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Friday May 24 - News

OpenDoc Development Framework MapInfo for PowerMac Available
NetFinder Documents Distribution Via WWW Developer Release 1 CD of MkLinux Available
Apple's Mission Impossible Stuff Access the Net With Your Home Phone
New Tools for Mac Administrators(EDIT) DataWave Serves on Mac Servers
AT&T Worldnet is #2 ISP 1,000 Banks Now on the WWW
Adobe Acquires Ares Genie Resurfaces on the WWW

May 24 199

OpenDoc Development Framework

Apple Computer, Inc.today announced the premiere release of OpenDoc Development Framework (ODF), an object-oriented, cross-platform framework for developing OpenDoc and Cyberdog components.

OpenDoc Development Framework (ODF) simplifies the development of OpenDoc and Internet-savvy components by providing a rich infrastructure of classes, libraries and default behaviors. With
ODF you can develop OpenDoc components that are Internet-savvy and can plug-and-play with other OpenDoc and Cyberdog parts and containers.

ODF Release 1 which is provided in source code form by Apple, is available on the Macintosh today. ODF can be used with Macintosh Programmer's Workshop, Metrowerks CodeWarrior, Symantec C++ for Power Macintosh, and other popular development environments.

"Beginning with ODF Release 1, we offer Release-to-Release Binary- Compatibility between releases thus protecting your development efforts for the long term," said Sharada Achanta, Frameworks product manager. "Developers building OpenDoc parts have been praising ODF as a superior development framework that has significantly improved their productivity."

MapInfo for PowerMac Available

MapInfo Corporation announced MapInfo for thr Apple Power Mac, reportedly the highest performing desktop mapping software package designed specifically for the Power Macintosh.

MapInfo for Power Mac provides Macintosh users with the power of desktop mapping to spatially view and analyze data for highly efficient and informed decision-making. Developed to fully leverage the memory manager in Power Macintosh, the new product delivers industry leading performance and response times that are up to five times faster than the previous version. The product ships bundled with more than 90 data products, including worldwide maps and statistics to optimize a wide range of applications. It offers improved usability, new labeling capabilities,
seamless map sheets, improved digitizing and new tools and sample applications.

Mac users are always looking for ways to better manage and analyze volumes of data to make effective day-to-day decisions," said Jeanie Doty, product manager for MapInfo for Power Mac. "This latest version is a start-to-finish native Power Mac desktop mapping package that enables users to take full advantage of Power Mac performance for spatial analysis of data. Users will immediately benefit from enhancements in key functions such as intensive database operations and thematic mapping."

MapInfo for Power Mac is the premier product for data presentation and analysis, particularly for users in academic and scientific fields. MapInfo for Power Mac is a critical tool in our HUD-supported project to manage, plot and analyze water main breakage data throughout the City of Greensboro," explained Dr. Emmanuel Nzewi, associate professor of civil engineering at North Carolina A&T State University. "The software takes full advantage of the Macintosh platform enabling our team to accurately determine the spatial distribution and frequency of breakages within Greenboro's water distribution system. With the advanced digitizing and autotrace capabilities available in the new product, digitizing operations can be completed faster_nearly 300% faster allowing us to more efficiently pinpoint areas with significant pipeline vulnerabilities," continued Nzewi.

Comprehensive Data Sets

MapInfo for Power Mac is bundled with the industry's highest quality and most comprehensive data sets for "out-of-the-box" use in a wide range of applications. The product will ship with more than 300 Mbytes of worldwide data and maps including: U.S. ZIP Code, county and state boundaries; Claritas Trendline demographic data; business data from Market Statistics; a high quality U.S. raster map; North American, European and Asian Pacific administrative boundaries; international road
networks and much more.

Customized Applications with MapBasic

MapInfo will also ship MapBasicr for Power Mac v4, MapInfo's development environment for custom applications. Using MapBasic, resellers and developers can easily create custom desktop mapping applications for a wide range of vertical markets, or integrate mapping capability in existing applications.

NetFinder Eases Documents Distribution Via WWW


Apple Computer, Inc. announced NetFinder, a Mac OS asynchronous common gateway interface (ACGI) for distributing documents via the World Wide Web, offering Macintosh ease-of-use to Internet webmasters and surfers.

NetFinder lets administrators and webmasters of Mac OS servers distribute documents via the web,including software and product documentation, using Apple's familiar folder structures. No longer will webmasters have to use FTP or write HTML code to serve up files on the web.

Previously, users connected to a server had to use FTP, Gopher or custom-designed web pages to retrieve these documents. Now, with NetFinder installed on a server, users will see an automatically generated HTML page that looks like a Macintosh desktop folder. Users can open folders and download documents by simply clicking on familiar icons.

"NetFinder is one of many new products from Apple that support our recently-announced strategy to make the Internet as easy to use as a Macintosh computer," said Andy Lauta, product line manager of Internet products for Apple. "With NetFinder, webmasters will find it easier to use the Internet to share documents and keep their sites updated. End users get a friendly, Mac-like user interface which they can use to browse and download documents over the Internet."

People who browse websites that incorporate NetFinder will find it easier to navigate through server content, read documents and download files. NetFinder brings the ease of the Mac OS Finder to accessing files via the Internet.

NetFinder works with the Apple Internet Server Solution or any other Mac OS server running StarNine's WebSTAR. The beta version can be downloaded and other goodies can be found here.

Developer Release 1 CD of MkLinux Available


Apple Computer, Inc. announced that it is making available the Developer Release 1 CD of MkLinux. Linux is a freely distributable version of UNIX. Apple, in conjunction with the Open Software Foundation (OSF), has ported Linux to support a variety of Power Macintosh products. MkLinux (Microkernel Linux) operates on the OSF Mach Microkernel which will be running natively on the PowerPC microprocessor.

Apple's Mission Impossible Stuff


Apple has created a bunch of stuff with the Mission Impossible theme. The Expect the Impossible T-shirt is supposedly quite cool. You can find all the cool "Mission" stuff here.

Access the Net With Your Home Phone

Northern Telecom is planning to remake its PowerTouch telephones into Internet access devices. By building recently announced Java processors from Sun Microsystems into the phones, they will get screens and the new Java-Powered chips, which come embedded with the Java Virtual Machine for running Java applets. The Canadian telecommunications company hopes to start consumer trials of Java-based wireless products sometime next year.

The deal represents the first endorsement of Java technology by a major telecommunications company, a Northern Telecom spokesman said. The company did not provide pricing for the new phones.

New Tools for Mac Administrators(EDIT)

Apple Network Administrator Toolkit is anchored by version 4.0 of At Ease for Workgroups, which is now server-based (Appleshare required) with an extension for client machines. This architectural change accommodates several new features, including a three-level scalable interface and centralized file storage. When a user logs into a workstation, At Ease for Workgroups presents their assigned interface and they can always access their network documents.

The Apple Network Assistant has a large array of features .The Assistant acts as an asset manager, reporting on system configuration, software, and disk space usage on networked Macs, as well as distributing software to remote workstations, using a broadcast protocol to simultaneously update multiple machines and thus reduce downtime. The Assistant is also almost identical to Farallon's Timbuktu, providing screen sharing, text messaging, and voice communications capabilities between the administrator and clients, allowing administrators to assist users and remotely manage networked machines.

Inluded in the toolkit is the Apple User and Group Manager, allows administrators to maintain the same user ID's and passwords across AppleShare, SoftArc FirstClass, and At Ease for Workgroups 4.0 services. Administrators can also manage passwords, setting the minimum password length, controlling maximum time that a user can go without changing their password, and preventing users from relying on easily-guessed passwords.

DataWaves 4D Databases on Mac Servers

DataCraft is utilizing Acius 4th Dimension databases to serve info to the WWW. DataWaves collection of extensions, layouts, and procedures, has the capability to build and serves HTML pages--including forms and tables--out of 4th Dimension data, but doesn't require custom coding.

By utilizing NetLink/4th Dimension external package from Foresight Technology , you can link your 4th Dimension database to the Web via a WWW server, such as WebSTAR for the Mac, from StarNine Technologies . You can also publish your data directly to the WWW without a Web server using the Internet ToolKit for 4th Dimension external package.

An introductory price of $199 is available till August 1, 1996, then it goes up to $249.

AT&T Worldnet is #2 ISP

AT&T Corp said on Wednesday the WorldNet Internet access service it introduced nine weeks ago already is the second largest "pure-play" Internet access provider, after NETCOM On-Line
Communications Inc

In a conference call with reporters, AT&T's WorldNet Service chief Tom, Evslin said the company also was considering offering Microsoft Corp's Internet Explorer, in addition to the Netscape Communications Corp browser it now offers.

Due to the unexpected surge in demand, Evslin said, AT&T has experienced difficulties filling orders for the software disks necessary to use the service.

Earlier, AT&T said it had received 600,000 orders for the disks. It said it had mailed out 300,000 disks and that 150,000 subscribers had signed up and begun using the service. In April NETCOM said it had hit 400,000 subscribers.

Performance Systems International Inc , another direct Internet access provider, said it had 116,000 users at the end of its first quarter.

AT&T's claims to be among the leading Internet access providers ignore services such as America Online Inc and CompuServe Corp ich also offer Internet access to a portion of their millions of onlineservice subscribers.Evslin declined to comment on how many subscribers AT&T expected to have signed up by year-end. Asked if AT&T would consider offering low-cost network computers or terminals to customers as a means of inducing them to use the service, Evslin said the company had no plans to do so.

While busy signals and shipping delays have continued, WorldNet is rapidly expanding to meet demand, he said. He declined to specify how many employees had been hired.
"We are still gating customer shipments to make sure we don't swamp customer care," Evslin said, referring to the company's decision to only ship software disks to new subscribers when it has hired and trained enough customer support staff to handle the additional users. In particular, he apologized for delays in offering a version of the WorldNet service to users of Apple Computer Inc Macintosh computers. He said availability of a Macintosh version of WorldNet software had been pushed back until early summer.

1,000 Banks Now on the WWW


Online Banking Report, released figures from its latest Internet banking study which identified more than 1,000 financial institutions with WWW sites. With so many competitors already there, the question for banks, thrifts and credit unions is no longer "should we be on the Web" but rather "what should we be on the Web."

In planning meetings around the world, executives are asking themselves the same questions: What do users want from a banking Web site? Would someone actually switch banks to get it? How important is online account data? Will users feel secure paying bills online? Will creditworthy prospects complete an online loan application? What turnaround time do users expect for E-mail queries? Can we use the Internet to expand beyond our current market? How do we reach prospects online? The list goes on and on.

Tom Buehrer, founder of E-valuations Research, an Internet-based market research firm, offers some simple advice, "Use the Web to learn about Web users. In the past, gauging user preferences usually meant time-intensive and costly telephone surveys. Now you can post a questionnaire on your Web site in the morning and begin analyzing user feedback the same afternoon." Another cost effective way to gather input is to team with other companies to survey Web users around the country. E-valuations Research and the editors of Online Banking Report are assembling a group of financial services companies to do just that.

Adobe Acquires Ares

Adobe Systems announced that it has acquired Ares Software, a privately held software developer best known for its FontMonger type conversion program. Adobe says it plans to make Ares' FontChameleon font compression technology available to printer manufacturers that have licensed PostScript. This will enable the manufacturers to store a larger number of resident fonts in their printers without increasing memory requirements.

Prospects are murkier for Ares' end-user products, including FontMonger, which converts typefaces among leading font formats, including Type 1 and TrueType. Adobe says it will support all registered users for one year, with future plans to be announced later.

FontMonger could be made obsolete given the May 6 announcement by Adobe and Microsoft that they will merge Type 1 and TrueType into a single universal format called OpenType. In addition to promoting the format for printers and other output devices, the companies hope to make it a standard for embedding fonts in HTML documents.

Terms of the Ares acquisition were not announced, but Adobe spokesperson Jennifer Polanski says Ares founder and CEO Russ McCann will assume a new executive position with the company. The acquisition was finalized May 20 after private negotiations between the companies, Polanski says.

Genie Resurfaces on the WWW

Genie, one of the original online services (that all but disappeared), in the wake of Compuserve, America Online, and Prodigy, has resurfaced on the Web as Genie Interactive.

Prodigy, the Microsoft Network, and CompuServe are all shifting content to the Web, leaving AOL as the only major online service remaining with its own proprietary environment.

Genie Interactive is a joint effort between Internet service provider IDT and Genie. The companies are hoping to recoup some of Genie's popularity and get a leg up on other Web-based services by focusing on interactive multiplayer games, custom news feeds, and access to extensive content databases.

Genie plans to compete on price;by providing free online time for the first three months and then $10 a month thereafter, with no hourly charge.

Genie Interactive will also feature chat groups, BBSs, software libraries, as well as virtual communities. The service is scheduled for beta testing inext month.

The original text-based Genie service still has about 30,000 subscribers using the service on Amiga, Commodore, and Apple II machines.


Thursday May 23 - News

Apple Names Marco Landi EVP & COOAdvertising Age Top Commercial Apple
The new Mac OS 8 Tour CD "Free"Eudora Updated to v3.0b111
VLSI PowerPC Support IBM - MacOSCelebs/David Pogue/The Mac
Newton to Provide Internet SolutionsRam Doubler Updated to 1.6.2
Extensis Free PhotoNavigatorOpenDoc Developer Release 5 Available

May 23, 1996

Apple Names Marco Landi EVP & COO


Apple Computer, Inc. today announced one of the latest steps in the implementation of its corporate
transformation with the appointment of Marco Landi to the position of executive vice president and chief operating officer. Landi, who is currently president of Apple Computer Europe, Middle East, and Africa, will continue to report to Apple chairman and chief executive officer Dr. Gilbert F. Amelio. He will assume his new responsibilities on June 1, 1996.

As chief operating officer, Landi will be accountable for the successful implementation of Apple's overall business plans. He will oversee Apple's four newly formed product divisions (Macintosh products, alternative platforms, information appliances, imaging products), as well as worldwide sales, segment marketing, and manufacturing operations. Additionally, he will have responsibility for AppleAssist, a new Apple division that expands Apple's traditional customer service programs, and Claris Corporation, Apple's wholly-owned software subsidiary.

Landi joined Apple in March 1995 after 25 years with Texas Instruments (TI), where he held a variety of national and international sales, marketing, and management positions, including president of TI Asia and TI Europe. He was a driving force behind TI Europe's quality initiatives which lead to the company's receipt of the prestigious European Foundation of Quality Management award.

During his first year at Apple, Landi distinguished himself by refocusing Apple's European organization on customer satisfaction and market segmentation. He has also been credited with streamlining Apple's European operating cost structure, developing more competitive business units, and working aggressively to rebuild distribution channels.

"As Apple moves forward with the refinement of our strategic and operational plans," said Apple's Dr. Amelio, "we will continue to assemble a team of top managers with talents that complement one another and support Apple's transformation. Marco Landi is a passionate, customer-focused, and results-oriented leader. His strength lies in his ability to identify the need for change and to drive the implementation of necessary changes quickly and effectively. He is the ideal executive to fill the role of chief operating officer, and I am delighted that he has accepted the challenge."

Landi holds a degree in electronics engineering from the University of Bologna in Italy. He and his family will eventually relocate to Cupertino, California.

Advertising Age Top TV Commercial of all Time Apple


In January 1984, Apple Computer and agency Chiat/Day launched a revolutionary new product with a groundbreaking commercial called "1984" that ran on a national TV just once and 11 years later may still be called the greatest ever made.

Ridley Scott also directed this Orwellian nightmare of tyranny and enslavement, broadly suggesting the Big Brother and IBM were one and the same. Chiat/Day had difficulty selling it to Apple Computer, but the reluctant client relented for one spot on the Super Bowl and the Macintosh revolution was begun. "1984" is the greatest commercial ever.

The new Mac OS 8 Tour CD "Free"


The CD tour provides exciting demos and detailed information on Apple's upcoming Mac OS 8 operating system. It highlights Mac OS 8's many user interface enhancements, performance improvements, and integration of new Internet and multimedia technologies.

Brought to you by System Software Product Marketing and Worldwide Product Communications, the CD makes a great customer handout or point of sale display. It complements the Mac OS 8 message provided on the new Mac OS 8 web site www.macos.apple.com/macos8

Mac OS 8 Tour will be in the June Mailbox; free additional copies can be obtained immediately from StartingLine (part #L01865A) at 800-825-2145 or 303-297-8070; international orders can e-mail . Apple reps and resellers can order up to 50 per call; customers can get up to 5 per call. For larger orders, e-mail .

So spread the word on Apple's superior OS technology!

Eudora Updated to v3.0b111


Mac Eudora 3.0 Beta (3.0b111) is a available, included in the new version is sample plugin module, Rotation 13 (Rot13), that works with our new Extended Messaging Services Application Programming Interface (EMSAPI) feature. The EMSAPI is designed to support a variety of plugins including human language translation, compression, image format conversion, content analysis, and data security services. Rot13 scrambles (and unscrambles) a message by rotating the characters in the alphabet by 13, creating a pseudo-encoded message. Use the new Custom installation option "Translation Installation" to install Rot13.

You can download the Eudora30b111 update here.

VLSI PowerPC Support Logic Products IBM - MacOS


VLSI Technology, Inc. will support IBM Microelectronics' MacOS sublicensing program by supplying support logic components to enable third parties to design and manufacture high
performance MacOS-based systems. VLSI's GoldEagle PowerPC Platform support logic components, currently in the final stages of development and testing, will be the first Macintosh-compatible system logic products freely available to third parties. VLSI1s PowerPC Platform support chips result from joint development with members of the Apple-IBM-Motorola PowerPC partnership. Following technical briefings with potential customers, VLSI will release specifications, pricing and availability of the new products within the next 60 days.

Umesh Padval, vice president and general manager for the VLSI computing group, commented: "IBM's ability to sublicense the MacOS and VLSI's ability to offer support logic products for MacOS-optimized systems on the open market completes the transition of the Macintosh to an open architecture. Furthermore, our experience as a longtime supplier of Macintosh support logic components and early engagement with the PowerPC Platform partners will enable licensees to deliver the high performance systems at competitive prices."

Product Rollout Program VLSI1s Gold Eagle system logic products consist of a full complement of solutions for PowerPC processor-to-PCI bus interface, PCI bus-to-ISA bridge and PCI bus-to-Macintosh peripheral interface. VLSI will present technical briefings on the new components to MacOS licensees at the upcoming Apple Worldwide Developers Conference to be held in San Jose, California, beginning May 15. The company will release complete technical specifications, availability details and pricing later this Spring.

Celebs/David Pogue/The Mac


From David Pogue, contributing editor Macworld

There's been some traffic in the EvangeList concerning celebs who are known to use Macs. Thought I'd chime in with some of the Mac fans I've personally tutored:

HOLLYWOOD:
  • Mia Farrow
  • Mike Nichols
  • Carly Simon
  • Natasha Richardson
  • Vanessa Redgrave
  • Gary Oldman

WRITERS:
  • Frances Lear
  • Tom Clancy
  • William Goldman

BROADWAY:
  • David Shire (composer, "Big" and "Baby")
  • Stephen Sondheim (composer/lyricist, "Forum," "Into the Woods," etc.)
  • John Kander (composer, "Cabaret," "Kiss of the Spider Woman," etc.)
  • Susan Stroman (choreographer, "Big," "Crazy for You," etc.)
  • Mike Ockrent (director, "Big," "Crazy for You," etc.)
  • Betty Comden (lyricist, "On the Town," "Will Rogers Follies," etc.)
  • Paul Gemignani (conductor)
  • Jerry Bock (composer, "Fiddler on the Roof," etc.)
  • Cy Coleman (composer, "City of Angels," "Sweet Charity," etc.)
  • David Zippel (lyricist, "City of Angels," several new Disney movies)
  • Luther Henderson (arranger, "Ain't Misbehavin'," etc.)
  • Michael Gibson (arranger, "Kiss of the Spider Woman," etc.) Lucy Simon (composer, "Secret Garden")

As you can probably tell from this list, they don't use ANYTHING on Broadway except Macintosh. There's a Macintosh in the orchestra pit of nearly every musical, and everyone on the creative teams of musicals use Macs.

Newton to Provide Mobile Internet Solutions


A significant number of third-party developers have announced plans to integrate the Newton Internet Enabler into current and future releases of their products. With its powerful new suite of Internet connectivity tools, developers are looking to the Newton platform to provide their customers with sophisticated hand-held mobile Internet and intranet solutions.

To date, plans to integrate the Newton Internet Enabler have been announced by over 50 independent and corporate software developers, including QUALCOMM, Incorporated; AllPen Software; Lunatech Research; Fetch Software; InfoMed/Point of Care; NetStrategy; PenVision; Tactile Systems and SRL Data.

"We're very excited about Newton Internet Enabler because we can now provide solutions that offer desk top-level functionality in the hand-held environment," said Tracy Crowe, senior product
manager for QUALCOMM's Enterprise Software Technologies Group. "We anticipate huge growth in the Internet Personal Digital Assistant(PDA) connectivity market and will be able to meet that demand by integrating Newton Internet Enabler into our products."

QUALCOMM is the developer of the industry-leading Eudora line of email products, with an estimated 10 million users worldwide.

"As enterprise communications become increasingly Internet-based, mobile Internet connectivity becomes crucial. With Newton Internet Enabler, developers can offer solutions that provide end-users with access to critical information in very small packages," said Sandy Bennet, acting vice president of Apple's Newton Systems Group. "Customers can expect to see a wide array of solutions such as Web browsers, Internet mail clients, and news readers by mid-
year."

With Newton Internet Enabler, developers will be able to create email and Internet solutions which support standard protocols such as MIME, SMTP and POP3 (email) and HTTP and HTML (Web browsing).

Newton Internet Enabler is currently in beta form and is expected to be available in final form in June of 1996. The current bet aversion, available free of charge to all Newton developers worldwide, may be obtained electronically by emailing a request.

Ram Doubler Updated to 1.6.2


Changes in the update:
  • A "Finder Type 8" error when waking a 680x0 PowerBook running System 7.5 Update 2.0 (7.5.3) is fixed.

  • A freeze during copy on certain 68040 configurations with System 7.5.3 is fixed.

  • Iomega Driver 4.3 (Jaz/Zip drives) compatibility is implemented.

  • Qualcomm Eudora 2.1.3 (or later) launches with "Asynchronous I/O enabled".

  • A Photoshop 3.0.5 freeze on some configurations during application launch is fixed.

  • On volumes larger than 2 gigabytes, an error when launching an application is fixed.

  • Global Village internal modem software on a PowerBook 500 with PowerPC Upgrade card no longer reports the PowerBook 500 is "not a member of the PowerBook family" when loading.

  • Insignia SoftWindows 2.0 now launches when more RAM than physically installed is allocated to the application on a PCI Power Mac running 7.5.3.

  • Symantec ACT 2.5 now quits successfully on all configurations.

  • Dayna Pocket SCSI/Link compatibility is implemented.

  • A Retrospect 3.0 freeze when restoring locally on PCI Power Mac configurations is fixed. Additionally, Retrospect 3.0 users should use System 7.5.3 and upgrade to version 3.0A. An updater will be available next month, email to request the update.

    You can download Ram Doubler 1.6.2 update here.

Extensis Free PhotoNavigator

Extensis is shipping PhotoNavigator for Photoshop as FREEWARE! PhotoNavigator is an Adobe Photoshop plug-in that enables users to quickly and accurately view, edit and navigate images in Photoshop. PhotoNavigator revolutionizes image navigation with Photoshop. The plug-in operates by creating a free-floating, resizable palette that contains a thumbnail representation of an image. Users can then point, drag and click around the image with absolute control and without having to wait for the screen to redraw. You can download the free software here.

OpenDoc Developer Release 5 Available

Apple Computer, Inc. today announced that the newest version of the OpenDoc Software Developer Kit (SDK) is now available. It features a first look at KickStart viewer components and the
release of the OpenDoc Developer Framework (ODF.) The SDK is available at no cost for developers to download online via the OpenDoc Web site, or on a CD-ROM, which can be ordered from the Web site as well. The CD is an updated collection of tools, components and documentation needed to develop OpenDoc components. The CD also contains source code, ensuring open access for developers. The Web site will continue to provide regular updates.

The SDK Will Include:
--Third-Party Software--showcases the newest components under development using OpenDoc. It contains a version of ClarisWorks that can embed and use OpenDoc components, and others that take advantage of Cyberdog.
--OpenDoc Development Framework (ODF) Release 1--the release of the object-oriented framework for creating OpenDoc and Internet/Cyberdog compliant components, parts and containers. This release guarantees Release-to-Release-Binary-Compatibility, protecting and leveraging development efforts. Included are sources and binaries for the Framework, Shared Library, tools, utilities and sample parts.
--OpenDoc KickStart Components--early development of components that will be made available to developers and users this year. The five components include a button, viewers for 2D images, QuickDraw 3D and QuickTime. In addition, a basic drawing container will be included.
--OpenDoc 1.0.4--several improvements from the original OpenDoc release, including modifications to installer script and the editor set-up control panel.
--Tools, sample code and documentation are also included to complete the robust development kit.

Wednesday May 22 - News

Apple's in Outer SpaceGoo...PowerGoo
More Power to NewtonsStencil It! Graphics for "Artisically Challenged"
Metters Buys Blue Ridge TechnologiesCompuServe & Red Dog
4 Out of 10 Homes Have ComputersHeckler Update
Apple Releases NetFinderSub $500 Internet Device Announced
Older Macs as Internet RoutersNetscape Posts Bug Fix(ed) Navigator

Apple's in Outer Space

To introduce the Science Engineering & Design web site at Apple, we are featuring the all-Macintosh solution used by NASA and JPL to capture data during the current mission of the Space Shuttle Endeavor. Watch the Macintosh at work in the sciences.

For a look at the Live Data from the Shuttle, go here. For a status of the mission, look at NASA's STS-77 page here.

Pulling live images of the shuttles position, and live data from an onboard experiment is just another 'day in the life' of Macs on the net. Here's a bit more info on the actual experiment, that will start returning data on 21 May 96 (tomorrow)...

"BETSCE (pronounced "betsy") stands for the Brilliant Eyes Ten-Kelvin Sorption Cryocooler Experiment. BETSCE, part of the STS-77 mission onboard the space shuttle Endeavour, is a sorption cooler that can produce temperatures below 10 Kelvin (K) without the vibration produced by standard refrigeration techniques. (Before BETSCE, the only way to achieve temperatures as low as 10 K in space has been to launch extremely large, heavy, and expensive dewars containing liquid helium or solid hydrogen.) This new refrigeration technology is designed for precision-pointing astronomy, earth observation, and surveillance space shuttle applications."

Goo...PowerGoo

MetaTools announced (at last week's Electronic Entertainment Expo) PowerGoo, its first software product aimed at the consumer market. PowerGoo is scheduled to ship in mid-June, will include Windows and Macintosh versions, along with 80 clip photos, on a single CD-ROM.

The $50 program treats images as if they were printed in liquid, allowing you to stretch, smear, and distort pictures in real time using brushes from a "Goo Palette." A Global Effects palette allows you to apply special effects to the entire image, and a Fusion palette allows you to merge two images into one. The images can then be saved as QuickTime or Video for Windows .

MetaTools, Inc.announced that Kodak, a world leader in imaging for more than 100 years, has licensed a special original equipment manufacturers (OEM) version of Kai's Power GOO, the company's award winning, creative entertainment consumer product that will be bundled with Kodak's digital cameras. MetaTools and Kodak expect the bundled version of Kai's Power GOO and Kodak digital cameras to be released during the summer of 1996. The agreement includes the European and Japanese markets.

"Kodak's industry-leading digital cameras are a perfect capture device allowing consumers to quickly snap pictures which can then be viewed and played with in real time using Kai's Power GOO," said John Wilczak, company founder and CEO. "This enables consumers to interact with
pictures on the computer in an exciting new way. Any person using Kai's Power GOO has an immediate creative experience."

More Power to Newtons

powerPen Software announced the newest addition to its line of free Newton products this past week. Allowing users to create their own stationery, or note templates for the Notepad, powerNotes is a Newton 2.0 only application. It permits users to do what only a Newton programmer could do before.

By using a variety of tools that provide fields such as dates, times, text, static text, numbers, phone numbers, and checkboxes, Newton 2.0 users can now design their own style of note and add it directly into the Notepad. Multiple page notes of indefinite length can be easily created with a tap on the screen. Making it highly expandable, powerNotes also supports plug-in tools. With already 224 registered users, powerNotes' designers, James Speir, Justin Wollweber, and Jeff Schlimmer are thinking of new tools they can create to further expand powerNotes' usability.

An experimental project, powerPen is a 17-member company at Washington State University, that puts students into four-year software development teams. In their first year these students study software marketing and software quality assurance. Their second year involves studying project management, user documentation, and technical support. After studying each topic they do a related project for a regional software company, sometimes under non-disclosure. When these students reach their junior and senior years they are reorganized into product groups where they design, program, market, and support their own applications. The students are currently writing or revising 7 applications and supporting over 650 users in 27 countries.

Stencil It! Graphics for "Artisically Challenged"

Kaetron Software Corp. (713/298-1500) has announced Stencil It! for the Macintosh, a graphics package that allows users to create business forms, flow charts, maps, banners, and similar material by clicking on canned images known as Stencils. The software is scheduled to ship in June.

Stencil It! is expected to sell for a street price of $129, the program includes an automatic line connection feature for flow charts and network diagrams, and a Notecard function that allows you to attach comments to graphics. Images can be nested within other images and can also be linked to other applications. For example, a gantt chart outlining the tasks for a project can include an image that links you to a budget calculation spreadsheet.

Metters Buys Blue Ridge Technologies

Blueridge Technologies, "The Internet Document Management Company" announced that they have beenaquired by Metters Industries, Inc..

The aquisition of Blueridge is a significant step in Metters' strategy of becoming a global leader in document management technology. Coupled with its recent acquisition of Mekel Engineering, the industry leader in microfilm and microfiche scanners, and its own systems integration, training, and advanced technology divisions, Metters has positioned itself as one of the major players in the rapidly expanding market for document imaging, electronic workflow, text retrieval, COLD (Computer Output to Laser Disk), and World Wide Web content.

According to Dr. Samuel Metters, the Chief Executive Officer of Metters Industries, "Blueridge is already the leader in Internet-based document management technology. Combined with the advanced scanning technology offered by Mekel, and the technical, training, and services expertise
offered by Metters Industries, our expanded company will offer our clients a unique range of state-of-the-art technologies, services, and support unmatched in the industry."

Blueridge will remain in its Flint Hill, Virginia, headquarters. Dr. John Jamieson, General Manager, and Craig Landrum, Chief Technologist, will remain with Blueridge following the merger, as will the engineering, marketing, and support personnel.

"This merger will be good for both Metters and Blueridge," says Dr. Jamieson. "And it will be especially good for the customers of both companies, who will enjoy a new line of services and technology as we bring to market tomorrow's most advanced business solutions today."

CompuServe & Red Dog

CompuServe took a major step toward that future, announcing that it will no longer develop new content using proprietary tools and protocols. Instead, under a technological program code-named Red Dog, CompuServe will base future systems and development on open standards, such as HTML.

Company representatives stated that existing proprietary content will be moved to open standards-based systems as appropriate.

Representatives also discussed other ways the company is shifting to accommodate the ever-changing online playing field. Vice president of development Lex Crosette said that as large telcos like AT&T take over as access providers, CompuServe will have to break out the content portion of its service from the access portion. The company is working on technology, dubbed "distributed authentication," that allows a Web-based content provider to identify and admit a subscriber without requesting a user ID or password.

4 Out of 10 Homes Have Computers

According to a survey released today by Computer Intelligence InfoCorp. nearly 39 percent of American homes have personal computers, up from 33 percent a year ago,. The survey is based on interviews with 11,500 PC users, this year's CII Consumer Technology Index report again indicates that consumers who have a PC at home tend to be middle-aged, in a higher income bracket, better educated, and more likely to have children than those without a PC.

An increasing number of homes with incomes below the average of $35,000 a year are also buying computers; in fact, PC usage in this segment is up 20 percent, according to the survey. The change reflects the fact that 57 percent of homes that earn more than $40,000 already have PCs.

Other findings indicate that nearly 30 percent of 1995 first-time buyers bought used PCs, a significant increase over 19 percent in 1994.

In 1993, the first year of the survey, only 25.7 percent of U.S. homes had PCs.

Heckler Update


Hecklers ONLINE online poll, "If you were stuck on a desert island (or in Texas), which would you choose? Windows '95 or Macintosh?"

You are making a huge difference Windows '95 in the lead at 62.9% vs.37.0% for Macintosh, Today it has turned around, Macintosh 85.8612% vs Windows '95 14.1388%, Heckler's poll last nite, count was 95+% Mac, now - 96.99% for the Macintosh.

You can still vote here.

Apple Releases NetFinder

As part of its program to make Internet easier to use for "the rest of us," Apple Computer released NetFinder to facilitate the distribution of documents through Mac-based servers across the World Wide Web. The new product allows documents which previously were available through file transfer protocol to easily be distributed across the Web.

Apple's product manager, Andy Lauta, told Newsbytes "What this product does it make it very easy for webmasters to share documents. Without having to convert documents they want to post on their Web site, webmasters can simply drag documents into a folder and users can reach them through a hyperlink and have a list of available documents listed."

He continued, "Previously, these same documents would have been listed available through file transfer protocol (FTP) or they needed to be converted to HTML (HyperText Markup Language). Now they can be distributed easily for a webmaster and for Internet users."

NetFinder is a Mac operating system (OS) asynchronous common gateway interface (ACGI). According to Apple, the new product makes the entire distribution cycle a point-and-click process and reduces the amount of time a webmaster has to spend maintaining a site.

NetFinder, available without cost as a beta version, is available here. ( It works with the Apple Internet Solution or any other Mac OS server running Quarterdeck's WebSTAR.

Sub $500 Internet Device Announced

American Interactive Media announced today that it will offer an Internet access device for under $500.

The company said it will license microprocessor technology from MSU Limited and combine it with high-resolution graphics, 16-bit sound, and an integrated modem in the device. The appliance will also include a suite of software, including Web browser, email, and Java support.

The first product from American Interactive Media will ship during the holiday season.

Older Macs as Internet Routers

Vicom has released the Vicom Internet Gateway for the Small Office, a software TCP/IP router that works on any Mac . You can use that old with a 68020 or better processor running System 7, as an Internet router.

With the Internet Gateway, multiple users connected on Ethernet or AppleTalk LANs can access the Internet simultaneously through a single SLIP or PPP account over a modem or an ISDN connection (at additional cost). Administrators can restrict access to authorized users, set the time that users can remain connected, and bar users from accessing selected sites.

A two-user version of the Vicom Internet Gateway for the Small Office retails for $149. One additional user costs $50, 10 users cost $300, and 20 extra users cost $500. The ISDN Module costs $149.

Netscape Posts Bug Fix(ed) Navigator

Netscape Communications has posted a new beta release of Navigator that fixes the latest security bug in the browser.

Navigator 3.0 beta release 4 remedies a security flaw in Netscape's support for Java, which was publicized over the weekend. The company is evaluating whether to provide a software patch for users of the 2.0 series of Navigator.

Officials say users have very little to worry about because the problem was so esoteric that it would have taken months of sleuthing by experts to uncover the problem in the first place.

The bug--the third discovered in the browser in recent months--was unearthed by researchers at Princeton University and has to do with Navigator's use of the Java programming language, which can create a security breach.

You can read the spec sheet here.


Tuesday May 21 - News

PointCast Releases New ProductsCast Your Vote for Macs
Bare Bones Software's SoftPolishBig Software Upgrades Big Business
Mercury Software Announces Mac GatewayApple's Speech Manager & Star Trek
Mac the Premier Web Site CreatorApple's Plans following WWDC
Video & Audio Tapes of the WWDC

More News Tuesday May 21
PageSpinner 1.1 AvailableIomega Releases New Zip Drive(rs)
More On Online BankingFree Web Presentation Software
"NCz Reference Profile 1"

May 21, 1996

PointCast Releases New Products

PointCasts products include: the PointCast Network(TM) and PointCast I-Server, a new software component for the PointCast Network specifically designed for corporate Intranets. The PointCast Network is the first news network to use the Internet to broadcast news and information to a viewer's computer screen. Viewers of this free service enjoy "pointcasting" -- the ability to broadcast breaking news according to the interests of each individual user. PointCast's patent-pending SmartScreen(TM) technology automatically begins running up-to-the minute headlines when a viewer's computer is idle.

A Mac version of The PointCast Network will be going into beta this summer! If you would like to
be notified by e-mail when a beta version is available, you have to complete a form here.

Cast Your Vote for Macs


Hecklers ONLINE has a poll, "If you were stuck on a desert island (or in Texas), which would you
choose? Windows '95 or Macintosh?"

The voting as of yesterday was, Windows '95 in the lead at 62.9% vs.37.0% for Macintosh, Today it has turned around, Macintosh 85.8612% vs Windows '95 14.1388%, lets get in some more. Register your vote here.

Bare Bones Software Announces SoftPolish

Bare Bones Software, Inc. announced the release of its first version of "SoftPolish," the essential tool for software quality assurance on the Apple Macintosh. This new version includes several improvements over the product formerly published by Language Systems Corp.

SoftPolish checks elements of the Macintosh user interface that are contained in resources and identifies potential problems. SoftPolish can help developers identify inconsistencies with Apple's user interface guidelines, misspelled words, missing resources, and other mistakes. In addition, SoftPolish provides tools to put the finishing touches on software distribution packages prior to release. It works independently of any programming language or environment. SoftPolish is ideal for sanity checking software throughout the development process.

The new version of SoftPolish incorporates a new spell-checking system, which contains many improvements. The spelling checker provides a 100,000+ word U. S. English dictionary, as well as dictionaries for U.K. English, French, Dutch, Spanish, and several specialized dictionaries.

SoftPolish checks the validity of resources by examining resource types, internal consistency, system software compatibility, resource sizing, and resource links. Bare Bones Software has updated and expanded SoftPolish to handle a wide variety of resource types, including those commonly generated by modern development environments.

Developers can use SoftPolish's Clean Up facilities to prepare software for release. The Clean Up commands provide an easy means to set file and folder dates, remove unwanted resources, eliminate empty resource forks, list version resources, and warn of debugging traps or debugger names in 680x0 code.

Big Software Upgrades Big Business

Big Software, publisher of the 1995 MacUser magazine Eddy Award Winner Big Business, today shipped Big Business 2.0, a significant upgrade to the complete business management and accounting solution. Big Business 2.0 delivers over 36 new features to get companies on the worldwide web, increase small business productivity, and increase inter-company collaboration. With version 2.0, the price of Big Business has been changed to a NEW estimated street price of $199 from an estimated street price of $399 - a reduction of up to $200.

Big Business 2.0 automates the process of creating and maintaining a catalog of products or services on the Internet. Users can easily export inventory items, item descriptions, prices, and pictures, which Big Business will format into HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language). This feature allows Internet users of all levels to easily create their own web page web pages with the proper links directly from the information stored in Big Business. When users add new products or change item and service prices, they can select an option that creates a new web site page, ready to be copied to their web server or Internet Service Provider.

Big Business 2.0 also provides a built-in report and forms writer that allows users to create custom reports and forms. This feature offers a full-functioned WYSIWYG report writer that has full access to the information in Big Business. End users will be able to easily customize reports and forms. Users who prefer to rely on consultants and VARs can get reports and forms customization from the nationwide network of Big Software authorized consultants and VARs (the Big Software network of authorized consultants and VARs is available from the Big Software web site .

Big Business 2.0 links to the third party payroll products from Aatrix Software and CheckMark Software, Inc. Journal entries and check information from both of these products can be directly included in Big Business. Big Software is including coupons in its product boxes that offer users special discounts for these industry-recognized payroll products. Commission codes and rates can now be added to employee cards. Users can select a number of methods to calculate commissions and royalties. Users can also create various commission and royalty reports.

Version 2.0 has international features for most major English speaking markets. Big Business can now handle VAT tax, international date formats, and the metric system. Users will be able to select currency symbols and preferences for a number of countries. Big Business 2.0 is completely compatible with Apple Computers new PCI-based Power Macintoshes, delivering increased system performance on those systems. Big Business is also compatible with the PCI-based MacOS compatible systems.

Big Business 2.0 is available now through Big Softwares reseller, mail order, and retail partners. Big Software is also offering a $50 competitive upgrade rebate to owners of competitive
products.

Mercury Software Announces Mac Gateways for e-mail


Mercury Software has announced a family of MacOS personal gateways for the leading business e-mail services. Now MacOS users with access to MCI Mail, AT&T EasyLink, or Bell Canadas Envoy can connect to the world as easily as they connect to their own printer.

Using PowerTalk, a part of the MacOS, the Mercury Gateway products allow a user to send and receive mail including text, pictures, files, and voice annotations or send a fax from any mail-enabled application to correspondents worldwide without actually having to log-on to their mail service. The Mercury Gateway connects automatically to the e-mail provider, downloads any incoming messages to an In Tray and sends outgoing documents from the Out Tray, including Internet and X.400 addressed mail.

Since Mercurys Gateways are implemented at the system software level, their capabilities are accessible from the desktop and within every PowerTalk supported application. This means MacOS users can now create a document and send it, utilizing drag and drop from the desktop, to local users over AppleTalk or to remote users, seamlessly via their e-mail provider. All without leaving the application that was used to create it.


Mercury Software currently has signed agreements with MCI, AT&T and Bell Canada to distribute the software. Mercurys Mail Gateway products will be provided at no charge to both current and new service users through these and other worldwide business retail providers.

In addition to distribution through the business e-mail providers, Mercurys Gateway products will be available through Apples normal electronic forums (CompuServe, AOL, www, etc.). The software requires Mac OS version 7.0 or greater and is shipping now.

Apple's Speech Recognition Manager & Star Trek


By Incorporating Apple's Speech Recognition Technology Into Their Applications, Developers Can Capture Their Customer's Imagination and Enhance the User Experience. Imagine being able to control a computer with your voice like your favorite Star Trek character.

A new software development kit (SDK) from Apple Computer, Inc., called Speech Recognition Manager, lets developers incorporate speech recognition into any application. Speech recognition gives people who already communicate with their computer by mouse or keyboard one more option: Speech.

Among the first to take advantage of this new technology is the Star Trek Omnipedia CD-ROM from Imergy, a voice-activated guide to a galaxy of Star Trek facts, characters and movies. Billed as the single greatest compilation of Star Trek fact, lore and history, Star Trek Omnipedia was one of 1995's top-selling CD-ROMs. Going where no other developer has gone before, the creators of Star Trek Omnipedia have given voice-activation powers to anyone navigating the database.

Apple's Speech Recognition Manager lets developers create speech-savvy applications that recognize and respond to spoken voice commands. Users will be able to engage their Macintosh computers in conversation, adding a whole new dimension to computer interaction.

Developers will be pleased to know that the vocabulary in Speech Recognition Manager is highly accurate and flexible, ensuring the easy addition of new phrases. The Speech Recognition Manager is speaker independent, which means that it doesn't depend on one particular voice to understandcommands. The optional push-to-talk feature toggles the microphone off and on, allowing the Speech Recognition engine to function accurately in real-world environments.

Developers can enhance any application with Apple's Speech Recognition Manager. Apple expects Internet, multimedia, entertainment and productivity developers to find the Application Programming Interface (API) particularly appealing. Apple's Speech Recognition Manager SDK includes the Speech Recognition Manager, Speech Recognition API, Speech Recognition Extension, sample code, libraries and documentation.

You can download the he SDK is available free of charge on the Internet at Apple Speech
Program's newly-launched Web site:.

Mac the Premier Web Site Creation Platform

Further establishing the Macintosh as the platform of choice for users creating and distributing information over the Internet, Apple Computer, Inc. and industry-leading developers today showcased new Internet development products to provide content developers and webmasters
with powerful tools for Web site development.

Companies announcing Macintosh development solutions at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference, include Allegiant Technologies, Inc., EveryWareDevelopment Corporation, Forte, JYACC, Main Event, Maxum Development,Metrowerks, Inc., Natural Intelligence, Pictorius, Inc., PowerProductionSoftware, QKS, Quarterdeck, RadMedia, Smartcode Technologies and Symantec
Corporation.

"These products are a testament to the potential of the Macintosh as a leading development platform for the Internet," said Larry Tesler, Apple's vice president of Internet Platforms. "Developers and site-managers now can choosefrom a wide variety of software tools to build robust Web sites on the
Macintosh."

Apple's Macintosh systems represent the number one desktop platform for Website creation and the number two server platform for distributing Web information. Web tools announced and showcased for the Mac platform fall intofive strategic areas: Cyberdog/OpenDoc tools, Java/programming tools, Webauthoring tools, Web site tools and client/server application tools.
  • Cyberdog/OpenDoc Tools

  • Java/Programming Tools

  • Web Authoring Tools

  • Client/Server Applications Tools

Apple's Plans following WWDC

For a summary of Apple's plans and prospects in the wake of the WWDC announcements, go here.

Convergence Communications has been tracking Apple's ups and downs for a year now, and we've never been as high on the company's prospects as we are after the very strong WWDC showing.

Video & Audio Tapes of the WWDC


If you'd like to buy video, $30.00 each, or audio tapes, $8.95 each, of the WWDC sessions, you can email GT Recording

Here are some key sessions:
  • 10A Apple's Strategic Direction (Gil Amelio), video only
  • 10B Apple's Internet Strategy (Larry Tesler), video only
  • 100 MacOS Strategy (Jim Gable), video only

And two run by your's truly that are truly useful for any budding Macintosh developers:
  • 701 How to Make a Million Dollars, founders of Salient, After Hours, Ceneca (PageMill), and the co-programmer of ClarisWorks tell all, audio or video

  • 702 How to Get Funded, John Doerr (Sun, Compaq, Lotus, Netscape), Rich Shapero, Dave Marquardt (Microsoft), and Mike Moritz (Yahoo and Global Village), audio or video.

PageSpinner 1.1 Available


PageSpinner 1.1 is now available from Optima Systems. PageSpinner is semi WYSIWYG HTML creation shareware. It supports both HTML 2.0, parts of HTML 3.0 plus several Netscape extensions and is useful for both the beginner and the more advanced Web author.

The editor gives you quick access to often used formatting and also supports interactive help with AppleGuide and an HTML Assistant to help you create your own HTML pages.

PageSpinner also includes support for the latest Web technologies such as:
  • Embedded Objects
  • Autoload of HTML files
  • Text Colors
  • Limited Java
  • Form File
  • Uploads
  • and more
You can download version 1.1 (640K) here. You will need to use Stuffit expander on the download, new version 4.0 is available here.

Iomega Releases New Zip Drive(rs)


Iomega has updated the drivers and tools for Mac zip drives to version 4.3. You can download the software here.

More On Online Banking

Edify, announced new software to give financial institutions the ability to provide automated banking services to Visa member banks worldwide via the WWW.

Dubbed the Electronic Banking System, the Web banking program gives the banks the tools to provide home banking, including account balance inquiry, funds transfer, account statement review and transaction reports.

"The Web is emerging as a strategic new channel for banks to deliver home banking andbill payment services," said Brent Robinson, senior vice president of Visa Interactive."We selected Edify for Web banking because they offer our member banks a comprehensive, bank branded solution that can be quickly and cost-effectively deployed."

Edify's Electronic Workforce is designed to provide financial institutions with a fully integrated service delivery software platform that can be easily leveraged to deliver complete, automated financial services through the web, telephone and personal financial managers. Additionally, Edify's visual, object-oriented customization tools help accelerate application development, offering financial institutions significant time to market advantages.

Visa will incorporate the Electronic Workforce into the solution set marketed by Visa. The parties have also agreed to work together to develop streamlined offerings that provide banks with turn-key product solutions and pre-negotiated contract terms and prices.

Edify will connect to Visa Interactive processing centers via the Access Device Messaging Standard (ADMS) bill payment interface. Edify also plans to implement ADMS extensions that will tie into the VISA ePay system. Edify's support for e-Pay will allow consumers to electronically connect through their financial institutions to billing organizations and view and pay bills as part of a single transaction.

Besides utilitizing the WWW, the systems will also rely on the use of telephones, fax, and personal financial management software.

EBS will be available to banks this summer. Banks can expect to pay at least $195,000 for the application and implementation services.

Free Web Multimedia Software

RadMedia is making 500 copies available free (List: $495 and $1,895) for webmasters and web designers that use PowerMedia to create exciting content on their site which we reference from the RadMedia Gallery. RadMedia's PowerMedia and ScreenPlay software with reportedly allows authors to deliver interactive applications within five minutes after downloading PowerMedia .

Features of The software are:
  • Web browsing, hyperlinking and importing
  • Cross-platform support- Windows, Macintosh, Unix
  • Built-in HTTP client/server communications
  • Professional graphics and multimedia design
  • Scaleable viewing display for laptops to workstations
  • Global Revisable Document Format- Open and editable
  • Automated HTML publishing with intelligent imagemaps
  • International languages (Japanese, German, French)
  • Native in-line plug-in for Netscape and MS Explorer
  • Variables, flow-control, programmability and scripting
  • Support for hybrid environments combining Web, mobile laptops, stand-alone CD-ROM and corporate Intranets.

Content must be completed and posted in both PowerMedia and HTML formatsby June 30th, 1996, along with the RadMedia logo to receive the free licenses. To register, download the software and send email with the code word: RADMAN. Limit: 2 per company.

Currently there is no Macintosh version but the company states that "Macintosh releases will be out in a few months. "








"NCz Reference Profile 1"


Apple Computer, Inc., International Business Machines Corporation, Inc., Netscape Communications Corporation, Oracle Corp. and Sun Microsystems Inc. today joined forces in the announcement of an unprecedented common set of guidelines for developing low-cost, easy-to-use network computing devices. On stage at San Francisco's Westin St. Francis Hotel, representatives of the five companies disclosed details of an open NC profile which will combine existing industry specifications to create a reference platform for network computing devices.

This collaboration marks the first time world-leading information technology companies have joined to select specifications for Internet appliances, an idea that has caught fire in less than a year and has
demonstrated a future that encompasses the Personal Computer (PC) and a broad range of new devices. Called "NC Reference Profile 1," the set of guidelines is designed to make multimedia Internet computing as ubiquitous as telephone and television services. It will promote competition in a new class of communications and commerce devices for use in homes, schools, businesses and institutions and will ensure compatibility of models from different manufacturers.

NC Reference Profile 1 will provide a common set of standard features and functions across a broad range of scalable NCs. It is architecturally neutral and intended to facilitate the growth of the network computing industry while protecting investments made by customers, content providers, system providers, service providers and application providers through industry-wide compatibility.

"We believe that such a platform-neutral architecture opens broad opportunities for moving personal computing into a new era, characterized by the convergence of communications and multimedia, especially in the form of the Internet," said Gil Amelio, chairman and CEO of Apple Computer, Inc. "As a pioneer in developing next- generation computing devices, as demonstrated by the Pippin and Newton, we are excited to contribute our expertise to this industry-wide effort to define network computing guidelines."

"The Reference Profile is one more step along the way to making network computing a reality for customers," said John M. Thompson, senior vice president and group executive, IBM. "It will accelerate the development of network computers, applications and content while ensuring their compatibility. And it will increase the benefits of network computing by reducing cost and putting the power of information in the hands of many new users."

Monday May 20 - News

New Apple CD Rom DriversPPC 200-MHz 603e Chip Ships
Global Internet Access ComingCorel For Macs Coming this Summer
New Search Engine Hot BitsTechnology Stocks Have "Good Week"

May 20, 1996

New Apple CD Rom Drivers

Apple has released an update to tiern CD ROM software.Improvements to Version 5.1.7, the software now works with 6x-speed CD-ROM drives. Earlier updated also fixed problems with, Apple PC Compatibility Cards for PCI-based Macintosh computers., intermittent problems playing the Peter and the Wolf CD have been corrected, Photo CD with more than 30 sessions would not start up properly the fix allows Photo CD of up to 50 sessions (the theoretical maximum number of sessions on a Photo CD) will work properly.

You can download CD-ROM Software 5.1.7 (600k) here.

PPC 200-MHz 603e Chip Ships


Motorola RISC Microprocessor Division last week began selling 166-, 180- and 200-MHz versions of its 603e chip.

The Austin, Texas-based Motorola division and IBM Corp.'s also announced they had completed developing the PowerPC 604e chip, the next-generation PowerPC 604 that will ship later this year.

This past April, Motorola said a 200-MHz processor would not be released until later this year. These 603e chips are the first PowerPCs to use 0.35-micron technology, a manufacturing process that reduces the power requirements and heat output of the microprocessors.

The 603e is used in Apple's PowerBooks and some education and consumer Macintosh models. Sources said the new 603e processors will be in Hooper and Epic (Apples new PowerBooks) due later this year.

Power Computing Corp. and UMAX Computer Corp.stated that they will also be utilizing the new chips in systems they expect to deliver later this year.

Nathan Brookwood, an analyst at Dataquest Inc. , said the 200-MHz 603e is faster than the fastest Intel Pentium and slower than the 200-MHz Pentium Pro.

Global Internet Access Coming

UUNet Technologies announced a new service that will make Internet access easier for users who roam the globe.

UUNet, which currently offers points of presence in 288 international cities, will offer a roaming capability that allows users to dial into local POPs in any country. Previously, users would have to maintain separate accounts in different countries, they will charge users a $6 surcharge for the roaming option.

By the end of May, roaming will be available in Canada, England, France, Germany, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Japan, and Australia. A month later, roaming service will be extended to Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Singapore, Sweden, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Hong Kong.

UUNet has said it will work with its new parent company MFS Communications to expand its international presence in the coming year.


Corel For Macs Coming this Summer

Corel formerly a Windows-only product, has felt the pressure of the Mac community plans late June release of its popular CorelDraw graphic design package for the Macintosh.

CorelDraw product manager Haris Majeed stated that the company will ship CorelDraw 6 for Macintosh with basic support for AppleScript macro language, AppleGuide online help, and a more 3-D, "Copland-look interface" based on specifications Apple released to developers last month,..

CorelDraw has been available for the Windows platform since 1981. Pricing has not been set for the Macintosh version, but the current version of CorelDraw 6 for Windows 95 retails for $695, the Mac version is expected to ost slightly less to compete with other Mac graphics packages like Macromedia FreeHand and Adobe Illustrator.

Corel is expected to bundle WordPerfect for Macintosh with CorelDraw for Mac.


New Search Engine Hot Bits

HotBot, a new index of the Web goes public today. The new search engine is supposed to have the capability of searching every one of the estimated 50 million or more Web pages currently on-line. HotBot, is a partnership between Inktomi Corp. of Berkeley, Calif., which built it, and HotWired Ventures of San Francisco, which runs it. HotBot will join the current crop of Web catalogs: Lycos, Yahoo! and AltaVista.












Technology Stocks Have "Good Week"

Sunday May 19 - News

It is 85 degreees on the East Coast, we are taking a much deserved day off. Be back tonight with more news. Have a wonderful day!!

Saturday May 18 - News

Now Softwares Free WWW Calander ProgramOracle & Apples Information Management
Adobe Magazine PageMill/SiteMill Q&A Update to Sanitizer 1.2 for Explorer
Adobe Forms New Internet Division AOL To Improve Internet Commerce
Commerce Bancorp On-line Banking Apple Utility, Learn About Macs
Emery Worldwides On-line TrackingNetscape Navigator Java Bug Reported

Now Softwares Free WWW Calandar Program

Now Software is giving away a new utility to allowimg "non-programmers" to publish calendars on the Web. The online calendars can be shared by anybody with the Mac or Windows versions of Now Up-To-Date. The dates can be dragged-and-dropped onto your own calendars. You can go to the download registration page here, or you can bypass the registration and download (6 megs) the software here.

Oracle & Apple Deliver Information Management


Oracle Corp. and Apple Computer, Inc. announced their intent to deliver Oracle's information management capabilities to the Apple Network Server family. Oracle and Apple plan to certify the Workgroup and Enterprise editions of Oracle Universal Server, Oracle WebServer 2.0, Developer/2000 and Oracle Applications for the AIX-based Apple Network Server family. Oracle is the first database vendor to announce broad support for the Apple Network Server platforms.

Adobe Magazine Posts PageMill/SiteMill Q&A


Adobe Magazine has an online PageMill/SiteMill Q&A Department, and the current issue covers adding PDFs manually to your Web page using PageMill or SiteMill. You can review the Q&A page here.

Update to Sanitizer 1.2 for Explorer


Tired of being "Windozed, even on your Mac? An update version (1.2) of Sanitizer! patch for Microsoft's Internet Explorer. The new version version has a new optimized animation, new
icons, and a cool new splash screen (with a new logo to replace the original). Version 1.2 works on the recently released version 2.0.1 of Internet Explorer, available here. You can download Sanitizer here.

Adobe Forms New Internet Division


Software developer Adobe Systems Inc. is forming a new division to focus on the Internet, company officials announced today.

Adobe's Internet Business Division will develop and market the company's Internet products and technologies, including Acrobat, Page Mill, Site Mill,Persuasion and Web Presenter, its new presentation authoring technology, officials said.

"For the last few years, we've been developing technologies and products for making the World Wide Web a more effective and visual communications medium," said Charles Geschke, president of Adobe, in Mountain View, Calif.

"Now that the Internet marketplace is taking off, it makes sense for us to structure our organization so that we can continue to move quickly and provide developers and content creators with an integrated suite of products and technologies that will enable them to take the Internet to
the next level," Geschke said.

AOL To Improve Internet Commerce


America Online t will team up with key providers of online security and financial transaction technology in a bid to bring secure electronic shopping a step closer to consumers.

Vienna, Va.-based AOL, the nation's largest online service, said it will license key technologies from companies such as CyberCash, IBM infoMarket, RSA Data Security, Terisa Systems and VeriSign.

The agreements, while largely anticipated, represent one of the most comprehensive efforts to date in fulfilling the promise of making online transactions secure, an issue that has inhibited commercial use of online systems.

"These new relationships will provide the building blocks for a secure electronic commerce platform," said David Gang, AOL's vice president of product marketing

Sales of Internet-related technology and products among consumers and businesses is expected to reach $41 billion in 1999, up from $5.3 billion in 1995, market research firm Zona Research said Wednesday.

The estimates included sales for both the Internet and so-called intranets, which use Internet technology to manage information on internal company networks.

While AOL's partners are considered among the leading providers of secure transaction technology, none of these companies has promised complete transaction security.

AOL said it was confident that this combination of technologies will enable its subscribers to download from the Internet and pay for such offerings as research reports, music, games, and special event programming.

Publishers have hesitated to transmit such offerings online due to the ease of copying the material and the difficulty of ensuring that users pay.

AOL said it planned to integrate secure technologies into both its online subscriber service and its Internet access service, Global Network Navigator.

AOL said its next-generation Internet browser, now in testing and scheduled for release in June, would enable AOL users to transmit information securely over the Internet.

RSA Data's technology will allow AOL subscribers to make purchases and be assured that personal financial information is secure. AOL said it will incorporate RSA's technology for securely encoding data transmitted within the online service by the end of the year.

Commerce Bancorp On-line Banking Reaches 10,000


Commerce Bancorp Inc. reported that over 10,000 people between Metropolitan Philadelphia and the New Jersey Shore have signed up for its new, free home banking product, Commerce On-Line, since the system was unveiled just five months ago.

Commerce On-Line's popularity far exceeds industry projections and actual acceptance rates of home banking products across the country.

According to banking industry estimates, 35 percent to 40 percent of all households across the country have a computers and about one third of these computers are equipped with modems. However, few banks, if any, that offer home banking systems have managed to attract even one percent of their customers with a home banking product.

Contrary to this trend, Commerce Bank's 10,000 home banking customers represent five percent of the bank's 200,000 customers. In addition, Commerce reports that interest in the system continues to be strong with additional customers signing up for the service at an average rate of 50 per day.

Commenting on the eager acceptance of Commerce On-Line, Matt Chapman, chairman and chief executive officer of CFI ProServices Inc., the nation's leading provider of PC-based software to banking and financial institutions, noted that while some of the nation's largest banks may have a customer base that is three times the size of Commerce's, the home banking products they offer have barely reached the 1 percent acceptance level after three years.

"Commerce is by far the most successful bank CFI has worked with in the home banking field," added Chapman. ProServices Inc. partnered with Commerce Bank to develop Commerce On-Line.
In addition to Commerce On-Line's overall popularity, over 60 percent of the bank's on-line customers have signed up to take advantage of the system's electronic bill paying option. For a monthly fee of just $5, customers can pay an unlimited number of bills from their Computers.

Apple Utility, Learn About Macs


Apple Spec is a utility from Apple will give you a plethora of useful information on any and all Mac models. You will need Filemaker Pro 2.1 or a runtime version of Filemaker to view the database.

You can download the utility here.

Emery Worldwide Joins Others with On-line Tracking


Emery Worldwide said its customers now can track and trace their air freight shipments via a "Track-A-Shipment-Online" feature on its WWW site.

To use the feature, customers must input a shipment number and either a shipper reference number or the consignee reference number, said Emery. Emery is promising complete security, assuring that intelligence about shipments is not disclosed to unauthorized users.

"No shipper or consignee identification is ever revealed as part of the total information integrity built into our web security system," Emery vice-president sales and marketing Douglas Foster said.

You can track your package here.

Netscape Navigator Java Bug Reported

Computer-science researchers at Princeton University said Friday that they had discovered a new and potentially serious flaw in Netscape Communications Corp.'s Navigator software.

The flaw, which was found in recent versions of the Netscape software that support Sun Microsystems' Java programming language, could allow people to write destructive or malicious programs and potentially destroy or steal data or otherwise tamper with a computer that was connected to the Internet and used the Navigator program.

Netscape executives said that the researchers had gotten in touch with them about the problem on Thursday and that the software company was in the process of producing a new version of the Navigator program that would protect against potential attacks.

This is the third flaw discovered in recent months by the Princeton group. Netscape has been under tremendous scrutiny over the security of its popular software since the fall, when a group of researchers at the University of California at Berkeley discovered a flaw in the Netscape security system.

The company said it was in the process of posting on the Internet a new version of the most recent test version of its next-generation Internet program, version 3.0 beta. The program contains a special fix to prevent the new attack. He said Netscape had not yet posted a fix for the most recent commercial release of its software, version 2.02, but was instead encouraging customers to use the 3.0 beta software.

Since the Berkeley researchers discovered the first security flaw, the company has offered a $1,000 "bugs bounty" to programmers who are able to locate security flaws and then rushed to close the holes.

Friday May 17th - News

The "X" Files Comes to Mac No Agent MulderProdigy Going All out on the WWW
Pippin@World Coming to the U.S.C|net to go Public, IPO Filed
Digital Video for TV & PCNew Apple OS Not Copland - QuickTime IC

May 17, 1996

The "X" Files Comes to Mac - No Agent Mulder

Apples "Project X" is a demonstration of new information management ideas that from Apple's Advanced Technology Group. Using the software prototype allows you to fly through 3D information spaces that include web pages, desktop files, audio tracks, gopher sites, and more.
#anchor8059611
Fly through the Internet
Using your mouse & keyboard, you can fly through a 3D representation of the Internet. This technology prototype will allow you to move forward, backward and laterally within the Project X window. (We call the contents of the window the X space.)
  • To fly forward, or "into" the space, hold down the mouse button.
  • To fly backward, or out of the space, hold down the command key and the mouse button.
  • To accelerate your movement through the space, add the shift key.
  • To 'steer,' put the mouse on the black background, hold the mouse button down and move the mouse toward where you want to go.
  • To 'jump' to a node, double click on it. If it is a document node, the correct app will launch the document. If you double click on a folder node, you will jump to that folder.
  • To add web (HTML, FTP, News, Email) content to the space, drag & drop links from Netscape (support for other browsers coming real soon.)
  • To add gopher hierarchies to the space, drag & drop the gopher link or use the Add... command. The gopher structure will be automatically mapped into the space.
  • To add desktop content to the space, drag & drop it!
  • Try adding a desktop folder. (It will take a second or two to index the contents.) If your hard drive is below 1.0GB, you may want to try dragging it into the window. (If your hard drive is greater than 1.0GB, you may have to wait for a few minutes.)
The Icons
  • Nodes with a page icon are documents. Double clicking on them will show you the content.
  • Nodes with a trident like icon have multiple parents. You can select them and ask to see the other parents.
  • You can double click on nodes with a triangle icon in the upper left corner and the system will contact the appropriate server and expand the space. What is read in will be permanently part of your X Space (unless of course, you explicitly delete it).
Customize the X space
By using Apple's drag & drop, you can add, delete or move files within the X space. To delete a node, simply drag it into the trash.

Personalize the X space
To personalize the X space, you can:
  • change the number of nodes displayed
  • change the number of levels displayed
  • change the color or an individual node or a node level
  • display topic nodes as ovals or rectangles
Use the Finder view
You may want to view your X space hierarchy in the more traditional Finder interface. This view is especially relevant for large numbers of files.

Take a tour of the menus
Using our menu tour, quickly learn about the program's capabilities and how to take advantage of them.

You can go to the download registration page here, or skip it and download two versions, a small version here, and a the larger version here. The small version comes pre-loaded with about 15,000 nodes from Yahoo!. The larger version contains about 100,000 nodes. Both versions are otherwaise the same.

Pippin@World Coming to the U.S.


Bandai Entertainment announced a U.S. version of its Internet gaming machine based on Apple Computer Inc.'s Pippin operating system.

The Pippin@World, will cost $599 and will be available in September. The Japanese version began shipping two months ago under the name Atmark.

Pippin@World is based on Power PC architecture and is designed to plug into any TV set, it will play CD ROMs or its own online content. Internet access through the Pippin will cost $24.95 a month.

Apple and Bandai have encouraged CD ROM publishers to convert their titles to the Pippin, but so far support has only come from two companies, Hasbro Interactive and Viacom.

On Monday, Apple CEO Gil Amelio said Apple will develop a Web browser version of Pippin, reversing previous plans to license the operating system only.

Digital Video for TV & PC

The next generation of CD-ROMs , DVD, will offer high quality audio and video to your home computer, and may accelerate the expected convergence of PCs, televisions, and home entertainment centers.

DVD-ROMs looks like CD-ROMs but can store almost 8 times the capacity of standard CDs, up to 4.7GB of data for a single-layer disc. Support for the MPEG2 video standard and high-resolution audio will also be included in the new DVD discs.

"It's a no-brainer," said Robert Kotick, CEO of game maker Activision. Kotick, with the whole industry of content providers, are eager to get DVD out the door to carry games, movies, and other rich multimedia content--perhaps bundling several titles all on one disc.

The DVD will be more costly, possibly causing consumers to balk. Hardware manufacturers like Philips wants to see the players out by the Christmas selling season. But the publishers and movie studios are having trouble coming to terms with the computer industry on copyright protection standards.

The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) and the Consumer Electronics Manufacturers Association (CEMA) have collaborated to submit a draft of hardware and software standards for protecting copyrights. If it goes before Congress for approval, as the MPAA and CEMA would like, then all DVD manufacturers would have to build their devices to support the standards.

The Information Technology Industry (ITI) Council, a trade organization that represents companies such as Apple Computer, Compaq Computer, Intel, Kodak, Motorola, and Silicon Graphics, doesn't like the plan, however, and called for a compromise. A resolution to the negotiations is expected to be announced on June 3.

Prodigy Going All out on the WWW

Prodigy (which recently changes hands), has begun to quickly move to begin making itself over as an Internet online service, it is planning to acquire and build new Web sites.

One of its initial forays into Web publishing is Stim, a cyberculture Webzine geared towards Generation X users launched by Prodigy today at the Electronic Entertainment Expo here.

Prodigy's will be moving all its services to the WWW by later this yearl. Officials stated that the company will also acquire existing Web sites and develop new ones that have a separate brand identity from Prodigy. The company hasn't decided whether it will eventually include all of them under one "pay" Web site or leave them as stand-alone sites.

"We don't want to point anymore; we want to own," said Prodigy spokeswoman Carol Wallace.

Prodigy, which was acquired from IBM and Sears, Roebuck last weekend in a management buyout, has not finalized pricing for the new Web-based Prodigy service.

C|net to go Public, IPO Filed

C|net Inc., an Internet and broadcast news organization, has filed for an initial public offering of 2 million shares of common stock.

Officials would not discuss the IPO, but said a prospectus should be available to the public on or abouton or around June 10.


New Apple OS Not Copland - QuickTime IC


Apple announced a new OS last week. The OS will run on a chip inside digital cameras and other imaging devices.

The new technology is part of the QuickTime IC (image capture) technology unveiled at last week's WDC. Consisting of a multitasking OS for Motorola Inc.'s MPC823 chip and several cross-platform APIs designed for image-capture devices.

Apple's digital image-capture product manager Dan Torres stated, QuickTime IC will let camera manufacturers lower their costs and focus on improving technical performance. With the APIs, vendors will be able to connect their image-capture devices to a customizable software panel on different types of computers.

"It's computers that see and cameras that think," said Terry Bailey, Apple vice president of imaging peripheral systems. "The differences will be getting smaller."

Apple reported that it is working with key imaging developers and that more than 10 companies already plan to support the technology.

Apple demonstrated the embedded chip on a proof-of-concept machine. Engineers also showed how the APIs could be used with existing cameras by using a standard software interface to control QuickTake 150, Minolta RD-175 and Casio QV-10 cameras.

Archived stories from 5/10-5/3, 5/9-5/3, 5/2-4/23, 4/22-4/17, 4/16-4/9, 4/8-4/2, 4/1-3/28, 3/23-3/11, 3/10-2/23,
Complete list including hyperlinks links of Apples Web Sites.

Complete list of products available exclusively for the Macintosh OS (4/1/96)