ST Report: 6-Dec-96 #1249
From: Bruce D. Nelson (aa789@cleveland.Freenet.Edu)
Date: 12/23/96-12:23:25 AM Z
From: aa789@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Bruce D. Nelson)
Subject: ST Report: 6-Dec-96 #1249
Date: Mon Dec 23 00:23:25 1996
Silicon Times Report
The Original Independent OnLine Magazine"
(Since 1987)
December 06, 1996 No.1249
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12/06/96 STR 1249 The Original Independent OnLine Magazine!
- CPU Industry Report - HyperSnap Overview - CIS XMAS
- Net Pizza Service - PCS Shakeout - Lexmark Offer
- Smart `Putes Ahead - Sprint in `NET Fray - MCI UG Done
- SONY PSX TOPS! - People Talking - Dana Reporting
MOTOROLA SCRAPS PDA PLANS
MTV GREEDY??
Wells Fargo Hunts Crooks on Net
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>From the Editor's Desk...
Eleven more shopping days. another year for STReport.
Seems like only yesterday when Rex Reade submitted his very first
article. Remembering is neat.. the article was about Word
Perfect and the Atari userbase. That a long time ago. Here we
are fast coming upon another Christmas Season. Lord knows, many,
many things I never would have believed have dramatically
changed. Yet in all the change, some troublesome, I still find
myself counting all my blessings.
The Holiday season to some is a very trying time in their
lives that returns year after year to haunt them. Perhaps, those
of us among the more fortunate should be more involved helping
the less fortunate. Think about those in your own towns and
cities. Forget the "glory hounds" that are crying for us to feed
and clothe the less fortunate in other countries. After having
discovered that 80% of the monies given to those crying for that
money never benefits those its intended for. Let's take care of
the less fortunate at home first. and then we can look to those
abroad who are in need. We all see them, read about them and
now, we have the chance to do something right in our own towns
and cities.
Ralph...
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STReport Headline News
LATE BREAKING INDUSTRY-WIDE NEWS
Weekly Happenings in the Computer World
Compiled by: Dana P. Jacobson
North Carolina Enacts Cyber Sex Law
A new state law making it a crime for anyone to use cyberspace to
lure children into sex has gone into effect in North Carolina.
Computerists face up to five years in prison if convicted of
trying to solicit a child online for unlawful sex acts.
Reporting from Charlotte, North Carolina, the Reuter News Service
comments the law "goes a step beyond existing laws that make it a
crime to take indecent liberties with a minor." Peter Banks, a
director of the National Center for Missing and Exploited
Children, told the wire service, "It's a good law. It clearly
defines the different types of behavior we don't wantaimed at our
children."
U.N. Tackles Net Copyright
The United Nations is turning its attention to modernizing
copyright legislation for the Information Age, with an emphasis
on efforts to stamp out online piracy. Reporting from Geneva,
Associated Press writer Alexander G. Higgins says the 160-nation
U.N. World Intellectual Property Organization, which oversees
the billion-dollar world of copyright and patent protection, is
hosting a three-week conference on how to catch up with sweeping
changes in computers, the Net and music recordings.
The conference was organized, Higgins said, "after it became
obvious that something had to be done to protect authors' and
performers' rights in a world when the latest song or computer
program can be downloaded in seconds." Delegates are working on
the first major revision of international copyright law in 35
years, with three treaties to rework, including literary and
artistic works, the rights of performers and producers of
"phonograms" (now most commonly CDs and audio cassettes) and
producers of databases.
"The biggest question to be resolved," says AP, "is how to
protect rights in an era when national borders have been made
irrelevant by the Internet." Watching from the sidelines, of
course, are the music and publishing industries, which see
fortunes at stake in an area that is difficult to regulate. But
of course, adds reporter Elif Kaban of the Reuter News Service,
"Once the new treaties are accepted, then the question will be
enforcement. In the multi-media world of Internet and its
'copyright havens,' officials acknowledge there will be huge
technical problems in enforcing copyright legislation."
After new treaties are passed, distribution of copyrighted work
will be illegal, but, adds Reuters, "new mechanisms will be
needed to catch the uploaders, say officials, who hope that
national governments will pass laws accordingly."
BSA Says Clinton Going Wrong Way
In a letter to Vice President Al Gore, the Business Software
Alliance says it believes the Clinton Administration is "headed
in the absolute wrong direction" in its data encryption policies.
Communications Daily notes this morning the White House is
beginning thisweek to circulate proposals for comment, with the
goal of implementing them by January 1. As reported earlier, the
package includes proposals to transfer export authority of
encryption products to the U.S. Commerce Department from the
State Department, along with new rules on export of high-end
encryption products.
However, in his letter, BSA President Robert Holleyman told Gore
that apparently "significant backtracking has occurred" since
the administration announced its new policy October 1, and so,
"We seriously doubt that the regulations will work, meet computer
user demands or be accepted by the private sector unless the
Administration radically changes its approach immediately."
Without change, Holleyman said, encryption export policies will
fail as did the administration's policy on the so-called "Clipper
Chip" for digital telephony.
CD quotes Holleyman as saying the administration should make a
distinction between terms "key recovery" and "key escrow," which
currently the administration proposal uses interchangeably.
Says the newsletter, the "ability of (a) purchaser or user of (a)
product to recover data is different from having (a) third party
keep (the) key, BSA said." The trade group says it also opposes
having the government dictate milestones for company-specific
encryption plans and that the interim export relief promised by
the administration "doesn't appear to give that much relief,"
says the newsletter.
Wells Fargo Hunts Crooks on Net
Wells Fargo has come to cyberspace to stage its latest stand
against the bad guys, displaying "Wanted" posters on the Net with
rewards of $1,000 to $5,000. "Wells Fargo has no tolerance for
crooks. Never had. Never will," says the introduction to the
California bank's site on the Internet's World Wide Web
(http://www.wellsfargo.com). The bank, which a century ago
earned a reputation for doggedly pursuing stagecoach robbers,
provides a series of small photographs of suspects online, most
taken from fake driver's licenses used in transactions.
"Clicking on a small photo yields a bigger picture, the price
Wells Fargo has put on the suspect's head and brief details of
the crime, usually involving bad checks or other fraud," notes
Associated Press writer Michelle Locke, who adds, "Two pictures
on the November posting are stamped with the word 'Arrested.'"
The sites says tipsters can call 1-800-78- CRIME to give
information anonymously.
The web site quotes from the bank's 1870 policy that vowed "never
to abandon or relax the pursuit of anyone who committed a
criminal offense against" the bank. Also online, history buffs
can call up reproductions of 1870s-era wanted posters, complete
with yellowed, curled edges.
Microsoft Re-Sparks Controversy
Complaints from rivals about antitrust issues have been renewed
in the wake of actions by Microsoft Corp. to attempt to control
what computer users see when they first turn on their machines.
Writing in this morning's Wall Street Journal, reporter David
Bank says the software giant has renegotiated licensing
agreements with several major personal-computer makers,
"inserting language that blocks them from using Microsoft's
dominant Windows operating system unless they ensure that
Microsoft's screen comes on when users boot up."
Bank notes that initial screen traditionally has been of
secondary importance. "In the past," he notes, "some computer
makers themselves have created their own introductory screens to
walk first-time users through set-up procedures and simple tasks
on their new computers." However, in the future, when more users
will be online, "the screen could become a valuable port of
entry into cyberspace and be used to extract tolls or steer
customers into particular areas."
Noting that now some 90 percent of the world's PCs run Microsoft
operating systems, Microsoft "is in position to shape the port
of entry for millions of users into a world of customized sports
highlights, streams of movie previews and click-to-buy
merchandising sites across global networks," Bank observes,
adding that competitors like Netscape Communications Corp. are
"also angling to control the portal."
New terms were inserted into Microsoft's licensing agreements
with IBM and other PC makers as the contracts were renewed in
the past several months covers both the current Windows desktop
and the Internet-enabled "active desktop" that Microsoft has said
it will deliver next year. Vice President Steve Ballmer of
Microsoft's sales and marketing unit notes at least one computer
maker had objected to the new clause.
Says Banks, "With Active Desktop, Microsoft is moving away from
the familiar user-interface of icons and folders and toward a
screen that will more resemble a television tuner. 'Channels'
will be used to receive news, sports, weather and entertainment
programming, along with corporate information. Microsoft is in
the unique position of providing both the desktop distribution
platform and, through its MSNBC joint venture and its Microsoft
Network, the programming to be delivered."
Meanwhile, the U.S. Justice Department has declined comment on
the development. Microsoft current is under an antitrust
investigation by the Justice Department because of complaints
about its practices in marketing its World Wide Web browser,
Internet Explorer. However, Palo Alto, Calif., attorney Gary
Reback, who represents Netscape and other Microsoft rivals, told
the Journal several computer makers have provided U.S.
investigators with copies of the new licensing agreements for
review.
Reback added, "Here's a situation where somebody could make
something better that's highly useful, but Microsoft by dint of
its monopoly in the operating system is able to retard it. If
Microsoft is going to have a shell on top of Windows, then why
can't others have a better shell on top?"
MTV Wants Fees for Net Access
Quietly, the MTV Networks unit of Viacom Inc. has begun demanding
online services pay multimillion dollar fees or risk having
their customers blocked from viewing the music television
network's site on the Internet's World Wide Web. In The Wall
Street Journal, reporter Thomas E. Weber characterizes this as a
"new, controversial approach to generating revenue from a Web
site."
Adds Weber, "Few sites charge for access, and those that do
solicit fees from individual users -- not the companies that
sell access to the Internet. Most sites offer free access and
seek revenue from advertisements displayed to visitors. By
targeting the online services themselves, MTV is promoting a
business model similar to that of the cable-television industry."
In other words, this makes Internet service providers comparable
to the local cable operators, who typically pay a fee to include
the MTV music channel on their networks, due regardless of how
much time an access provider's customers spend at the sites.
"If MTV succeeds in eking out the fees from online companies, it
could set a precedent for the industry," says Weber, adding, "In
the hotly contested market for Internet access, companies are
seeking ways to distinguish themselves from competitors. MTV is
betting that some companies will seize the opportunity to offer
such an added feature." President Kevin O'Connor of Double
Click Inc., a New York concern that sells advertisements on
behalf of independent Web sites, told the paper, "This is a
pretty radical approach. I've got to give them an `A' for
creativity."
Meanwhile at MTV, Vice President Matt Farber said access
providers have been receptive enough to entertain the idea, that
"we are in very deep discussions with many Internet-service
providers." Still, Weber says skeptics doubt many service
providers will agree to MTV's terms, noting profit margins "are
under pressure" throughout the industry now that flat-rate price
plans, in which customers receive unlimited access to the
Internet for a monthly fee, have become standard.
"Paying fees to MTV -- and, potentially, a host of 'me-too' sites
- would further eat into profits," says Weber. At CompuServe, a
chilly reception greeted the idea. Spokeswoman GailWhitcomb is
quoted in today's Journal as saying, "Why would we pay for a free
Web site?" Nonetheless, she said CompuServe is holding
"conversations" with MTV on the subject.
Epson Flees Disk Drive Business
Japan's Seiko Epson Corp. is set to stop selling 3.5-inch floppy
disk drives after severe competition eroded profit margins
despite the growing demand. It now will put all its efforts into
its famous printers. Computergram International reports the
company made a million drives a month in China until late 1995,
rivaling Teac Corp. and Mitsumi Electric Co., "but it has
already suspended output of 3.5-inch floppy drives, and will end
sales by March." CI says Epson was licensed to manufacture
Iomega Corp's Zip drive last year and consigned manufacture of
up to 400,000 month to a Philippine firm since summer 1995, "but
it sees little profit in Zip now Matsushita Communication
Industrial Co. is making Compaq Computer Corp.'s 120Mb drive."
Monorail Ships Sub-$1,000 PC
Monorail Inc. says it has begun shipments of its $999 home PC.
The company, based in Atlanta, says the Monorail PC combines the
latest in multimedia and home PC technologies at a price tag
that's affordable to most U.S. families. The system is equipped
with 16MB of RAM (expandable to 80MB), a 1GB hard drive, a 75MHz
microprocessor (factory upgradeable to a 133MHz or 200MHz
processor) and a 33.6K bps modem. Other features include a 16-
bit Sound Blaster-compatible audio system, a 4X CD-ROM drive, a
10.4-inch integrated flat-panel color display and game and video
ports for connecting joysticks and external video monitors. The
PC comes bundled with Windows 95 operating system and Internet
software.
The Monorail PC is manufactured in Kansas City, Missouri, and
will be available at CompUSA stores. "There is a large group of
people who once believed that they could not afford a PC but
still want to bring the educational and entertainment benefits of
PCs and the Internet to their families," says Larry Mondry,
executive vice president of merchandising for CompUSA. "At $999,
the Monorail PC offers our customers a full- featured, easy-to-
use and affordable home computer."
Net Fax Software Debuts
Infotrieve Inc. believes that its new InfoDoc software will
change the way businesses fax documents. The new product shifts
faxing from regular phone lines to the Internet. According to
the Los Angeles-based company, InfoDoc connects any fax machine
to the Internet without using a fax server, saving users the
phone charges associated with standard fax transmissions.
"The average Fortune 500 company spends about $15 million per
year on telecommunications charges for faxing, 48 percent of
which are intra-company transmissions," says Infotrieve
president Joseph Bashoura. "I believe we can save each and every
one of those companies millions of dollars per year." InfoDoc
installs as a printer on the Windows desktop, allowing users to
send a document from Windows applications directly to any
Internet address. More details, including pricing, are available
on Infotrieve's Web page (http://www.infotrieve.com).
Cyber Pizza Service Delivers
Pizza lovers can now cure their cravings via the Internet. Over
1,000 pizzerias in Boston, New York, San Francisco and Seattle
are taking and delivering orders from customers through a new
service introduced by Seattle-based CyberSlice Inc. At the
CyberSlice World Wide Web site (www.cyberslice.com), customers
can find lists of local pizzerias complete with full menus and
discount specials. CyberSlice immediately responds to individual
customer requests and serves up lists of pizzerias that are able
to deliver at that moment in time and to the customers specific
address. For example, consumers entering the site at 1:00 a.m.
may see a list of only one or two neighborhood pizzerias that
are able to serve them. Consumers entering the site at 6:00 p.m.
may see ten or twelve local pizzerias that are open and ready to
take their order.
Two years ago, Tim Glass, president and co-founder of CyberSlice,
was inspired by the movie, "The Net." In the film, actress
Sandra Bullock orders a pizza online without getting up from her
computer. "Millions of people order pizza every day and we're
about to change that whole experience," says Glass. "Have you
ever flipped through the phone book for your favorite pizzeria
only to find it's closed, doesn't deliver or the staff is too
hurried to discuss the menu or specials? CyberSlice takes the
guess work out, giving consumers more choice and value than
traditional phone ordering. We took a simple idea and built an
entertaining and enjoyable Web destination, while staying
focused on customer service and satisfaction."
Poll: PCs Help Kids Do Better
A new poll, sponsored by printer maker Lexmark International Inc.
supports the widely held belief that home computers help
students do better in school. According to the survey,
conducted by Roper Starch Worldwide, nearly three-quarters of
parents (72 percent) agree that using a PC has helped their
children become more creative, and nearly half (48 percent) say
their children would not do as well in school if they did not own
a personal computer. Another 43 percent indicated that their
children's grades have improved through use of a computer
printer.
The survey also finds that home computers bring kids and parents
closer together. Sixty-eight percent of the respondents report
using a computer to help their kids with homework and 65 percent
report running educational programs/CD-ROMS. Parents also report
that computer ownership has also caused their children to spend
less time watching television (42 percent). "Just as the hearth
acted as the focal point for the American family in the 19th
century, and television was in the 20th century, computer units
are rapidly becoming the centerpiece for the American family in
21st century," says Nick Tortorello, senior vice president of
Roper Starch
Worldwide.
"The wide variety of print applications now available to students
and their parents provides an ideal forum for the sharing of
ideas and the creation of new and interesting projects for school
and home," notes Susan Gauff, Lexmark's vice president of
communications. "The falling prices and increased features of
today's computers and color printers means that students can
easily afford products that will allow them to create whatever
they can imagine."
PDAs Come Into Their Own
After ridicule from computerdom for several years now, PDAs have
come into their own as one of the hotter computing items of the
current Christmas season. Business writer Catalina Ortiz of The
Associated Press notes the hand-held personal digital assistants
initially didn't live up to their hype as the industry's next
wave, because their power and memory were feeble, and their
ability to communicate with other computers was limited.
However, this year, "sales have been terrific," says Larry Mondry
of the Dallas-based CompUSA retail chain. "We expect that this
will be one of the absolute, technologically oriented, must-have
products for Christmas." Industry observers tell Ortiz hardware
and software advances that narrow the gap between promise and
performance are making hand- held computers more attractive to
consumers and businesses.
"PDAs still must become easier to use and communicate better if
they are to catch on with the general public," Ortiz notes, "but
they have come far, analysts say. ... Since their introduction
in the early 1990s, PDAs have developed into a wide variety of
devices ranging from souped- up electronic organizers costing
$300 to miniature PCs with price tags nearing $1,000." Most in
the $500 to $800 range send and receive electronic mail and
faxes, run basic applications, surf the Internet and exchange
data with desktop personal computers. A few models incorporate a
cellular phone.
Stats from the World Market Strategies Ltd.-PDA Inc. of San
Francisco suggest the U.S. hand-held computer market reached
908,000 units and $1.9 billion in revenues last year. It is
expected to hit 1.25 million units and $2.5 billion in sales this
year. And the firm forecasts nearly 1.7 million units sold and
revenues of $3.2 billion in 1997 and 3.6 million units and $4.67
billion in sales by 1999.
A T T E N T I O N-A T T E N T I O N-A T T E N T I O N
LEXMARK OPTRA C
COLOR
LASER PRINTER
For a limited time only; If you wish to have a FREE sample
printout sent to you that demonstrates LEXMARK Optra C SUPERIOR
QUALITY 600 dpi Laser Color Output, please send a Self Addressed
Stamped Envelope [SASE] (business sized envelope please) to:
STReport's LEXMARK Printout Offer
P.O. Box 6672
Jacksonville, Florida 32205-6155
Folks, the LEXMARK Optra C has to be the very best yet in its
price range. It is far superior to anything we've seen or used
as of yet. It is said that ONE Picture is worth a thousand
words. The out put from the Lexmark Optra C is worth ten
thousand words! Send for the free sample now. (For a sample
that's suitable for framing, see below) Guaranteed. you will be
amazed at the superb quality. (Please.. allow at least a two week
turn-around).
If you would like a sample printout that's suitable for framing.
Yes that's right! Suitable for Framing. Order this package.
It'll be on special stock and be of superb quality. We obtained
a mint copy of a 1927 COLOR ENGRAVER'S YEAR BOOK. Our Scanner is
doing "double duty"! The results will absolutely blow you away.
If you want this high quality sample package please include a
check or money order in the amount of $6.95 (Exp, S&H only)
Please, make checks or money orders payable to; Ralph Mariano.
Be sure to include your full return address and telephone number
. The sample will be sent to you protected, not folded in a 9x12
envelope. Don't hesitate.. you will not be disappointed. This
"stuff" is gorgeous!
A T T E N T I O N-A T T E N T I O N-A T T E N T I O N
COMPUSERVE HELPS CENTREPOINT
***** Go: UKSANTA *****
CompuServe have decided to join forces with Centrepoint, the
youth homelessness charity. This very special, exclusive
screensaver, developed especially for CSi members will cost just
you just $1, with every cent going to Centrepoint.
So *please* download this screensaver. It will only cost you $1,
but the benefits will be felt by many hundreds of young people
aged 25 and under, tonight, tomorrow night and well into the New
Year.
CompuServe and Centrepoint wish to thank G-media for their time
and effort in developing this screensaver. This screensaver
requires 3.1x, Windows 95 or NT 4 To install, run XMAS96.EXE,
select the screensaver from the control panel and enjoy.
About CentrePoint:
As the cold winter starts to set in, homeless people are at the
forefront of everybody's minds, but in fact Centrepoint's
projects are open 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. Centrepoint
is one of the UK's leading youth homelessness charities, working
to ensure that no young person - aged 25 and under - is at risk
because they do not have a safe place to stay.
This may sound like a huge task, but since it was set up in 1969,
it has kept growing and developing services to respond to the
increasing crisis of youth homelessness. When it was first
opened, in the basement of a church in Soho (London) , it was
done so with support of the local community and the approval of
Westminster Council's pest control department! They intended to
stay open just over the Christmas period. But the need continued
and Centrepoint's doors have been open ever since.
Today, Centrepoint runs a range of hostels and emergency
shelters, many with training opportunities all over London,
including the first ever employment agency set up to help
homeless people find jobs. We also work with local agencies all
over the country, helping them to develop projects to respond to
the needs of homeless young people in their areas.
Centrepoint takes a very long term view to the problems faced by
young people today, which is why we are working within schools
to prevent children from becoming the next generation of people
sleeping on the streets.
So where do the 3,000 young people that Centrepoint sees every
year in London alone, come from?
Before 1988, when there were changes made to the benefits system,
many of the young people that Centrepoint saw had come to London
to find work. Now, the young people that are turning to
Centrepoint are much younger and more vulnerable. Many have left
local authority care, have been forced out by family arguments
or poverty, or have suffered physical, verbal or sexual abuse.
Once homeless, with no way to get a job or any benefits, they
find it very hard to find somewhere affordable to live.
The saying - 'no home no job, no job no home' - really is true.
But no home also means, no education, no training and no safety
- it's hard to go to college or get further education when
living on the streets. The work that Centrepoint does is vital,
because the young people we can help today, will not be on the
streets tomorrow.
EDUPAGE STR Focus Keeping the users informed
Edupage
SPA GUIDELINES FOR ELECTRONIC
SOFTWARE DISTRIBUTION
A Software Publishers Association working group, representing
some of the world's largest software publishers, has released a
set of guidelines to assist publishers in developing electronic
software distribution (ESD) networks. The guidelines establish
industry-wide standards for the protection of the customers and
the software publisher in ESD transactions. (Heller Report Nov
96) Meanwhile, the SPA has also been waging a campaign targeting
Internet service providers (ISPs), urging them to agree to a
"code of conduct" and accept responsibility for links to Web
pages where pirated software can be downloaded. After strong
protests from ISPs, SPA changed its code to suggest that ISPs
could do the software community a service by running JavaScript
messages across their screens warning users against violating
copyright laws. (Information Week 18 Nov 96 p10)
PCS SHAKEOUT
With the launch of digital personal communications services
(PCS), traditional cellular companies are going to face
increasing competition in their markets. PCS companies are
offering cheaper rates and such features as paging, caller ID,
voice mail, call forwarding and smooth data communications. So
far, PCS rates are running 15% to 20% lower than cellular in
the same markets, and at the same time scrapping annual contracts
and offering the first minute free on incoming calls. Rates
could go even lower as PCS operators begin to compete against
each other, which spells good news for consumers. Analysts
estimate that about 16% of Americans currently own a wireless
phone, and predict that in the next decade, that number will
rise to 40% to 50%. "As more carriers enter, wireless prices
will fall and it will become more and more attractive as a
replacement to wired phones," says the CEO of PrimeCo Personal
Communications, which started operations in November. (Business
Week 2 Dec
96 p103)
ACADEMICS PROTEST ENCRYPTION RESTRICTIONS
Many computer science professors are concerned that language
contained in a recent order transferring control of encryption
export from the State Department to the Commerce Department will
prohibit them from teaching cryptography to students from foreign
countries. Specifically, the section that prohibits "the export
of assistance (including training) to foreign persons," has them
worried. The White House has said the new order is not intended
to change U.S. policy on teaching encryption methods, but the
director of the Cyberspace Policy Institute at George Washington
University wants more reassurance: "This new order complicates
things tremendously. The existing rules were ambiguous enough
that people were nervous about teaching foreign students, and
it's even harder to know what the rules of the game are now
because there are new players involved at the Commerce
Department." (Chronicle of Higher Education 29 Nov 96 A24)
APEC EDUNET
Secretary of State Warren Christopher announced that the
University of Washington will become the center of a new Asia-
Pacific network called APEC EduNet, formed to link universities
via the Internet. Ron Johnson, the University of Washington's
vice president for computing and communications, says the
network will extend the electronic laboratory concept and will
be the first virtual learning project to be such a large,
transcontinental scale. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer 23 Nov 96
A1) < http://www.apec.org >
AT&T AND MCI RAISE LONG-DISTANCE RATES
Following the lead of AT&T, which has raised basic rates by 5.9%,
MCI is raising rates by 4.9%. Industry analyst Brian Adamik
says that the "carriers are bulking up before a possible price
war" that could come when a larger number of competitors begin
fighting for long- distance market share. (Atlanta Journal-
Constitution 30 Nov 96 C1)
DO-IT-YOURSELF SUPERCOMPUTER
Two University of Tokyo researchers unhappy with the performance
of off-the-shelf supercomputers decided to build their own. The
result is what they claim is the world's fastest supercomputer,
capable of zipping through 1.08 trillion floating point
operations per second. The only catch is that the machine was
designed to do one specific calculation only -- the force of
gravity exerted on one heavenly body by another. To speed things
up, the scientists designed the equations necessary for the
calculations into the hardwire circuits in an integrated
processor. They then had 1,692 of the custom chips manufactured
and wired them together into what they call the GRAPE-4 (for
GRAvity PipE no. 4). The project took two years and $1.5
million to complete, but the researchers say that they can now
simulate the evolution of a star cluster with 32,000 bodies in
just three months - a project that previously would have taken
five years with an ordinary supercomputer. (Popular Science Dec
96 p32)
AT&T OFFERS CALL-BACK SERVICES
TO CALLERS IN JAPAN
Since long-distance phone rates are more competitive in the U.S.
than in Japan, a call from the U.S. to Japan costs less than a
call from Japan to the U.S. In order to compete for the Japan-
U.S. phone business, AT&T is offering a "call-back" service that
will give corporate customers in Tokyo an automatic dialer that
will recognize a call from Japan and, in a single step, return
the call immediately. An executive of KDD, Japan's principal
international telephone company, says the approach is "unfair"
but acknowledges that it is not illegal. AT&T had itself once
fought against call-back services, but decided to adopt them
after both the United Nations and the U.S. Federal
Communications Commission declared the service legal, which
meant that AT&T's competitors would be offering them. (New York
Times 28 Nov 96 C15)
NEW AOL PRICE LEADS TO BUSY SIGNALS
Introduction of America Online's new flat-rate pricing plan
resulted in such an increase in customer activity that the
system was overloaded yesterday by the eight million individual
sign-on sessions, the most ever recorded by the company. Wall
Street viewed the enthusiasm favorably, and AOL stock rose
almost $5 a share. A company executive says there will be
sporadic system slowdowns at peak times for at least the next
month, because "we're going into territory that nobody on the
planet has ever been before." (New York Times 3 Dec 96 C2)
COPYRIGHT IN CYBERSPACE
A three-week-long meeting in Geneva of the World Intellectual
Property Organization, a United Nations agency, is considering
international rules extending copyright law to cyberspace. The
draft treaties would ensure that electronic transmission of any
copyrighted work is subject to the same rules on authorization
and royalty payments that apply to "hard copies" and would
protect databases, even where copyrighted material is not
involved, that represent a substantial investment of resources.
(Financial Times 2 Dec 96)
INFORMIX TOUTS "UNIVERSAL SERVER" SOFTWARE
Informix Corp. is rewriting the rules in database technology with
its "Universal Server" software -- a new way of combining
complex types of data such as Web pages and video images with
the huge repositories of text and numbers contained in relational
databases. After purchasing Illustra Information Technologies
last year, Informix used Illustra's expertise in storing data in
object format, resulting in the new design of an "object-
relational" database. This approach makes it easier for other
software companies to create "datablades" -- components for
particular types of data that plug into a central database,
similar to razor blades snap into a razor. Trial versions of
the new software are being tested by 30 companies, and the final
version should be shipped by the end of the year. (Wall Street
Journal 2 Dec 96 B4)
BRAINY NEW COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY
Australia-based Formulab Neuronetics Corp. has developed a new
computing technology that mimics how the human brain works,
capable of performing complex functions much more cheaply than
today's machines. The Neuronetics technology is designed to
excel at recognizing patterns in objects, or performing several
calculations simultaneously. Formulab plans to release the new
design early next year as a package including Windows-compatible
programming language, a plug-in circuit card for PCs and a $6,000
hexagon-shaped computer. The technology could, for instance, be
used in supermarket scanners to distinguish products that must
be weighed, eliminating the step of keying in a code for types of
fruits or vegetables.
(Tampa Tribune 3 Dec 96 B&F4)
MOTOROLA SCRAPS PDA PLANS
Motorola is abandoning its pursuit of the personal digital
assistant market, concentrating instead on building devices
suitable for corporate users. Its Marco and Envoy PDAs have
proven too heavy and expensive to successfully compete in the
mass consumer market. The company will instead use its wireless
data technology to complement Microsoft's new Windows CE
operating system, which will run on hand-held PCs made by Compaq,
Casio and NEC Corp. (Wall Street Journal 3 Dec 96 B13)
CITIBANK HAS GLOBAL PLANS FOR PC-BASED BANKING
Citibank is developing a PC-based banking system for 19 countries
in Asia, the Middle East and eastern and central Europe, as part
of a strategy to develop into a global brand. The service will
initially be offered in Taiwan in Chinese and English languages.
(Washington Post 2 Dec 96)
MCI COMPLETES INTERNET UPGRADE
MCI has completed its $60-million upgrade to the Internet
backbone, adding approximately 13,000 ports and effectively
quadrupling speeds from 155 mbps to 622 mbps. MCI, estimating
that Internet traffic is growing at about 30% a month, plans to
double its backbone capacity next year. (Broadcasting & Cable
25 Nov 96 p62)
VIRTUAL REALITY FOR THE MASSES
Synthonics Technologies Inc. has developed a process for creating
photo-realistic three- dimensional images without using a CAD or
3-D rendering tool. The technique requires taking at least two
photographs of any object from different angles, digitizing the
photos, and drawing lines between congruent spots on the
different views. The PC-based software (called "Rapid Virtual
Reality") does the rest. (PC Magazine 17 Dec 96)
SEND MONEY SEND MONEY SEND MONEY SEND MONEY
A market research study done for Hotwired says that banner
advertising on the World Wide Web influences people because,
like radio and TV advertising, it stimulates awareness and
affinity for a brand, and is effective even if computer users
decide not to "click here" for further information. While
acknowledging that "the industry in general may be getting a
little tired" of banner advertising, a director of the study
group points out that "people are staring at a fairly confined
space and actively looking at something of interest. The banners
have their attention, so if there's any relevance, they will
affect the way people think." (New York Times 3 Dec 96 C5)
SMARTER COMPUTERS AHEAD
Microsoft CEO Bill Gates sees much smarter computers on the road
ahead: "If a human assistant works for you over a period of
years, your efficiency in working with him gets dramatically
better and he can anticipate your interests and you can use
shorthand ways of communicating. With a computer today, even if
you use it for a couple of years, you are basically working with
it the exact same way. It's not learning in the way a human
assistant
would. On the simplest level, the next generation of computers
would learn the kind of information you like to see. They're
going to know how you are reacting to things, and essentially
put together, for example, the kind of newspaper that meets your
interests." (Investor's Business Daily 3 Dec 96 A8)
FEDERAL CIO REINS IN GOV'T TECHNOLOGY SPENDING
Sally Katzen, administrator of the office of information and
regulatory affairs at the U.S. Office of Management and Budget,
is taking on the task of making sure that the $25 billion a year
that the government spends on information technology buys
equipment that actually improves agencies' functions. Up to
now, the U.S. government has spent about $200 billion on a
variety of technology projects, many of which are hopelessly
obsolete by the time they're completed. "Troubled information-
systems projects are not unique to government," says Katzen.
"The private sector has as much difficulty as the government in
bringing in projects on time and on budget. However, the thing
the private sector is good at is stopping projects that are ill-
conceived or unfeasible sooner rather than later... The old
procurement rules led to these huge projects in which products
to be delivered are five or six years down the road. When
technology changes as quickly as it does, a project that does not
have deliverables for several years makes no sense."
(Investor's Business Daily 4 Dec 96 A6)
COMPAQ EYES DELL'S LUNCH
No. 1 PC-seller Compaq Computer wants to make sure it maintains
its top-of-the-heap position, and is testing a built-to-order PC
program for large corporate customers, a la Dell Computer Corp.
Dell is famous for its direct-sale, just-in-time computer
manufacturing strategy that has netted it an increasing market
share in the corporate arena. Compaq will begin testing the new
program early next year, and plans to add services that will
lower the cost of PC ownership for corporate customers, such as
asset management, leasing, disposal and help-desk support.
(Information Week 25 Nov 96 p22)
STRETCHING BANDWIDTH
Imedia Corp. has developed new data-compression software it says
is capable of squeezing up to 24 digital TV channels into the
space now used by one analog channel. Theoretically, the new
technology would allow cable companies to deliver dozens more
channels without having to spend millions of dollars upgrading
their systems. "We're excited about the potential," says a Tele-
Communications Inc. VP. "We're hoping for 18-to-1 compression."
Time Warner has also expressed an interest in the software.
Imedia's StatMux ("stat" for "statistical and "mux" for
"multiplexing") splits video segments up into different-sized
packets, transmits them in the most bandwidth-efficient manner,
and reassembles them seamlessly at the other end. Current
industry products that use statistical multiplexing technology
deliver only a 20% to 30% increase in capacity, but Imedia's
product is significantly more sophisticated, says Time Warner
Cable's chief technology officer. (Wall Street Journal 4 Dec 96
B1)
IS APPLE ALL THAT IT CAN BE?
Sources close to Apple Computer and Be, Inc. say that Apple is
determined within the next few either to acquire Be outright or
at least license rights to the BeOS operating system. So far,
Apple has refused to accept Be's asking price of $100 million.
(San Francisco Chronicle 5 Dec 96 D4)
MICROSOFT WANTS TO WIN SHELL GAME
Microsoft has inserted language into new licensing agreements
with IBM and other PC manufacturers requiring that Microsoft's
own screen (rather than some other introductory screen) appear
first when is system is turned on, in order to "make sure
customers get what we think of as the Windows experience." A
lawyer representing Microsoft rivals such as Netscape (which
recently demonstrated a screen "shell" called Constellation)
says: "Here's a situation where somebody could make something
better that's highly useful, but Microsoft by dint of its
monopoly in the operating system is able to retard it. If
Microsoft is goving to have a shell on top of Windows, then why
can't others have a better shell on top?" (Wall Street Journal
5 Dec 96 B6)
SPRINT JOINS INTERNET FRAY
Sprint Corp. is rolling out its consumer Internet service, making
it available to the 80% of the U.S. population that lives within
local calling range of its network. The Internet Passport
service will feature both Netscape's Navigator and Microsoft's
Explorer browsers, and will be priced at $19.95 a month or $1.50
an hour. Sprint is entering the cutthroat consumer market just
at a time when some existing commercial services are having a
difficult time, but hopes to differentiate itself through new
mass-market online offerings. (Wall Street Journal 4 Dec 96 B8)
UC COMPLAINS SPRINT SERVICE IS TOO SLOW
University of California campuses at Berkeley, Davis, San
Francisco and Santa Cruz are complaining that Sprint is
delivering slow and somewhat unreliable Internet service, as a
result of capacity limitations at a major switching point in
Northern California. "We believe that Sprint could have done
better, can do better, and our expectation is that they will do
better," says Stuart Lynn, associate VP for information
resources and communications for the university system. Sprint
says it's working on the problem, and that the campuses should be
seeing faster service shortly. (Chronicle of Higher Education 6
Dec 96 A30)
PAY-PER-USE COMPUTING BRANCHES OUT
USA Technologies of Wayne, Pa., is moving pay-per-use computing
out of libraries and hotels and into bookstores and mail-
services stores. The company's PC Express service allows users
on the run to swipe a credit card through a reader device
attached to an IBM-compatible PC to access the Web, e-mail, and
word processing applications. USA Technologies is also packaging
the PC stations with fax machines and copiers. The company
currently has more than 50 PC Express stations installed
throughout North America. Costs run about 15 to 25 cents per
minute. (Investor's Business Daily 5 Dec 96)
AU FRANCAIS: I'M A RAMBLING WRECK
FROM GEORGIA TECH ...
Georgia Tech Lorraine, the European platform of the Georgia
Institute of Technology, is being sued in France for having its
home page presented only in English and not in French. In
France, the law requires that goods and services be offered in
French in addition to any other languages in which the offer is
made. (Le Monde 2 Dec 96) < http://www.georgiatech-metz.fr/ >
Edupage is written by John Gehl (gehl@educom.edu) & Suzanne
Douglas (douglas@educom.edu).
Voice: 404-371-1853, Fax: 404-371-8057.
Technical support is provided by the Office of Information
Technology,
University of North Carolina.
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INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE
The CAUSE organization's annual conference on information
technology in higher education is scheduled for the end of this
month in New Orleans. The conference will bring together
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HyperSnap STR Spotlight "The Mother of Capture Ensembles!"
HyperSnap
Every so often, a shareware program comes along that deserves far
more than a simple "honorable mention". HyperSnap is definitely
one of those. This program is, in our humble opinion, a
wonderful and very easy to use capture utility. Go. no, rush to
Greg's Website and get this program.. use it, register it and
begin to enjoy a really great capture utility.
I liked it so much I reached out to speak to the author. To my
very pleasant surprise, I found a programmer who is not expecting
the world to bow at his feet. In this day and age, its ever so
easy to find programmers who are so impressed with themselves
that they have litte or no time left for reality. Not so with
Greg Kochaniak. Here is programmer who is willing to listen and
then come up with solutions instead of excuses about why what's
been requested cannot be done. I asked Greg for a short "bio"
about himself and his creation HyperSnap.
Here it is. In Greg's own words.
About me:
I grew up in Szczecin, an ancient town in North-West corner
of Poland. The original Polish spelling of my first name is -
watch it out and don't try to pronounce it, or you may break your
tongue! - Grzegorz. Computers were not a big thing yet, when I
was finishing high school in 1975. I found a book about ALGOL
programming language at that time and learned it. It was fun to
code simple algorithms in ALGOL on paper, but unfortunately,
there were no computers available to try them out. So, I went
on to study chemical technology on the Technical University of
Szczecin.
Computers and ALGOL language (for your information, the more
popular Pascal programming language is similar, and probably
based on ALGOL) was only taught there for one semester during my
second year. I skipped most of the lectures, going to play
Bridge with friends instead, but thoroughly enjoyed the exercises
and assignments in ALGOL. Even if it was still on paper. I
actually ended up writing the homework assignments and tests for
all my Bridge circle friends first and then for everyone else in
my class.
The teacher finally noticed me and invited me to work with
them on a software project. At last! I was to see and use a
real computer! It was sheer joy to be able punch in your ALGOL
programs on a paper tape, and then carry them out to the
operators of a "huge" Odra 1204 computer! You visited them next
morning to pick up a listing and output of your program. Usually
a syntax error, for example, a missing comma was found and the
cycle began. Back to the paper tape puncher and reader. The
reader quickly reads the tape, the puncher makes a new copy. You
must stop it at a right moment and insert the comma.
After two years and progress began to show.. The Inorganic
Technology Department bought an HP 9830B, a programmable
calculator. It's really like a personal computer: 16 kB RAM,
programmable in Basic, even a real display (1 line of 32
characters), no more tape punching! A real dot-matrix printer,
and even magnetic tapes to save your programs!
I eventually graduated as a chemical engineer and went on to
work on several different jobs, slowly gravitating to a position
of computer software developer. Having learned several assembly
languages, Pascal and C to be exact, they led to the job where
I had the most fun. It was probably working for Meraster in
Katowice. They assembled mini-computers for export, mainly to
Soviet Union. The business travel for them included such exotic
places as Moscow, Leningrad, Tashkent in Unzbekistan, even
Irkutsk and the beautiful Lake Baikal in Siberia.
The first PCs were introduced in Poland while I worked for
Meraster, and I must say, I loved them instantly! At that time
another Polish company, Kopex, was looking for a few software
engineers to do a contract job in the USA. I came here in 1988
and worked for about 3 years. When the contract was finished, I
fully realized that most of real excitement to be found in the
computer industry was right here in the USA, not in Poland.
Since my family was here with me, I found myself another job and
gladly stayed.
How did I get into the shareware business?
Why did I write SnapShot/32, subsequently renamed to
HyperSnap? I observed the success of my friend, a popular Mac
shareware author. I looked for an idea for my own product, but it
was hard to find. At that time, I was beta-testing version 3.1
of Microsoft Windows NT. I needed to capture some fragments of
the screen. I downloaded several shareware programs that did
screen captures well under 16-bit Windows. None of them worked
correctly with NT. To do the job, I quickly hacked together my
own program. Then I packed this program into a ZIP file together
with a small README file and uploaded it to CICA and SIMTEL
archives on the Internet. I considered it a test of a shareware
idea, and thought that it might be successful - no other programs
existed for screen captures on NT at that time.
I was disappointed for several weeks, then I forgot about my
program completely for many months. When the first users called
me about registering it, I told them that I no longer support or
sell it. NT 3.5 was on the market at that time, and it allowed
you to capture screen or an active window to the system clipboard
with PrintScrn key on the keyboard. So, I concluded a stand alone
screen capture program was no longer needed.
I sent back the first two or three checks that arrived in
mail. Finally, I realized it was easier to cash them, instead of
sending them back and writing letters of explanation. I went on
to produce a newer version, signed with Kagi Shareware to process
credit card payments for me and started improving the product and
releasing new versions. The WEB, and then the release of Windows
95 helped a lot in expanding my sales. In October of 1996, I
quit my full time job and devoted 100% of my time to the
shareware business, which is now a small company called
Hyperionics.
HyperSnap is "WEB oriented", allowing you to save pictures
in the most popular formats on the WEB: GIF and JPEG, with such
attributes like transparent background, interlaced GIFs or
progressive JPEGs. The features and user interface evolved
mostly under the influence of HyperSnap users. User suggestions
are like a gold mine for software authors. Once they start
coming it's just a matter of time to convert all the excellent
ideas into new versions of your product, or completely new
products. For over a year, I kept releasing a new version of
SnapShot/32 (HyperSnap) as often as once a month to keep up with
all the suggestions and improvement ideas.
Future Plans
I am working on version 3.0 of HyperSnap, it will support
over 30 different graphics formats, as well as the most
requested image operations (resize, dither to fewer colors, maybe
apply some more interesting graphics filters). It will also have
the "multiple document" user interface - some users want to make
several captures and accumulate them in HyperSnap, and
do something with them later.
Another product I am working on right now is HyperCam - an
application to capture the action from your screen, including
cursor movements, and the sound, into a movie file (AVI - Audio-
Video Interleaved). It works for Windows 95 and NT, and you do
not need any specialized video capture boards to use it.
HyperCam is now in early beta-tests, available for download from
my WEB pages.
I have many other ideas for new products planned.
Hyperionics is however still a very small company. Really, its
just me to do all the work. My wife Barbara helps in managing
the day to day office operations. Will we expand in the future?
Or, will we disappear completely? I have no idea, but for now
it's so much fun to be independent while at the same time serving
all our users!
Greg Kochaniak
gregko@hyperionics.com
http://www.hyperionics.com
Postal Address:
Hyperionics
3146 Chestnut St.
Murrysville, PA 15668
Fax: (415) 617-3721
Hyperionics - Shareware and Freeware by Greg Kochaniak
gregko@hyperionics.com, http://www.hyperionics.com
"HyperSnap" (former SnapShot/32) screen capture for Win 95/NT=20
with GIF/BMP/JPEG save and other software.
New Auto Scroll feature allows SCROLLING AND SIMULTANEOUS CAPTURE
OF ENTIRE WINDOW AREA not shown on screen! Perfect for capturing
entire WEB pages and printing them including background images!
HyperSnap was selected by Siemens Nixdorf as a standard software
component distributed with their powerful CELSIUS personal
workstations!
Some of the more impressive features of HyperSnap are listed
here; this is but a partial list. The best way to get to know
HyperSnap is to simply use it!
z Save your image as a BMP, GIF, or JPEG file.
z GIFs can optionally be interlaced and include transparent
backgrounds, and HyperSnap can create progressive JPEGs, perfect
for World Wide Web page use.
z Choose your color depth for BMP captures, too.
Web and Help File Authors, don't miss what HyperSnap can do for
you!
z GIF images can be saved as interlaced files, with
transparent backgrounds, and three levels of color reduction.
z JPEGs have save options for a user-defined percentage of
output quality, and the "fade-in" format.
z The Quick Save feature is a lifesaver -- just keep on making
those captures, without interruption. HyperSnap saves them each
to an individual, sequentially named GIF or JPEG file, in the
custom format you choose, for your later use.
z Include the cursor image in your Web Page or Help File image
to better display your product shot or call attention to a
specific item.
z The Window capture feature makes my day. The feature
captures whole windows and sections of windows that are
automatically highlighted, even little buttons, without squinting
at the screen to make sure you get every pixel of the edge of a
capture target. A definite eye-saver.
New Auto Scroll feature allows SCROLLING AND SIMULTANEOUS CAPTURE
OF ENTIRE WINDOW AREA not shown on screen! Perfect for capturing
entire WEB pages and printing them including background images!
The built-in Crop feature is great for making final edits to your
capture without transferring it to another program. And
thankfully, there's an Undo Crop feature to mitigate the "oops!"
factor.
Choose your own HotKeys that quickly capture the entire Desktop,
any Rectangle you outline, or the highlighted Window or Client,
and automatically repeat the capture every x seconds or by using
another HotKey. Automatically save each of your captures to a
file by default -- you can even trigger new captures every x
seconds and have the filename incremented.
Print your capture direct from HyperSnap -- it will expand the
image to the size of the paper and margins that you set, and even
add a frame, reverse, or reduce the output to black and white!
Drag and Drop BMP, GIF, and JPEG files on HyperSnap to open them!
For complete information on all that HyperSnap brings to you,
open the help file (SNAP32.HLP) for a screen image that provides
an instant overview of its many features and functions. Yes,
HyperSnap's help file graphics were captured using HyperSnap!
STReport Confidential
News, Tips, Rumors, Exposs1, Predictions
Redmond, WA Allchin & Silverberg STEP UP
Senior Microsoft Executives Join Newly Formed Executive Committee
Jim Allchin, Brad Silverberg to Lead Expanded Product Groups
REDMOND, Wash., Dec. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Microsoft Corp. today
announced the formation of the Executive Committee, which will
replace the Office of the President as the most senior
management team at the company. Senior Vice President Jim Allchin
and Senior Vice President Brad Silverberg will join Steve
Ballmer, Bill Gates, Bob Herbold, Pete Higgins, Paul Maritz,
Nathan Myhrvold and Jeff Raikes on the new Executive Committee.
The committee will be the senior-level decision-making body at
the company.
"I am excited about expanding the senior team at Microsoft to
include Brad and Jim. Microsoft's success is a result of great
product development leadership as exemplified by Jim and Brad,"
said Bill Gates, Chairman and CEO of Microsoft. "Their active
participation on the Executive Committee will be critical to our
future." Expanded Product Organizations Announced; Integration
to Benefit Customers. Both Allchin and Silverberg will assume
expanded product responsibilities in addition to their new
positions on the Executive Committee. Allchin will be head of
the personal and business systems group. This group will
include the Windows(R) operating systems division, server
applications division and associated marketing functions.
Silverberg will be in charge of the applications and Internet
client group, which includes the desktop applications division,
Internet client and collaboration division, tools division, Web
authoring product unit, developer relations group and associated
marketing functions. The new groups will allow greater focus on
product interoperability, while maintaining focus on individual
products and their target customers. As detailed above, Allchin
and Silverberg will join the Executive Committee, and will
report to Group Vice President Paul Maritz, who also retains
responsibility for the consumer platforms division managed by
Senior Vice President Craig Mundie.
"We believe the new organization will accelerate our ability to
deliver the next level of functionality in the areas of
connectivity and collaboration across all our product lines,"
said Paul Maritz, Group Vice President of Applications and
Systems Software. "Brad and Jim will be charged with providing
the leadership in these key areas, while continuing to drive the
individual product businesses."
Kids Computing Corner
Frank Sereno, Editor
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.
Special Notice!! STR Infofile File format for Articles
File Format for STReport
All articles submitted to STReport for publication must be
sent in the following format. Please use the format requested.
Any files received that do not conform will not be used. The
article must be in an importable word processor format for Word
7.0.. The margins are .05" left and 1.0" Monospaced fonts are not
to be used. Please use proportional fonting only and at eleven
points.
z No Indenting on any paragraphs!!
z No Indenting of any lines or "special gimmickery"
z No underlining!
z Columns shall be achieved through the use of tabs only. Or,
columns in Word format. Do NOT use the space bar.
z No ASCII "ART"!!
z There is no limits as to size, articles may be split into
two if lengthy
z Actual Artwork should be in GIF, PCX, JPG, TIF, BMP, WMF
file formats
z Artwork (pictures, graphs, charts, etc.)should be sent along
with the article separately
z Please use a single font only in an article. TTF CG Times
12pt. is preferred. (VERY Strong Hint)
If there are any questions please use either E-Mail or call.
On another note. the ASCII version of STReport is fast
approaching the "end of the line" As the major Online Services
move away from ASCII.. So shall STReport. All in the name of
progress and improved readability. The amount of reader mail
expressing a preference for our Adobe PDF enhanced issue is
running approximately 15 to 1 over the ASCII edition. Besides,
STReport will not be caught in the old, worn out "downward
compatibility dodge" we must move forward. However, if the ASCII
readership remains as high, rest assured. ASCII will stay. Right
now, since STReport is offered on a number of closed major
corporate networks as "required" Monday Morning reading.. Our
ascii readers have nothing to worry themselves about.
Many grateful thanks in advance for your enthusiastic co-
operation and input.
Ralph F. Mariano, Editor
STReport International Online Magazine
Classic Computer & Entertainment Section
Editor Dana P. Jacobson
>From the Atari Editor's Desk "Saying it like it is!"
Wow! Thanksgiving has already passed and Christmas is just
around the corner! BTW, Happy Chanukkah to our Jewish readers!
Typically, there's not a lot going on these days, but we are
working to get the few Web browsers available for the Atari
computers to function so that we can do an article or two. We're
also seeking "how-to" articles from any of our readers, if you've
managed to get any of the various programs to effectively work.
Drop us a line if you're interested.
It's probably going to be a hectic month for all of us due to the
holidays and all of the things that go along with them. I'll
apologize now if our Classic Computers & Entertainment sections
appear lean over the next few weeks; I may not be able to provide
the coverage that I'd like. We'll see how it goes.
In the meantime, we hope you enjoy another issue it's hard to
believe that we're closing in on yet another complete year of
STReport. Where have the weeks gone?
Until next time...
New CD ROM for ATARI Released
From: Nima Montaser <aa414@FreeNet.Carleton.CA>
Hi everybody,
We are pleased to announce the addition of a new CDROM to our
range of popular multimedia CDs for the ATARI platform
(see below for PR):
Please check out our web page for more details and pricing
information. http://www.magmacom.com/~nima
November 30, 1996 Press release:
Homa Systems House is proud to announce the addition of yet
another exciting CD to its range of supported multimedia CD-ROMS.
World War II is a CD with over 2000 historical events and
chronicles. The events range from the declaration of war and the
evacuation of Dunkirk, to air battles and naval blockades.
With ACM, all the events are linked to their associated
picture,video and sound clips ; all accessible through the easy
to use and fast user-interface provided by ACM.
Features:
All the photos and sound clips are "LINKED" the their appropriate
articles
Powerful Search feature allows searching the entries for any
keyword(s), You may specify a searching criteria such as;
- Event description
- Place of the event
- Date
- Associated sound,video or picture
- Photos are viewable on any ATARI computer at 2, 16, 256,
15/16 bit colors
- Sound clips can be played on ATARI STE or better
- Video support (68030, Falcon or graphics cards only!)
- Save and Print
- Fully multitasking Interface:
- One main window
- 4 TEXT windows with BOLD and Italicized text effects, where
necessary
- One picture window
- One tools window which allows picture selection, sound
selection,
- reference selection, and ...
- Modern 3D interface on computers with at least 16 colors
- Flying dialog boxes
System Requirements:
Any ATARI Computer with 4 Megabytes of RAM, Hard disk and a
monitor capable of at least 640x400 in monochrome.
Recommended system:
TT030/FALCON 030 with 8/16 Megs of RAM and resolution of 800x600
(or higher) in 256 colors (and a hard disk of course).
World War II is copyright of LivingMedia by IMSI
--
Nima Montaser
Homa Systems House
email: aa414@freenet.carleton.ca
http://www.magmacom.com/~nima
JTS CORPORATION REPORTS RECORD RESULTS
FOR THIRD QUARTER
SAN JOSE, Calif., Dec. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- JTS Corporation (AMEX:
JTS) today announced record results for the third fiscal quarter
ended October 27, 1996. Revenue from the Company's disk drive
operations rose to $32 million, from the $16 million of revenue
from disk drive operations for the immediately preceding quarter,
and the $1 million of revenue from the sale of disk drives in the
third quarter of the previous fiscal year.
The operating loss incurred by the disk drive operation was $11
million for the quarter, compared with an operating loss of $21
million incurred in this year's second fiscal quarter. On July
30, 1996 JTS Corporation and Atari Corporation merged and the
current quarter represents the first time the merged company is
reporting financial results. Prior to the merger, Atari's
business had been downsized considerably. The net loss and
operating loss for the combined Company was $125 million and
$123 million respectively for the quarter, including a previously
disclosed $110 million non cash charge for in-process research
and development resulting from the merger. In addition, $2.9
million of expenses included in the current quarter represent
amortization of other intangibles arising from the merger.
"We are extremely pleased with the results for the third
quarter," said Tom Mitchell, President and Chief Executive
Officer of JTS, "particularly in regards to the speed with which
the company has continued to ramp disk drive production and
shipments. JTS met the aggressive targets we outlined recently,
and we expect to continue to meet our targets for higher product
shipment levels going forward. I am also pleased to report that
the Company introduced four new 3-inch drive models during the
quarter, including the industry's first ultra slim 1GB drive, as
well as new 1.2GB, 1.4GB and 1.6GB 3-inch drives."
During the quarter, JTS increased production at the Company's
Madras, India factory, with shipments of drives to leading PC
OEM's reaching 230,000, primarily consisting of 3.5-inch drives.
The Company is currently manufacturing 25,000 drives per week,
and expects to hit a production rate of 50,000 drives per week by
the end of the current fiscal quarter. Since beginning initial
product shipments of 3.5-inch drives in October of 1995, JTS has
reported dramatically increasing quarter-over-quarter revenues
from sales of hard disk drive products,
growing from $1 million for the first quarter of shipments, to
$12 million in the next quarter, to $16 million for each of the
next two quarter's shipments, to the current quarter's shipments
of $32 million. "We remain on track to double revenues in the
fourth quarter ending February 2, 1997 from revenues for the
third quarter just ended, and expect to ship $100 million in disk
drive products for the first quarter of the next fiscal year,
assuming the successful completion of additional working capital
financing," said Mitchell.
In November, JTS completed a $15 million private financing
involving the sale of its Series B Convertible Preferred Stock,
which are non-voting shares convertible into JTS common stock.
The shares also carry an annual dividend rate of five percent.
"We anticipate revisiting the capital market early next year to
secure the additional working capital funding necessary to meet
our targeted expansion plans," said Mitchell.
JTS Corporation, with headquarters in San Jose, Calif. was
founded in 1994 to design, manufacture and supply enhanced-
capacity hard disk drives for the notebook and desktop personal
computer market. JTS offers an innovative line of ultra-slim 3.0-
inch disk drives that provide higher capacity and lower cost per
megabyte than competitive alternatives in the portable computer
market. The president and chief executive officer of JTS, Tom
Mitchell, was formerly the president and chief operating officer
of Conner Peripherals and co-founder, president and chief
operating officer of Seagate Technology. The company currently
employs more than 5,800 people worldwide including manufacturing
facilities in Madras, India.
JTS CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
For The Quarters and Nine Months Ended October 27, 1996 and
September 30, 1995
(Amounts in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
Unaudited
Quarter ended Nine Months
Ended
October 27, September 30, October 27,
September 30,
1996 1995 1996
1995
Net Sales $33,265 $4,062 $35,056
$11,824
Cost of sales 34,877 12,081 39,122
18,534
Gross Profit
(Loss) (1,611) (8,019) (4,065)
(6,710)
Write off of
in-process R&D 110,012 -- 110,012
--
Amortization of
existing
technology 1,962 -- 1,962
--
Research and
development 5,711 1,742 6,263
4,552
Selling, general and
administrative 3,916 4,040 5,705
12,587
Total operating
expenses 121,601 5,782 123,942
17,139
TOTAL OPERATING
INCOME (LOSS) (123,212) (13,801) (128,007)
(23,849)
Exchange Gains
(Loss) 66 1 (604)
(2)
Other income
(expense), net (824) 171 3,707
1,174
Interest Income 53 730 673
2,536
Interest expense (1,276) (569) (2,415)
(1,740)
TOTAL OTHER
INCOME(EXPENSE) (1,980) 333 1,362
1,968
NET INCOME
(Loss) ($125,193) ($13,468) ($126,646)
($21,881)
NET INCOME (LOSS)
PER COMMON SHARE ($1.20) ($0.21) ($1.55)
($0.34)
Number of shares
used in
computations 104,088 63,642 81,599
63,642
SOURCE: JTS Corporation
Newsbytes NewsReel STR Feature 12 Years Ago This Week
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, U.S.A., 1996 DEC 4 (Newsbytes) -- By Nick
Gorski.
Twelve years ago these Newsbytes stories were filed: AT&T Gets
Tough; A Jolly Christmas?; Digital Deli; and Love, Not War. These
stories were taken from the extensive archives at the Newsbytes
Website at http://www.newsbytes.com
A Jolly Christmas?
One analyst is predicting that high-end computers, and mainly
Apple computers, will enjoy the healthiest Christmas sales season
ever as people turn away from low-end machines. Ken Lim of
Dataquest (San Jose) says fewer low-end computers (namely
Commodore and Atari) will be sold this year compared to last as
people opt for more expensive, versatile machines. "People are
now ready to buy in that price range and are becoming aware of
what a computer is and can do, and they want a lot more than a
video game player," he says. He adds that people mainly buy home
computers for educational purposes and Apple has "10 times the
educationalsoftware of any other manufacturer."
Entertainment Section
GameDay 97!
PSX Games Tops!
Konami News!
Game Violence!
And more!
>From the Editor's Controller - Playin' it like it is!
Well, we're a few days away from seeing a couple of more games
released for the Jaguar. It's been ages since we've seen
anything come out; let's hope that holiday sales are positive and
that this will help generate more interest in more games in 1997.
We can only hope but at this stage of the game, I'm not going to
bet the farm. Let's look forward to Towers II and Breakout 2000;
I know that I am.
Lots more PlayStation news this week! Gameday 97 is out for you
football fans, among other games. You have to give Sony credit
for doing it right. Nintendo has been quiet and a couple more
games have entered the market with little fanfare. It should be
interesting to learn which company has the best holiday sales
this year!
Until next time...
Industry News STR Game Console NewsFile - Latest Gaming News!
Sony Computer Entertainment America
Scores Big in Toy Test
FOSTER CITY, CALIF. (Dec. 2) BUSINESS WIRE -Dec. 2, 1996--The
results of the seventh annual Toy Test sponsored by "CBS This
Morning" revealed that the PlayStation(TM) game console and
PlayStation video games are in high demand. According to the
more than 3,000 program participants who tested a number of
games for a three-week period, PlayStation game console was
selected as the gaming platform of choice, with six games
available exclusively for the PlayStation game console voted the
most popular video games for theChristmas selling season.
Sony Computer Entertainment America is proud to announce the
following PlayStation video games that received top honors in the
CBS program:
- Crash Bandicoot(TM), published by Sony Computer
Entertainment America;
- Tekken 2(TM), published by Namco Hometek;
- Project: Horned Owl(TM), published by Sony Computer
Entertainment America;
- Star Gladiator(TM), published by Capcom Entertainment;
- Tobal No. 1(TM), published by Sony Computer Entertainment
America;
- Twisted Metal 2(TM), published by Sony Computer
Entertainment America.
"The annual CBS Toy Test is an integral part of our market
research program," said Andrew House, vice president, marketing,
Sony Computer Entertainment America. "It is obvious from the
results of the '1996 CBS Toy Test' that PlayStation is the video
game system of choice. Whether its sports, fighting, racing or
action, PlayStation offers more quality titlesthan any other
platform."
Consumers can obtain the full results of the CBS Toy Test through
the Worldwide Web at http://www.cbs.com/toytest; or write to Toy
Test, P.O. Box 821, Bellevue, WA 98009.
PlayStation Software Selling at Unprecedented Rate
FOSTER CITY, CALIF. (Dec. 3) BUSINESS WIRE -Dec. 3, 1996--Sony
Computer
Entertainment America announced today that software for the
PlayStation game console is selling at an unprecedented rate of
six titles to each PlayStation sold. This 6-to-1 ratio
represents an all-time high for the U.S. video game industry.
"There are a number of factors that directly contribute to the
unparalleled sales success of the PlayStation software," says
Andrew House, vice president, marketing, Sony Computer
Entertainment America. "The huge number of both currently
available and forthcoming games, the competitive price point of
CD-based software, and the superb quality of the games all
combine to make the PlayStation an incredibly attractive purchase
for the video game player." According to Electronics Boutique's
November 19 top ten video games sales list, six of the top ten
games listed were PlayStation software titles. Electronics
Boutique also reports PlayStation software is outselling other
32-bit system software by a 20-to-1 margin. In addition, the
October TRSTS Report states 42 of the top 50 software spots are
dominated by PlayStation software titles.
There are currently more than 150 titles set for the PlayStation
game console, with a total of 200 expected by the end of this
year. Never before has a video game console had this much
quality software available in the first year of the system's
life. Consumers are able to buy PlayStation software titles in
such large numbers due, in part, to the fact Sony Computer
Entertainment America can release modern, CD-based titles for a
significantly lower price than cartridge-based systems which rely
on older, more expensive and out-dated silicon chips. The
additional benefits of CD-ROM are that it also has a greater
capacity for memory storage, which means longer and more
"realistic" games, and also the ability to play back genuine
music and voices instead of simplistic computer-generated sounds.
Twisted Metal2, NFL Game Day '97 and NHL Face Off '97 lead the
way in quality games produced by Sony Interactive Studios
America for Sony Computer Entertainment America. Licensed Sony
Computer Entertainment America games such as Crash Bandicoot and
Tobal No. 1 further expand the status of PlayStation games.
Lastly, the total dominance of sports software for the
PlayStation game console make it the system of choice.
All genres of games -- from fighting and racing, to sports and
arcade -- are represented in the incredible number of available
titles. Whatever experience a gamer is looking for, it is
available on the PlayStation game console.
NFL GameDay '97 to Hit Retail Shelves Tomorrow (Dec. 5)
FOSTER CITY, CALIF. (Dec. 4) BUSINESS WIRE -Dec. 4, 1996--Sony
Computer Entertainment America announced that its highly
anticipated NFL GameDay '97, exclusive to the PlayStation game
console, will be available on retail shelves across North
America tomorrow, December 5. The award-winning original NFL
GameDay was one of last year's best-selling PlayStation software
titles, and the enthusiasm from game reviewers,consumers and the
retail community suggest that this year's version will be another
blockbuster hit.
"NFL GameDay '97 is the most advanced and realistic football
video game ever created," said Peter Dille, senior director,
product marketing, Sony Computer Entertainment America. "The
enhancements to NFL GameDay '97 are amazing and really show off
the PlayStation's horsepower. We're hearing constant feedback
from the interactive press that this is the best NFL football
video game ever created." While those same enthusiasts magazines
have stated that the original NFL GameDay reset the bar for
"next generation" football video gaming - with features such as
Icon Passing -- NFL GameDay '97 raises it again with the best of
advanced features.
Players can now choose their preferred passing interface -- Icon
Passing, Advanced Passing Meter or the all-new Total Control
Passing. Total Control Passing allows gamers, for the first- time
ever, to lead, and over- or under-throw a receiver based on the
coverage. Players can also opt to use a no huddle offense,
choose between infinite camera angles or even raise or lower the
computer's I.Q. -- affecting the computer's ability to respond to
the play calling tendencies of the game player.
NFL GameDay '97 has all the features necessary to create the most
realistic football video game available: more than 1,500 players
from the NFLPA; real NFL uniforms -- both home and away -- with
actual player numbers; all 30 NFL teams and their stadiums
faithfully recreated in stunning 3D; and a playbook containing
500 real NFL plays. In addition, for the most accurate
movement ever seen in a video football game, NFL GameDay '97
features the motion-capture animation of the Oakland Raiders'
All-Pro wide receiver, Tim Brown. Some of the animations
include forearm shivers, shoulder charges, one-handed catches,
spins, stiff- arms, hurdles and many more.
What further makes NFL GameDay '97 the most realistic playing
video football game is its artificial intelligence--the
computer's brain. Players on the field "think," react and perform
as they do in the NFL. For example, defensive backs take
appropriate pursuit angles to catch and tackle the ball carrier;
defensive fronts attack the offensive line with stunts and swim
techniques; and offensive guards and tackles that counter by
pulling and trapping. As part of Sony Computer Entertainment
America's $50 million marketing campaign, NFL GameDay '97 has a
dedicated television ad that began airing on November 16.
For Immediate Release
December 3, 1996
KONAMI OF AMERICA, INC. BRINGS ALL-NEW 3D VERSION
OF CLASSIC CONTRA TO 32-BIT HARDWARE
This Mega-Hit Legacy Is Now Available on Sony PlayStation and
Sega Saturn
(BUFFALO GROVE, IL)--Konami of America, Inc., leading developer
of electronic entertainment for the home video game and coin-op
markets, is shipping Contra--Legacy of War, the first real two-
player 3D action/adventure title available for the Sony
PlayStation and Sega Saturn, according to Andrew Donchak,
consumer division president. Having sold nearly four million
units since the game's introduction in 1987, the Contra series
has become synonymous with blast-a-minute fun that puts the
gamers' strategy and fighting skills to the ultimate test. Now
Konami brings Contra--Legacy of War to the 32-bit format,
introducing beefed-up, militaristic fighting challenges for the
advanced Contra combatter. The title features unique, 3D
texture-mapped environments giving gamers endless scenarios in
which to blow away the enemy. The Sony PlayStation version
offers an added value to gamers with its special 3D film-type
option providing an intense, lifelike combat experience when
viewed through the 3D glasses that are bundled with the product.
"All-in-all, Contra--Legacy of War takes our action-packed
classic to the next level, bringing with it the same ingenuity
and Konami quality that Contra fans have come to expect. We've
added some really terrific, technological advances to make it the
action combat title on the market," states Donchak. Players
choose from four unique Contra--Legacy of War fighters,
including a super cyborg female and a sleek, paramilitary steel
robot. A fully loaded arsenal is stocked with weaponry, such as
machine guns, homing lasers, bullets and rockets, grenades,
flame-throwers, bombs and more.
"Two-player simultaneous play adds to the excitement and
challenge of this Contra game and really gets the adrenaline
flowing in the heat of battle," states Mark Porwit, vice
president, planning for Konami of America. "Gamers have been
clamoring for this title since the 32-bit hardware began
shipping, and I'm here to tell you that the ultra-action intense
gameplay will not disappoint as anxious Contra fans storm the
aisles for this in-demand game." Gamers test their Contra--
Legacy of War mettle, fighting it out through three levels of
difficulty and taking on their enemies in all kinds of terrain,
including the city, the jungle and even more far- out locations.
Porwit adds, "It's classic Konami Contra, with the added graphics
and 3D elements that really pump it up to the next generation of
fighting action."
Konami of America, Inc. is a leading developer of electronic
entertainment properties, specializing in the home video game
and coin-operated markets. In addition to the Konami Sports
Series, which includes The Final Round, NBA In the Zone, NFL
Full Contact, MLBPA Bottom of the 9th, International Track &
Field and Goal Storm, Konami's consumer titles include
Castlevania and Contra among other top sellers. Konami's coin-op
legacy includes such hits as Crypt Killer and Run and Gun 2.
The latest information about Konami can be found on the Internet
at http://www.konami.com. Konami of America, Inc. is a
subsidiary of Konami Co., Ltd., a publicly traded company based
in Tokyo, Japan.
For Immediate Release:
December 3, 1996
KONAMI SETS NEW HARDWARE STANDARD
WITH THE JUSTIFIER LIGHT GUN
The All-New Justifier Adds Bang to the PlayStation Gamers'
Arsenal
(BUFFALO GROVE, IL) --Konami of America, Inc., the leading
developer of electronic entertainment for the home video game
and coin-op markets, is setting a new standard for gaming
accessories with the shipping of the "Justifier?" in November.
The "Justifier" is the new light gun peripheral officially
licensed for the Sony PlayStation, according to Andrew Donchak,
consumer division president. "Konami of America is excited to
bring this officially licensed Sony PlayStation gun accessory to
its gamers," states Donchak. "The "Justifier" will give
shooting-game fans a realistic perspective of the arcade
experience. The accuracy of the aim and the arcade-like feel
this gun creates is like nothing ever seen or felt before.
Konami isespecially pleased to provide all gun-game fans with
this new accessory that we know they'll enjoy."
With true arcade-style features, the "Justifier" boasts smooth
trigger action and has the feel and look of an arcade game gun.
The "Justifier" will be compatible with all Sony PlayStation gun
games as well as the Konami gun games Lethal Enforcers I & II and
Crypt Killer. Konami has combined the rough, crime-fighting
action and gritty, gun-filled feuds of both original Lethal
Enforcers I & II coin-op series on one CD. Lethal Enforcers will
provide pure excitement. Crypt Killer's gruesome elements and
amazing 3D gargoyles, zombies and skeletons come to life in this
conversion from console to CD. The CD version of Crypt Killer
brings the shooting action to life.
Konami of America, Inc. is a leading developer of electronic
entertainment properties, specializing in the home video game
and coin-operated markets. In addition to the Konami Sports
Series, which includes The Final Round, NBA In The Zone, NFL Full
Contact, MLBPA Bottom of the 9th, International Track and Field
and Goal Storm, Konami's consumer titles include Castlevania and
Contra among other top sellers. Konami's coin-op legacy
includes such hits as Run and Gun 2, Crypt Killer and the Lethal
Enforcer series. The latest information about Konami can be
found on the Internet at http://www.konami.com. Konami of
America, Inc. is a subsidiary of Konami Co., Ltd., a publicly
traded company based in Tokyo, Japan.
Japanese Games Publishers Team To Fight Piracy
HONG KONG, 1996 DEC 2 (Newsbytes) -- By Mahlon Campbell In one of
the biggest actions of its kind in Hong Kong, Japanese computer
games manufacturers have served 43 writs against distributors
and retailers for selling illegal copies of software. Sega
Enterprises Ltd., Koei Co. and Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.,
took civil action in response to growing software piracy in Hong
Kong. They said the pirates were selling pirated software for
Sega Saturn and Sony PlayStation systems at a tenth of the price
of the official product. "We are not prepared to be the
victims of this continued and blatant criminal activity," said
Kiichi Nishikura, general counsel of Sega. Company officials
declined to say how much money has been lost, but noted that 90
percent of games sold in the Hong Kong market are fakes.
"The investigators had confiscated CDs worth HK$1.2 million,"
said Shin Loo, a lawyer with the firm, Baker & McKenzie. The
companies would not elaborate on this figure, nor reveal how
much each company is spending for the joint civil action. The
software in question is that published by Koei for Sega Saturn
games machines, as well as software published by Koei, SCEI and
other companies for use in Sony's PlayStation video-game
machines. The companies had united to fight the pirates because
evidence had been uncovered that showed software pirates were
themselves establishing alliances, said Kiichi Nishikura. He
added that Nintendo Company Ltd., was expected to join the three
soon.
The games are selling in Hong Kong for between HK$30 and HK$40
compared with the HK$300 to HK$400 the official versions cost.
Pirated software is estimated to have up to a 90 percent share
of the market in the country, Nishikura said. The companies
are taking action against retailers located in seven arcades:
the Hi-Tech Computer Centre, Ho Kong Commercial Centre, Kwai
Chung Plaza, Lik Sang Plaza, Oriental 188 Shopping Centre in Wan
Chai, Smiling Shaukiwan Plaza and Tsuen Fung Centre.
With counterfeiting so ubiquitous in the computer games industry,
the three competitors decided for the first time to cooperate in
the battle, company officials said. "The illegal software
dealers who steal our products for their own personal gain should
pay," said Sega's Nishikura. Sales of illegal software deprive
legitimate traders in Hong Kong of resources to develop and
market new games, he said. Companies like Sony, Sega and Koei
spend million of dollars manufacturing software, but
counterfeiters copy these same products for a few hundred
dollars. Sega games sell at a street price of HK$ 300 to $400,
while the same illegal games cost only HK$30 to 40.
"We can't compete with these products," said Nishikura, adding
that the illegal market sometimes forces software companies into
bankruptcy. The process of watching the market and copying
popular games has increased in sophistication. "In the past, the
counterfeiters were loners, but now they are in syndicate. This
is because of the international connections they have round the
world," Loo said. Counterfeited titles include Virtua On and
Sonic the Hedgehog from Sega; and Arc the Lad and Jumping Flash
from SCEI. Popular software from Koei includes Romance of the
Three Kingdoms, parts 4 and 5, and Air Management 96. Newsbytes
visited Oriental 188, where most of the customers were
youngsters. Some shop owners admitted that they had been visited
recently by the police but claimed that they were never shut
down.
The three companies filing suit said they will work closely with
the Customs and Excise Bureau, the Hong Kong Police and other
Hong Kong government agencies. "The Bureau needs to take a more
aggressive stance and devote more resources to stamp illegal
retail trade." Nishikura added. No one from the Bureau could be
reached for comment.
Group Says Games Too Violent
A watchdog group has told Congress that while video and computer
game industries are doing a good job rating their products, many
of the games still are too violent for children. Speaking at a
news conference at which the National Institute on Media and the
Family released a report on games, Sen. Joseph Lieberman, D-
Connecticut, commented:
"Too many games now on the market this holiday season are more
violent, more antisocial and generally more disgusting than
ever. The gift these products give is to communicate the
unadulterated message that killing is cool and viciousness is a
virtue." Writing for the Reuter News Service, reporter Robert
Green quoted Lieberman as saying manufacturers often try to
promote the games by stressing how violent they are. The senator
cited an ad for the computer game Duke Nukem, made by GT
Interactive Software, which said, "Smell steaming entrails as
Duke's new microwave cannon fries and explodes those alien
bastards." Meanwhile, the group's report said most companies
were using a uniform rating system for all games, but that many
retail outlets sold or rented games to anyone regardless of the
ratings and many clerks did not understand the system.
A dozen video games were cited by the group -- Doom, Fighting
Vipers, Killer Instinct, Krazy Ivan, Mighty Morphin Power
Rangers, Mortal Kombat, Primal Rage, Resident Evil, Revolution
Z, Street Fighter 11, Virtual Cop and Virtual Fighter 2 -- as
containing excessive violence and other questionable content.
The group also listed these 10 violent computer games popular
with children: ATF, Crusader No Regret, Daggerfall, Doom, Duke
Nukem, Mech Warrior 2, Mortal Kombat, Pray for Death, Quake and
Warcraft 2.
The report urges parents and others to use the ratings when
buying games for children. Ratings designate games that are
suitable for young children, preteen-agers, teenagers up to and
over the age of 17 and adults only.
Entertainment Online STR InfoFile Online Users Growl &
Purr!
[Editor's note: I saw this item on CompuServe and thought it
amusing. I guess I'm not the only one that finds it amusing that
Nintendo only has a few games available for the holidays. I
still cannot fathom why consumers are buying the hype! BTW, I
only included the relative portion; the others were boring!]
Beanie Boy Announces His Crispy Toy Picks For '96!
DANA POINT, Calif., Dec. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- PANGEA Toy Network,
the only cyber site featuring ToyTainment, and their ever-
smiling mascot, Beanie Boy, have issued "Beanie Boy's Crispy Toy
Picks For '96!" Beanie Boy has been hard at work all year
testing the toys and games that will ultimately land on boys'
and girls' wish lists. Beanie Boy also enlisted the help of
several million cyber-savvy ToyNetters who frequent PANGEA Toy
Network on America Online! It was tough narrowing down the list
of contenders, but Beanie Boy kept his propeller spinning
overtime to make his final selections.
Best Video Game System With Less Than Four Games to Play:
Nintendo 64. Includes: 3-Grip Controller With 3-D Joystick.
$199.99. Nintendo
ONLINE WEEKLY STReport OnLine The wires are a hummin'!
PEOPLE... ARE TALKING
On CompuServe
Compiled by Joe Mirando
CIS ID: 73637,2262
Hidi ho friends and neighbors. Here we are, coming up to
Christmas. There's talk of snow in the forecast, the stores are
filling up, and I'm even thinking about doing some of my
shopping early. None of this has anything to do with using Atari
computers but, heck, I think it's worth mentioning. It's a
wonderful time of year. Except for the snow. And the crowds.
And the slippery roads. But other than all that, it's a great
time of year. <grin>
Well, since I've got nothing of any real worth to say this
week, let's take a look at what's going on right here on
CompuServe.
>From the Atari Computing Forums
Myles Cohen tells us:
"...[I still have my Mega STE] and I love it dearly and use it
mostly... I just purchased a TT and find it to be more machine
than I am used to or need...it's a powerful brute and I'm a bit
scared of it...I still don't know the difference between TT ram
and regular ram...or even why they are separate animals...
It won't run all the things that my MSTE will...Progs and Accs
thst I have grown used to...and I find that I use and prefer the
Mega...as the TT gathers dust...but I don't want to sell it
because I intend to conquer the the beast someday...
Still...the WEB seems to be the place to be and maybe with your
program and the TT...I can get on it at last..." By the way
folks, it's not my program, I just found it on the internet
and uploaded it to CompuServe.
Charles Harrison asks:
"Can anyone help me? I have a few music files created on an
Atari in C-Lab Notator's *.SON format. I do not now have access
to the program, but wish simply to convert these files to a
format ( preferably a MIDI format ), readable by PC software such
a MPLAYER.EXE.
Can anyone either;
a) Point me in the direction of a cheap/free conversion program
b) Convert the files for me
c) Or lend me a copy of the program so that I can either resave
them in the right format or play them back while recording them
into my PC soundcard?
For the latter option, I would be willing to leave a cheque as
deposit, suitably reimburse any expenses, and for any of the
options it's got to be worth a bottle of something hasn't it? "
Myles Cohen tells Charles:
If you E-mail them to me...I'll use my copy of Notator to turn
them into MID files for you..."
Gary Partington asks:
"Can anyone tell me where to find QUICKCIS in the libraries?"
Sysop Jim Ness, the author of QuickCIS, tells Gary:
"QuickCIS should be in the Telecom library - #2. Please
understand that the program has not been updated in about three
years, so there are some flaws in it. Several members still use
it, but have to bend over a bit to make it do what they want."
While on the subject of QuickCIS, Mark Showalter posts:
"I am having a problem with QuickCIS on my atari 1040ste: when it
tries to dial, my modem goes " click " & I get a " NO CARRIER "
on the screen. I've tried to change the initial & phone string
with no change. Any ideas? I got a few other suggestions, but
none that have helped so far. Is there also a more updated
programme available that will allow off-line
preperation for e-mail & downloading?"
Jim Ness tells Mark:
"Tell me exactly what you have in your Init String and your Dial
String."
Mark Replies:
"My initial styring is: AT&F1 which is for a US robotics
sportster modem. I assume QUIckCIS sends a cr after that, I
don't klnmow. My dial string: ATDT8405900. Is thios what you
wanted to know? If not, I'll try to get more info: I did check
the version & it's , I think v.1.72 beta 3. Does that sound
right?"
Jim tells Mark:
"Try changing it temporarily to just AT and see what happens.
QuickCIS does send the CR. Your dial string is fine. Make sure
there are no space characters anywhere in there. Also, click on
the Speed button to choose a slower modem command speed. This
tells QuickCIS to send the AT commands at a slower rate. Newer
modems shouldn't need this help, but who knows...?"
Mark tells Jim:
"I still cannot get Quickcis to do more than " click " & then
display " NO CARRIER " . Have you any more thoughts on this, or
perhaps can you recommend another program that can do the same.
Also, is there an up-dated program for Atari to access
CompuServe? Especially for off-line prep to do e-mail & post
messages?"
Jim tells Mark:
"I don't know of any other Atari program that will automate
CompuServe access. Sorry."
The problem with a program like QuickCIS, in my opinion, is that
it does too much for you. You get used to not having to think
about how to do things. If you don't know how to do something
yourself, you are going to have trouble understanding how a
program does it. Remember folks, as Frank Lloyd Wright said,
"God is in the details".
Mark Kimball posts:
"I recently tried using a disk-formatting program called
"twister" that is supposed to improve access time by "skewing"
the sectors on each track. But the program consistently returns
errors when I try it on my Mega4. Is there any other formatting
program for the Mega4 that offers improved disk-access time?
That is known to work?...
Actually, my machine IS a Mega STe. Regarding upgrading TOS, is
that still an option in these days of no Atari Corp?... I'll
check the version# of the TOS I have. Does 2.0.6 "twist"
floppys? The main reason I'm investigating this is that I noticed
that some disks load much faster than the ones formatted on my
machine. Perhaps they are some "special" format..."
Albert Dayes tells Mark:
"It could be "special format" aka twisted or it could be fast-bit
being set which does not clear all of memory before loading the
program. It also depends on how large the program you are
loading/running too."
Hubert Paulig asks:
"Is there any way to use the atari-programm calamus and others
dtp-programs on PC's ? Please help!"
Richard Rives tells Hubert:
"Calamus will work with Gemulator (the TOS emulator for PC's).
Also there is a Windows95 version of Calamus out now, available
from MGI software."
James Spielman tells us:
"I recently grabbed a Mega ST2 (unfortunately without a keyboard;
see my post in Community Square!) and was wondering in what ways
it differed from the 1040ST, other than the included 2meg o'
RAM. I pulled it apart to see what's what, and noticed a 64 pin
connector (J15) about smack in the middle of the m/b (just behind
the CPU). What might this be used for?
Also, there's a switch on the back (in the removable "panel")
that connects to a group of six, Intel EPROMs(?) marked
"LO"/"HI", 0 through 2. Any ideas of the function of this switch
and/or the chips? Another, 24 pin connector (J17), sits right in
front of the hdd connector. Function?
As far as markings on the m/b, in the center is:
- C100501
- -001
- REV.1.0
And toward the front:
- MEGA.ST
- CA200092-(and a blank white block)
- assyno
I also noticed a small card stuck into a chip socket with the
copyright date of "1989 JR1". Between the two chips on this
card is the print: - ST4096C(c) 1989 John Russell Innovations
What might that be? This machine has obviously been opened
before as the Atari tape seal had been poked through to reach
the screw.
I connected it to a monitor and powered up. It booted to the
desktop just fine, but with no k/b it's hard to delve much
farther!"
Bill Anderson tells James:
"Now that I've had a chance to refresh my memory, on your Mega2,
J15 is the Megabus internal expansion port. Some of the devices
made for this port include: graphics boards, math co-processor,
and the Mega Talk board. The switch connected to the 6 EPROMs is
most likely for selecting 2 different versions of TOS (the
operating system), the EPROMs contain the OS. Probably TOS 1.0
and TOS 1.04. Alot of people did this for downward compatibility.
On second thought, TOS 1.02 is what normally came with the
Megas. J17 is the same thing as your DMA (HDD) port. With it,
you could install an inte rnal hard disk by using the ICD
"AddSCSI Micro" product. If you do this, I think you can no
longer attach anything else to the external connector. I believe
that JRI made memory expansion products (RAM). Your Mega2 could
be a 4 meg machine. Sounds like you got a good one!"
Sysop Bob Retelle tells James:
"TOS only comes in two versions... the original setup used 6
ROMs, and the newer setup uses 2 ROMs. I'm not sure what the
switch in your Mega is intended to be used for. I tried a DEKA
keyboard interface when they first came out, intending to write a
magazine review... but I sent it back rather than write up my
experiences which seemed worse than normal. Perhaps by now
they've improved the unit, or possibly it works better with newer
PC keyboards... at any rate, yes.. you're right, it would let
you use a PC keyboard to replace the normal Mega keyboard, even
though its original purpose was to provide a detached keyboard
for the one-piece STs. Have you contacted Best Electronics for
a new Mega keyboard..? They have a very good selection of Atari
pieces and parts.. (408) 243-6950"
Well folks, that's about it for this time, tune in again
next week, same time, same station, and be ready to listen to
what they are saying when...
PEOPLE ARE TALKING
EDITORIAL QUICKIES
"Tis the Season, you need no other reason.
Help the needy and please be speedy.
Once you start it'll warm your heart
You'll be glad to know you've done your part."
STReport International OnLine Magazine
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All Items quoted, in whole or in part, are done so under the
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STReport "YOUR INDEPENDENT NEWS SOURCE" December 06, 1996
Since 1987 Copyrightc1996 All Rights Reserved Issue No. 1249
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