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Silicon Times Report Issue 1313
Silicon Times Report
"The Original Independent OnLine Magazine"
(Since 1987)
March 28, 1997 No.1313
Silicon Times Report International OnLine Magazine
Post Office Box 6672
Jacksonville, Florida 32205-6155
R.F. Mariano, Editor
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03/28/97 STR 1313 Celebrating Our Tenth Anniversary 1987-97!
- CPU Industry Report - Major wants EMail - Promote French?
- Gateway to buy Amiga - NEW MSIE 3.02 - New Shareware List
- Webmaking Shakeout - SPAM Blocker - Domain Name Suit
- Oregon Trail II - People Talking - Classics & Gaming
Aol in LEGAL Tangle AGAIN
Ellison Mulls Apple Takeover
IBM Ponders Apple LapTop Market
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The Publisher, Staff & Editors
1987-1997
Florida Lotto - LottoMan v1.35
Results: 03/15/97: 2 of 6 numbers, no matches
From the Editor's Desk...
This being Good Friday, and the middle of the Easter Holiday, I'd like
to extend the very best of Easter wishes to Everyone. This will obviously
be a short editorial. But I must talk about a recent incident in the
computing community I found rather disturbing.
It seems a game console game writing group, creating on a dead
platform, decided to put together an AVI of their yet to be released effort
named Battlesphere. Ok, that is a good idea. I obtained the three
megabyte AVI and viewed it. I had to view it three times to fully agree
with myself that I saw what I saw. The AVI itself was done very well but
at the very end an oh so typical shock jock trick evidenced itself. The
composer(s) of the AVI obviously felt compelled for whatever reason to
advise all viewers of the AVI to drink human excrement. Incredible? Yes.
Stupid? Incredibly. Understandable? No. Forgivable? Yes, with the
appropriate apologies.
Upon further examination I must add. although not very witty, I did
enjoy the demo avi but I am certain the people working in the copyright and
trademark division of George Lucas' Lucas Arts Production Studios may not.
It appears the thing is a blatant knock off of the Star Wars theme, sound
and format. Not for anything, but with the recent revival of the Star Wars
Trilogy, I'd be inclined to believe that Tom Harker's 4Play Battlesphere is
treading on extremely dangerous ground. Unless of course, they've obtained
all the necessary licensing. In any case, the vulgar conclusion to this
otherwise well done avi truly destroys any good that could've come from the
avi. I thought to myself, "another astoundingly dumb footshot in the Atari
Arena." Very Sad. Or, as one observer stated; "What a bunch of Maroons!"
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Ralph F. Mariano, Publisher - Editor
Dana P. Jacobson, Editor, Current Affairs
Section Editors
PC Section Mac Section Shareware Listings
R.F. Mariano Help Wanted Lloyd E. Pulley
Classics & Gaming Kid's Computing Corner
Dana P. Jacobson Frank Sereno
STReport Staff Editors
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STReport Headline News
LATE BREAKING INDUSTRY-WIDE NEWS
Weekly Happenings in the Computer World
Compiled by: Dana P. Jacobson
Hawking Surfs Net Without Wires
In a meeting at Cambridge University, Intel Chairman Gordon Moore and
Stephen Hawking today demonstrated publicly for the first time a new
wireless technology that will give the renowned astrophysicist access to
the Internet. According to a statement issued by the chip maker, Hawking
can now connect to the Internet from almost anywhere in the world using a
wireless GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) connection and a
notebook computer specially modified for Hawking by Intel engineers and
powered by an Intel Pentium processor with MMX technology.
The new system also allows Hawking to use radio remote controls for lights
and doors and has wireless remote control for his entertainment systems.
His new laptop based on the Pentium processor with MMX technology also
makes it easier for Hawking to communicate by accelerating his
text-to-voice synthesis software. "Intel's newest Pentium processor
technology keeps me connected to the world," says Hawking, Lucasian
Professor of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge. "I have immediate
access to the Internet and e-mail wherever I am. I must be one of the most
connected people in the world, and I can truly say, I'm Intel inside."
UK's Major Invites E-Mail
British Prime Minister John Major has set up an electronic mail address and
has invited Internet-surfing Britons to send electronic messages to him
during the current election campaign. Reporting from London, the Reuter
News Service notes, "The Conservative Party, fighting against a mood for
change in Britain after 18 years in power, said it would be using email and
the Internet as a key campaigning tool in the run-up to the May 1
election."
Conservative Party chairman Brian Mawhinney told the wire service, "As from
today up to four million people in the UK will be able to E-mail the prime
minister and the Conservative Party." Those interested in sending email to
Major should visit the Conservative Party's site on the Internet's World
Wide Web http://www.conservative-party.org.uk)
HP, AMD Win Energy Star Award
Hewlett-Packard Co. and Advanced Micro Devices Inc. will jointly receive
the 1997 Energy Star award for best technological innovation from the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency. The award was presented Monday in
Washington. The award recognizes HP and AMD for Magic Packet technology,
developed jointly by the companies, as well as for HP's NightDIRECTOR,
which is based on Magic Packet technology. The tools allow network
administrators to remotely "wake up" a PC on a network for off-hours
maintenance and then return the machine to the power-off mode, thereby
saving energy.
"This is only the second time in the past three years that the EPA has
presented this award," says Andrew Fanara, program manager of the EPA's
Energy Star office equipment program. "We were extremely pleased to see two
industry leaders collaborate to advance the development and adoption of
this environmentally friendly technology." Prior to the development of
Magic Packet and other remote- power-on technologies, network managers who
wanted to do administrative backups or software upgrades over the network
outside of normal business hours often instructed users to leave their PCs
on 24 hours a day, increasing energy consumption.
DIBA: Diba and LodgeNet Introduce First
Internet Browser for Hotels
MAR 20, 1997, M2 Communications - A new kind of Internet browser product
designed specifically for hotels has been announced by LodgeNet and Diba.
The system, which is being piloted in a Sioux Falls, US-based hotel, is
based on LodgeNet's b-LAN system architecture. The system, installed and
operating since early February, is the first of its kind to be deployed in
the hotel industry. Through the 'LodgeNet Internet,' any hotel guest in any
room can surf the World Wide Web on their television using the LodgeNet
remote control. LodgeNet, the fastest-growing provider of interactive
television services to the hotelindustry, will install the Internet browser
service at additional US hotels over the next few months.
"The LodgeNet Internet is another great example of the enormous value of
our proprietary b-LAN (broadband local area network) system," said Tim C.
Flynn, president and CEO of LodgeNet. "Because of our b-LAN, the LodgeNet
Internet is currently available to any guest without the need for any
Internet-specific hardware or wiring in the room, unlike other companies
which have announced only their intention to provide such an Internet
service. The LodgeNet Internet product is network-based, just like our
Nintendo video games and on-demand movies, which makes adding this exciting
new service very cost effective."
LodgeNet has been working with Diba, a Silicon Valley technology firm, on
the development of its test system. The Diba Application Foundation and
browser software were integrated with LodgeNet's b-LAN system through the
use of LodgeNet's third-party Applications Programming Interface (API).
"The importance of Diba's Internet browsing software and application
architecture is that it gives us an open solution," said David M. Bankers,
vice president, Corporate Technologies.
"Through the LodgeNet Internet, guests can surf the Web or navigate
directly to news, sports, weather, travel, entertainment and sites of local
or national interest. We didn't want a limited web environment where our
guests could only view certain sites because of restrictive content
filtering." "We are pleased to be working with LodgeNet to develop the
most compelling and cost-effective Internet TV solution that meets the
needs of the hotel industry," said Farid Dibachi, chairman of Diba.
"LodgeNet's approach to introducing this technology is consistent with
Diba's goal of bringing more information to more people."
Hundt Courts Computer Firms
Computer firms should use their influence to help sway FCC commissioners to
vote yes on a bill that would provide Internet access to schools, says FCC
Chairman Reed Hundt. The May 8 vote is on a plan to require Internet
access providers to offer discounts to libraries and schools and would
reimburse them by up to $2.25 billion a year. In Tucson, Arizona, yesterday,
Hundt told a PC Forum conference the FCC already has four commissioners expected
to vote in favor of the plan and, "We need three."
The Reuter News Service reports Hundt also reiterated that he planned to
vote against a bill that would let regional Bell telephone operating
companies charge Internet access providers a fee for using their local
lines.
In a speech that focused on the problems of the current education system in
the United States, he said, "I'm not going to vote for access charges to be
put on Internet access providers."
He pointed out currently 65 percent of all public schools have at least one
connection to the Internet but there are no telephone lines in the
classrooms, adding that most teachers cannot even call for help if they
were being held up at gunpoint. Said Hundt, "There are 45 million people
that this communications system does not reach," referring to the number of
students in the United States. He called on the industry to e-mail the FCC
commissioners to support his plan, adding that the industry has enormous
power.
Intel Aims for Improved Graphics
Intel Corp. is launching a broad initiative aimed at delivering powerful
new visual computing capabilities. The San Jose, California-based chip
maker says its new Visual Computing Initiative will result in the
widespread availability of high-performance 3-D graphics, video and imaging
and will provide lifelike experiences to users. Intel notes that eight
leading graphics chip companies have already expressed support for the
project.
"This initiative is an important step in the evolution of the Connected
PC," says Craig R. Barrett, Intel's chief operating officer and
president-elect. "Our activities to align industry efforts will ensure the
rapid adoption of open, standards-based solutions by providing the building
blocks necessary to deliver this on Intel-based platforms. The initiative
represents an exciting opportunity for industry participants to deliver new
products and technologies."
"The visual computing capabilities that result from coupling the increased
performance of Intel's latest MMX technology-based processors, the
high-bandwidth memory access of AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) and the
excellent graphics solutions the industry is making available are
staggering," says Albert Yu, senior vice president of Intel's
Microprocessor Products Group. "We expect this initiative to bring a 10X
improvement increase in 3-D performance for all price points over the next
three years."
Nations Urged to Promote French
French President Jacques Chirac is urging an alliance of 49 French-speaking
nations to promote use of the French language -- especially on the Internet
-- as a rival to English. "The president insisted that we need have no
complexes in this area but instead have initiatives to take," government
spokesman Alain Lamassoure told the Reuter News Service after a weekly
Cabinet meeting. "(Chirac) recalled that ... we have two priorities,
firstly to develop a Francophone area with a cultural dimension that is
also political and dynamic, (and secondly) to ensure that France is
present on the new networks," Lamassoure said.
France is leader of the 49-nation Francophonie Club, which accounts for 400
million people worldwide. It believes that after a shaky start it is
catching up with English on the worldwide computer network. "It was our
great concern that the Internet should not be totally invaded by
Anglo-American," Margie Sudre, France's secretary of state for language
told Reuter. "But our delay is no longer a curse. Over the past two or
three years in France we have been catching up." Reuter notes that the Web
is officially known in France by the French name "toile," but many --
possibly most -- local computer enthusiasts call it "le web."
Ellison Mulls Apple Takeover
An investor group organized by Oracle Corp. Chairman Larry Ellison is
considering a bid of more than $1 billion to take control of Apple
Computer Inc, reports the San Jose Mercury. According to the newspaper's
Internet edition, Ellison is floating the possible bid as a trial-balloon
to gauge investor reaction before he decides to go ahead with a formal
offer. The report noted that if Ellison's group succeeds in taking over
Apple, it would remove the computer maker's current board of directors and
top managers, including Chairman and CEO Gilbert Amelio. The report added that
Ellison and Apple co-founder Steve Jobs would be likely candidates for a new
board. Visit the San Jose Mercury's Mercury Center at http://cgi.sjmercury.com.
Gateway Plans to Acquire Amiga
Gateway 2000, Inc. says it plans to acquire the assets of Amiga
Technologies including all patents, trademarks and trade names. The
company is a subsidiary of ESCOM AG, a German-based computer firm that went
into bankruptcy last July. Gateway says its offer has been accepted by the
court-appointed administrator, adding that the agreement is subject to
regulatory approval. The North Sioux City, South Dakota-based direct market
specialist didn't reveal the offer's terms. "This acquisition is good news
for Gateway and customers of Amiga," says Rick Snyder, Gateway 2000's
president.
"It will strengthen our intellectual property position and invigorate a
company that has been a pioneer in multimedia solutions and operating
systems technology." Amiga Technologies will be renamed Amiga
International. The company will operate as a separate business unit and
retain its current president, Petro Tyschtschenko, who will work to develop
new products for the Amiga market. The Amiga computer line, originally
developed in the 1980s by Commodore International Inc., pioneered
multimedia technology by combining computer graphics, animation and film
sequences with stereo sound.
NCs to Feature Simple Interface
Oracle Corp. Chairman and CEO Larry Ellison has announced that the first
network computers (NCs) his company will unveil next month will feature a
"video user interface." According to Ellison, the VUI will make it easier
for new users -- including students -- to master basic tasks such as
writing and sending e-mail. NCs are no-frills, lower-cost computers designed
for use on the Internet and other networks.
Ellison, speaking at CMP's Networked Economy Conference, envisions
classrooms configured with an NC server and a client on each student's
desk. "Only when everyone can have a computer will we have an information
age and a networked economy," he said. Ellison also predicted that NCs
will outsell traditional PCs nine to one by the year 2000. "The next
generation telephones, TVs and computers will be based on NC technology,"
he said.
NC Shipments Set to Soar
A new study from Zona Research Inc. forecasts that shipments of consumer
network computer devices are projected to jump from 2.0 million in 1997 to
more than 70.0 million in 2000. The Redwood City, California-based firm
also projects that the total market size for commercial network computers
could grow from about 1.7 million units in 1997 to over 6.7 million units
in 2000. NCs are no-frills, lower-cost computers designed for use on the
Internet and other networks.
Gateway Adopts x2 Technology
Gateway 2000 Inc. has become the latest PC maker to embrace U.S. Robotics'
high-speed x2 modem technology. The North Sioux City, South Dakota-based
direct market PC specialist says it plans to begin shipping desktop systems
featuring 56K bps x2 modems in April. "We expect rapid customer adoption
of x2 Technology because our direct business model enables us to offer x2
without charging a price premium," says Dave Berger, Gateway's director of
product marketing. Berger notes that Gateway's most popular modem, the
TelePath modem for Windows, can be upgraded to x2 performance with the
addition of new software that's set to become available next month at a
"minimal charge for Gateway customers."
Microsoft Launches New IE
Internet Explorer 3.01 for Windows version 3.1 and the Windows NT version
3.51 operating systems have been launched by Microsoft Corp. The Dow Jones
news service notes this version is a 16-bit browser providing users with
full support for Sun Microsystems Inc.'s Java technology, including Java
Virtual Machine. The browser can be downloaded free of charge from the
Microsoft Internet Explorer Web site (http://www.microsoft.com/ie/).
IBM Announces Storage Speed Boost
IBM Corp. says it has taken a big leap forward in network storage
technology with prototype chips that double the data transfer rate between
storage devices and computer processors. IBM reports that the new chips
boost Serial Storage Architecture (SSA) throughput from 80MB per second to
160 megabytes per second. The company expects to begin shipping products
incorporating the new technology next year.
SSA technology is designed to speed the flow of data for businesses that
are tied to information flow, including companies using data-intensive
computer applications such as large databases, data mining, data
warehousing and business transaction processing. "IBM originally developed
SSA for the fast-emerging world of network computing, where high-performance,
reliability and scalability are absolute requirements," says Bill Pinkerton,
director of marketing for IBM's open systems storage products unit. "Now, we're
extending our storage leadership in serial technology, and reinforcing our
commitment to develop advanced serial solutions.
Report: IBM May Offer Mac Laptop
Apple Computer Inc. could soon face a powerful new competitor in the
Macintosh market: IBM. The Techwire news service reports that IBM may
introduce a laptop based on Apple Computer's MacOS operating system. The
new system, which would probably bear an IBM logo, would use IBM technology
and the latest release of MacOS running on the 240MHz PowerPC 603e
processor, a project source told TechWire.
TechWire analyst James Staten notes that "IBM could easily take 30 percent
to 40 percent of market share away from Apple because Apple can't meet the
demand. This is a prime time to do it." IBM and Apple are currently
working together on an Apple- branded MacOS sub-notebook -- code-named
Comet -- for the Japanese market, an Apple spokesman told TechWire.
Windows 97 or Windows 98?
An industry trade journal is reporting that Microsoft has delayed its
planned introduction of Windows 97 to the point that it will be known as
Windows 98. Computer Reseller News says sources have told it that
Microsoft will not ship any new operating system releases in 1997. It adds
that Microsoft officials privately have begun warning hardware partners not
to expect to preload "Memphis" -- the code-name of the next version of
Windows -- on systems this year.
CRN notes that Memphis is the first full-fledged upgrade to Windows 95. It
is slated to include an optional FAT32 file system, support for new PC Plug
and Play hardware, and a "self-maintaining" capability enabling it to
automatically find, download and install operating system updates and add-
ons. It also is expected to include improvements to the Windows registry
and new power-management features.
But the Reuter News Service reports that Microsoft developers still hope to
release an update to Windows 95 by the end of the year. "We're working as
hard as we can to make it a 97 product," Memphis Product Manager Phil
Holden told Reuter. But he added that the final release date would depend
on feedback from testers.
Editor's Note. Don't believe all the rumors you may read. regardless of the
source. <wink>
MS Stock Drops on 'Memphis' News
News that Microsoft Corp. may not release the next edition of its Windows
95 operating system until next year isn't sitting well with investors. The
software giant's stock dropped sharply in trading Monday on a report that
the enhanced OS, code-named "Memphis," may not reach users before 1998. A
delay would give competitors, including Netscape, Sun, IBM and Oracle,
time to promote a rival Java-based platform.
After losing about 7 percent of its value, Microsoft recovered about half
its loss by the close of trading. The company's stock finished at $90.12
1/2, down $3.87 1/2, on the Nasdaq Stock Market. Over the weekend,
Computer Reseller News reported that Microsoft will not ship any new
operating system releases in 1997. The trade journal noted that Microsoft
officials have privately begun warning hardware partners not to expect to
preload Memphis on systems this year.
IBM to Buy Stake in NetObjects
IBM says it plans to buy a majority stake in NetObjects Inc., a privately
held supplier of software used by businesses to build Internet Web sites.
Reporting from Somers, New York, the Reuter News Service quotes IBM
officials as saying the investment reflects Big Blue's strategy to champion
leading Internet technologies that help businesses exploit network
computing. NetObjects Chairman/CEO Samir Arora says the firm will continue
to operate as an independent company that supports leading platforms and
standards.
Reuters adds NetObjects has partnerships with other computer industry
leaders including AT&T, Microsoft Corp., Netscape Communications Corp., Sun
Microsystems Inc. and WorldCom Inc.'s UUNET. The wire service says Lotus
Vice President Michael Zisman will join NetObjects board and will represent
IBM's interests, while the original investors, the management team and
employees of NetObjects will retain
investment interests.
Net Ad Spending Hits $267M in '96
The Internet Advertising Bureau reports that advertisers spent $267 million
in 1996 to promote their products and services on the Internet. A study
issued by the Chicago-based organization notes that advertising spending
grew steadily throughout 1996, with fourth quarter revenue increasing
almost 45 percent from the third quarter. Fourth quarter revenues reached
$109.5 million. Five leading industry categories dominated Internet
advertising spending during 1996: computer products (38 percent),
consumer-related products (20 percent), new media (17 percent), telecom (9
percent) and business services (6 percent).
The study also notes that the vast majority of the revenue transactions
were cash-based, with barter deals representing only 3 percent of total
spending. "The 45 percent quarter-to-quarter increase is a clear
indication of the growing role advertising revenue is playing in
supporting the Internet as it evolves into a true consumer medium," says
Rich LeFurgy, the IAB's chairman. "All indications are that we will
continue to see significant growth throughout the year 1997."
Net Eavesdropping Proposal Dropped
A U.S. proposal to allow law enforcement agencies to eavesdrop on the
Internet appears headed for defeat, despite support from France and Great
Britain. As reported earlier, the U.S. endorsed an international system of
computer-security codes that would have been held by law enforcement
agencies and could only be accessed after obtaining a court order.
However, The New York Times reports this morning the 29 nations belonging
to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in Paris is
expected to formally reject the proposal this week.
"Industrial nations are divided over whether governments can ever
legitimately eavesdrop on the electronic communications of their citizens,"
The Associated Press comments. Adds the wire service, "Since messages on
the Internet are easy to intercept, some people and businesses are
protecting their privacy by scrambling their communications. Some nations
have either outlawed or are tightening regulations on data-scrambling
systems, some of which are used to commit crime."
Web Links Found in Mass Suicide
The California mansion where 39 men and women died in an apparent mass
suicide this week was the center of a thriving business that designed
online pages for businesses that want a presence on the Internet's World
Wide Web. Meanwhile, a second, less- known Web site apparently operated by
the group itself suggests the men and women were part of a quasi-religious
group that expected to leave Earth and rendezvous with a spaceship behind
the Hale-Bopp comet, currently visible from Earth.
The site ( http://www.heavensgate.com ) included a statement saying, "The
joy is that our Older Member in the Evolutionary Level above human (the
`Kingdom of Heaven') has made it clear to us that Hale-Bopp's approach is
the `marker' we've been waiting for. ... We are happily prepared to leave
`this world' and go with Ti's crew." The site also included references to
the sieges at Waco, Texas, Ruby Ridge, Idaho, and at the ancient fortress
of Masada, where more than 900 Jewish zealots committed suicide in A.D. 73
rather than surrender to the Romans. The Heaven's Gate Website also
contains an entry specifically against suicide.
Associated Press writer Deborah Hastings, reporting from Rancho Santa Fe,
California, quotes customers of the company called Higher Source as
describing the home's occupants as cultlike and clannish, but businesslike
and proficient. Tom Goodspeed, director of the San Diego Polo Club, said
Higher Source designed a Web page for the club. He visited the house and
described quiet men with buzz-cut hair and stylish, collarless black shirts.
And AP cyberspace writer Elizabeth Weise notes the group's business site
(http://www.highersource.com), "far from being mystical or eccentric... is
as business-oriented as any other Internet company." That page contains no
overtly religious material, though it does feature backgrounds of stars and
other galactic imagery. Bodies of the 39 men and women, cloaked in purple
shrouds, were found in a million dollar house near San Diego yesterday.
Commander Alan Fulmer of the San Diego County Sheriff's Department told a
news conference early this morning the cause of death remained a mystery,
but ruled out gas poisoning.
Hastings says members of the group reportedly sent a farewell videotape to
a former member and died in the same mansion, lying in apparent peace on
their backs, arms at their sides, each covered across the face and chest
with a triangular shroud of purple cloth. Beverly Hills businessman Nick
Matzorkis, who employs a former member of the Higher Source group, said
today members sent the employee -- whom he identified only as Rio -- two
videotapes this week that described their intentions to commit suicide. He
told NBC's "Today" show that it was his understanding that they died Monday
and used sleeping pills to kill themselves.
The business-oriented Web page says the group ran a sophisticated Net
design company as well as offering programming, systems analysis and
computer security services. Says the site, "We at Higher Source not only
cater to customizing Websites that will enhance your company image, but
strive to make your transition into the `world of cyberspace' a very easy
and fascinating experience." The page also listed numerous Websites the
Higher Source had designed, mostly for businesses located in the San Diego
area, including a parts supplier for British cars and a film production
company.
"The individuals at the core of our group have worked closely together for
over 20 years," says the site. "During those years, each of us has
developed a high degree of skill and know-how through personal discipline
and concerted effort. We try to stay positive in every circumstance and put
the good of a project above any personal concerns or artistic egos. By
sustaining this attitude and conduct, we have achieved a high level of
efficiency and quality in our work. This crew-minded effort, combined with
ingenuity and creativity, have helped us provide advanced solutions at
highly competitive rates."
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sample package please include a check or money order in the amount of $6.95
(Costs only) Please, make checks or money orders payable to; Ralph Mariano.
Be sure to include your full return address and telephone number . The
sample will be sent to you protected, not folded in a 9x12 envelope. Don't
hesitate.. you will not be disappointed. This "stuff" is gorgeous!
A T T E N T I O N-A T T E N T I O N-A T T E N T I O N
Shareware Treasure Chest STR Feature "The Latest & Greatest"
Shareware Treasure Chest
By Lloyd E. Pulley
lepulley@streport.com
Name/Version Release Date Size Price
Internet Explorer 3.02 for Win 95 10.3mb Freeware
Internet Explorer 3.02 Delivers Improved Internet Security. Internet
Explorer 3.02, which includes fixes to recently reported security issues,
and also delivers new features known as Auto-Proxy and Auto-Configuration
that have been requested by business customers. Internet Explorer 3.02 is a
completely new version of the browser and includes fixes not provided in
the "patch" fixes you may have already downloaded.
Download Site - http://www.microsoft.com/ie/default.asp
Name/Version Release Date Size Price
EliaShim's ViruSafe 95 2.2 3/13/97 3,300kb Demo $30.00
MSOffice 7.0 support. It has a VXD scanner (Virtual Device Driver) with
an integrated SmartScan option. This offers an online protection against
both known and unknown viruses, and 100% protection against polymorphic
computer viruses. The technique of the stand-alone ViruSafe-WEB version has
been integrated in the new ViruSafe95 product; now one can surf without
care the Internet and download files from WEB and FTP sites.
Download Site - http://www.eliashim.com/
Name/Version Release Date Size Price
MusiFind Pro 1.3 3/23/97 647kb Shareware $5.00
The ultimate database for your music collection, whether its on vinyl,
cassette, compact disc, or other media. Makes your music easy to find!
Written by a DJ with 15 years experience in the booth and 15 years in
software creation.
Download Site - http://www.dlcwest.com/~sorev/
Name/Version Release Date Size Price
Password Tracker 32-bit 2.15 3/23/97 .71mb Shareware $5
It stores usernames and/or passwords so you don't have to remember them!
Once you've set up "P-Tracks" in your "Tracking Lists", Password Tracker is
always available when minimized in your tool tray. When you visit a web
site or open a program that is password protected, right-click on the
Password Tracker icon, select the "description" from the quick-access menu,
and Password Tracker automatically inserts the required entries into their
fields. If you want, Password Tracker will even "select" the enter key for
you! That's all there is to it!
Download Site - http://www.xnet.com/~robertc/PassTrak.html
Name/Version Release Date Size Price
CheapDNS 32-bit .96 3/23/97 .95mb Freeware
CheapDNS is an Internet utitlity for sharing dynamic IP addresses.
CheapDNS will post your current IP address to an HTML file on an FTP server
you specify. In addition, CheapDNS will retrieve the address file for an
unlimited number of remote hosts, verify the retrieved IP address and
update the address and host name in your local HOSTS file.
Download Site - http://www.selectinc.com/
Name/Version Release Date Size Price
Spam Hater 16-bit 1.05 3/23/97 .60mb Freeware
Get lots of e-mail offering you get-rich-quick schemes? Want to hit back?
"Spam Hater" (Now at V0.06) is free Windows software that helps you respond
effectively and makes it hot for these people. It:
* Analyses the Spam
* Extracts a list of addresses of relevant Postmasters, etc.
* Generates a "WHOIS" query to help track the perpetrator
* NEW - Generates a "TRACEROUTE" query to help track the perpetrator's
upstream provider
* Prepares a reply * Choice of legal threats, insults or your own message
* Appends a copy of the Spam if required
* Puts it in a mail window ready for sending Spam Hater works with lots of
popular e-mail programs directly - there's no tedious cutting and pasting.
Download Site - http://www.compulink.co.uk/~net-services/spam/
Name/Version Release Date Size Price
ViruSafe WEB 3.01 3/13/97 1.0mg Freeware
ViruSafe-WEB is a unique Plug-In Anti Virus for Internet Web Browsers.
Whenever user downloads a file from the internet, ViruSafe-WEB will
automatically scan this file, even before it is saved to the disk. It can
scan programs, compressed ZIP files and WORD documents. If a virus is
found, ViruSafe-WEB will suggest erasing the infected file and thus get rid
of the virus. If no virus is found, user will be prompted to save it.
Download Site - http://www.virusafe.com/
Name/Version Release Date Size Price
CD Alarm 32-bit 2.12a 3/23/97 1.40mb Shareware $6
CD Alarm is a Windows program that sounds user-specified alarms by
playing tracks from a CD, by playing sound files, or both. In other words,
you can wake up to a CD in the morning instead of a radio station or remind
yourself of an important event in the day simply by setting the
alarm."Works with NT 4.0 also.Some new features in 2.0 include Brand new
interface, Ability to disable multiple snooze presses,Test alarm now lets
you test the alarm to make sure that the volume is appropriate and more.
New in this version: *Support for multiple CD-ROM drives. Now, you can
choose both the CD-ROM drive and the track.
*Advanced volume control. Gradual wake-up starts the volume soft and then
gradually raises it to the
level that you specify.
Download Site - http://www.thenerve2.com/cdalarm/
Name/Version Release Date Size Price
Szipw 32-bit 4.0b 3/23/97 1.60mb Shareware
Szipw is the Ultimate Zip file manager for Windows. It supports command
line parameters, Creates and manages backup sets for easy backup operations
, makes Zip archives with long filenames.View Zip files like Disks with a
directory tree, Internal Zip/Unzip. Easy configuration. Easy edit of Zip
comments and file comments. Accepts command line parameters like PKZIP.
Internal File viewer, updates zip file when contents changed. Support Files
and dirs dropped from windows file manager, Add files using a list of
path/wildcards, very usefull when files to compress are in different
locations. Recompression of archives using different password.compression
level. Spanned Disks (multiple diskettes), Hidden/System files, Volume
labels, full PKzip 2.0 Encryption supported.Support for Self Extractable
archives. Allow renaming, changing file date/time, Moving to another dir
(using drag/drop), of the files and directories within the archive.
Internal Zip repair functions.
Download Site - http://www.voicenet.com/~jank/astec/szipw.htm
Name/Version Release Date Size Price
CD/Spectrum Pro 32-bit 3.0 build 307 3/23/97 .28mb Shareware
CD/Spectrum Pro is a CD-Audio Player with Graphical Spectrum Analyzer for
Windows 95. CD/Spectrum Pro will also be ready to run on Windows NT 4.0
(also known as Shell Update Release or SUR) when that version of NT is
released. CD/Spectrum Pro has two independent parts: The CD-Audio player
and the spectrum analyzer. The CD-Audio player is a full-blown player of
audio CDs for your PC. It has many advanced features and complements the
spectrum analyzer. The spectrum analyzer graphically depicts the frequency
spectra of the CD music in real time. (Unless you don't have a Pentium, in
which case it is *almost* real time.
Download Site - http://www.halcyon.com/gator/cdspro.htm
Name/Version Release Date Size Price
AudioActive 32-bit 1.0 plug-in 3/24/97 911kb Freeware
A new "streaming" audio plug-in. It offers at least three different
quality versions of audio feeds: one for 28.8 users, which results in
better than AM quality audio; one for 56K (single-channel ISDN) users,
which offers near FM quality audio; and one for 96K (2-channel ISDN or
better) users, which offers near-CD quality audio.
Download Site - http://www.audioactive.com/
Name/Version Release Date Size Price
V-Phone 32-bit 2.10 beta 2 3/25/97 2.50mb Shareware
V-Fone is a new software product that will instantly transform your
computer into a video conferencing station. With V-Fone you can send and
receive - in real time - video, audio and text to and from anyone in the
world via the internet or local area network(TCP/IP). This breakthrough
technology provides full-motion video (up to 15 frames per second),
supports full color, runs on Windows 95/NT and works on all major on-line
services.
Download Site - http://www.summersoft.com/
Name/Version Release Date Size Price
Loki Diary 32-bit 1.19. beta 0 3/25/97 3.40mb Freeware
Loki Diary is a Visual Basic 4.0 program for keeping a diary or journal
with a little something for everyone. Designed to be easy to use, it
features a calendar for quick navigation, a rich text editor, options to
print any range of dates, with the ability to search the entire diary for
keywords, and security functions that support an Access95 compatible
database.
Download Site - http://hudson.idt.net/~lokidog/index2.html
Name/Version Release Date Size Price
PC-cillin II Anti-Virus Software 2.00 3/17/97 4,800kb Demo
By monitoring all possible virus sources and adjusting your protection
automatically, PC-cillin II keeps you safe from every kind of virus threat.
And with the industry's highest detection capabilities, top-rated ease-of-
use and new breakthrough technology, PC-cillin II takes your virus defense
for Windows 95 and the Internet to an entirely new level.
Download Site - http://www.checkit.com/products/pcc2.htm
Name/Version Release Date Size Price
Klondike Deluxe Win95 1.0 3/16/97 856kb Shareware $15
A patience card game. You can choose three difficulty levels, background
colors, selection colors, Amiga olors, play MIDI-music, choose cardsets and
tunes, save your presets and make your own cardsets with this version.
Download Site - http://www.cybercomm.nl/~reko1/
Name/Version Release Date Size Price
Igames 2.82 3/7/97 1,892kb Demo
Unique Internet chat room with multiplayer card and board games that
occupants can play. Current games include Spades, Hearts, Cribbage, and
Backgammon. Many more games being added!
Download Site - http://www.igames.com/
Name/Version Release Date Size Price
PhoneBook95 1.3 3/25/97 1,269kb Shareware $20.00
A powerful yet easy to use 32-bit Phone/Address Book Management
Application. Organize all your phone #'s, addresses, e-mail addresses etc.
with ease. Includes search and dialing capability. Also comes with an
install wizard for easy installation.
Download Site - http://members.aol.com/lwsoftware/index.html
Name/Version Release Date Size Price
Auto Care Center 97 1.1 3/21/97 2,412kb Shareware $10.00
This application is designed to help in simplifying the task of
automobile maintenance. It will tell you, based on the automobile's current
milage, how soon you will need to complete specific maintenance tasks. You
can also run a Maintenance Checklist Report for each vehicle you enter into
the database.
Download Site - http://www.mindspring.com/~islander/software/acc97.html
Name/Version Release Date Size Price
V-Scheduler 1.2 3/21/97 3.9mb Shareware $25.00
V-SCHEDULER is a 32-bit scheduler application for Win 95. It is designed
with total flexibility in mind, and consists of a highly intuitive user-
interface. Visually, it sits in the top right corner of the screen and
shows number of programmed items together with the current date and time.
Clicking the right mouse button over the window activates the Pop Up Menu,
from which you can select the various actions. Context-sensitive help is
available where appropriate.
Download Site - http://www.virdi.demon.co.uk/Scheduler/
Name/Version Release Date Size Price
CD Wizzard 4.12 3/22/97 315kb Shareware $19.95
The newest version of CD Wizzard for Windows 95. CD Wizzard is an audio
CD player that includes all functions of a home CD Player and more!
Download Site - http://www.bfmsoft.com/
Name/Version Release Date Size Price
Copyto 1.11 3/23/97 203kb Shareware $12.00
Explorer Add-on that adds a menu"Copyto" to
copy,move,delete,update,synchronize files in two folders.You can select the
target folder easily by using the browse button. Briefcase like function
that can synchronize files in two folders with filetype filtering and
excluding specified folders. Display the Operation list before execution.
You can select or deselect files in the list by Right click. You can run
Copyto.exe at the DOS prompt or created shortcut link with command line
options.
Download Site - http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~bd7k-isi/
Name/Version Release Date Size Price
Ancient Ivory 3.1 3/23/97 470kb Shareware $14.95
A centuries-old Caribbean dice game of strategy and luck. It features an
intuitive interface with photographic-quality, 256-color images, realistic
sound effects, a competitive computer player, and background music. Points
are given for five of a kind, four of a kind, large straight, small
straight, etc. Score in twelve categories.
Download Site - http://members.aol.com/latticewrk/lattice.htm
Name/Version Release Date Size Price
SubSpace for Win95 1.24 3/26/97 2.20mb Freeware
A space type shoot 'em up with a difference. It's played entirely over
the internet with all human opponents. The game itself reminds you in a way
of the old Atari 2600 game Asteroids because the movement is basically the
same. However instead of being one one small screen and blowing up
asteroids, you are on a huge level and blow the crap out of other pilots.
By itself the game is pretty good (nice graphics), however when you add
real human players it really shines. At almost any given time you can find
around 50-60 other people playing, so the action is always hectic. You can
make squads, join teams, send messages while you play, and generally cause
havoc.
Download Site - http://www.vie.com/subspace/
Name/Version Release Date Size Price
AnimaFlex 32-bit 1.12 plug-in 3/26/97 .20mb Freeware
The AnimaFlex plug-in is used to play Web animations created by
RubberFlex Software's RubberWeb and RubberWeb Composer. It can also be used
to play AnimaFlex animations created with the Web enhanced versions of
Flo', MetaFlo' and MovieFlo' from The VALIS Group.
AnimaFlex animations are extremely compact and fast and offer streamed
playback for the Web. On a typical PowerPC Macintosh or a Pentium PC, a
full screen 60 second animation of a warping and morphing face can play at
15-30 frames per second, and the file size would be less than 30 kilobytes.
AnimaFlex animations can begin playback after downloading the first few
kilobytes, and they can be set up to automatically shrink their frame size
for smoother playback on slower computers. In addition, AnimaFlex
animations can also be set as buttons and animated hyperlinks.
Download Site - http://www.rubberflex.com/
Name/Version Release Date Size Price
TextPad 32-bit 3.0 beta 2 3/26/97 1mb Shareware $27
An easy to use powerfull text editor. It has many nice features such as:
In addition to the usual cut, copy and paste capabilities, selected text
can be case shifted and block indented, and characters, words and lines can
be transposed. Cut and copied text can be appended to the clipboard, as
well as replacing its contents, OLE2 drag and drop editing for copying and
moving text between documents, and A powerful search/replace engine using
UNIX-style regular expressions, with the power of editor macros. Sets of
files in a directory tree can be searched, and text can be replaced in all
open documents at once.
Download Site - http://www.textpad.com/
Name/Version Release Date Size Price
Gui4PGP 2.0 3/22/97 245kb Shareware
Gui4PGP is a Windows95-GUI for PGP - Pretty Good Privacy. Some features
include full Windows95 conform, almost no DOS-windows, read PGPs textoutput
in the Gui4PGP-editor, en-decrypting/signing via hotkey, copy text to
clipboard, push hotkey - ready, support for Microsoft Internet Explorer,
multilanguage, register own file extensions - decrypting simply out of the
explorer, treeview of the public keyring, define your own user-buttons, all
keymanagement commands build in, simple en-and decrypting in the intern
editor, choose user with only a mouseclick, and many many more!
Download Site - http://www.lanobis.de/~sascha/gui4pgp.html
Name/Version Release Date Size Price
After Dark Online 32-bit 2.0 Official Release 3/27/97 3.00mb Freeware
After Dark Online is a collection of screen savers that bring news and
information from top sources on the Web directly to your desktop. Get news
from sources you know and trust: DBC Financial News, Sports Illustrated
Online, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, Journal Interactive Edition,
and ZD Net Computing Central.After Dark Online also gives you stock quotes
and sport scores.Best of all you customize the news you want, and you
determine how often the news is updated.
Download Site - http://www.afterdark.com/index.html
Name/Version Release Date Size Price
HyperSnap-DX 32-bit 3.0 beta 3/27/97 .29mb Shareware $20
HyperSnap brings professional quality, convenient Windows 95 and NT
screen captures to your fingertips. It was designed for ease of use, with
powerful and useful features to aid the professional as well as support the
needs of the occasional user. Now features DirectX game screen capture
technology.
Download Site - http://www.hyperionics.com/
Name/Version Release Date Size Price
Darklight Conflict for Win95 3/27/97 9.20mb Commercial Demo
3D multiplayer space combat that features: Mutiplay 6 player via network
(modem patch to be released at a later date), Real-time lighting: lens-
flare effect, multi-light sources (suns, weapons, navigation lights), SVGA
3D space combat, explosions and shrapnel.
Download Site - http://www.origin.ea.com/smarty/dark/
Name/Version Release Date Size Price
Onlive Traveler 32-bit 2.0 3/27/97 4.30mb Free beta
OnLive! Traveler lets users explore virtual communities and meet and talk
with groups of people from around the world using their own voices. OnLive!
Technologies' voice communication advancements allow multi-participant real-
time voice communication between users over the Internet. Users select an
on-screen persona, or "avatar," from a library ranging from human to animal
to fanciful. People use the 3-D Avatars to navigate through virtual
environments and talk with other people online. The OnLive! experience is
personalized through customizable avatars and voice modification and
disguising options. A high quality natural chat experience is achieved
through the low latency, full duplex additive voice bridging and automatic
gain control. These technologies allow users to hear and talk to multiple
people simultaneously in real time. Audio spacialization and distance
attenuation enhance the 3D world by providing realistic 3D audio
experiences that emulate the real world.
Note: You need at least a pentium and 16mb of ram to even think of running
this.
Download Site - http://www.onlive.com/
Name/Version Release Date Size Price
RegClean 4.1 3/24/97 1.5mb Freeware
Search your Registry for unnecessary & orphaned fluff and delete it.
Published by Microsoft Corporation
Download Site - http://www.microsoft.com/default.asp
Name/Version Release Date Size Price
Driver Detective 1.5 3/23/97 1,200kb Freeware
Driver Detective is a program we have written to make updating your
hardware drivers easier. You know you need updated drivers, everyone does
in order for their hardware to work properly and efficiently, but how do
you know what version you have? This is where Driver Detective will help.
Hardware drivers are hidden from you by Windows95, making them hard to find
and even harder to get information on. Driver Detective will not only show
you ALL the hardware drivers used by Windows on your system, but it will
also make getting all the vital information on them as easy as clicking on
that driver. Using information gathered with this program, you can then
determine if you need to download the latest version or if you are already
using the current driver.
Download Site - http://www.drivershq.com/
EDUPAGE STR Focus Keeping the users informed
Edupage
Contents
Novell, Netscape Team Up On Novonyx Global Pact On Information
Technology Sales
Bill Would Outlaw Online Gambling
AOL In Legal Tangle Over Diskette Numbers
VDOLive Technology Delivers TV-Quality Videostreaming
Smart Card Links Satellite TV Signal To PCs
Girls Left Behind In Access To Technology
Domain Name Lawsuit
Experiencing Everest Through The Internet
Nynex-Bell Atlantic Deal Given Go-Ahead
Edupage In Italian
Crackers Obtained Gulf War Military Secrets
Microsoft Lets Windows 97 Deadline Slide
Clinton Administration Pushing New Encryption Legislation
Euro's Far-Reaching Impact On Information Technology
Internet 2: Field Of Dreams Or Fuchs's Law?
CEOs Warm Up To IT
Spam Block
Allegheny Mulls Its Options
Amazon Files For Initial Public Offering
Web Publishing Shakeout?
Clinton Cryptography Plan Gets Cool Reception By OECD
IBM Ponders Apple Laptop Market
SAP Gold Rush?
"Smart Card" Standard For Network Computers
U. Of Rochester Includes Web Sites In Library Card Catalogue
Net Results
Major Expansion Of Internet Shopping
Seventh-Graders To Get Laptops For "Total Immersion"
Filtering Software Remains A Work-In-Progress
NOVELL, NETSCAPE TEAM UP ON NOVONYX
Novell Inc. and Netscape Communications are forming a new Internet software
company called Novonyx, which will adapt Netscape's browser software to run
on Novell's NetWare operating system for managing corporate networks.
"There is such a big installed base of NetWare, and people don't want to
move," says a Dataquest analyst. The joint venture ups the ante in
Netscape's ongoing browser battles with Microsoft, which is pushing its
own Explorer browser and Windows NT operating system. The two companies
say they'll await Justice Department approval before forming Novonyx,
citing potential federal antitrust concerns. (Wall Street Journal 21 Mar
97)
GLOBAL PACT ON INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SALES
More than 40 countries are expected to sign a $500 billion agreement that
would remove tariffs on information technology products by the year 2000.
The pact covers computers, telecommunications products, semiconductors,
semiconductor manufacturing equipment, software, and scientific
instruments. The United States, the European Union and Japan are opposed
to proposals from Malaysia, Thailand and India and other Asian countries
to maintain tariffs on some products until 2005 or 2007. (Reuters 23 Mar
97)
BILL WOULD OUTLAW ONLINE GAMBLING
Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) has introduced the Internet Gambling Prohibition Act
of 1997, which would make illegal the transmission of any information
related to gambling, including bets, wagers or the chance to win a prize
or lottery. "We don't ask ISPs (Internet service providers) to be law
enforcers, constantly checking sites," says Kyl. Rather, ISPs would be
asked to cut off Internet access only following a written notice from a
law enforcement agency. The ISP would not be liable for any damages,
penalties or forfeiture resulting from the perpetrator's gambling
operation. (BNA Daily Report for Executives 20 Mar 97)
AOL IN LEGAL TANGLE OVER DISKETTE NUMBERS
America Online is fighting with PTP Industries, the packaging company that
helped AOL produce and mail all those little diskettes that flooded the
country last year. PTP says AOL owes it $2.1 million, but AOL refuses,
saying PTP has overstated the number of diskettes it shipped. PTP claims
it shipped 150 million diskettes in 1996. Provident Bank of Maryland is
now suing AOL for about $2.1 million, after PTP defaulted on a $3.5-
million loan, granted in part because of the contract with AOL. (Wall
Street Journal 21 Mar 97)
VDOLIVE TECHNOLOGY DELIVERS TV-QUALITY VIDEOSTREAMING
VDOnet says its new VDOLive technology is capable of producing TV-quality
video on Web sites, delivering video streaming at 30 frames
a second. The
new version, due out during the second quarter, incorporates an improved
compression technology that permits PC users to access video from the same
file for any data download rate. (Broadcasting & Cable 17 Mar 97)
SMART CARD LINKS SATELLITE TV SIGNAL TO PCs
Adaptec has developed a smart card that links a personal computer to a
direct-to-home satellite system, enabling the user to receive the TV
signals on a home PC. The company is banking on the new interactive
services being developed by satellite-TV providers, including Web sites and
specialty multimedia programming. (Wall Street Journal 21 Mar 97)
GIRLS LEFT BEHIND IN ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY
The preliminary report of a study by Simon Fraser University education
professor Suzanne deCastell says that the "culture of isolation"
surrounding computers is quite difficult for many girls, and she suggests
trying to change what technology does rather than trying to change
females. (Vancouver Province 19 Mar 97)
DOMAIN NAME LAWSUIT
PGP Media Inc. in New York City has filed an antitrust lawsuit against
Herndon, Va.-based Network Solutions Inc., the company that (under
contract to the National Science Foundation) assigns Internet domain
names, charging that Network Solutions has conspired with other groups to
prevent free and open competition in the market for Internet addresses.
PGP wants Network Solutions to add references to the domain names PGP
assigns, "so that PGP may compete with Network Solutions in the domain name
registration market.'' (AP 21 Mar 97)
EXPERIENCING EVEREST THROUGH THE INTERNET
Students at an estimated 500 high schools from across North America will
experience real-time interaction with climbers as they leave the base camp
for their assault on Mount Everest in mid-April. An expedition Web site
has been set up at <http://www.vrsystems.com/everest/>. (Calgary Herald 19
Mar 97)
NYNEX-BELL ATLANTIC DEAL GIVEN GO-AHEAD
New York State has given its approval to the proposed $22 billion merger of
Nynex and Bell Atlantic, providing Nynex spends $500 million and hires
additional employees in order to improve its customer service. (New York
Times 21 Mar 97)
EDUPAGE IN ITALIAN
We are pleased to announce a new translation of Edupage into Italian,
prepared by Massimo Pancamo and Riccardo Mannella in Italy. To subscribe,
send a mail to listserver@citinv.it and in the body of the message type:
SUBSCRIBE EDUPAGE first_name last_name. There will be an archive of old
issues at http://www.citinv.it/iniziative/info/edupage/archivio/.
CRACKERS OBTAINED GULF WAR MILITARY SECRETS
During the Gulf War, computer vandals working from Eindhoven in the
Netherlands cracked into U.S. government computers at 34 military sites to
steal information about troop movements, missile capabilities, and other
secret information; they then offered it to the Iraquis, but the Iraquis
rejected it because they considered the information a hoax. Dr. Eugene
Schultz, former head of computer security at the U.S. Department of Energy,
has told the British Broadcasting Company: "We realized that these files
should not have been stored on Internet-capable machines. They related to
our military systems, they related to Operation Desert Shield at the time,
and later Operation Desert Storm. This was a huge mistake." (London
Telegraph 23 Mar 97)
MICROSOFT LETS WINDOWS 97 DEADLINE SLIDE
It looks like Microsoft's update to its popular Windows 95 operating
system, code-named Memphis, will be marketed as Windows 98 or Windows 9x,
rather than Windows 97. The company has begun telling PC makers not to
expect the new software to be available in time to be installed on machines
for sale during the busy Christmas season. Some analysts believe that
Microsoft's own customers have urged the company to slow the pace of its
technology overhaul, as many corporations are only beginning now to switch
over to Windows 95. Memphis is expected to add a speedy boot-up technology
called "OnNow," as well as several changes aimed at making networked
computers easier to manage. (Wall Street Journal 24 Mar 97)
CLINTON ADMINISTRATION PUSHING NEW ENCRYPTION LEGISLATION
The Clinton administration will introduce more legislation on encryption
technology export, in addition to the three bills already pending in
Congress. The latest effort seeks to help develop an electronic key
management infrastructure that would allow U.S. users to employ any
encryption they want, and would, among other provisions, spell out the
legal circumstances for handing over keys to law enforcement officials.
The other bills pending are: the Security and Freedom Through Encryption
Act, the Promotion of Commerce Online in the Digital Era bill, and the
Encrypted Communications Privacy Act. (InfoWorld Electric 21 Mar 97)
EURO'S FAR-REACHING IMPACT ON INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
The European Monetary Union's changeover to a single currency -- the euro -
- will have a ripple effect through most industries around the world
today, but adapting computer software to the new system ranks high on the
list of major headaches, rivaling even the Year 2000 problem for complexity
and ubiquity. Companies will have to perform a line-by-line inventory of
all software code to determine where it's currency-sensitive and change
the fields to accommodate the euro. To make matters worse, some countries,
such as Italy and Spain, don't use decimals in prices and their computer
systems therefore aren't equipped to handle them. And some countries,
such as France, quote securities in decimals, but others, such as Britain,
use fractions. (Wall Street Journal 24 Mar 97)
INTERNET 2: FIELD OF DREAMS OR FUCHS'S LAW?
Ira Fuchs, vice president for computing and information technology at
Princeton University, says there's a chance that by the time Internet 2 is
built, researchers already will be clamoring for Internet 3. He cites
what he calls Fuchs's Law, which states that the time to acquisition is
longer than the time to obsolescence. "What that means is that the
technology is advancing so rapidly that by the time the computer you
originally asked for is finally delivered, you don't want that computer
any more. That same problem is going to have in effect on Internet 2.
We have to worry, Will we have enough time to test, and to think, before
everybody is beating down the door to get on this thing?" Educom VP Mike
Roberts is a little more optimistic: "I don't think we've worn out the
field of dreams... But I think clearly the most important applications
are the ones that can't be predicted. There are going to be marvelous
things that come out of this, but nobody knows what they're going to be."
(Chronicle of Higher Education 28 Mar 97)
CEOs WARM UP TO IT
A recent survey of 100 CEOs and other senior executives conducted by A.T.
Kearney Inc. in Chicago reveals that 85% feel comfortable dealing with
technology issues, 69% say they have a working knowledge f the
technologies used in their companies, and 40% report spending more than 10%
of their time learning about relevant technologies. "CEOs believe that
IT is not only important, they are starting to believe they are getting
their money's worth," says the chairman of A.T. Kearney's global strategic
IT practice. The survey results show that companies with top executives
who claim to have a good working knowledge of information technology
initiate almost a third of all IT projects, while those with CEOs with only
fairly good or poor working knowledge initiate fewer than 15%.
(Information Week 17 Mar 97)
SPAM BLOCK
A California software engineer takes the annoyance caused by unsolicited e-
mail messages seriously, and has developed an anti-spam weapon he plans to
unveil next month. Dead Bolt allows online users to share their
"blacklists" of spam purveyors so that they can more effectively filter
offending e-mail. "The problem now is that everyone who is filtering is
keeping their own blacklists and they're not working together to tie their
lists together in a meaningful way," says Dead Bolt's creator. "What I
hope my package will do is allow people to work together over the Net and
filter all this stuff out and finally put these people out of
business....The problem is that it costs the sender virtually zero dollars
to send out a million messages, and even if the response rate is
minuscule by all standards -- say .001 percent -- they've made money. So
from an economic selfish point of view, it's in their interest to annoy
the other 99.99 percent of the people." (Miami Herald 24 Mar 97)
ALLEGHENY MULLS ITS OPTIONS
In response to a Chronicle of Higher Education story that was reported in
Edupage 20 Mar 97, Allegheny College, which has a large installed base of
Next computers, says it is considering moving to Apple computers as only
one of several options. The college has made no decision yet as to which
direction it will go. (Chronicle of Higher Education 21 Mar 97)
AMAZON FILES FOR INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING
Three-year-old Amazon.com, a company that sells books over the Internet,
has filed for an initial public offering that places the value of the
company at almost $300 million and reveals that Amazon aspires to become
"the leading online retailer of information-based products and services" -
expanding eventually into videos and music. Last year Amazon had sales
of $15.7 million, but the company's heavy investment in technology and
marketing has prevented it from reaching profitability yet. (Wall Street
Journal 25 Mar 97)
WEB PUBLISHING SHAKEOUT?
With the recent demise of such Web publishing ventures such as Politics Now
and Out.com and the reduced activity of many others, industry analysts are
talking about a Web publishing shakeout caused primarily by the slow
growth of advertising support. Henry E. Scott, president of the parent
company of Out.com says: I became increasingly concerned that the
resources we were putting into the Web product could have been better
devoted to our core product, which is the magazine. Having a Web site is
no longer a sign of being on the cutting edge. It might be a sign of not
doing much original thinking... Newspapers have a classified advertising
franchise to protect and just thinking about that you can make a pretty
good case that newspapers need to be involved in the Web. But it's
entirely unclear to me that a magazine Web site will ever reach
profitability." (New York Times 25 Mar 97)
CLINTON CRYPTOGRAPHY PLAN GETS COOL RECEPTION BY OECD
Policy guidelines released by the 29-nation Organization have failed to
endorse the U.S. "key escrow" cryptography proposal that would allow law
enforcement agents with search warrants to obtain from escrow agents the
mathematical key to unlock encrypted communication. There is no consensus
among nations about whether governments should be able to eavesdrop on the
electronic communications of their citizens, and so the OECD is giving its
member nations latitude to adopt any encryption strategy they wish. (New
York Times 27 Mar 97)
IBM PONDERS APPLE LAPTOP MARKET
IBM is eyeing the Apple laptop market, and is considering producing and
putting its name on a high-powered portable that would run Apple's MacOS
operating system. IBM Microelectronics makes PowerPC chips for Apple and
is the sole licensee of Apple's laptop version of MacOS. The companies are
working together on an Apple-branded sub-notebook, code-named Comet,
destined for the Japanese market. "IBM could easily take 30 to 40 percent
of market share away from Apple because Apple can't meet the demand," says
a Dataquest analyst. "This is a prime time to do it." IBM officials say,
"There has been no decision made. That's not a product that we've
announced." (TechWire 24 Mar 97)
SAP GOLD RUSH?
High salaries currently paid to SAP specialists are creating a "gold rush"
mentality that could result in a glut of SAP professionals over the next
three to five years, say industry observers. "It's not surprising for an
SAP consultant to see his salary increase 35% to 60% the first time he
changes jobs to his next assignment," says a recruiting director at Austin
McGregor International. "The problem is the expectation that his salary
will take that sort of jump the next time around. That's not necessarily
going to happen." A survey of SAP technicians with two to three years
experience showed they expected to be paid a minimum of $90,000 a year;
meanwhile, only 10% of the SAP user firms surveyed said they'd be willing
to shell out that kind of money. The average pay for that level of
experience is $80,500. (Information Week 17 Mar 97)
"SMART CARD" STANDARD FOR NETWORK COMPUTERS
IBM, Netscape, Oracle, Sun and Network Computer Inc. have formed an
alliance to develop products using a "smart card" technology called
OpenCard Framework designed to give people the ability "to access any
network computer with any smart card, regardless of the (type of) computer
or smart card they're using.'' Instead of carrying around a laptop
computer, a person would just carry the smart card for insertion into any
computer that has been adapted for the new technology. To address security
concerns, the new technology scrambles the information being transmitted;
a person would have to have a personal identification number, or PIN, to
use the card. In contrast with a similar project announced last year by
Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard, Groupe Bull and Schlumberger, this alliance is
targeted to network computers (NCs) rather than personal computers. (AP 26
Mar 97)
U. OF ROCHESTER INCLUDES WEB SITES IN LIBRARY CARD CATALOGUE
The University of Rochester has developed a next-generation information
catalogue, which includes not only the volumes housed in the university's
library, but also journal citations, information from full-text databases,
and links to Web sites. The Voyager system, which runs on PCs wired to the
Internet, also includes the table of contents for about 30,000 books --
useful for tracking down a specific poem, for instance. "We wanted to
remove barriers to access to information so that someone doesn't have to
worry about, 'Is this a book or is this a database?'," says the library's
acting head of reference. (Chronicle of Higher Education 28 Mar 97)
NET RESULTS
Simmons Market Research Bureau's 1997 Study of Media and Markets indicates
that the use of online interactive services has increased to 20%, from
12.7% in 1995. Another 10% of the 20,000-plus adults polled plan to go
online within the next 12 months. Meanwhile, the Electronic Information
Report says the number of online subscriptions hit 21 million in 1996, up
45% from 1995. Many of those subscriptions are a result of the migration
of some information services, such as Microsoft Network, Prodigy, Lexis-
Nexis, Dow Jones and Reuters, to the Web. Consumer services, such as
America Online, racked up the biggest gains. And finally, the Internet
Advertising Bureau says fourth quarter revenue for online advertising
reached $109.5 million last year, up 45% from the third quarter. Five
industry categories dominated: computer products (38%), consumer-related
(20%), new media (17%), telecommunications (9%), and business services
(6%). (Investor's Business Daily 26 Mar 97)
MAJOR EXPANSION OF INTERNET SHOPPING
Wal-Mart, the nation's largest retail company, will more than double the
number of items (to about 80,000) that will be available to persons who
shop on the Internet, making it possible for online shoppers to find as
many items as they would find in any of Wal-Mart's 2,000 out-of-town
discount stores. (Financial Times 27 Mar 97)
SEVENTH-GRADERS TO GET LAPTOPS FOR "TOTAL IMMERSION"
The Kent, Connecticut, school district has bought every one of its 36
seventh graders a $1,855 laptop computer, purchased through a program set
up by Toshiba and Microsoft. A school administrator says: "It's like
learning French in France rather than in Connecticut. It's total immersion
as opposed to dabbling." Students will store their computers in locked
cabinets during lunch and other periods when the systems are not being
used. (New York Times 26 Mar 97)
FILTERING SOFTWARE REMAINS A WORK-IN-PROGRESS
The software packages designed to provide parents the ability to censor the
Internet sometimes produce curious results, such as the censoring of the
poet Anne Sexton because of the first syllable of her surname, and the
blocking of a search for information on the country Sri Lanka, which one
software package deemed, inexplicably, to be erotic. At the same time,
some sexually explicit Web pages are able to elude censorship by not using
any of the words or phrases considered to signal objectionable material.
(AP 26 Mar 97)
Edupage is written by John Gehl (gehl@educom.edu) & Suzanne Douglas
(douglas@educom.edu).
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Educom -- Transforming Education Through Information Technology
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AWE64 STReport InfoFile
The AWE 64 is in stores today! Only $199.99
The AWE 64 Gold is shipping NOWFind it in select stores near you! Only
$249.99 Prices listed are in U.S. Dollars and do not include duties, taxes
or other fees that may be charged. Please check with your local retailer.
Prices subject to change without notice.
AWE 64
From the highly acclaimed AWE series comes the Sound Blaster AWE64! The
latest addition to the award winning Sound Blaster family offers the best
combination of PC audio hardware and software for musicians, power gamers,
multimedia enthusiasts and Internet wizards.
Experience realistic and expressive true instrument reproductions, as well
as amazing digital effects with the renowned EMU8000 wave-table synthesizer
and Creative WaveSynth/WaveGuide.
In addition, enjoy advanced audio technologies that include E-mu 3D
Positional Audio, SoundFonts and an exciting array of INTERNETed audio
software.
System Requirements:
ú Intel Pentium 90 or higher processor
ú 8 MB system RAM (16 MB recommended)
ú DOS 5.0, Windows 3.1 or Windows 95
ú Open, half-length 16-bit ISA slot
ú Speakers or headphones
ú CD-ROM drive for software installation
Sound Blaster AWE64 Gold
The Uncompromised Pursuit of Perfect Fidelity
Are you ready for the ultimate audio experience?
Creative Labs latest breakthrough design, the Sound Blaster AWE64 Gold,
offers the best audio performance ever designed in a sound card. Using the
latest music synthesis technology you can now play up to 64 notes
simultaneously, creating a new dimension to musical scores and multimedia
applications.
Your audio experience will never be the same once you hear the realistic
orchestral reproduction using new WaveGuide technology. Imagine instrument
sounds that perform and react just like their real world counterparts. This
is in addition to the true sounding, hardware wave-table synthesis provided
by the E-mu 8000, the same high quality processor found in professional
quality keyboards!
Of course you might want to make some noise of your own. Using the 4Mb of
onboard memory you can load new sounds onto the card using SoundFonts or
record new samples and create new instruments on your own. 3D Stereo
enhancement technology, E-mu's 3D Positional audio and digital effects
capabilities are also included, adding a new level of depth and realism to
your favorite games.
And with the digital output capability of the AWE64 Gold you will
experience exceptionally low noise performance previously available only
to professional music studios.
We didn't forget about recording either. Using the 16-bit, CD quality
stereo audio capability with full duplex support in hardware you can
record and playback samples just like the pros. Vienna SoundFont studio
lets you take your samples and turn them into real MIDI instruments. MIDI
Orchestrator Plus lets you put all of these features to use for superb
control on your most demanding compositions.
Included software also lets you get connected to the Internet, surf the
Web, make long distance phone calls over the net or even listen to live
audio broadcasts. Everything is included to add full multimedia streaming
capabilities to your PC.
When it's time to get serious, get the sound card that doesn't compromise.
Ask for the Sound Blaster AWE64 Gold.
For users with a more modest budget: the Sound Blaster AWE64 has nearly
all the same features as the Gold but with 512K RAM, an IDE CD-ROM
interface and a 4 Watt stereo amplifier.
Realistic Audio with WaveGuide Technology and Advanced Wave-Table
Synthesis
ú 64-Voices wave-table synthesis with 16-bit, CD-quality stereo
recording & playback
ú Expressive & realistic instrument sounds with Creative
WaveSynth/WaveGuide
ú Features Creative's Advanced WavEffects synthesis for real-time
control of wave-table sounds and digital effects.
ú Custom Software for creating & editing sound effects.
ú 512 K Onboard memory for SoundFonts & E-mu 3D Positional Audio
support.
ú Creative 3D Stereo Enhancement Technology reduces speaker crosstalk
and provides a wider, more realistic stereo image
ú Surf & Communicate on the Net with Real-Time Audio
Great for Music
ú E-mu System's SoundFont technology allows new instrument samples and
sounds to be added to the card
ú EMU8000 wave-table synthesizer with programmable effects engine for
reverb & chorus
ú 64-notes polyphony allows up to 64 voices to be played simultaneously
ú 128 GM-compatible instruments, 10 drum kits, and hundreds of sounds
System Requirements:
Intel Pentium 90 or higher processor
8 MB system RAM (16 MB recommended)DOS 5.0, Windows 3.1 or Windows 95Open,
half-length 16-bit ISA slotSpeakers or headphonesCD-ROM drive for software
installation
Kids Computing Corner
Frank Sereno, Editor
fsereno@streport.com
The Kids' Computing Corner
Computer news and software reviews
from a parent's point of view
In the News
Ringling Multimedia Announces Newest Release
Flash the FireflyT will lead your children back into history for learning
fun. From the age of the dinosaurs through to the chivalry of the Middle
Ages and on to the Roaring 20's, children will find engaging activities
that promote learning and understanding.
Let's Pretend! Volume 5: The Past Is Our Playground is an interactive
picture book on CD-ROM. Previous volumes have won numerous awards from the
National Parenting Center, Parents' Choice and Dr. Toy. For more
information, they can be contacted at 1-800-762-6442 or you can visit
Ringling Multimedia's website at http://www.mindmagic.com.
New Software for Language-Learning Impairments
Scientific Learning Corporation has announced the development of a
breakthrough in helping language-learning impaired children to increase
their language skills. The program was developed through research on how
the brain learns and was tested by more than 500 children in the U.S. and
Canada. In less than two months of training, the average child increased
his language abilities by 1-1/2 years.
Fast ForWord uses Internet and CD-ROM technologies to create a rich
learning environment. The program has been described as "glasses for the
ears" as it helps children to identify phonics and enables them to improve
at reading, grammar and syntax.
Fast ForWord is available from speech and language professionals, who are
trained, certified and licensed to use it as a complement to a child's
regular learning schedule. The program uses computer exercises that
acoustically alters speech sounds so language-learning impaired children
can more readily recognize the sounds.
"The exercises are aerobics for the brain," says Dr. Paula Tallal, a
leading cognitive neuroscientist from Rutgers University and co-founder of
SLC. "Gradually, children are weaned away from their previously
inefficient approach to language processing as they actually learn a
faster, more effective method."
For more details, you can visit their website at http://www.fastforword.com
or call 415-296-1470.
Children's Toy Retailer Creates New Kid's Website
Noodle Kidoodle and Computer Associates have combined forces to create a
new educational site on the Web. Located at http://www.noodlekidoodle.com,
the site offers fun learning tools about art, science, geography and more.
It also has links to other educational sites such as NASA and the
Metropolitan Museum of Art. Kids can also create their own art and "hang"
it in the Children's Art Gallery. The site also offers pages for parents
and teachers to chat and share ideas.
Noodle Kidoodle is a chain of 32 retail stores that specializes in
children's learning toys. Each store offers more than 25,000 items
including books, videos, puzzles, computer software, learning games and
more. (Should I mention Beanie Babies?) For more information, visit the
website or call 516-293-5300.
Activision Announces Shanghai Double Pack
Activision has just announced the availability of a specially priced
promotion. Shanghai Double Pack includes two of Activision's popular
mahjong games. Actress Rosalind Chao hosts Shanghai: Great Moments. It
features four challenging variations of the classic tile matching game.
Stunning animation and inspiring music enhances the gameplay.
Shanghai II: Dragon's Eye offers player a choice of thirteen tile layouts
and three playing modes to challenge his puzzle-solving talents. Players
can play solo, head to head against a live opponent or against the
computer. In one variation, one player tries to slay the dragon while
another tries to bring it to life.
These games feature simple rules, yet his mesmerizing double-pack will
challenge your puzzle-solving skills for a lifetime. Shanghai Double Pack
is great for both young and old.
Humongous Entertainment and Lancit Media Entertainment
Announce Joint Venture
The two companies have entered a joint agreement to bring numerous
Humongous characters to televisions, movies and home video. Among the
characters to be featured are Putt-PuttT, Freddi FishT, Pajama SamT and
Fatty BearT. Soon you will be able to see these friendly, charming
characters away from your computer. Look for them soon on a television
near you!
For more information about the software products of Humongous
Entertainment, visit the company's website at http://www.humongous.com.
Sanctuary Woods Releases Updated Version of Major League Math
Major League Math Second Edition takes math learning to another level.
This enhanced version features two player competitive mode, improved
performance, better graphics and more. It also allows the addition of
28,000 extra math questions with the Pro PacksT option that are available
from CD-ROM or from the company's website at http://www.ah-hah.com at a
cost of $9.95 for each set of 1,000 questions.
The program features the logos and team names of all twenty-eight Major
League Baseball teams through a licensing agreement with MLB. Gameplay is
not based on arcade reflexes, but upon the ability to solve math problems.
After the player decides what action he wants to take, he must answer a
math question. Next, he will see the result of the play based upon his
answer and certain statistical probabilities. The rendered 3D animations
are breath taking.
Priced at $29.99, Major League Math Second Edition will be available
nationwide is select retailers or directly from Sanctuary Woods. For more
information, you can call them at 800-943-3664 or you can visit the website
at http://www.ah-hah.com.
Microsoft Announces "Beyond the Limit: Ultimate Climb"
Microsoft has created a new adventure game, Beyond the LimitT: Ultimate
Climb that will challenge children ages 9 to adult. Set in the American
southwest, the game features realistic 3D graphics and more than 100
authentic scenes detailing trails, sheer rock faces, flora and fauna, and
much more.
To play the game, the player must choose his challenge, equip his team and
a trek guide. These critical decisions can mean the difference between
success and failure, life or death. He must carefully choose supplies,
determine paths, conserve energy and more. These challenging decisions
force the player to build his logic and decision-making skills. The
realistic graphics and immersive gameplay make this a valuable and
entertaining learning tool.
Priced at $34.95, Beyond the LimitT: Ultimate Climb requires Windows 95, a
486DX/66 CPU, 8 MB of RAM, 10 MB of free hard disk space, a double-speed CD-
ROM and SVGA graphics.
Sweet Surfing at Candystand.com
LifeSavers Co., a division of Nabisco, Inc., has created a new family fun
site on the Internet at http://www.candystand.com. This g-rated, wholesome
site features Shockwave games, trivia contests, online digizines and
promotions that will please young and old alike.
This free site features something for everyone. Fun games include
LifeSavers Waterpark Pinball, Bubble Yum Foul Shot Shoot-Out and Bet Your
Life Savers TV Trivia. The digizines are targeted to specific age groups.
Promotional contests include a chance to win a dream trip to Rome, Paris,
Rio de Janeiro or Maui.
So check it out today!
Frank speaks (err, writes):
A note from the section editor.
Spring has once again burst upon the barren, brown dormant prairies of
Illinois. As the weather warmed this week, your section editor developed a
case of spring fever that prevented him from reviewing any programs this
week. I humbly apologize for being overwhelmed by the bounty of awakening
nature. I promise to do better next week, and we will begin another
software giveaway. Be sure to check this column in our next issue!
Happy holidays to one and all. May peace and love always reign.
Frank
Oregon Trail II
Windows & MAC CD-ROM
Listed as $59.95
For Ages 10 to Adult
MECC
6160 Summit Drive North
Minneapolis, MN 55430-4003
1-800-227-5609
http://www.mecc.com
Program Requirements
IBM Macintosh
OS: Windows 3.1, Windows 95 OS: System 7.1
CPU: 486DX CPU: 68030
(LCIII or higher)
HD Space: 12 MB HD Space: 12 MB
Memory: 4 MB Memory: 5 MB
Graphics: 640 by 480 with 256 colors Graphics:
256 colors, 13" monitor
CD-ROM: Double-speed CD-ROM: Double-speed
Audio: 8-bit Windows compatible sound card
Other: mouse
review by Jason Sereno (jason.sereno@mules-ear.com)
Howdy partner, let's time travel to the halfway point of the 19th century.
Right about now, many people are deciding to move out to west in hopes of
starting a new life out in the open range. They do not know however, of
all of the heartache that will accompany them on this long journey and the
many different people that they will encounter. The trip will be a long
and eventful one with many surprises and choices to make along the way.
Will they endure their travel West? What will await them, and what may
prevent them from accomplishing their dream of living on the frontier?
Actually the time is just about the end of the 20th century, and MECC has
just released a sequel to the now legendary Oregon Trail, entitled Oregon
Trail II. The sequel has many different options for the gamer to make each
trip unique. Oregon Trail II has a lot of interesting people and landmarks
that you can learn more about. It also has a new interface that was
pleasantly surprising. This is a large step from the first Oregon Trail,
but you still feel as if you really are "traveling the trail" as in the
predecessor. It is even more informative and entertaining than the
original Oregon Trail. This is a great game for children and adults, and
it is a fantastic history lesson too.
Options, options, options!!! This program is full of them. As soon as you
begin the program, you can tell that each trip will be unique. You can
pick any date during a twenty-year period to start your journey. Each time
has different nuances. If you start in the 1840's, there will be fewer
people with whom to interact. If you start later, supplies may be scarce.
You can also start and finish in many different cities. These options were
a non-existent option in Oregon Trail. There are many occupations to pick
from in the beginning, too. Not just the same ones that are in the
original Oregon Trail, either. There are 25 all together. You have the
option of buying a large, medium, or small caravan, too. Every option will
have an impact on your end score. The more money you have at the end of
your journey, the more points you will receive. You can gain points by
having an occupation that doesn't benefit you during the trip also
(teacher). And of course, a longer trip can result in a larger score, too.
You also receive points for the number of people that are still alive just
like in the original Oregon Trail.
After deciding the starting and finishing points for the trip, period, the
names and ages of the people in your party, your occupation, and the size
of your wagon, it is time for you to purchase supplies. Depending on your
occupation, you will have different amounts of money. There are many shops
from which to purchase your supplies. Each one has a specialty, but you
may find that you can save money by buying certain supplies at particular
stores. The supplies range from food like bacon to all sorts of medicine.
Besides supplies, you must buy livestock for pulling your wagon. You can
pick from horses, oxen, and mules. Each one has unique characteristics.
You might want to consider which animal would have the most meat, because
you may have to kill and eat one of the animals for your party to survive.
You have choices when it comes to firearms, too. This is important for
hunting during your trip. There are shotguns, rifles, and pistols. You
can choose the quantity and the accessories that accompany these weapons.
All of these items are important and you will find the costs rising in the
forts and from the people you meet along the trail.
Once you begin your journey, you can choose from several wagon trains.
They differ in quantity of people and wagons. The people in the trains may
even ask you to be the leader. This will keep you in charge of maintaining
good morale. You have many options that will affect the people in your
train. The trail will lead you into many different directions. You have
the choice of which trails to take whenever there is a "fork in the road."
There are many possibilities and people to interact with on these separate
trails. If you find yourself not liking the course you are taking, you can
head the wagon back and take another path. And just like the original
Oregon Trail, you can change the pace and ration size to fit your
preferences also.
Geographically and historically, the program is very sound. All of the
landmarks, rivers, and types of land are precise to the time you are
traveling. You can almost feel the simplicity in the environment and
really understand what life was like during the mid 1800's. Even the wild
game is characteristic to the land.
While traveling the trail, you will meet many interesting and informative
people. They have many helpful things to say to you. These people can
tell you important things to know while traveling the trail, or give you
facts and information about the people, culture, and events of their time.
The characters range from Native Americans to small children.
The largest difference between the first Oregon Trail and Oregon Trail II
is the interface. One interface is used when inside of a fort or landmark.
You are in first person point of view and you can use your mouse to travel
different directions or talk to people. This interface is used while in
stores also. The other interface is used while traveling the trail. The
map takes up most of the screen, and the status of the caravan is across
the bottom, along with the miles traveled, weather conditions, and the
morale status. You will see pictures pop up along the corners of the map
to suggest the different animals and landmarks that are currently in the
area. As far as the hunting and river crossing screens, they are basically
the same but are enhanced graphically from the original. The hunting
sequences contain better animation of the animals and lush landscapes for
you to gaze at while hunting down a grizzly bear or moose. You now have to
reload your weapon after each shot. This makes shooting more realistic and
less like having an automatic weapon. There are a larger variety of
animals to hunt, too.
There is also a free copy of Tessel Mania!, another release from MECC
included with Oregon Trail II. This program lets your child design
different pictures using the same picture in different colors and
directions. It is a fun program that will make your child think in
different ways while letting them make colorful designs.
This is a huge advancement from Oregon Trail. It is a great program for
anyone that loved to play the original. With the new graphics and
interfaces, plus the many, many options, people will never experience the
same trip twice. The program will teach the user many useful facts and
give him a very clear idea about the life of a frontiersman. It is a great
history lesson for kids and adults. Oregon Trail II is a must buy for fans
of its predecessor or the wild, wild West. Until next time, see ya 'long
the trail, buckaroos!
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another note. the ASCII version of STReport is fast approaching the "end of
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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
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Many grateful thanks in advance for your enthusiastic co-operation and
input.
Ralph F. Mariano, Editor
rmariano@streport.com
STReport International Online Magazine
Classics & Gaming Section
Editor Dana P. Jacobson
dpj@streport.com
From the Atari Editor's Desk "Saying it like it is!"
I must apologize as I was really psyched to have the next installment of
our HTML "primer" in this week's issue. However, some unexpected turn of
events at home prevented me from finishing it. I probably could have
rushed it and had something slightly resembling what I had envisioned, but
I thought better of that prospect. We'll have the full installment next
week, I promise!
Lots of Atari news this week. There's a demo of CAB 2.0 currently
available although I haven't had a chance to grab it yet. It's unclear
when ASH may have it completed and released, but hopefully the demo will
whet our appetites. There's also some snippets of other STiK modules that
have been updated or re-written, so be sure to check them out if you're
currently an Atari web-surfer (I know that I will!).
Did you hear the news that Gateway 2000 plans to acquire Amiga Technologies
from Escom? Interesting! Maybe they'll opt to buy Atari from JTS?!?! How
about Oracle considering buying Apple? Must be "old home" week and people
are feeling nostalgic and willing to pay big bucks for a piece (or pieces)
of history!
Anyway, the above news and more is all here for your reading pleasure , so,
let's get on with this week's issue!
Until next time...
Hi all!
Prof. Boris D. Cahan have just released Telnet VT102 for StiK. You can use
Telnet as a plug-in (Internet clients) to CAB and just type: Telnet:
<adress> directly from CAB's "Open URL"-dialog, under a multitasking
environment.
Telnet VT102 replaces Jim Baumgardner's Telnet VT52 and is completely
re-written.
Best Regards
Mille Babic
eMail: mille@mail5.tripnet.se
http://www5.tripnet.se/~mille (English, German, Swedish, Croatian)
Atari Falcon CPU40MHz:DSP50MHZ (12MB RAM 540MB+1.0GB HD)
N.AES Operating System with MiNT Kernel and N.Thing Desktop
Effective immediately, Anodyne Software has a new Internet Service
Provider, cyberus.ca. Our new email address is: anodyne@cyberus.ca
Please note the domain is CA, not COM!
We're also expanding our online support, with our own web page which will
include information on our products, including upgrade patch files. Look
for the web page shortly, at: http://www.cyberus.ca/~anodyne
Roger Burrows
Anodyne Software, your Atari CD-ROM specialist
Hi!
NAS '97 (The Nordic Atari Show and Convention 1997) will be held in
Gothenburg in mid-june. I have started to create a webpage about this
show. You will find the page at:
http://www5.tripnet.se/~mille/english/nas.html
Best Regards
Mille Babic
Hi all!
Thanks for Your support...
I can now give You CAB v2.0 demo (Seems that I'm the only one on The
whole Internet) :)
This version is the original from The CeBIT '97 Show and I must say that
CAB v2.0 is not completed yet, it is under a big testing phase. You have to
wait for a while until ASH have completed the original full package, before
You can buy CAB.
Check out their Homepage for news... they will inform when it's for sale.
You will (only) find CAB v2.0 Demo at:
http://www5.tripnet.se/~mille/english/cab.html
Best Regards
Mille Babic
FIDONET - Echo Bases / Atari ST Echo, #248 of 250
Date: 22 Mar 97 09:50:08
From: Tom D'Ambrosio of 1:106/7861
To: All
Subj: C Hoax Revealed!
I n t e r n a t i o n a l N e w s S e r v i c e
INS TECHNOLOGY WATCH: [Mike Taylor, INS Correspondent]
[Natick, MA, USA]
COMPUTERWORLD April
CREATORS ADMIT UNIX, C HOAX
In an announcement that has stunned the computer industry, Ken Thompson,
Dennis Ritchie and Brian Kernighan admitted that the Unix operating system
and C programming language created by them is an elaborate April Fools
prank kept alive for over 20 years. Speaking at the recent UnixWorld
Software Development Forum, Thompson revealed the following:
"In 1969, AT&T had just terminated their work with the GE/Honeywell/AT&T
Multics project. Brian and I had just started working with an early release
of Pascal from Professor Nichlaus Wirth's ETH labs in Switzerland and we
were impressed with its elegant simplicity and power. Dennis had just
finished reading 'Bored of the Rings', a hilarious National Lampoon parody
of the great Tolkien 'Lord of the Rings' trilogy. As a lark, we decided to
do parodies of the Multics environment and Pascal. Dennis and I were
responsible for the operating environment. We looked at Multics and
designed the new system to be as complex and cryptic as possible to
maximize casual users' frustration levels, calling it Unix as a parody of
Multics, as well as other more risque allusions. Then Dennis and Brian
worked on a truly warped version of Pascal, called 'A'. When we found
others were actually trying to create real programs with A, we quickly
added additional cryptic features and evolved into B, BCPL and finally C.
We stopped when we got a clean compile on the following syntax:
for(;P("\n"),R-;P("|"))for(e=C;e-;P("_"+(*u++/8)%2))P("|"+(*u/4) %2);
To think that modern programmers would try to use a language that allowed
such a statement was beyond our comprehension! We actually thought of
selling this to the Soviets to set their computer science progress back 20
or more years. Imagine our surprise when AT&T and other US corporations
actually began trying to use Unix and C! It has taken them 20 years to
develop enough expertise to generate even marginally useful applications
using this 1960's technological parody, but we are impressed with the
tenacity (if not common sense) of the general Unix and C programmer. In any
event, Brian, Dennis and I have been working exclusively in Pascal on the
Apple Macintosh for the past few years and feel really guilty about the
chaos, confusion and truly bad programming that have resulted from our
silly prank so long ago."
Major Unix and C vendors and customers, including AT&T, Microsoft,
Hewlett-Packard, GTE, NCR, and DEC have refused comment at this time.
Borland International, a leading vendor of Pascal and C tools, including
the popular Turbo Pascal, Turbo C and Turbo C++, stated they had suspected
this for a number of years and would continue to enhance their Pascal
products and halt further efforts to develop C. An IBM spokesman broke into
uncontrolled laughter and had to postpone a hastily convened news
conference concerning the fate of the RS-6000, merely stating 'VM will be
available Real Soon Now'. In a cryptic statement, Professor Wirth of the
ETH institute and father of the Pascal, Modula 2 and Oberon structured
languages, merely stated that P.T. Barnum was correct.
In a related late-breaking story, usually reliable sources are stating that
a similar confession may be forthcoming from William Gates concerning the
MS-DOS and Windows operating environments. And IBM spokesmen have begun
denying that the Virtual Machine (VM) product is an internal prank gone
awry.
Gaming Section
Iron Soldier 2!
World Tour Racing!
Zero 5! Worms! Telegames!
JEO?? PSX News!
And much more!
From the Editor's Controller - Playin' it like it is!
Well, I sorta called it! Earlier in the week, fellow STReport Editor
Frank Sereno sent me a message stating that AEO was coming back - had I
received any word from Travis Guy about it. I responded negatively, but I
wasn't surprised to learn of this prospect. My theory was that there'd be
at least one more issue of AEO, when Battlesphere was close to being
released, or released.
Well, I don't know the status of the game's release (does anyone?);
and, AEO isn't returning. However, JEO (Jaguar Explorer Online) has been
released - edited and published by Clay Halliwell. JEO is a clone of AEO,
with a few cosmetic changes, and obviously endorsed/blessed by AEO's Guy.
I wish Mr. Halliwell luck with his new endeavor. I have to admit that
at this point in time, I find it hard to understand why someone would start
a Jaguar-specific magazine; but, knowing what it's like to be fan _and_
supporting the machine myself - I have to applaud his chutzpah! Who knows
how much more will be forthcoming for anyone to cover?! <g>
Still no positive word on the release of Iron Soldier 2, or the other
announced titles from Telegames. Hopefully, Telegames will have some
positive news in the days to come. We're "refreshing" your memories with a
brief synopsis of the pending games elsewhere in this section.
So, let's see what's going on in the world of console gaming this week;
there's plenty for everyone!
Until next time...
Industry News STR Game Console NewsFile - The Latest Gaming News!
DreamWorks Signs Deal With Electronic Arts
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1997 MAR 25 (Newsbytes) -- By Richard
Bowers. DreamWorks Interactive (DWI) Tuesday announced that Electronic Arts
(EA) will be the exclusive worldwide distributor for all of DWI's next
generation console products. DWI's games for the PC will still be
distributed by one of the partners in DWI, Microsoft [NASDAQ: MSFT].
The first console title to be released by DWI in partnership with EA is
"The Lost World: Jurassic Park" for the Sony PlayStation. The title is
scheduled to be released in the early summer on the heels of the film by
the same name." The Lost World: Jurassic Park" will also be available for
the Sega Saturn system. Sega of America will publish and distribute the
Sega Saturn version of this game.
Pat Becker, director of corporate communications for EA, told Newsbytes,
"Due to a prior agreement with DreamWorks Interactive, Sega will publish
and distribute the Saturn version of Lost World. From this date forward,
all future console titles will be distributed by EA." DWI is slowly
becoming a giant in the multimedia game market, and this deal represents a
major boost for EA's half-billion dollar revenue stream.
DreamWorks Interactive is a joint venture between Microsoft and DreamWorks
SKG. DreamWorks SKG is an entertainment company founded by industry moguls
Steven Spielberg, David Geffen and Jeffrey Katzenberg. Paul Allen
co-founder of Microsoft is also a major investor in DreamWorks SKG.
"The Lost World: Jurassic Park" game allows the player to be both the
hunter and the hunted in a 3-D action/adventure that pits humans and
dinosaurs against each other. Players will assume the role of five
different characters from a raptor to a human hunter. The setting is an
island populated by genetically engineered dinosaurs. Players, as either a
human hunter or a dinosaur, will combat more than 20 species of sauropods
that animate, stalk, track, attack and fight.
Sony PlayStation's Digital CD Magazine
FOSTER CITY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1997 MAR 26 (Newsbytes) -- By Richard
Bowers. Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. [NYSE:SNE] is coming out
with a new marketing gimmick, a CD magazine called PlayStation Underground.
The new digital publication will only play on the Sony PlayStation game
console, and is intended to create an "unique club for PlayStation game
console owners."
The premier issue of the PlayStation Underground CD magazine will be
distributed today to PlayStation game console owners who have signed up to
be PlayStation Underground members through the registration cards that are
included in hardware and software packaging. The first issue will serve as
an introduction to the PlayStation Underground CD magazine, which will then
become a regular subscription-based quarterly.
A yearly subscription to the PlayStation Underground CD magazine will cost
$29.95, and be published quarterly. Each issue of PlayStation Underground
will encompass two full CD-ROMs that can only be played on a PlayStation
game console. The discs will contain game codes, demos of upcoming and
import PlayStation titles, artwork, movies, interviews with celebrities and
developers, "behind the scenes" features, sweepstakes and special offers.
With the CD format, Sony has a distinct edge over its biggest rival
Nintendo. Nintendo has stayed with the game cartridge for its game console,
and in this one area of CD magazine, would be foreclosed from
keeping up with Sony.
"PlayStation Underground is much more than 'just' a CD-ROM based magazine,"
said Peter Dille, senior director, product marketing, Sony Computer
Entertainment America. "PlayStation Underground is another example of Sony
Computer Entertainment America leading the interactive entertainment
industry into new and exciting areas. Our main competitor cannot produce
anything like this, specifically because they are publishing on cartridge
instead of CD-ROM."
The first disc is made up of ten different sections: The Vault, with
playable demos of new titles; Code Book, with game hints, codes and
strategies; Imports, with games for downloading that have not been released
in the United States; Download Station that will include extra secret
levels or hidden characters that can be loaded onto the user's memory card
for integration into select games; Tech Q&A; Debriefing which includes
video interviews with Sony developers for the PlayStation game console;
Behind the Scenes; Event Center; Bulletins where notices for club members
can be posted; and, Transmission, which will include contests and upcoming
features.
Accolade Ships Test Drive: Off-Road for the PC and PSX
SAN JOSE, CALIF. (March 27) BUSINESS WIRE -March 27, 1997--Accolade, a
leading publisher of interactive entertainment software, announced today
that Test Drive: Off-Road, an off-road racing game for personal computers
and Sony PlayStation game consoles, has begun shipping. Test Drive:
Off-Road allows players to race in high performance off-road vehicles,
including the Hummer, Land Rover Defender 90, Jeep Wrangler, and Chevrolet
K-1500 Z71. "The Test Drive series has always had a strong following since
its start over 10 years ago," said Jim Barnett, president and CEO of
Accolade. "The game's well-known licenses and its high speed 3D engine
will
bring Test Drive: Off-Road to the top of the off-road racing market."
Test Drive: Off-Road features 12 tracks, three environments, including
dirt, sand and snow, and various weather conditions. Its high-speed 3D
engine and realistic driving physics give players an unparalleled driving
experience in four of today's hottest off-road vehicles, while listening to
the adrenaline-pumping sounds of Gravity Kills, the well-known alternative
rock band. Test Drive: Off-Road also features four bonus vehicles. Test
Drive: Off-Road for the Sony PlayStation includes head-to-head matches via
split screen and the PlayStation link cable. The PC version of the game
will include multiplayer capabilities for up to four players via
split-screen, modem or network play. The PlayStation version supports up
to two players. Both versions offer single race, multiplayer tournaments
or full-season modes.
Test Drive: Off-Road for PCs running MS-DOS and Windows 95 is available at
an estimated street price of $39.95. Test Drive: Off-Road for the Sony
PlayStation console will be available next week at an estimated street
price of $49.95.
Jaguar Online STR InfoFile - Online Users Growl & Purr!
Jaguar Gets New Life, Part 2
Telegames Announces New CD Titles
Telegames, the first and only remaining third-party publisher for the Atari
Jaguar, announces two new CD titles to be released during the coming
months, in addition to four previously announced cartridge products.
Iron Soldier 2 is the knockout sequel to be available on CD for the
Jaguar. Pilot your 42-foot tall mech robot through 20 missions against the
evil Penta Forces. Dramatically enhanced 3-D graphics create a virtual
battlefield with war waged in all 360 degrees. Outfit your mech with
combinations of 12 weapons systems and begin your fight against the
multitudes of enemy weapons. With full motion video, driving soundtrack,
and realistic sound effects - all available in stereo or surround sound -
this product must be purchased by any true gamer. With the proper code,
you can even play as an adversary to the Iron Soldier, the dreaded Satyr
Walker Mech!
World Tour Racing is the first Grand Prix style racing game for the Jaguar.
Select your racer, customize its features, and set off to conquer the
international racing world. With a super-high frame rate, this game really
puts you in the driver's seat. Video interludes gives you a genuine
feeling of being in the pits, and a multitude of features makes each race a
new experience! Worms is the hit product that is available on most other
next-generation systems. Designed for one to four players, this game
combines the best elements from the very best games ever created. The
game requires great thought, strategy, and elements of sheer outrageous
fortune within an almost infinite range of playing possibilities. Teams
take in turn to bombard the enemy with whatever weapon they feel is likely
to reap the most reward. Each battle has a time period and once this is
over a period of extra time may be played where all remaining worms are
reduced to 1 unit of energy and the slightest hit will render them out of
the game. The last team remaining wins the game.
Zero 5 is a futuristic space shooter set in a 3-D, 360 degree playfield.
The year is 2044 and the battle for Earth has begun. On the far reaches of
the galaxy, a massive invasion force is assembling. Scanners at DEFCON
have alerted you to the alien threat. The Earth's best pilots are
dispatched in their BAMBAM cruisers to engage the enemy. Multiple weapons,
driving soundtrack, non-stop combat, multiple power-ups, and 15 extended
missions contribute to a shooter's game with real depth.
Telegames has chosen to continue support of the Jaguar platform even though
Atari (now JTS) has terminated support for its own system. "There remains
a significant base of loyal Jaguar owners who will support new product
releases. As long as this support continues, Telegames will deliver
additional quality products" said Telegames president Terry Grantham.
Telegames may be reached on the Internet at: http://www.telegames.com
ONLINE WEEKLY STReport OnLine The wires are a hummin'!
PEOPLE... ARE TALKING
On CompuServe
Compiled by Joe Mirando
jmirando@streport.com
Okay friends and neighbors, listen up! This is something I've never
done before and will probably never do again. I'm going to speak of
another online service favorably in this column! It's not that I feel that
no service is as good as CompuServe... indeed, each service that I've used
has had its own strong and weak points (including CompuServe). While
CompuServe is by far the fastest service I use now, it is also the one
that shows the most signs of caving in to Microsoft in an effort to garner
members. This is not an entirely bad thing because more members equals
more profit and more profit equals more and better services. While the
Macintosh is currently supported, the main thrust is now Microsoft. The
bad part is that, by "going Microsoft", they are leaving behind many of
their customers who either won't, can't, or don't use Microsoft-encumbered
machines. A case in point:
CompuServe offers members the ability to post their own web pages
within CIS. I decided a while ago that, when I had the time, I would
teach myself HTML (the language of the World Wide Web) and set up my own
web page. I checked into doing it on CompuServe only to find that you need
special software to install your page. The software is, of course,
available for Windows and Mac (and they seem to feel quite put upon for
having to provide that), but not for others. "You can" they say in a quite
reasonable-sounding tone, "use a friend's PC to upload the pages". This
is true. You could do that. But if you are like most people on the web,
you will end up changing and adding things quite often. Using a friend's
PC each time you want to make a change is a good way to weaken a
friendship.
For this reason, I decided to put my web page on Delphi. They make it
quite a bit easier. To be fair, I believe that the underlying programming
is what makes it easier, not a corporate decision or dark plan hatched
somewhere in Washington state, but the effect is the same: I can quickly
and easily install and modify my web page on Delphi, and I cannot do it at
all on CompuServe.
So if you want to take a look, my web page is located at
http://people.delphi.com/porthos
Now, let's take a look at what's going on in the Forums.
From the Atari Forums on CompuServe
Jack Hughes tells us about his frustrations:
"...I also just started PageStream v2.2. And it is giving me fits.....
Yesterday I started the Tutorial. Everything went fine until it was time
to input text to the screen. And I get dumped back to the Desktop with
four bombs! According to my info 4-bombs is "Illegal Instruction".
Thinking that there was a conflict with an Auto prg I cut back to the bare
minimum for TOS 1.4. Same old thing, back to the Desktop. I have tried
to input directly via the keyboard as well as inport. Only the keyboard
dumps me back to the desktop, inporting doesn't do anything. Seems to and
then still a blank, unfilled screen. Is PageStream still supporting the
program, answering questions? Any and all help, suggestions, etc will be
tried and appreciated."
Ben @ TOC Oz. asks Jack a rather delicate question:
"First of all is it a "legal" copy of 2.2 ? Uninstalled copies of PGS can
behave very badly ..... What version of NVDI are yoy running and what TOS?
My guess is that you've either run out of memory, or the GDOS drivers
haven't been set up properly with NVDI, and PGS. PGS doesn't like fonts
embeded in too many folders also."
Jack replies:
"[It] Came in a sealed _Soft Logic_ box, purchased from a "legit" vendor,
at least I think they are. <grin>... NVDI 4.11 R6, 1040STf upgraded from
TOS 1.0 and to 4M of memory many years ago.
Run out of memory? Maybe, but don't think so. Have not checked with NVDI
& PGS installed but usually have about 2.5M free in normal circumstances.
Embedded folders? This is a very real possibility. What I know/understand
about GDOS drivers would fit in the eye of a needle with room left for the
thread!!!
Guess, I'll keep on plugging away and hope something clicks."
Carsten Baron asks:
"Why [don't] we have a modern logo like in orther CIS forums?"
Sysop Jim Ness tells Carsten:
"We're open to submissions, if you have an artistic talent and want to
create a GIF or JPG file. About 150x150 pixels."
George Iken posts this about using a parallel port hard drive or other
storage device on the ST:
"The parallel port version of most any of the removable drives will work
ONLY on a PC. It will NOT work (even if someone tried to make a driver)
on an ST because the ST paralell port does not support bidirectional data
(unfortunately, even for the most simple disk writes, the computer really
needs to ask a few questions of the hard drive .. otherwise you might be
able to cobble up a write many, read never drive interface through the ST
parallell port).
The SCSI version of virtually all of these removable drives DOES work with
the ST (or Mac even). On the ST or MegaST you need a DMA to SCSI host
adapter (an ICD or other host adapter). On a TT or Falcon, just plug in
to the SCSI port. The ZIP drive is a little unique in that it needs to
pull power off the SCSI bus. Not all DMA to SCSI host adapters have power
at the pin the Zip is looking for it. If you have the right adapter
though, the Zip works fine. I personally prefer the faster and more
adaptable (you can use any SCSI ID versus only #5 or #6 on a Zip) Syquest
drives. I especially love the EZ135 (I have 3) and EZ230 (I have
2) drives for transferring data between ST and PC."
James Spielman tells George:
"Okay, I hadn't actually given any thought to the ST's parallel port not
being bi-directional. Oh, yes! I have a Link II for my STf/Mega ST2 (I
need two, really <g>) and I also have an EZ 135. I should probably get
another as it also works just great on my Apple IIGS, Mac Classic, and PC
(hmmm, I need a Black Box for the 8-bit Atari's....<g>)! SCSI is great!
Just another example of a "better" technology losing to market inertia or
something."
Philippe Bogdan posts:
"Just to let you know that I saw a demo of Performer 5.5 on Mac and I
really liked it. I've always been a Cubase inconditional - on Atari - but
I'm seriously wondering if I will ending switching to Performer 5.5. It
would run fine on my old DUO230. Until now I've use my DUO for everything
but music, but I may switch altogether to Mac. Don't know yet though, I
developp a sentimental 'relationship' with my from all this years of hard
and good work. Plus I have some hardware (MIDEX +)... But Performer 5.5 has
many features I've been looking for in a sequencer. I haven't made my mind
yet."
Dennis Larson asks Philippe:
"Have you looked at [Notator] LOGIC at all? It was originally developed on
the Atari, then ported over to Mac and PC platforms. It is a completely
integrated sequencer/notation program that does some pretty cool things.
Though it is being supported more for those *other* platforms, I heard that
v2.5 is just out for the Atari (I think that will be the last version for
Atari). It's worth looking into. Available from Emagic in Germany."
Simon Churchill posts this about using a Hewlett-Packard Thinkjet printer
with an ST:
"The HP Thinjet is a relativly new printer and DEGAS is a stone age sod, IF
you have a suitable printer driver (And you would have to write it, I
guess) and all the patches installed AND the control Panel or a parallel
to serial redirection util then you should get perfect print's. Many
year's ago I used the serial port all the time due to the printer's
parallel port getting blown up and used a small util which would redirect
the parallel info to the serial port, add to this a patch and it all worked
very well. (TOS used was 1.2, TOS 1.4 has more bug's, which TOS have you
got?) I had to do it like this because timework's 1 would only sent to the
parallel port. The other way was to have the control panel ACC loaded and
set the printer setting's to the serial port (Don't forget to save the
desktop), add the patches and you were away.
If you have tried both of the above and still get junk out then look at
your printer driver. Another way to print your pictures is to use
something like GEM VIEW or PIC SWITCH 1.01 and send the picture to the
printer from them."
Chris Meyer posts this:
"Just a quick little quirk.......
ATARI has been in the past the market leader in home gaming and...more
importantly, after school entertainment. I mean lets get real here, when
you you get down to it all the the graphics and technology don't mean
squat unless the product is fun. Nintendo has built an entire advertising
campaign on that one fact alone. The failure ( or near immenent failure
) of both the Lynx and Jaguar leads me to conclude that being the most
advanced should not be the goal of the ATARI home gaming agenda. I have
been a loyal and faithful ATARI customer since the old 2600 days, and I
for one, think that ATARI would do well to go through some major pondering
and restructuring. Before giving up entirely on home users, and before
going through another costly unsuccesfull system, lets see what ATARI had
that made it so great.
ú GAMES, gotta have em, can't live without em....nuf said.
ú FUN FACTOR, simplicity, durability, and style all added up to one
thing fun.
ú SUPPORT, the kids loved you, and more importantly, so did the
developers.
ú PRICE, you built so many that you could pump them out cheap.
ú NOTICEABILITY, you were out there, everywhere!, you could find them
any of a hundred locations, so they were CONVENIENT.
ú RESPECTABLE, everyone cool had one, and with a good track record the
26's and 54's seemed a good safe investment.
Well I just wanted to get that out of my system, for now and for always
long live ATARI."
Sysop Ron Luks jumps in and tells Chris:
"The only problem is that Atari is effectively out of business. They no
longer sell computers nor any games. the remaining assets of Atari have
been merged into JTS, a disk drive company."
Alexander Smith asks:
"Has anyone got their hands on IS2 yet? I'm very interested in reading a
couple reviews of this game."
Larry Tipton tells Alexander:
" Here's the latest news...
Update from Telegames [www.telegames.com]
Iron Soldier 2 Delayed
The projected release date of Iron Soldier 2 (CD) for Jaguar has been
delayed due to a CD replication problem. Although Atari's "officially"
licensed replicator has had the gold masters of IS2 since February
20th, they have been unable to create problem free glass masters that are
required for mass production. Their problems are partly related to the
sophisticated security encription on the Jag CDs. Engineers have
been working furiously since the masters were delivered to fully resolve
the problems. We will update our web site as more info becomes available.
Please do not send individual e-mail inquiries asking about the status.
...End of Post
Alexander tells Larry:
"As usual Larry, you're the man with the lastest news. Thanks for the
info."
Bruce Faierson asks for help with Highlander:
"I think there might be a problem with my Highlander CD. After I leave the
village at the beginning of the game, I go to the right, and I can't get
past the tank. If I go left, I can't get past the other tank. Is there
some secret I don't know about?"
Albert Dayes tells Bruce:
"I do not have the game but I believe there was some trick to get past the
tank. There are some hint files in the library on Highlander if I am not
mistaken."
Steve Watkins asks Bruce:
"The green monster tank? I only remember seeing one (I've only played it
briefly a couple of times - enough to get to the canyon section) and the
only problem was the ridiculous shifting perspectives. Go left and keep
trying to walk through. I don't think you need to be holding a certain
item, but I don't know... Or maybe you didn't kill all the enemies? Beats
me. Sorry - I didn't have any trouble just walking right past it."
Fred Horvat adds:
"The tank outside the fort in the opening part of the game you can just
walk on by with no problem. I think you do need to cross the stream
first. The tank in the desert if I remember correctly you can run right
by it but you may sustain serious damage as there are soldiers besides the
tank shooting at you."
Well folks, that's about it for this week. If you are able, and if
you have the time, check out the web page on
http://people.delphi.com/porthos and let me know what you think. 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
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