                    ***  News, Updates and Upgrades ***

    EXHIBIT A COMMUNICATIONS has released the latest version of its
    Reader and ReadRoom Door. ReadRoom is an online magazine viewing
    door. Version 3.0 has added graphic support. Reader is a personal
    reader that has color support, and AutoRead. AutoRead allows you to
    read ALL articles in sequence.  This is the program that I include
    in EVERY issue of CTM. Look for RDRM30.ZIP (Door), or READER30.ZIP
    (personal viewer), on many bulletin boards.

    CLARIS CORP. announced MacWrite Pro 1.5, a new version of the Apple
    Macintosh word processing software that fully supports the new
    System 7 Pro operating system from Apple Computer, Inc. Available
    this fall, MacWrite Pro 1.5 is the first Claris product to support
    all aspects of System 7 Pro, including AppleScript, QuickTime and
    PowerTalk. MacWrite Pro 1.5 has a suggested U.S. retail price of
    $249. Current U.S. owners of MacWrite Pro 1.0 may upgrade to
    MacWrite Pro 1.5 for $29 through March 31, 1994. Those who purchase
    MacWrite Pro 1.0 after, August 15, 1993, may receive the upgrade at
    no cost, plus shipping charges. Current U.S. owners of earlier
    versions of MacWrite or other selected Macintosh word processing and
    integrated applications may purchase MacWrite Pro for $69, also
    through March 31, 1994. For more information on MacWrite Pro 1.5,
    call (800) 544-8554.

    PC DYNAMICS, INC. has released Energizer Bunny Screen Saver for
    Macintosh. The software requires System 6.0.7 or System 7, 2MB of
    hard disk space, 2MB RAM, built-in sound and a color or gray-scale
    screen. It is available immediately for $29.95.

    AZTECH LABS, INC. has released Sound Galaxy PRO 16 Extra. This is
    the company's first sound board bundled with voice recognition
    software. The board is also Aztech's first offering that supports
    MPU 401, a popular MIDI interface standard for musical instruments.
    The PRO 16 Extra supports Sound Blaster Pro, Microsoft Windows Sound
    System standards as well as Panasonic, Mitsumi, and Sony CD-ROM
    interfaces. The card provides an option of upgrade for SCSI CD-ROM
    interfaces by using an extension board allowing users to daisy chain
    several devices. The product uses the Yamaha YM262 synthesizer chip
    and can be upgraded to support true 16-bit PCM wave table synthesis
    for clear and realistic sound by plugging in Aztech's WavePower
    daughter board. The card complies with Microsoft's Multimedia Level
    1, and is able to run on any computer that meets the MPC standard.
    The PRO 16 Extra started shipping in early October, and has a
    suggested retail price of approximately $279 and comes with a one
    year limited warranty.

    WORDPERFECT CORP. announced the availability off 20 Language Modules
    for WordPerfect 6.00 for DOS. Language Modules allow users to
    combine international versions of a hyphenation module, thesaurus,
    spell checker, and/or keyboard with WordPerfect. The new languages
    include Afrikaans, Danish, Dutch, English-Australian,
    English-Canadian, English-U.K., English-U.S., Finnish,
    French-Canadian, French, German, German-Swiss, Greek, Italian,
    Norwegian, Portuguese, Portuguese-Brazilian, Russian, Spanish and
    Swedish. The DOS Language Modules are priced at $99. US and are
    available directly from WordPerfect Corporation at (800) 451-5151
    and through most resellers.

    MEDIA VISION announced that it will release ten multimedia CD-ROM
    titles in time for the 1993 Christmas buying season. The company's
    initial ten titles fall in three areas: children's, educational and
    "edutainment" titles; interactive motion pictures, including the
    market debut of "VirtualCinema"; and a category the company will
    pioneer, the multimedia daily planner.

    UMAX TECHNOLOGIES,INC.  introduced the color version of its popular
    ScanOffice, a complete color scanning solution for general purpose
    office use. Called ScanOffice/C for Windows it replaces the
    greyscale ScanOffice, and will be sold at the same price of $999.00.
    Included in the scanning package are: Picture Publisher LE v4.0 and
    Windows Draw LE v3.0 from Micrografx; CuneiForm OCR Reader from
    Cognitive Technology. Also included, from Cognitive, only until Dec.
    31, 1993, will be Business Card Reader (BCR). BCR allows users to
    scan in and manage business cards and export the data into  popular
    databases and PIMs. The hardware for ScanOffice/C is the UMAX UC630.
    UC630 is a 24-bit, 600 dpi flatbed color scanner that can handle
    greyscale, line art and text. Through software interpolation,  its
    resolution can be enhanced to 1200x1200 dpi. The UC630 captures up
    to 16.8 million colors.

    MICROSOFT CORP. announced a special holiday promotion for two of its
    applications for the Apple Macintosh, Microsoft Office version 3.0
    and Microsoft Works version 3.0. During the promotion, customers who
    acquire Microsoft Office for the Macintosh will receive a $100 cash
    rebate from Microsoft. Customers who obtain Microsoft Works for the
    Macintosh will receive a $50 cash rebate. The promotion applies to
    purchases made between Oct. 1, 1993, and Jan. 31, 1994. Rebates are
    good for Microsoft Office on Disk or CD-ROM and for Microsoft Works
    and the combination pack of Microsoft Works and the Microsoft
    TrueType Master Set.
    They also have special promtions throughout the holiday season on
    their Microsoft Home Product Line. These include: MS Works 3.0, MS
    Works 3.0 Multimedia Edition, MS Publisher 2.0 CD-ROM Edition and
    Special Ocassions Pack, and MS Encarta 1994 Edition.
    Other announcements by MS this month include: MS Word 6.0 for
    Windows, MS PowerPoint 4.0 for Windows, MS Excel 5.0 for Windows.
    MS Office version 4.0 for Windows, also announced, includes MS
    Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, MS Access and a workstation license
    for MS Mail.
    With the announcement of MS Word 6.0 for Windows, MS has also
    announced Word Assistant, an  add-on software package designed to
    enhance documents created using MS Word 6.0. Word Assistant includes
    fonts, Font Assistant v1.1, Font Selector, Clip art, and Style
    templates/forms/special paper. The special paper is a collection of
    20 Paper Direct metafile templates.

    DELTAPOINT, INC., announced DeltaGraph Pro 3 for Macintosh.
    DeltaPoint has also lowered the suggested retail price to $195, and
    is offering DeltaGraph Pro 3 at an introductory price of $79.95 for
    non-registered users through December. Current registered users of
    DeltaGraph may upgrade for $49.95 (plus shipping) until November 1,
    after which the upgrade will be $79.95.

    BRODERBUND SOFTWARE, INC. released the Multimedia PC version of The
    Tortoise and the Hare, Aesop's classic fable. This fable is now a
    Broderbund Livig Book. Children (ages 3 to 8) can choose between
    having the fable read aloud to them or exploring each page on their
    own and at their own pace. In the "Let Me Play" mode, the child
    clicks on a word or sentence to have it read aloud. Clicking on a
    character will launch a bit of dialogue or action.
    They also released the Windows version of Kid Pix Companion, an
    add-on to Kid Pix. It offers a wide range of activities, such as
    SlideShow, DrawMe pictures, ColorMe pictures, 112 additional Rubber
    Stamp images and 19 new Hidden Pictures. Now even children who can
    read can have fun with multimedia computing. The program is also
    available for MS-DOS and Macintosh.

    DEEP RIVER PUBLISHING  announced three new releases this month.
    Fractal Sideshow is a floppy-based Windows screensaver containing
    over a thousand fractal images and a varitey of color palates when
    displayed on a 256-color PC.
    Sound Kitchen is a Windows-based sound editor and effects processor
    that comes with a huge collection of sound clips, in both floppy and
    CD format.
    Everywhere USA Travel Guide is a comprehensive resource of travel
    information covering every state and region in the country. It
    contains a collection of more than 3,000 events, attractions,
    festivals, theaters, parks and more. This is the first in the
    company's new EVERYWHERE series of travel CD-ROMs.

    THE SOFTWARE TOOLWORKS, INC. announced shipment of the floppy disk
    version of Chessmaster 4000 Turbo for Windows. The CD-ROM MPC
    version will be available in first quarter of '94, with the DOS
    based version available in the second quarter.

    SIGMA DESIGN, INC. announced the ReelMagic CD-ROM Upgrade Kit. The
    upgrade kit includes: ReelMagic, a controller card that allows PC
    systems to playback full-screen, full-motion video and CD-quality
    digital stereo sound; double-speed, MPC Level 2 CD-ROM drive; pair
    of deluxe speakers; an array of premiere entertainment and
    educational titles. Expected to ship in mid-November, the upgrade
    kit carries a SRP of $849.

    CENTRAL POINT SOFTWARE, INC. announced the release of 4 products.
    MacTools v3.0, which adds new advanced features to make Macintosh
    data protection simplier and more accessible than ever before.
    MacTools 3.0 introduces TrashBack and AutoCheck, two new features
    designed specifically to address ease of use, bringing utilities
    closer to everyone.
    PC Tools Pro 9.0 for DOS. This features the first utility capable of
    restoring unsaved work-in-progress following a surprise system crash
    or power failure. The new release also features integrated hardware
    diagnostics, support for DoubleSpace and Stacker drives and large
    disks up to 2GB, expanded protection against unknown viruses, and
    critical-error messaging for LAN administrators.
    Central Point Anti-Virus 2.0 for NetWare, that defends files
    residing on NetWare 3.X and 4.X servers.
    Central Point Anti-Virus for OS/2. It takes full advantage of OS/2's
    Workplace Shell interface as well as provides compatibility with
    OS/2's High Performance File System.
