Up to 16.7 million colors means the finest in near photo
realistic quality possible with today's technology. LINKS LS supports color
depths of 15 bit (32,000 colors), 16 bit (64,000 colors), and 24/32 bit
(16.7 million colors). You've simply never seen software this good!
TOTALLY NEW TERRAIN RENDERING ENGINE AND BALL FLIGHT MODEL
This gives LINKS LS a realism never before achieved in the gaming
industry. As LINKS has always done, we render not just the hole itself but
the entire course. You can literally hit your ball a half-mile out of
bounds! Now, authentic ground, sand, and grass textures combing with
dynamic shadows and fog to give you a course so lifelike you can almost feel
the wet grass! LINKS LS features the most realistic ball flight ever. Our
engineers have reworked the ball dynamics giving you true-to-life ball
flight! Fade your drive just like the pros or watch as your high arching
wedge shot actually backs up on the green.
GAME PLAY FORMATS
If you get tired of stroke play (standard) you can indulge in a race for
cash with the NEW Skins game. Also included are Match Play and Best Ball
formats. LINKS LS will keep even the shortest of attention spans interested.
MODEM AND NETWORK PLAY
With Network Play you can have up to eight players in a single game (two
workstations, four players per station). There is no restriction for
network protocols. As long as both workstations are mapped to one concurrent
drive, you're dancin. You can play head to head with a real human opponent
even if they are across the ocean. With modem play you can dial a remote
computer anywhere the phone lines will reach and play a game of golf rain or
shine. If you are connected an Internet service capable of accommodating
modem games you can play LINKS LS with someone on a different continent
avoiding the long distance toll.
54 HOLES OF CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF
Two stunning Hawaiian courses have been selected to inaugurate LINKS LS
as the first in the series of Resort Courses-The Plantation and Village
courses at Kapalua on the island of Maui. Along with Kapalua, Arnold
Palmer's home course-Latrobe Country Club in Pennsylvania completes the 54
holes of play.
VIRTUAL REALITY-EXPLORE OUR 3-D WORLD
Ever have the feeling you've been there before? Our NEW Virtual World
Tour allows you to move freely in a three-dimentional environment of the
Plantation Clubhouse at Kapalua as well as Arnie's workshop and trophy room.
FOUR DIFFERENT GOLFER ANIMATION SETS
Golfer animation's include Arnold Palmer as well as a young man, a young
women and middle-age male golfer. Each feature multiple reactions for both
good and bad shots. Timing of golfer and swing indicator are now independent
so you can witness the golfer animation in full motion video quality (up to
30 frames per second).
MULTIPLE CAMERA VIEW WINDOWS
Camera Windows are user selectable, user sizable and are capable of
displaying views from any of following cameras:
z Top View Camera-This is an overhead 'Blimp View' showing the current
hole, ball flight, and the aiming marker. The user can position the aiming
marker or 'drop' from the top view.
z Side view Camera-This is 'Side Blimp View' from a lower elevation and
shows the current hole, ball flight, and aiming marker. The user can also
position the aiming marker or drop in the side view.
z Green View Camera-This camera is positioned beyond the green, about 40
feet off the ground, looking back towards the tee box. This view shows the
player animation, ball flight, and aiming marker. The user can also position
the aiming marker or drop in the green view.
z Chat View for network and modem play.
z Custom Views-You can position the camera almost anywhere you choose to
watch your shots like never before.
z Profile View Camera-This camera shows an elevation profile from the ball
to the pin and displays appropriate elevation and distance information.
In addition to being displayed in the normal full screen view, the
aiming marker is also displayed by the top View, Side View, Green View and
Custom View cameras and can be repositioned by clicking in any of these
camera windows.
SUPPORT FOR ALL PREVIOUS LINKS 386 SVGA COURSES
All the Super VGA LINKS Championship Courses will be capable of being
converted to the NEW LINKS LS course format.
SOUND LIBRARY EDITOR
The sound library editor allows you to use any standard wave (.wav) file
and add your own sounds to most of the events in the game. For instance if
you want a Bronx cheer assigned to a bogey, you can have it.
POSITION DEPENDENT 3-D STEREO SOUND
Sounds like waves crashing and dogs barking have a specific spatial
position on the course. As the player approaches these locations the sounds
get louder. As the player turns left or right, the sounds pan across the
stereo mix and seem to come from a certain direction.
FULLY COMPATIBLE WITH WINDOWS 95 AND MS-DOS
To insure full Windows 95 compatibility, we have developed the LINKS LS
Sentry. The Sentry is a windows application that runs along side LINKS LS
and performs several important functions:
z Uses Windows 95's Auto Play to launch SETUP.EXE & install LINKS LS
z Creates a LINKS LS folder on your Windows 95 desktop
z Checks to see if other programs that can interfere with LINKS LS are
running and allows you to selectively close them
z Maintains critical communications with Windows 95 to insure that any
shutdown of LINKS LS is fully recoverable
z Minimum of 16 MB of memory required for play under Windows 95
MINIMUM SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
Your computer must be at least a 486 DX2 66 MHz CPU. (Not compatible
with NexGen or other CPU's without math co-processor.) It must have 12MB of
RAM (16MB to run in a window in Windows 95), 30 MB of free hard drive space
(estimated), 2X (double speed) CD-ROM drive (MPC Level 2 compliant). Your
video card must have at least 1 MB of video ram (dram, vram or wram). The
VESA bios must be VESA 2.0 compliant, capable of displaying 800 x 600
resolution with 32K colors. VESA does not refer to your BUS type. A PCI
video card still must have a VESA bios to be VESA compliant. To get any
sound you must have at least an 8-bit sound card. A mouse is required.
OPTIMAL SYSTEM FOR LINKS LS
z Pentium 90 MHz CPU or faster, 16+ MB RAM
z 4x (quad speed) or higher CD-ROM
z 2 MB Local Bus video (optimum resolution 1600 x 1200 resolution in
65,000 colors requires 4 MB RAM on video card)
z 200 MB hard drive space
z 16 bit industry standard compatible sound card, and a mouse.
This program. LINKS LS, is THE Golf Simulation. It is the standard by which
all others, for at least the next decade, will be judged.
Kids Computing Corner
Frank Sereno, Editor
The Kids' Computing Corner
Computer news and software reviews
from a parent's point of view
Rayman
Windows CD-ROM
approximately $35
ages 5 and up
Ubi Soft
80 East Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, Suite 3E
Larkspur, CA 94939
http://www.ubisoft.com
reviewed by Frank Sereno
Rayman is a delightful platform game that is suitable for all ages. It
combines astounding animation, whimsical characters, colorful scrolling
backgrounds, great music and challenging gameplay into one superb product.
Rayman's world was one of peace and harmony under the guidance of the Great
Protoon. At least it was until Mr. Dark stole it away. Now the world is
unbalanced. Evil creatures are capturing the Electoons and imprisoning them
in cages in several lands. You must guide Rayman on his quest to free the
Electoons, release the Great Protoon and defeat Mr. Dark.
This will be no easy task as you must battle more than fifty types of
enemies. When you start, you have no abilities other than to run, climb and
stick out your tongue. As you progress through the game, you will find
powerups and additional lives. Occasionally, you will be visited by Betilla
the Fairy who will give you additional powers such as punching, grabbing,
swinging, helicoptering and others. This is not just a simple fighting game
or a running and jumping game. You must develop strategies for each world
and each enemy. You may need to visit some worlds more than once to free all
the caged Electoons because added powers will allow you to explore more of
that world. If you are up to the task, you must defeat Mr. Dark to save the
day and win the game.
Each character in Rayman is artfully animated. The animation is equal to
that in the best films. It is done so lovingly and with such detail that
Rayman seems to have a contagious joie de vivre as he skips, hops and dances
across the screen. He's a character with character that reminds me of
Rockford in that classic game of the `80s, Boulderdash. The backgrounds are
equally impressive with their fine detail and lush colors. Rayman is surely
a feast for the eyes.
Ubi Soft did not forget other senses in this delightful game. The music
score is varied and intriguing. Several bright and bouncy tunes really set a
great mood for Rayman. About the only thing they could have added was some
scratch and sniff cards to produce the smells of the many locations in the
game.
This is a great game for younger children. My sons, ages 5 and 7, enjoy
Rayman immensely. The game is non-violent and it is filled with humorous
touches. The pace of the game is not frantic so players can plan their moves
carefully. To be honest, my younger son is better at the game than me! Be
sure to visit Ubi Soft's website to download a demo of the game and to view
the online strategy guide.
Rayman is a DOS program that runs under both Windows 3.1 and Windows 95. It
supports the autoplay feature of Windows 95 for easy installation and play.
The options menu has several selections to promote smooth display on all
systems. I would recommend running Rayman on a fast 486 (80 MHz or faster)
or a Pentium CPU with local bus graphics for the best visual effects.
Rayman is the coolest and most fun platform game I have ever played. Your
children and you will be enchanted by the charm of Rayman too.
Gulliver's Voyage To Lilliput
Interactive Storybook
Windows CD-ROM
Ages 6 to adult
Suggested retail $14.99
N-TK Entertainment Technology
18000 Studebaker Road Suite 200
Cerritos, CA 90703
(310) 403-0039
Program Requirements
OS: Windows 3.1
CPU: 486/33 or greater
HD Space: ? MB
Memory: 8 MB
Graphics: 16-bit VGA 65000 colors
CD-ROM: Double-speed
Audio: 16-bit sound card
Other: mouse
reviewed by Angelo Marasco
Gulliver's Voyage To Lilliput is a favorite children's story that has been
read to children for nearly two hundred years. Now you can have your
computer read it to you and your children. Gulliver's Voyage To Lilliput is
another of N-TK Technology's programs in the Memorex Software Series. It is
an interactive story book based on this story from Jonathan Swift's
Gulliver's Travels.
I have to admit to you that when I first received this CD I just wrote it off
as a simple, boring piece of cheap software. Maybe I shouldn't jump to
conclusions so quickly. This is not fancy, high-priced software, but it does
have its good points.
Since Gulliver's Voyage To Lilliput is rated for children and adults, I got
the chance to look at this software from an adult point of view. My first
question on starting this interactive book was, "Why?" I love to read books.
As with most avid readers, I love the feel of a book in my hands. Reading is
a sensual experience for someone who loves to do it. It involves more than
just the written words. It also involves the feel of the paper beneath your
fingers, the smell of the open book, the heft of a good novel or nonfiction
book. So why take all that away by displaying the book on the monitor of my
computer?
Gulliver's Voyage To Lilliput deals with the loss by using sounds. Playing
in the background are musical compositions contemporary to Jonathan Swift.
The narrator has a very pleasant voice with a British accent. His reading
style adds character and brings the words to life. I found that this
combination of music and voice were pleasing to my senses despite the lack of
a book in my hands.
The illustrations on each page of the book look old, adding even more
character. I don't know if the illustrations were done for the interactive
book or if they come from the original book but they give you a feel for the
age of this story. Included in the software are four picture puzzles made
from the illustrations. The puzzles aren't very challenging, but they do
provide a pleasant diversion.
Once past the opening menu and into the book, you can call up a control menu
that allows you to pause the reading, place a bookmark or ask for help. The
book itself runs as a sort of movie or slide show, turning its own pages and
reading to you until it is told to stop.
Difficult or unusual words are highlighted so that you can click on them and
get a definition. This helped the educational value rating of the software
that would have really hurt otherwise.
One thing that really bothered me, though, is the fact that this software
requires you to use a 16-bit (65,536 colors) VGA driver for your video. It
refuses to run on anything less. All the rest of the software in my
collection runs on 8-bit (256 colors) drivers. This meant that every time my
children or I wanted to use Gulliver's Voyage To Lilliput I had to change my
Windows setup. Why? The graphics weren't spectacular.
The colors used were flat, obviously to add to the sense of age. Why a 16-
bit driver for this? This impacted both the graphics and interface ratings.
So, is Gulliver's Voyage To Lilliput worth $14.99? Since finding the actual
book for less than that should be possible, this one is a tough call. If
you're looking for exciting entertainment for your kids, this isn't going to
cut it. However, this software fits well within my price comfort zone so I
feel that it is worth buying if you intend to build a collection of
interactive books. You may even want to buy it for yourself if you miss
being read to. This is where Gulliver's Voyage To Lilliput really excels.
Ratings
Graphics 7.0
Sound 8.0
Interface 8.5
Play Value 5.0
Educational Value 5.0
Bang for the Buck 8.0
Average 6.92
Typing Instructor Deluxe CD
Windows CD-ROM
$39.95
ages 10 and up
Individual Software Incorporated
5870 Stoneridge Drive, Suite 1
Pleasanton, CA 94588-9900
1-800-331-3313
Program Requirements
OS: Windows 3.1 or later
CPU: 486SX/33
HD Space: 10 MB
Memory: 8 MB
Graphics: 640 x 480, 256 colors
CD-ROM: Double-speed
Audio: 8-bit sound card
Other: mouse, speakers
reviewed by Frank Sereno
Are you looking for a program to help you or your children to learn typing or
increase typing skills? Individual Software has a new title on the market
that is most deserving of your attention. Typing Instructor Deluxe CD is a
customizable and personalized typing tutor that makes learning fun and easy.
Simply set your goals when you log into the program and it will set up a
course of study to help you attain those goals.
The program features a travel theme based in a busy airport lobby. If you
want to practice typing, you can go to the Magazine Rack and select from 250
articles covering many topics. At the ticket counter you can choose to take
a lesson or a test. Successfully completing a test results in a new stamp in
your passport. The program's artificial intelligence will suggest which
tests or lessons you should take, but you can always choose from the list.
You can also go to the Virtual Adventures Arcade to play three fun typing
games. You can set the level of difficulty in each of the games. Finally,
you can go to the Information Booth to view videos on typing history and
proper typing technique or you can review your test scores. The test results
are extremely detailed to showing your words per minute rating for each
finger and for each letter. I need more work on my right pinkie! The white
courtesy phone is used to access online help. This interface is very easy to
use.
Typing Instructor Deluxe CD uses colorful, rendered 3-D graphics to create an
intriguing virtual world. The multimedia pizzazz will entertain both young
and old. The program features a wide range of musical styles. Users can
select their favorite type of music and beat to help them develop a rhythm to
their typing. Rhythm is very important for increasing typing speed. The
games are fun and provide a pleasant diversion from the lessons. The games
do reinforce important keyboarding skills such as key locations, accuracy and
speed.
The lessons and tests are well designed. They not only teach students
keyboard locations through repetitive exercise but some exercises also teach
grammar and punctuation lessons for an added bonus. A great feature is that
the user can design his own typing tests. If you work in a technical field,
you can design a test using that terminology to improve your typing of
certain, difficult words. These customized typing tests can also be used to
improve your spelling.
My one beef with the program is that it has no option for setting it up for
use with a split keyboard such as the Microsoft Natural KeyboardT. On this
keyboard, you cannot use your right index finger to press the "6" key, but
Typing Instructor Deluxe CD does not make allowances for this and instructs
you to use that finger anyway. The program comes with a 30-Day satisfaction
guarantee, but you can only exchange this software for another of
Individual's titles. The disc is warranted for 120 days and out of warranty
replacement cost is $15.
Typing Instructor Deluxe CD has many little nuances that make it fun and
interesting. Even the manual is filled with fascinating facts. This program
is a delight to use. Even though I have been typing for twenty-five years, I
still benefited from using the software. Typing Instructor Deluxe CD is an
excellent program that makes touch typing easy.
Ratings
Graphics 9.5
Sound 9.0
Interface 9.0
Play Value 8.0
Educational Value 9.0
Bang for the Buck 9.0
Average 8.91
Nintendo's 64 STR Focus "The NEW Kid on the Block!"
NINTENDO DEBUTS TRUE 64-BIT GAMING
Nintendo Introduces Revolutionary Nintendo 64;
The wait is over...Nintendo of America Inc. has unveiled the Nintendo 64 --
the world's first true 64-bit home video game system. Visitors to E3 received
the first U.S. hands-on demonstration of Super Mario 64, the revolutionary,
real-time, 3-D adventure game for Nintendo 64. Other titles unveiled included
WaveRace 64, PilotWings 64, Star Wars: Shadows of the EmpireTM, Cruis'n USA
and Killer Instinct.
Launching in the U.S. on September 30, 1996, Nintendo 64 will be available
for a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $249.95. The system will be
packaged with a revolutionary new analog joystick controller.
Nintendo also announced Nintendo 64 titles available on September 30 will be
Super Mario 64, PilotWings 64, WaveRace 64, Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire,
Body Harvest, TetrisPhear and Cruis'n USA. Additional titles to be launched
between October and December 1996 include Buggie Boogie, Ken Griffey Jr.,
Blast Corps, GoldenEye 007, Super Mario Kart R and Killer Instinct. All
titles will be sold separately with a manufacturer's suggested retail price
range of $49.95-$79.95.
NINTENDO 64
Technical Spec Sheet
z MSRP: $249.95
z AVAILABLE: September 30, 1996
z HARDWARE FEATURES:
z CPU: 64-bit RISC CPU; clock speed of 93.75 MHz
z MEMORY: RAMBUS D-RAM 36-Mbit; maximum transmission speed of 4,500
Mbit/second
z CO-PROCESSOR: SP (sound and graphics processor) and DP (pixel drawing
processor) incorporated; clock speed of 62.5 MHz
z RESOLUTION: 256 x 224 ~ 640 x 480 dots; flicker-free interlaced mode
support
z COLOR: 32-bit RGBA pixel color frame buffer support; 21-bit color video
output
GRAPHICS PROCESSING FUNCTIONS:
z Z Buffer
z Anti-aliasing
z Realistic texture mapping:
z Tri-linear mip-map interpolation
z Environment mapping
z Perspective correction
DIMENSIONS: 10.23" x 7.48" x 2.87"
WEIGHT: 2.42 lbs.
CONTROLLER: Truly revolutionary three-grip controller with analog joystick,
allowing complete 360-degree precision character movement
MASS STORAGE UNIT: 64 MB, 3-3/4" magnetic disk drive (sold separately)
NINTENDO 64 CONTROLLER
FACT SHEET
Advanced Nintendo 64 controller unleashes an entirely new era of video games,
providing precise motion within 3-D environments, the result of extensive
research on a variety of different prototype controllers.
Unique Controller Features:
z 3-D Control Stick allows for unprecedented, 360-degree game movement.
Subtlety allows characters to creep, walk, trot or sprint; in an auto racing
simulation, acceleration and turning are life-like
z Memory Pack is loaded into the controller to save a player's own game-
play and controller customizations. Able to be removed and interchanged with
other controllers, it becomes, in effect, a portable, personalized mini-
system to play in conjunction with any Nintendo 64 unit
z Z Trigger Button located on the bottom of the controller, can be used
for firing weapons, activating motions or even snapping a photograph in the
game
z C Button Unit used for several different game play functions including
switches in camera perspective, character positioning and combo moves in
fighting games. In a 3-D world, characters can be lost behind objects. By
switching the camera perspective horizontally, vertically, or by zooming in
or out, visual contact is altered to improve game-play action and control.
Buttons can also be used to position characters, e.g., fielders in a baseball
game
z Colored Controllers available as accessories in yellow, green, blue,
red, grey and black to further personalize game play. (MSRP: $29.95)
z Four Player Capability is built directly into Nintendo 64 unit with four
front-mounted controller ports
Controller Positioning:
Nintendo 64 controller is shaped with three separate grips, allowing three
different hand positions:
z Right Position (center and right grips): makes the most out of the 3-D
stick -- best for holding 3-D action, racing and fighting games
z Left Position (center and left grips): allows control of the 3-D stick
and Z Trigger Button with the right hand and the control pad with the left.
Best for explosive action games like Blast Corps
z Super NES Position (two outside grips): the traditional position for
total control of side scrolling action games, action puzzle games and Role
Playing Games
NINTENDO 64 64DD
Technical Spec Sheet
MSRP: Price has not been set, however the planned 64DD price will reflect its
positioning as a Nintendo 64 accessory and be priced below the main unit
AVAILABLE: Scheduled for unveiling at the Shoshinkai trade show in Japan,
Fall 1996
FEATURES:
z A high-speed, mass-volume memory magnetic disk drive for use with
Nintendo 64
z Drive attaches to the bottom of the Nintendo 64 console with 3-3/4"
magnetic disks front-loaded into the unit
z High-density magnetic disks hold 64MB of data -- approximately 16 times
the data contained in the Super NES game Donkey Kong Country (4MB)
For the first time ever, players will be able to write data to game software
Players can customize and save characters and games
Unparalleled data access:
z 150 ms (milliseconds) Average Seek Time (AST), the amount of time it
takes the device to find the particular data
z 1 MB/s Data Transfer Rate (DTR), the rate at which data is transferred
from source medium to internal memory
z Includes a 1 or 2 MB expansion RAM pack, which players install into the
unique memory expansion slot of the Nintendo 64 to further enhance the memory
capacity of both the magnetic disks and the cartridges
NINTENDO 64r SOFTWARE IN DEVELOPMENT
Exclusive Titles Provide Revolutionary Game Play
More than 50 software titles are currently in development for Nintendo 64.
Covering all genres including action/adventure, role-playing, sports, martial
arts, racing and flight simulation, these games ensure there is something for
everyone, regardless of player interest. Following is a list of several new
Nintendo 64 titles currently in development:
SUPER MARIO 64
Nintendo
Created by the world's most revered video game designer, Shigeru Miyamoto,
Nintendo's flagship game for Nintendo 64 combines the standard-setting game
play of Super Mario Bros. with true three-dimensional scenarios created by
the world's most powerful video game system. The result is Super Mario 64 --
a real-time, computer graphics interactive adventure which will raise the bar
for all other video games.
Super Mario 64 contains 25 different areas to explore, SGI spotless graphics
and special effects, complete 360-degree movement allowing the player to move
anywhere they want in a 3-D world, and the most controllable Mario ever -- he
runs, walks, squats, whirls, slides, swims, climbs, flips, soars, waves his
arms, makes expressive faces and noises and, of course...jumps.
PILOTWINGS 64
Nintendo
PilotWings 64 is the sequel to another legendary Miyamoto creation -
PilotWings for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (Super NES). Under the
skilled direction of Miyamoto, PilotWings 64 was developed by Nintendo and
Paradigm Simulation Inc. of Texas, the leading developer of realistic
simulation programs and 3-D graphics. PilotWings 64 takes players on an
airborne tour through the United States, stopping at famous landmarks,
including Mount Rushmore and the Statue of Liberty. Players can choose from
three different vehicles -- a gyrocopter, hang-glider and jet pack -- and
take 360-degree journeys through 27 different courses, performing difficult
maneuvers such as pinpoint landings on mountain tops or flying in-between the
buildings of a major metropolis. There is even a special feature for players
to take aerial pictures.
WAVERACEr 64
Nintendo
As one of the first racing games for Nintendo 64, WaveRace 64 is a fast-
paced, heart-pounding game. Real-time physics are in effect as players race
personal water bikes on an open ocean with dynamic waves and environmental
conditions -- wave height, direction and wind speed will influence the
player's ability to control their water bike. There are several different one-
or two-player modes, including a timed race through an obstacle course, a
slalom course with buoys and a stunt mode. Players have the ability to
upgrade their water bikes as they progress through each course.
KIRBY'S AIR RIDE
Nintendo
Kirby's Air Ride is one of the first Nintendo 64 games designed for play with
up to four people. Similar to snow boarding, the game is an air board
endurance challenge, which allows players to perform many different stylistic
aerial stunts and maneuvers. This type of game play is possible only with the
precision analog control of the Nintendo 64 Controller Stick. There will be
several different modes of play, with the system generating random courses so
players can have a new experience every time.
SUPER MARIO KARTr R
Nintendo
Super Mario Kart for the Super NES has been one of the most popular racing
games in video game history. Developed by Nintendo, Super Mario Kart R is
based upon this classic platinum sales go-kart driving game. The new game
improves on the original courses and adds a revolutionary four-player mode,
utilizing the four controller ports built into the front of Nintendo 64,
enabling four players to compete head-to-head. There are four different game
play modes: Gran Prix, Time Attack, VS. Match and the legendary Battle mode.
STAR FOXr 64
Nintendo
Star Fox 64 is based on the classic, mega-hit, multi-million selling Super
NES game. The advanced technology of Nintendo 64 brings Fox McCloud and his
buddies to life with rich texture-mapped images and sends them on adventures
in a whole new universe.
BODY HARVEST
Nintendo/DMA
In Body Harvest, Adam Drake, the game's hero, has to travel in a time machine
to various points in time to stop the aliens who have been harvesting humans
on the planet for ultimate take over. The only way to stop the harvest is to
defeat the aliens with powerful alien-bashing vehicles. There are more than
130 progressively stronger vehicles scattered throughout the game, including
ships, Hovercraft, aircraft, trucks and tanks.
TETRISPHEAR
Nintendo/H2O
Developed by the Canadian software developer H2O, TetrisPhear is unlike any
puzzle game ever created. Following in the tradition of one of the most
popular puzzle games, TetrisPhear combines the enticing puzzle solving skills
of Tetris with fast-paced action, captivating 3-D graphics and explosive
sound. Set in a virtual world of the future, players must remove Tetris-style
blocks to penetrate the core of a rotating 3-D sphere.
STAR WARS: SHADOWS OF THE EMPIRE
Nintendo/Lucas Arts
Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire, developed by the creative minds at
LucasArts exclusively for Nintendo 64, tells a brand new story in the Star
Wars saga. The adventure, which falls between The Empire Strikes Back and
Return of the Jedi, has players taking on the role of Dash Rendar, protector
of Luke Skywalker. The game includes famous characters from both original
stories including Darth Vader, Boba Fett, Jabba the Hut and the Emperor, as
well as new forces of evil from the Black Sun. Shadows of the Empire includes
four types of game play in two different modes - a campaign mode and an
arcade mode.
CRUIS'N USA
Nintendo
The arcade driving smash hit Cruis'n USA comes home on Nintendo 64. The game
takes players on a cross-country trek in their choice of four automobiles,
with plenty of hidden surprises. There are several different perspectives to
choose from as players race through the unique, beautifully rendered roads of
each city, including driving through the gigantic redwood forests of Northern
California. The Nintendo 64 controller gives players perfect driving control
from the smallest swerve to the tightest turn.
BUGGIE BOOGIE
Nintendo/Angel Studios
Developed by Nintendo and the award-winning special effects team at Angel
Studios, Buggie Boogie makes players feel as if they are a real dune buggy,
prone to all sorts of dynamic forces: wind, gravity, anti-gravity, tornadoes,
and traction on different surfaces and slopes. Players must maneuver these
dynamic forces and other obstacles while battling a family of evil buggies
and bosses. To help overcome these obstacles, players can customize their
buggies with interchangeable components such as engines, tires and special
features, including futuristic weapons. A two-player competition mode splits
the screen, becoming one screen when the players are near each other.
KEN GRIFFEY JR. BASEBALL
Nintendo/Angel Studios
The Ken Griffey Jr. series of baseball games grows with the ultimate video
baseball game - Ken Griffey Jr. Baseball for Nintendo 64. Developed by
Nintendo and Angel Studios using Angel's ARTS technology and motion capture
techniques, the first baseball game for Nintendo 64 is the game by which all
other baseball games are compared. The players are completely rendered, and
due to Nintendo 64's ability to perform detailed physics calculations,
dynamic moves of players are simulated with uncanny realism.
BLAST CORPS
Nintendo/Rare
In Blast Corps, players must clear the path for a runaway missile carrier,
using powerful, high-speed bulldozers through cities and rural landscapes,
knocking everything out of the way in a race against time. As players
progress through the game, they can upgrade their dozers to more powerful
machines, some even looking like giant humanoid robots. The most impressive
visuals of the game include the incredible rendered explosions.
GOLDENEYE 007
Nintendo/Rare
Developed by Nintendo and Rare Ltd., GoldenEye 007 is based on the popular
1995 James Bond movie of the same name. The game follows the movie's story
line through a variety of game play modes, including a first-person
perspective in a military installation. The realism of GoldenEye is apparent
in the digitized and texture-mapped faces of the actual actors from the
movie. Additionally, blueprints from the movie were used to re-create the
game play environments.
KILLER INSTINCT
Nintendo/Rare
Killer Instinct became an instant number-one hit in arcades and homes due to
its beautifully designed characters and backgrounds and unique combo battle
system. Killer Instinct for Nintendo 64 takes that a step beyond with new
moves such as Pressure Breakers, Rock-Paper-Scissor moves, Combo Breakers and
Super Linkers. With fast, smooth, fluid 60 frames-per-second animations, a
stunning soundtrack and the Nintendo 64 controller, Killer Instinct will
revolutionize the way fighting games are played.
TUROK: DINOSAUR HUNTER
Acclaim
The first third-party publisher for Nintendo 64, Acclaim is developing a
video game version of the Valiant Comics super hero - Turok: Dinosaur Hunter.
DOOM
Williams
One of the most popular first-person perspective games will come to Nintendo
64 from Williams Entertainment. The new version of Doom will feature quality
graphics unlike any other Doom version and contain completely new levels and
characters.
FIFA 96
Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts, one of the world's leading independent software publishers,
is developing an exclusive version of FIFA 96 for Nintendo 64. The game will
include never-before-seen characters, hundreds of international teams, and
control functions only available on Nintendo 64.
MISSION IMPOSSIBLE
Ocean of America
Developed by Ocean of America, Mission Impossible is based on the Summer 1996
feature film of the same name starring Tom Cruise. Players choose various
missions, played in the first-person perspective, loaded with the mystery,
intrigue and suspense MI fans have come to know and love.
MONSTER DUNK
Mindscape
One of the most unique basketball games ever created, Monster Dunk, will be
released exclusively for Nintendo 64. Mindscape's new imaginative game
features famous monsters playing two-on-two basketball and performing unique
and humorous basketball moves.
ROBOTECH CRYSTAL DREAM
GameTek
Based on a popular cartoon series, GameTek is developing Robotech which will
allow players to become completely immersed in a world of real-time, 3-D
character animation.
FREAK BOY
Virgin Interactive
Virgin is developing the action/adventure game Freak Boy exclusively for
Nintendo 64.
WAYNE GRETZKY HOCKEY
Time Warner/Williams
Hockey legend Wayne Gretzky will be immortalized on the world's most powerful
video game system in the exclusive hockey game from Williams Entertainment --
Wayne Gretzky Hockey. The 3-on-3 plus goalie game features every player from
the National Hockey League Players Association.
MORTAL KOMBAT TRILOGY
Williams
Williams Entertainment will bring their mega-successful Mortal Kombat series
to Nintendo 64 with the development of the Mortal Kombat Trilogy.
NEW NINTENDO 64 THIRD-PARTY ANNOUNCEMENTS
NBA HANGTIME
ROBOTRON X
WAR GODS
Williams
SILICON VALLEY
BMG Entertainment
ULTRA COMBAT
GT Interactive
ULTRA DESCENT
Interplay Productions
Atari: Jaguar/Computer Section
Dana Jacobson, Editor
>From the Atari Editor's Desk "Saying it like it is!"
Atari shuts down and there's little online message traffic pertaining to it.
How ironic. Unexpected? Perhaps not. It didn't come as much surprise to
most of us. However, this "passing" will not pass by totally comment-less; I
will have some thoughts in the next couple of issues as I'll have some time
to really get focused as I'll be taking another vacation, and can think.
<grin>
I'll also be getting back, finally, to all of you who have responded to my
'letter' a couple of weeks ago pertaining to contributions of articles. I
have been delinquent in my responses, and appreciation. I'll also be
completing the CDROM "reviews" that have been sitting on my hard drive for
weeks - All Things Falcon and the Bird of Prey CDs, two excellent
shareware/PD compilations.
In the meantime, I'm going to find a cool spot to relax, if possible, and
count the hours until I can enjoy a few cold brews and hit a few golf balls -
it's too hot to sit in front of a lot of computer equipment!
Until next time...
ST Format Gone! STR Focus
UK Atari Mag to Fold!
OFFICIAL: ST FORMAT Closure
From: Frank Charlton [frank@support.tachyon.co.uk]
Re-printed by permission
It is with great sadness that I can finally officially confirm the
rumours that have been drifting about online for the past week or so. Future
Publishing has ceased publication of ST FORMAT magazine. Issue 86, dated
September 1996, will be the final issue on sale. If you have unanswered
subscription problems, you should contact Future Publishing's Subs Dept.,
either via email to subs@futurenet.co.uk or by calling 01225-822511. If you
have any queries about other matters related to the magazine, you should
contact Nick Peers (npeers@futurenet.co.uk) by calling 01225-442244.
Alternatively, you can mail me at frank@support.tachyon.co.uk or
Frank.Charlton@dial.pipex.com.
We're all very sad to see STF close, especially so close to the Atari
Shows in September. Although STF will not be officially in attendance, you
should find one or two us at the Birmingham show, and possibly the London
one. Don't forget to stop by and say hello :) I'm sure I speak for all of
the STF writers and contributors past and present when I say we've had masses
of fun producing the magazine. Never have I seen a market with such a level
of closeness and friendship as I have with fellow ST and Falcon users. While
some of the team will no doubt drift away, Andy and I certainly intend to
stay active in the Atari market. Ad.Lib BBS is still here, and I will be
contributing work to the excellent AtariPhile disk/web magazine. Other
projects are on the go too, but it's not my place to say anything about that
:) Someone will doubtless fill you all in on what's happening soon, so don't
pester me with emails :)
Rather than see years worth of STF work go to waste, I've compiled a
website - A3, the Atari Article Archive. Eventually, this will contain every
piece of work by most of STF's writers, as long as we hold the copyright. An
early version is active now, and you can drop into
http://www.netkonect.net/tachyon/A3 to take a look. Sorry again to let you
all stew among the rumours, but none of us were in a position to make an kind
of statement until today. I'm posting this message across related Atari
Internet newsgroups, NeST, and the CIX conferencing system. You have my
permission to reproduce this message across any other BBS echo or local
areas, as you see fit. This message may not be reproduced in part or whole by
any publications though - purely via the BBS and Internet news networks. If
anyone wants to use it for any other purpose, contact me. The sole exception
to this rule is AtariPhile, who may use this if they require. I'll be back in
this conference soon to chat and answer questions, but in the meantime - take
care, and enjoy the final issue of STF.
Frank Charlton, STF Technical Editor and Writer, 1992-1996.
JTS News STR Spotlight
JTS CORPORATION AND VST TECHNOLOGIES TO DELIVER ...
APPLE MACINTOSH POWERBOOK COMPUTERS
SAN JOSE, Calif., Aug. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- JTS Corporation (AMEX: JTS) today
announced a strategic partnership with the leading Apple Macintosh PowerBook
accessory company, VST Technologies of Acton, MA using new 3-inch drive
technology developed by JTS Corporation in their Expansion Bay Hard Drive
designs for the Apple 190/5300 PowerBook Computers. The VST Expansion Bay
Hard Drives (VST BE HD) fits into the PowerBook expansion bay which normally
houses the Apple 1.44 MB floppy drive module. The VST EB HD may be inserted
"hot" and the drive will mount automatically on the desktop as a standard
drive, without the need to sleep, shut down or restart the PowerBook. In
addition, the PowerBook can be booted from the Expansion Bay Drives which
ships with the latest MAC OS pre-installed.
Designed to lower the cost of notebook disk storage and other portable
applications, JTS' Nordic 3-inch rigid disk drives offers 84% more capacity
per disk and much thinner innovative "Z" height packaging than conventional
2.5-inch rigid disk drives. For 1996, shipments of the Nordic Product Family
include both 10.5 mm and 12.7 mm "Z" height form factor versions with
formatted capacities ranging from 640-1215 Mb (currently shipping) up to 2.0
Gb expected to be available in Q4CY96.
Founded in 1994, JTS Corporation designs, manufactures, and currently markets
both 3-inch and 3.5-inch rigid disk drives for computer industry OEMs and
system integrators worldwide. JTS Corporation began trading as a public
company on the ASE July 31, 1996 as "JTS." Headquartered in San Jose,
California, with manufacturing facilities in Madras, India, JTS employees
over 4,300 people worldwide.
This release contains forward-looking statements based on current
expectations that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. A number of
these risks and uncertainties are discussed in the Company's registration on
form S-4 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
CONTACT: Ben Barnes,
Director OEM Sales of JTS Corp.,
408-468-1800
Jaguar Section
The "Final Count"? Reaction to
Atari/JTS Merger "Vote"
Jag Quake? - Uh-uh
>From the Editor's Controller - Playin' it like it is!
I've had numerous requests for a "current" listing of Jaguar games as we used
to carry fairly regularly when "things were going well". I've included that
listing here this week. The game prices are likely to be inaccurate, but
they are the last official Atari prices. I'm sure that most prices have been
drastically cut since these were released. There's been a lot of online
rumor-mongering regarding the likelihood of certain games coming out for the
Jaguar. A couple that have been readily mentioned are Worms and Quake.
"Kids Computing Corner" columnist Frank Sereno got to the bottom of one of
the games, Quake. Look for those results later in this section.
We also have a reaction to the recent Atari/JTS merger shareholders' meeting
- big surprise. No new news on pending games, or much of anything for the
Jaguar recently. Wanted posters are out for those wayward reviews, as well
as the bloodhounds. We'll get to the bottom of their whereabouts shortly!
<g>
Until next time...
Jaguar Catalog STR InfoFile What's currently available, what's coming out.
Current Available Titles
CAT # TITLE MSRP DEVELOPER/PUBLISHER
J9000 Cybermorph $59.99 Atari Corp.
J9006 Evolution:Dino Dudes $19.87 Atari Corp.
J9005 Raiden $19.87 FABTEK,Inc/Atari Corp.
J9001 Trevor McFur/
Crescent Galaxy $19.87 Atari Corp.
J9010 Tempest 2000 $32.87 Llamasoft/Atari
Corp.
J9028 Wolfenstein 3D $26.87 id/Atari Corp.
JA100 Brutal Sports FootBall $39.99 Telegames
J9008 Alien vs. Predator $42.87 Rebellion/Atari Corp.
J9029 Doom $42.87 id/Atari Corp.
J9036 Dragon: Bruce Lee $19.87 Atari Corp.
J9003 Club Drive $19.87 Atari Corp.
J9007 Checkered Flag $19.87 Atari Corp.
J9012 Kasumi Ninja $19.87 Atari Corp.
J9042 Zool 2 $19.87 Atari Corp
J9020 Bubsy $19.87 Atari Corp
J9026 Iron Soldier $19.87 Atari Corp
J9060 Val D'Isere Skiing $26.87 Atari Corp.
Cannon Fodder $29.95 Virgin/C-West
Syndicate $44.99 Ocean
Troy Aikman Football $64.99 Williams
Theme Park $44.99 Ocean
Sensible Soccer Telegames
Double Dragon V $54.99 Williams
J9009E Hover Strike $30.72 Atari Corp.
J0144E Pinball Fantasies $42.50 CWest
J9052E Super Burnout $42.87 Atari Corp.
J9070 White Men Can't Jump $32.87 Atari Corp.
Flashback $54.99 U.S. Gold
J9078E VidGrid (CD) Atari Corp
J9016E Blue Lightning (CD) $59.99 Atari Corp
J9040 Flip-Out $32.87 Atari Corp
J9082 Ultra Vortek $42.87 Atari Corp
C3669T Rayman $59.99 Ubi Soft
Power Drive Rally $59.99 TWI
J9101 Pitfall $42.87 Atari Corp.
J9086E Hover Strike CD $49.99 Atari Corp.
J9031E Highlander I (CD) $49.99 Atari Corp.
J9061E Ruiner Pinball $42.87 Atari Corp.
Dragon's Lair $49.99 Readysoft
J9097E Missile Command 3D $49.00 Atari Corp.
J9091E Atari Karts $49.99 Atari Corp.
J9044E Supercross 3D $49.99 Atari Corp.
J9106E Fever Pitch Soccer $49.99 Atari Corp.
J9043E I-War $49.99 Atari Corp.
J9069 Myst (CD) $49.99 Atari Corp.
Primal Rage $59.99 Time Warner
Battlemorph $49.99 Atari Corp.
J9055 Baldies $49.99 Atari Corp.
J9089 NBA Jam TE $57.99 Atari Corp.
Zoop $42.99 Atari Corp.
Space Ace $52.99 Readysoft
Defender 2000 $59.99 Atari Corp.
...Mutant Penguins $49.99 Atari Corp.
Braindead 13 $52.99 Readysoft
Fight for Life $69.99 Atari Corp.
Available Soon? (RSN)
CAT # TITLE MSRP DEVELOPER/PUBLISHER
Breakout 2000 $42.50 Atari Corp.
World Tour Racing TBA Atari Corp.
Max Force $59.99 Atari Corp.
J9021 Brett Hull Hockey $59.99 Atari Corp.
Battlesphere TBA 4-Play
Hardware and Peripherals
CAT # TITLE MSRP MANUFACTURER
J8001 Jaguar (no cart) $99.99 Atari Corp.
J8904 Composite Cable $19.95
J8901 Controller/Joypad $24.95 Atari Corp.
J8905 S-Video Cable $19.95
CatBox $69.95 Black Cat Design/ICD
J8800 Jaguar CD-ROM $149.99 Atari Corp.
J8908 JagLink Interface $26.76 Atari Corp.
J8910 Team Tap
4-Player Adapter) $26.76 Atari Corp.
J8907 Jaguar ProController $27.87 Atari Corp.
J8911 Memory Track $26.76 Atari Corp.
J8909 Tempest 2000:
The Soundtrack $12.99 Atari Corp.
Jaguar Online STR InfoFile - Online Users Growl & Purr!
Atari Shareholder Reaction to Merger Meeting
>From GEnie:
Yes, the Atari JTS did go through as expected. No one opposed it at the
shareholders meeting. This year, the meeting was held in a conference room
at a lawyer firm. It looked like only close high-level Atari associates were
there. I think I was the only casually dressed person (i.e. outside
shareholder) there. <grin> Only about 10-20 people showed up.
The meeting started out with a summary of the merger and then the vote took
place. After that, the meeting was adjourned. All in less than 30 minutes
too. Even Leonard Tramiel pointed out how incredibly short it was.
No information was given on the fate of the rest of the Jaguar inventory.
Every question I asked about it was responded with a "It's in JTS' hands now.
We have nothing to do with it." Then I was referred to call JTS' CFO for
more information. Meanwhile, Atari will continue to operate out of the TINY
office in Sunnyvale.
Overall, a very short and not very exciting meeting. Usually, I would write
an article on the meeting like I've done for the last two years, and then
submit it to a magazine. But this message is what the article
would look like. (i.e. not much)
-Phil
So, What is the Deal With Jaguar Quake?
Re: Quake for Atari Jaguar
Date: 5 Aug 1996
From: "Lori Mezoff"
To: "Frank Sereno"
"...Id software had a hand in producing two games for the Jaguar, Wolfenstein
3D and Doom. Rumors abound that they are working on a version of Quake for
Atari. Could you, for the record, either confirm or deny the future
publishing of Quake for the Atari Jaguar?"
Thank you,
Frank Sereno
RE>Quake for Atari Jaguar
Hi Frank,
Sorry, there will be no QUAKE for the Jaguar.
Lori
That should kill one rumor...
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