News Archive Index
WinNews (tm) - The Monthly PC/Mac News Archive

Prepared & Distributed by:  Baker Enterprises

Assorted press releases  and news articles are available by subject heading in the topic areas shown below or use SEARCH  to find articles listed by company names.

SOFTWARE:	HARDWARE:

Business & Productivity  	PC Systems

Professional/Engineering  	Expansion Products

Personal & Educational  	Peripherals

Games & Entertainment  	Macintosh Specific

System Software & Utilities  	Miscellaneous Hardware

Macintosh Specific

Miscellaneous Software  	GENERAL INTEREST:

Books & Publications

Miscellaneous News

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PC Industry Database


About Press Releases
Full Text Press Releases...

Press Releases are distributed electronically with 100% of the entire text included as supplied by the company. Most material is available via the online news areas on America Online and Delphi within several days of receipt. News archives such as this are created at the end of every month. For additional information concerning any product or service mentioned, please contact the company directly. Check the end of the article for the company's mailing address and/or telephone numbers.

Note that additional Backgrounder reports may be available for downloading from our Information Download Libraries on America Online and Delphi.


About SEARCH Capabilities
Using SEARCH to Find Articles by Company Name...

1)	Click on the SEARCH button to see a list of companies referenced

within the various news articles included in the news archive.

2)	Select the desired company from the list, then click on the Show Topics

button (or double click on the company name) to see a list of relevant

articles for that company.

3)	Select an article of interest and click on the Goto button

(or double click on the article title) to display the article text.


About Baker Enterprises
About Baker Enterprises...

Baker Enterprises electronically distributes PC & Macintosh related news and full text press releases  via our New Product Information Service on America Online (Keyword=New Product) and Delphi (GO NEWS PRODUCTS). Monthly news archives such as this are created at the end of each month and include all news processed during the previous month. Besides this Windows-compatible format, the same information is also available in a PKZIP collection of standard ASCII text files with a simple index, but requires your own text file utilities to read. News archive files are available from a download library on AOL, Delphi, and selected Internet archive sites, or direct via mail from Baker Enterprises.

Baker Enterprises also maintains a reference database listing companies and products from throughout the PC industry. The database appears as an online searchable database via America Online in the PC Vendors Database within our New Product Information area. The same data is also distributed monthly on diskette by EMS Professional Software.

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PC Industry Database


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News archives are available in either this WinNews format for Windows users, or optionally in a PKZIP collection of standard ASCII text files with a simple index that requires your own utilities to read. A one year subscription for either format, mailed on 3.5" 720K diskettes, is $60 for first class mail within the USA, $75 elsewhere via AirMail. Single copies are $5 postpaid. NJ orders include 6% sales tax. This material MAY NOT be redistributed for profit without obtaining prior written permission from Baker Enterprises. Contact us direct for more information.

All correspondence, including news submissions for FREE distribution  or orders for the monthly news archives, should be addressed to:

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Free Distribution
FREE News Distribution...

Our services are provided at no cost to any companies or shareware authors wishing to have their press releases distributed, or their company and product information included in our database. All submissions should be mailed, faxed or Emailed directly to Baker Enterprises. Press releases are typically processed and available nationwide within one to three days of receipt!


PC Industry Reference Database
PC Industry Reference Database...

Baker Enterprises produces a PC industry reference database that includes information on thousands of companies and authors, plus brief information on their products. More than just a software locator, the database also lists hardware, peripherals, publications, accessories, supplies, shareware and more -- just about anything and everything relating to the PC industry. Company information includes mailing addresses, telephone/fax/BBS numbers, Email addresses and more. The database is available as an online searchable database in our New Product Information area on America Online. The same data is also licensed for monthly worldwide distribution on disk and CD-ROM as the PC Products Database sold by EMS Professional Software. Individual copies on diskette are $25 plus $5 shipping within the USA (contact EMS on foreign orders).

For information on ordering copies of the PC Products Database on disk and CD-ROM, or optional quarterly and monthly subscriptions, please contact:

EMS Professional Software

4505 Buckhurst Cr.	(301) 924-3594   Voice

Olney, MD 20832 USA	(301) 963-2708   Fax


Business & Productivity Software
Business & Productivity Software News:

mdbs Ships M/4 Report Windows Reporting Tool

RightOn 2.1 Released

SalesLink for Windows Development Kit

PowerSim for Windows Dynamic Simulation

European Community Database on CD-ROM

SISCO to Distribute SOFTING ISP Fieldbus Prods

Galaxie Software Announces BibleScript 2.0

Media Magic for Multimedia Presentations

Morph Online BBS for Multimedia Developers

Intex Tax Solver Headstart Version in Oct

Catalog Creator Elec Price List Service

Quantum Leap Offers Customized EDI Systems

ASK ME Multimedia Center Backgrounder

Executive Producer for Abekas A34 Solo Editor

Executive Producer for Logging & Cut Lists

Apartment Manager V1.0

PageMaker Conference Schedule for 1994

BANCO Catering Software

Servus Volunteer Database Software

Shapeware Unveils Visio 2.0 Drawing Program

Time Off - Employee Attendance Mgmt Swr

SkillTesters Job Applicant Evaluations

Employee Record-Keeping System

Inuit QuickBooks for Windows & V2.0 for DOS

R&R Report Writer for Windows, SQL Edition V2


Professional/Engineering Software
Professional/Engineering Software News:

LabWindows/CVI (C for Virtual Instrumentation)

ELCUT v3.0A 2D Field Simulation Swr for EE's

Scientific Word v1.1 for Windows

Award of Navy NAVFAC CAD 2 Contracts

Matlab Conference Oct 18-20

Free 1994 National Instruments Catalog

Tektronix Endorses NI-VXI Standardized VXIbus

STAT!-Ref Oncology Library on CD-ROM

Legalmaster Law Firm Financial Mgmt Swr

Legalex Calendar - Docket Calendaring Pckg

Chem-X Links to ChemDraw

ASPEC Portfolio Family of HDA Design Tools

Desktop Engineering Mich. Technical Center

Moldflow Director Technical Paper Judged Best

Instrument Drivers for Wiltron Microwave Prods

VPI - Vibration Pattern Imager (NASA)

TPA - Nuclear Thermal Propulsion Simulation

TARGET - Task Analysis Report Generation Tool

Rectangular/Circular Waveguide Fct Scattering

Nuclear Thermal Propulsion Design Analysis

MOM3D - Electromagnetic Analysis Algorithm

LERCHP - NASA Lewis Research Center Heat Pipe

Easy PC Graphics (GFI) for Data Plotting

EXADS - Expert Sys for Auto Design Synthesis

ACARA - Project Management Tool

NASADIG - NASA Device Independent Graphics Lib

ETARA - Electrical Power System Performance

CLIPS 6.0 C Language Integration Production Sys

Now PSpice Quality at Affordable Price

Chem-X Now Available for Windows

Ansoft Ships Maxwell SpiceLink 1.2

Free Motorola Parameter-Plotting Disk

MicroSim Corp Opens New Office in Japan

MathWorks Symbolic Math Toolbox Introduced


Personal & Educational Software
Personal & Educational Software News:

Windows Music Sculptor V1.1 MIDI Sequencer

Vanguard Retirement Planner

PC-Piano Teacher V1.1

LOANVALU Version 4.43 Loan Calculator

5 New Multicom Pub. CD-ROM Releases

Expert Maps Gold Edition for Windows

Travel Points of Interest, Version 2

Computer Athlete

DinoSource Educational Multimedia Package

2 New Educ Windows Titles from Expert Software

Computer Based Training from CinC

XYSee 4.0 Mathematics Visualization Pgm

Wilson Software Football Stat-Master

PC-Sky Sky Simulation Program

Transparent Language V2.0 for DOS & Mac

Complete House Multimedia Exploration

Adventures: Multimedia Worldwide Travel

Fractal Ecstasy Multimedia CD-ROM

Scissors N Stones Adult Interactive CDROM Game

Home Medical Advisor & Your Medical Records


Games & Entertainment Software
Games & Entertainment Software News:

EA Sports Reload for '94 Video Games

Electronic Arts Victor in Japan

Electronic Arts Limited in European Market

Mindplay's Educational Arcade is Here

Electronic Arts PTY in Australia/New Zealand

EBook CD-ROM's Premiere at CES

Humongous Ent. for Junior Adventurers

ICOM Ships Sherlock Holmes Vol III

Mindcraft Game Intros at CES

Morgan Interactive, The Ugly Duckling

Maximum Impact from NovaLogic

Total Distortion Music Video Adventure Game

Sanctuary Woods Multimedia CES Intros

3 New SSI Game Titles at Summer CES

Lastest Three-Sixty Releases from CES

EA Launches Six Major 3DO Titles

EA Announces Initial 3DO Product Lineup

EA Releases Epic Adventure TECHNOCLASH

EA General Chaos for Sega Genesis

Mutant League Football for Sega Genesis

First EA CD-ROM Release, The Labyrinth

Super Baseball 2020 for Sega Genesis

EA James Pond II & Blades of Vengeance

Wordbuilders Inc Strategy Game for 3DO

EA Haunting Starring Polterguy for Genesis

Adventures of B.O.B. for Genesis & SNES

Road Rash & Twisted Premiere on 3DO

Shock Wave: Invasion Earth 2019 for 3DO

Jungle Strike (Genesis) Desert Strike Sequel

Seal Team Special Forces Combat Simulation

Runes of Virtue for SNES

John Madden Football for 3DO Video Game

Bulls vs Suns, NBA Season for Super Nintendo

EA Announces Initial 3DO Video Game Products

5 Publishers Join EA Affiliated Label Pgm

Aris e-World Interactive Video Adventures

NHL Hockey from EA Sports

Kasparov's Gambit Chess Game

Accolade LIcensing Deal with NFLPA

EA Signs Phenom Shaquile O'Neal

EA Sports Soccer for Sega Genesis

SSN-21 Seawolf, Sequel to 688 Attack Sub

Syndicate from Bullfrog

Aris Video Cube, Space Flight Video Puzzles

EA Sports Signs Bill Walsh for Football Game

Under A Killing Moon - Interactive Movie

Unnecessary Roughness Football Simulation

Pickle Wars by Karen Crother & MVP Software

Wilson Software Casino Video Poker

Turbo Omaha High-Low Split Poker

Hyper-Backgammon for PC CD-ROM

Fall Products from Legend Entertainment

One-Nil League Soccer Mgmt Simulation

GOAL International Soccer Management Game

Capitali$t Business Management Game

The Soccer Game

Greyhound Racing Game

Insanity - Maze-based Adventure Game

Rockstar Comedy Adventure Game

Grand Prix Formula One Racing Game


System Software & Utilities
System Software & Utilities News:

IPSWITCH Catipult V1.3 Access to TCP/IP Hosts

Second Copy 4.0 Auto Windows File Backup

Sybase Build Momentum OO Graphical Tool

Racal Network Mgmt for Small Networks

Sybase Previews Enterprise Momentum

Sybase Ships Gain Momentum 2.0

MultiModem PCS w/Enhanced Voice & Lower Price

Sybase Momentum, Enterprise Client/Server Dev

Euphoria Programming Language V1.0

HIPPIX UNIX Integration Tols for MS Windows NT

Sigma Designs & Pixel Joint Dev Agreement

Postman's Sort Ported to Windows

Postman's Sort Ported to OS/2

Postman's Sort Doubles Sorting Speed Again

Microsoft Selects NetSoft 3270 Applet Provider

Racal-Datacom LAN Performance Analyzer Upgraded

PC-Client Offers Mac/Windows LAN Faxing

McAfee NETShield 1.5 NetWare Anti-Virus Swr

Rational Systems DOS/4GW Upgrade

Search City 1.1 Text Retrieval Swr for Windows

MultiExpress Data/Fax Swr Price Reduced

Lahey 32-bit Fortran & Fortran 90 Deals

HLPDK Help Development Kit Version 9.0

TALKShow Desktop Document Conferencing Swr

ZIPMAN Win/OS2 PKZIP/PKUNZIP Front Interface

InVision Video Conferencing for Windows

a la mail 2.0 Windows Email System Still $595

KPWin++ V1.13 C++ Code Generator

WRAP v1.1b Windows Resource Archive Pgm

Avis Selects Sybase for New Reservation System

Fuzzy Logic Designer CASE Tool for Windows

ReVerb Voice Prompt Editor for Windows

WinFast Plus v1.2 Windows Program Launcher

Sybase Supports MS SQL Server for Windows NT

New LANtastic Interchange Bridging/Routing Swr

NS/3270 for Windows to AS/400 Connectivity

LinkRight File Transfer Utility for OS/2

Bitstream Typeface Lib in TrueType for Windows

Kodak Script Lang for Photo CD Portfolio Discs

E Ware Ships eNote V2.0 Messaging Software

Fractal Sideshow Screensaver

Silicon Graphics Bundles Multimedia Email

FastLynx 3.0 PC-to-PC File Transfer Utility

Quick Restart for Windows and DOS


Macintosh Specific Software
Macintosh Specific Software News:

Special Delivery Multimedia Authoring Tool

PrairieSoft Enters Macintosh Marketplace

Kids CD-ROM Science Programs Announced

Aldus Offers PressWise 2.0 Imposition Swr

Aldus TrapWise 2.0 for Macintosh

Bit Jugglers Ships UnderWare Mac Screen Saver

Mac Invoicing Swr for Graphic Arts Industry

MacDesign Billing Templates for FileMaker Pro

NMSB Movie, Tool to Display Large 3D Data Sets

PASCO - Panel Analysis & Sizing Code


Miscellaneous Software
Miscellaneous Software News:

Multimedia Directory of CD-ROM

AGE Ships Eval Kits for ATX X Window Swr

Powerboard BBS RIP Menu Development Tool

CD Book Publishers offers Govt CFRs on CDROM


System Hardware
System Hardware News:

Microflex-VL/S w/40MHz Cyrix Cx486S & Local Bus

Designer's Guide to Single Board Computers

AST Wins Top Honors

AST Ships Premium SE P/60 Pentium-Based Server

AST Research to Open China Headquarters

Data Entry Sys MiniWriter Pen-Based Computer

NEC Bundles PFS:WindowWorks with Ready 486es

NEC Intros Next Generation Ready Series

NEC Intros PowerMate 486es Series

NEC Users Cirrus Logic Graphics Accelerator


Expansion Hardware
Expansion Hardware News:

Actix Prostar VL Local Bus Windows Accelerator

Farallon EtherWave 10BASE-T Adapters & More

ReelMagic MPEG Playback Card

Dalanco Spry Model 310A DSP/Data Acq Board

MultiFAX WEFAX Demodulator & Swr

PIKA V-12 Voice Card Family

New Additions for SoundMan Product Family

Proxim/Raytheon Chip for Wireless Networking

New PCMCIA IEEE-488 GPIB Interface for Laptops

External Parallel-to-IEEE 488.2 Controller

New Selection of Quatech I/O Cards


Peripheral Hardware
Peripheral Hardware News:

Pixelink Upgrades Document Imaging Systems

New Panasonic SideWriter Personal Printers

Star Micronics SJ-144 Laser Quality Color Prtr

NEC Drops Price on The SVGA Monitor

ViewMagic Low Emission 17-Inch Color Monitor

Accel-a-Writer 8100 Oversized Paper & More

Proxim & Fluke Wireless Data Collection System

ScriptWriter II Digitized Writing Tablet


Macintosh Specific Hardware
Macintosh Specific Hardware News:

EnviroMac Environmental Monitoring & Control


Miscellaneous Hardware
Miscellaneous Hardware News:

LANLine 5210 MicroBridge for Workgroups

Gandalf Enters Local Bridge Market

SynchroMaster 200 Scan Converter

SynchroMaster 300 Video Mixer for Computers

Proxim Signs Merisel to Dist. Wireless LAN Hwr

Codar Cheetah Ruggedized Portable SPARCstation

PC Packet Station


Books & Publications
Books & Publications:

ISA & EISA Theory and Operation

KeyStone Adds 7 New Video Titles

New Video Courseware for WordPerfect 6.0

EPIEgram Newsletter for Educators

Latest & Best of TESS (Educ Swr Selector)

Design & Build Your Deck Wins Hwr Award

Best Guide to Using Windows NT Effectively

Windows NT: The Complete Reference

Windows NT Programming Handbook

Visual Guide to Visual Basic for Windows

Voodoo OS/2, Tips & Tricks With an Attitude

BIG BLUES: The Unmaking of IBM

FAN MAIL - Electronics Age Thriller

The Joy of CyberSex Explores Online Erotica

Learning the UNIX Operating System

Love Your Job!

PRISM Guide Quarterly Multimedia Presentation

The Best C/C++ Tips Ever

UNIX System Administrator Guide

The Annotated ANSI C Standard

The Buzz Aldrin's Race Into Space Companion

Improv 2 for Windows Handbook

Visual Basic 3 for Windows Handbook

Total Recall: Ultimate Guide to Memory Mgmt

Portable Computers & Wireless Comm. Report

The Way Computers & MS-DOS Work

Commando Windows Programming

Geek of the Week Audiotapes

Understanding Japanese Information Processing

All Thumbs Guide to Home Computers


Miscellaneous News
Miscellaneous News:

SPA Study on Export Regs Precluding US Co's

IBM & Shiva Development & OEM Agreement

AGE Logic Releases X Image Extension Alpha

Low Volume CD-ROM Production Services

Reminder, We Post What We Get When We Get It!

Nintendo & Silicon Graphics - 3D Game Machines

Insight Research Telecom Industry Reports

Baker's NewsBits 9/15

AST Adds RIPscript for Easier BBS Navigation

Kodak Picture Exchange Image Providers

Kodak On-Line Picture Exchange Hollywood Test

Application Software Sales Increase 14%

Data Conversion Services

Nintendo Gateway Interactive Multimedia Systems

AST Donates 400 PCs to Schools

OptiView, New Multimedia Consultin Co. Formed

Artisoft & Schoof Settlement Agreement

Baker's Newsbits (9/23)

European Software Sales Reach $413 Million

New Product Info Now on Delphi

Personal Investing Online Services

Artisoft Supports Calif Clean Air Program

Baker's Newsbits (9/30)

Wireless Data Conference & Expo, Oct 27-29

Video CD Standard Data-Format Defined

US K-12 Schools Spent $2.1 Billion on Educ Tech


Windows Music Sculptor V1.1 MIDI Sequencer
Windows Music Sculptor V1.1 was just recently released by Aleph Omega Software. This is a very easy to use MIDI sequencer for Windows that allows you to record, edit, and play music. It can be used with an external MIDI keyboard and also includes an on-screen music keyboard. It is a fully functional shareware program with registration at $24.95 US + $5 shipping & handling.

Benefits received upon registration include:

* Free technical support by mail, phone or electronic mail

* A registered copy of the latest version of Windows Music

  Scupltor

* A collection of 75 public domain MIDI files

* Notification of future versions as soon as they become

  available

* Large discounts on upgrades to future versions

System Requirements:

Windows 3.1 or later in 386 Enhanced Mode and a Windows-compatible sound card or MIDI interface.

Aleph Omega Software

Box 61085, Kensington Postal Outlet

Calgary, Alberta T2N 4S6 CANADA

403-289-8831;  CIS: 72613,3574

Internet Email: strubens@cuugnet.cuug.ab.ca


Vanguard Retirement Planner
VANGUARD INTRODUCES PC-BASED RETIREMENT PLANNER

New Interactive Software Developed To Help Investors Plan For Retirement

VALLEY FORGE, PA, August 30, 1993 -- The Vanguard Group of Investment Companies today introduced an innovative software package -- The Vanguard Retirement Planner -- to help investors answer the question: "How much should I be saving for retirement?"

The new IBM-compatible software enables retirement-minded investors to integrate their current savings programs (e.g., personal savings, Social Security, company pension, etc.) with several key variables (e.g., investment returns, inflation, life expectancy, etc.) to ascertain whether they are likely to meet their financial goals. The program may also be used by individuals nearing retirement as an aid to summarize their current retirement benefits and savings in relation to their anticipated needs.

"Vanguard's new software turns a personal computer into a powerful financial planning tool," said Vanguard Senior Vice President Jeremy G. Duffield. "For investors seeking to determine or refine their savings goals quickly and easily, The Vanguard Retirement Planner is ideal."

The user-friendly Vanguard Retirement Planner offers informative, on-line tutorials to help novice computer users or those unfamiliar with retirement planning concepts. A comprehensive user's guide is also included in the package and toll-free telephone support will be provided by Vanguard.

The Vanguard Retirement Planner features four modules:

** The Retirement Planning Worksheet enables a program user to input personal financial data and planning assumptions -- 14 variables in all. A mouse or keyboard may be used to enter data, which can be easily changed to create multiple retirement scenarios and answer "what if" questions.

** The Retirement Overview displays a snapshot of the user's financial situation. Based on the assumptions entered by the user, the software calculates whether current savings programs are sufficient to reach a set objective. If the savings programs are revealed to be insufficient, the software outlines general steps that the user might take to correct the shortfall. Data and assumptions entered on the Worksheet appear with the Overview display, and can be altered to show the effects of corrective steps that may be taken. The results of such steps then appear immediately on the Overview screen.

** The Income Screen illustrates the user's annual income stream throughout retirement.

** The Savings Screen shows the user's retirement savings balance -- both contributions and earnings -- during each year of retirement.

"The Vanguard Retirement Planner was developed as a part of our continuing efforts to educate mutual fund shareholders," said Mr. Duffield. "Study after study indicates that many Americans are financially unprepared for their later years, so we feel it is extremely important to help individuals address their retirement planning needs."

Mr. Duffield also noted that while the software is designed primarily for individual investors and defined contribution plan participants, financial planners and advisers may find it an invaluable resource for serving their clients.

The Vanguard Retirement Planner is offered on either a 3-1/2 or 5-1/4 inch disk. The software can be installed on any IBM-compatible personal computer with at least 512K RAM, 1 megabyte of free hard disk memory, and DOS version 3.0 or higher. A VGA or XGA monitor is required. An Apple version of the software is not currently offered.

The Vanguard Retirement Planner is available for $15 (plus $2.50 for shipping and handling). Investors may order the program by telephone with a major credit card by calling toll-free 1-800-876-1840 (24 hours a day, seven days a week).

Orders may be also be mailed to the following address with checks made payable to The Vanguard Group:

The Vanguard Retirement Planner

PO Box 11004

Des Moines, IA 50336-1004

The Vanguard Group of Investment Companies, headquartered in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, has net assets of some $119 billion and manages 76 investment portfolios owned by more than four million individual and institutional investors.

The Vanguard Group

PO Box 2600

Valley Forge, PA 19482

215-669-1000


LabWindows/CVI (C for Virtual Instrumentation)
LabWindows/CVI - the First Complete, Multiplatform C Development Environment for Instrumentation

Windows and Sun Solaris Software Evolves from Popular LabWindows for DOS for Developing Integrated Data Acquisition, Analysis, and Presentation Programs

September 1, 1993 -- Austin, TX - National Instruments announced today its new LabWindows/CVI (C for Virtual Instrumentation) scientific and engineering software for developing instrumentation applications using the ANSI C programming language under both Microsoft Windows for PCs and Solaris for SPARCstations from Sun Microsystems Computer Corporation (SMCC). The new software expands on the development philosophy introduced in National Instruments LabWindows for DOS software, which continues to be the leading DOS-based software package for developing C and BASIC instrumentation programs.

The software is an automatic code-generation package designed for engineers and scientists who want to use traditional programming tools for developing instrumentation systems. LabWindows/CVI is a 32-bit, multiplatform development environment that includes all of the tools required to build C-compatible test, measurement, and control applications using Windows on a PC, or X Window System on a UNIX-based SPARCstation. With LabWindows/CVI, any C programmer - from novice to advanced - can quickly and easily build instrumentation applications on these platforms. The LabWindows/CVI C development environment includes a built-in ANSI C compiler, linker, debugger, variable trace display, and memory checking capabilities.

The LabWindows/CVI development environment also includes built-in libraries for performing data acquisition, analysis, and presentation. Programmers can quickly and easily design graphical user interfaces (GUIs) with the LabWindows/CVI User Interface Editor. Setting up and controlling GPIB, VXI, and RS-232 instruments using more than 300 ready-to-use instrument drivers is also simplified, thanks to the ease of porting programs between LabWindows for DOS and LabWindows/CVI. The Windows version of LabWindows/CVI also controls the National Instruments plug-in data acquisition (DAQ) and SCXI signal conditioning hardware. The analysis library includes over 200 functions for signal processing, filtering, windowing, statistics, curve fitting, interpolation, and matrix algebra. Interprocess communication is possible with TCP/IP on the PC and the Sun, and with dynamic data exchange (DDE) capabilities under Microsoft Windows on the PC.

Programs developed with LabWindows/CVI are completely portable between Windows and Solaris. And, existing users of DOS-based LabWindows can run their C programs in LabWindows/CVI under Microsoft Windows or Sun Solaris with little or no modification.

In LabWindows/CVI, users create applications, or projects, that consist of several source components or files. Because LabWindows/CVI has an open system architecture, users are free to choose from existing C source files, object modules, and dynamic link libraries (DLLs) to build their projects. The Windows version of LabWindows/CVI is compatible with object modules compiled with the WATCOM C compiler. The Sun version is compatible with modules compiled with the Sun ANSI C compiler (acc) or the public domain GNU C compiler (gcc).

Target Users and Applications

LabWindows/CVI is targeted at end-users familiar with C programming; existing LabWindows customers who want to move from DOS to Windows on the PC or to the SPARCstation; system integrators requiring an open, extensible development environment; and suppliers developing automated test equipment and process control systems. Developers can combine LabWindows/CVI, the company's instrumentation hardware, and a Windows PC or UNIX SPARCstation to create a custom instrumentation system for laboratory automation, automated testing, research and development, factory automation, calibration, mechanical engineering, and process monitoring and control. Target industries include electronics, automotive, aerospace, foods, textiles, petrochemical, pulp and paper, metal, pharmaceutical, medical, and environmental monitoring.

LabWindows/CVI Compatibility with National Instruments Hardware

The Windows version of LabWindows/CVI controls National Instruments instrumentation hardware for PC/XT/AT/EISA and PS/2 computers. Instrument control interfaces include products for GPIB and VXI instrument control. Plug-in DAQ boards for real-world signal acquisition include models that perform analog-to-digital conversion, digital-to-analog conversion, digital input/output, and timing input/output. LabWindows/CVI also works with the company's SCXI signal conditioning hardware for amplifying, multiplexing, and isolating signals.

National Instruments instrumentation hardware for the SPARCstation will also work with LabWindows/CVI. Instrument control products include an SBus GPIB interface board, an external GPIB-to-SCSI interface, a MXIbus interface for controlling MXI-equipped VXI and VME systems, and the GPIB-ENET/Sun for communicating with and controlling IEEE 488 devices from anywhere on an Ethernet-based TCP/IP network. The company is currently developing Sbus DAQ hardware for the SPARCstation, and expects the first products to be available by the end of the year.

Configuration Requirements

The minimum configuration for LabWindows/CVI running on Windows is a 386/33 with 387 coprocessor, 8 MB RAM, 20 MB hard disk space, DOS 5.0, and Windows 3.1. For most applications, National Instruments recommends using a 486/33 with Super VGA display.

The minimum Sun configuration is a SPARCstation with 24 MB main memory, 32 MB disk swap space, 20 MB disk space for the application and associated files, Solaris 1.x or 2.x, and MIT's X Window System Version 11 Release 5. LabWindows/CVI will run under Motif or Open Look.

Price, Availability, and Upgrading from LabWindows

The LabWindows/CVI Full Development System for Windows will be available in November for $1,995. It includes the DAQ Library, GPIB Library, Instrument Library, Analysis libraries, User Interface Library, Utility libraries, and the standard ANSI C libraries. A base package, priced at $995, includes all of the above libraries except the Advanced Analysis Library. A special LabWindows/CVI VXI Development System for Windows, which includes all of the LabWindows/CVI VXI and GPIB instrument drivers and VXI controller library, will sell separately for $3,995. A Windows NT version of LabWindows/CVI will be available in the first quarter of 1994.

LabWindows/CVI for the Sun will be available in December for $3,995 for a single-user, floating license. It includes the GPIB Library, Instrument Library, Analysis libraries, User Interface Library, Utility libraries, and the standard ANSI C libraries. The LabWindows/CVI VXI Development System for the Sun, which includes all of the LabWindows/CVI VXI and GPIB instrument drivers and VXI controller libraries, will be available separately in December for $4,995. Multi-user site licensing will also be available.

Existing LabWindows users can upgrade to the Windows version of LabWindows/CVI for $495 and to LabWindows/CVI for the Sun for $2,495.

National Instruments

6504 Bridge Point Parkway, Austin, TX 78730-5039

(512) 794-0100,  (800) 433-3488,   Fax: (512) 794-8411


IPSWITCH Catipult V1.3 Access to TCP/IP Hosts
IPSWITCH, Inc. Releases Catipult Version 1.3

Catipult Gives Novell Users Convenient Access to TCP/IP Hosts

Version 1.3 Adds Windows Front End and Winsock Interface

READING, MA, September 1, 1993 - Ipswitch, Inc. today announced the availability of Version 1.3 of Catipult, a powerful gateway for NetWare users. Catipult allows NetWare workstations to run TCP/IP applications concurrently with NetWare in order to communicate with workstations, minicomputers, mainframes, and other hosts running UNIX or any of a wide variety of operating systems.

As the PC TCP/IP and NetWare markets have grown, there has been an increasing need to run both protocols on the same PC. The gateway approach adopted by Catipult is an alternative to "dual stacks", which requires too much system administration. Catipult is ideal for small, medium, and large Novell LANs, with capabilities to support 30-300 concurrent users.

WHY CHOOSE CATIPULT?

*Windows Front End: WCAT front ends lets users navigate between all of the Catipult applications and enter parameters using Windows dialog boxes.

*Winsock: The new Windows Sockets interface makes a large and quickly growing base of third party TCP/IP applications compatible with Catipult.

*45- and 60- User Versions: Catipult's scope has expanded from the 30 concurrent users supported by Version 1.2 to include the new 45-user and 60-user versions available in Version 1.3. Since Catipult's licensing is based on concurrent usage, a 60-user gateway often supports as many as 200 users.

*Printer Redirection: Users are able to print to network printers from within DOS and Windows applications.

*Dynamic Session Allocation: Sites with multiple Catipult gateways may now specify all of the gateways on the application command line, and Catipult will find the first available gateway.

*Full Screen Installation: The Catipult installation program has been completely revised and is now a full-screen, windowed program with on-line help.

Ipswitch, Inc. was founded in September, 1991 to develop and market software-only protocol gateways, such as Catipult, the company's flagship product. In each of the major networking markets, Ipswitch sells through direct and reseller channels. Privately funded, Ipswitch is a Novell Professional Developer. Ipswitch also sells Merq, an NFS client for Novell's LAN WorkPlace for OS/2. The company is headquartered in Reading, Massachusetts.

Ipswitch Inc

580 Main St, Reading, MA 01867

617-942-0621,   fax 617-942-0823


ISA & EISA Theory and Operation
ISA, EISA, and Fast EISA specs defined and explained for designers

SAN DIEGO, CA, Sept. 1, 1993 -- Ed Solari's newest book, ISA & EISA Theory and Operation, has replaced his best-selling AT Bus Design, and covers both buses in a uniform and logical fashion. The Addendum, which has just been released, covers EISA EMB (Enhanced Master Burst, also called Fast EISA). EMB allows transfers up to 133 Mbytes/second.

The first part of each chapter is concerned with the ISA bus. This part of the book is substantially the same as the material in AT Bus Design, but in some cases has been re-stated in order to achieve consistency with the EISA and EISA EMB. Mr. Solari was one of the chief authors of the ISA specification developed by the IEEE P996 working group, and has since enhanced and corrected the ISA specification in both of his books.

Mr. Solari's involvement in the design of the Intel EISA interface chip set has kept him in the central position as the bus timing guru through the EISA and EISA EMB specification development. In fact, some of the portions of the recently-released EISA specification that are ambiguous or in error are clarified in ISA & EISA Theory and Operation. The book is also attractive from an economic point of view: the $89.95 book replaces both the ISA specification and the $125 EISA specification, and the $29.50 Addendum replaces the $300 EMB specification.

ISA & EISA Theory and Operation is available from Annabooks, 11848 Bernardo Plaza Ct., Suite 110, San Diego, CA 92128. Annabooks can be reached by calling 1-800-462-1042, 619-6730870, or 619-673-1432 (FAX). The Addendum containing the EISA EMB (Fast EISA) is also available now, but not separately, since it references tables and figures in the book. AT Bus Design is now out of print, having been replaced with the new book.


PC-Piano Teacher V1.1
Data Assist Releases V1.1 of PC-Piano Teacher

Computer Aided Instruction Package for Teaching Music

July 12, 1993 -- PC-Piano  Teacher  is  a  Computer  Aided Instruction  (CAI) package  for  teaching  music.  By  using  colorful  graphic screens, the student is presented with a series of questions designed to test  their understanding  of musical notes  and scales.

Kids will enjoy  using PC-Piano Teacher to  supplement their music   lessons.  Parents   will   appreciate  the   testing capabilities of PC-Piano Teacher and  can easily measure and monitor their child's progress.  Novice adult music students will also find the program ideal  for their own practice and testing.

Registration: $29 for Shareware version. Additional lessons are $49 each and support MIDI.

Authors: Lessons: Dan Severino, Severino Keyboard Studios.

         Program: Brian Lockrey, Data Assist, Inc.

Data Assist Inc

659 Lakeview Plaza, Suite H

Columbus, OH 43085


Pixelink Upgrades Document Imaging Systems
PIXELINK SHIPS WINDOWS, X WINDOWS DOCUMENT IMAGING SYSTEMS DISPLAYING 256 SHADES OF GRAY OR COLORS FROM ONE CONTROLLER

Hudson, MA--August 23, 1993-- Pixelink Corporation today announced it has begun shipping high resolution 20-inch monitors that can display 256 shades of gray from a true gray scale pallet as an option for its 120XDS Windows and UNIX/X Windows document imaging systems. With this option, Pixelink is the first industry vendor to enable its customers to select 256 gray shades or colors from the same controller.

Pixelink 120XDS system users can run either 256 gray shades or colors at a flicker-free 76Hz screen refresh rate and 120 dots per inch (dpi) clarity, just by exchanging monitors run from the same controller card. Marketing and Sales Director Bill Ingraham explained, "When images or busy graphics are the issue, our continuous tone gray scale is stunning. And to switch from gray to color, the customer just swaps monitors - a simple upgrade path, with only minimal work interruption." All 120XDS systems offer the same high performance Windows display acceleration, 120 dpi resolution, 76Hz screen refresh and 8x hardware zoom.

According to Ingraham, "Pixelink doesn't penalize our customers for choosing between color and gray scale displays -- we maintain the same 256 shades or colors, and a stable 76Hz CRT refresh rate. With the 120XDS, Pixelink customers don't have to compromise on display quality or ergonomics." Other imaging system vendors only offer 16 shades to their gray scale customers --and on their color systems, screen refresh rates for most large color monitors drop by almost 20 percent compared to gray scale. "This performance gap increases the likelihood that images will flicker on their color screens," Ingraham said.

Introduced last November at the Federal Imaging Conference and Exposition in Washington, DC, the Pixelink 120XDS system can run Microsoft Windows 3.1-based document display tasks significantly faster than current PC-based offerings. The UNIX/X Windows version delivers up to 70,000 Xstones while displaying 1600 x 1200 images, the industry's highest performance for PC-based X Windowing systems. Product shipments of the released OS/2 2.1 version began in early August.

Based on a non-interlaced 200MHz graphics controller from Number Nine Computer Corporation that accelerates both text and graphics display performance, the 120XDS lets users see two document pages simultaneously on-screen at 120 dpi (or 1600 x 1200 pixels) resolution. Even with this ultra-high resolution displaying more document "real estate", users can closely examine specific document sections using the HawkEye zoom feature. With the touch of a single key, users can magnify the entire screen by up to 8x, then scroll and pan over the magnified section with the mouse.

Gray scale versions of 120XDS Windows and 120XDS UNIX/X Windows document imaging display systems start at $2,695. Selecting the 21-inch color monitor option adds $2,000 to the system price.

Pixelink provides high-performance display systems to OEMs, system integrators and corporate users throughout North America. Pixelink specializes in integrating gray scale and color monitors with video controllers, to deliver high-resolution document imaging systems that meet challenging customer requirements in government, university, business, science, engineering, medical, and graphic arts applications.

Pixelink Corp

8 Kane Industrial Dr, Hudson, MA 01749


EA Sports Reload for '94 Video Games
EA SPORTS TOP GUNS RELOAD FOR '94

Madden '94 & NHL '94 Expected To Highlight Strong Holiday Season

CHICAGO, IL, June 3, 1993--EA SPORTS, the leading publisher of interactive sports entertainment and a division of Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: ERTS), announced today its plans to ship 1994 versions of its award-winning football and hockey franchise titles. John Madden Football '94 and NHL Hockey '94 will be available later this year for the Sega Genesis and Super NES.

These two new titles represent not just a routine update of teams, player statistics, animations, and graphics--they have been enhanced substantially with the NFL license for Madden '94 and the NHL/NHLPA combination for NHL '94.

JOHN MADDEN FOOTBALL '94

To the delight of its consumers, EA SPORTS has taken the best-selling 16-bit football video game of all time, John Madden Football, and added a National Football League (NFL) license to the new, highly-anticipated 1994 version. This makes the authenticity in the game even greater as NFL team logos appear everywhere--on helmets, in endzones, on the team selection setup screen, and throughout the playoffs and the Super Bowl. In fact, the official NFL logo is now emblazoned at midfield.

Madden '94 now features over 40 teams, which include every NFL team, two All-Madden Teams, and 12 "franchise" teams. "Franchise" teams feature a collection of the best-ever players from their respective teams--playing together--to allow gamers to play with the finest players of the past along with the best of today.

Madden '94 allows players to compete in a full 16-game NFL season and post season. With a new battery backup feature (Sega only), players choose a team, create a schedule, and prepare to take their favorite NFL team all the way. They can choose to be the Eagles, 49ers, Chiefs, Cowboys, or any other one of 28 NFL teams.

In addition, the playoffs in Madden '94 are arranged exactly like those of the NFL, as 12 teams grind it out with the hope of making it to Super Bowl Sunday. Players can also arrange their season schedule so as to play a different team each week--first the Bears, then the Raiders, and on to the Bills, the Redskins, and the entire league!

This award-winning game has a new engine that gets players closer to the action with a lower field perspective that allows the football players to appear larger and makes the pass plays easier to follow downfield.

Specific features in the Super NES version are highlighted by the Mode 7 rotating field. Each time the ball changes possession--whether an interception, a fumble, or a loss of downs--the field spins in one fluid motion and the other team takes over. Instant replay now features a 360 degree rotating field and players can review their best plays from any perspective in the stadium.

John Madden's personality truly shines through the Super NES version of Madden '94. For the first time on the Super NES, his exclamations--which have been recorded and digitized into the game so that they sound remarkably similar to those of a game on TV--can be heard after a big hit, after a diving catch for a touchdown, and after a number of other exciting plays.

The '94 Super NES version also features a much faster game. Players can more speedily turn the comer to elude oncoming defenders, and the "mph" button gives the players better control and allows them to be more aggressive.

NHL HOCKEY '94

For the first time ever, EA SPORTS will feature all the teams in the NHL AND all the players of the NHLPA. Combining hockey's leading organizations gives this title's game a big lift, as NHL Hockey '94 now features real team logos, the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and every hockey player in the league.

NHL Hockey '94 improves on last year's version with an array of new features. Teams and player ratings are updated, as are new player animations and new offensive and defensive commands and strategies. And between periods, gamers have access to updated player data such as power-play goals, short-handed goals, assists, penalty shots, breakaways, body checks, and more.

To give the home team momentum and duplicate the atmosphere of a real hockey game, authentic music from an NHL Hockey arena organist has been digitized into NHL Hockey '94. In addition, new checking animations--like a defenseman crushing a forward into the boards --give the '94 version an enhanced look and feel. Even the fans are more interactive, as they can be seen getting more emotionally involved--even rowdy--in the game.

Electronic Arts

1450 Fashion Island Blvd, San Mateo, CA 94404


Second Copy 4.0 Auto Windows File Backup
Second Copy 4.0 released

September 1, 1993 -- FALLS CHURCH, VA - Centered Systems is pleased to announce that Second Copy 4.0 has been released. Second Copy is Windows-based software that backs up files automatically. Most people don't have the time or patience to do regular backups and most software packages don't have regular back up functions integrated into the programs. Second Copy adds this powerful functionality to the computing environment.

Second Copy periodically monitors the source directories and updates copies of the new or changed files. Release 4.0 boasts a 3D look and feel with the ability to define multiple profiles that can be turned on and off with the click of a mouse button. Each profile can contain multiple source and destination directories and frequency at which the copy process should take place. The backup can be directed to a hard disk, a floppy, a LAN drive, or any combination thereof. Not only does Second Copy make life easier for the individual user, but it has the capacity to copy files on a network disk to be backed up with the system backup of the server.

Many users have backups directed to multiple locations to ensure data safety. Working totally in the background, Second Copy is invisible to the user, and has very little impact on the foreground processes. "Not only does Second Copy save us tremendous time performing and organizing our back-ups, but it has saved our neck on more than a few occasions", says Dia L. Michels, president of D'signer Group in Washington, D.C. Second Copy is used widely in both the United States and Europe, and has many devoted users. Previous versions have been reviewed favorably. PC World magazine in Europe distributed it in their October 1992 issue.

Second Copy is available through Shareware, and can be ordered through CompuServe by typing "Go SWReg" and by searching for Second Copy, or in the United States by calling 800-242-4775. A Windows-based installation program is included with the software. Second Copy sells for $28/single user and $132/site license for up to 25 users (shipping & handling included). Technical support is available through mail and through CompuServe at no charge.

Centered Systems

7137 Oak Ridge Rd, Falls Church, VA 22042


LOANVALU Version 4.43 Loan Calculator
LOANVALU Version 4.43

:Hodgson, C. William

This loan valuation shareware package for the home market was writtein in C and finds missing loan elements, generates the payment schedules and provides most of the data presented in other packages. To the author's knowledge, no other loan analysis package provides an analysis of the contract in hand (present) versus the market (proposed), let alone present value the contract at the market rate.

This program gives the home owner the opportunity to examine his alternatives with the bank's numbers, thus ending the insecurity surrounding the offer/acceptance decision game at refinancing time.

LoanValue uses a fill-in-the-blanks entry form to enter all the loan elements. Loan amounts up to 1 billion may be entered, compound periods from 1 day to one year, find the missing loan elements and enter extra loan and interest payments are just part of the package. The ability to compare your present package with alternatives is presented.

Check your favorite online service, local BBS or shareware vendor for a copy, or contact the author directly.

C. William Hodgson

4140 Celia Court

Burlington, ON CANADA L7L 5L9


Electronic Arts Victor in Japan
ELECTRONIC ARTS VICTOR INC.

CHICAGO, IL--June 3, 1993 -- Electronic Arts Victor Inc. (EAV), established October 29th, 1992, has shipped 21 products in its first 5 months of operations. These include three SNES products including John Madden Football, Bulls vs Blazers and the NBA Playoffs and Desert Strike; eight Sega Genesis games including Team USA Basketball, Crue Ball, EA Hockey, Madden Football, Road Rash, etc.; four Japanese PC conversions including 4D Boxing and 4D Driving, and several Mac and IBM localization titles.

Electronic Arts products are well received in the Japanese marketplace. Bulls vs Blazers and the NBA Playoffs reached No. 2 on the SNES sales chart. 4D Boxing climbed to No. 7 on the Japanese PC sales chart and received the award for 'Best Conversion of a Foreign Title' from Log-In Magazine. Team USA Basketball, Crue Ball, Hockey and Bulls vs Lakers and the NBA Playoffs all charted in the top 10 on the Sega sales chart.

In this period of time, EAV's revenues grew to more than $8 million, establishing EAV as a premier software publisher in Japan. EAV attributes its success in achieving these revenues to the quality of its products as well as the success of it marketing campaigns, including such activities as tie-ins with the nationwide Lotteria hamburger chain and mass media advertising.

EAV currently has 48 full and part time employees. More than half of its employees are working in the area of product development. Currently in development are original titles for both the SNES and 3DO platforms. These titles are expected to ship in 1994.

This fiscal year, EAV is planning to ship more than 40 products including titles for the SNES, Sega Genesis, Sega-CD, PC-9801, FM-Towns, Macintosh, and IBM formats. In general, EAV will concentrate heavily on building brand awareness and marketshare for EA SPORTS products, EA*Kids products, and Origin products.

As Apple and IBM increase their marketshare in Japan, EAV will launch EA EXPRESS, a service that will provide for the localization, timely distribution, and strong customer support of US and European software titles in Japan.

Electronic Arts

1450 Fashion Island Blvd, San Mateo, CA 94404


Electronic Arts Limited in European Market
ELECTRONIC ARTS LIMITED

CHICAGO, IL--June 3, 1993 -- Electronic Arts Limited, formed in April 1987, serves the European market and distributes products developed in the U.S. It also has exclusive European distribution rights for Broderbund Inc., Mindcraft Software Inc., Three-Sixty Inc., Bullfrog Productions Ltd., Millennium Software Ltd., Humongous Entertainment, Absolute Entertainment Inc. and the Strategic Studies Group. Entering 1993, Electronic Arts Ltd. has released over 600 products on cassette, disk and cartridge across 7 different machine formats, in 7 different languages. Electronic Arts Ltd. is based in Langley, Berkshire and employs approximately 90 people.

Electronic Arts Ltd. is currently working with more than 20 external artist groups. The company is focusing on development of high-quality, innovative titles for 16-bit machines and has achieved success with European designed titles such as Populous and Populous II, Birds of Prey and PowerMonger.

Electronic Arts Ltd. also converts entertainment software developed in the U.S. to popular European machine formats and its multimedia software to the European transmission format (PAL). This involves converting successful MS-DOS based games such as John Madden Football, Road Rash and Desert Strike onto leading European platforms, such as the Commodore Amiga. Electronic Arts Ltd. sells both its entertainment and multimedia products directly to over 50 distributors in 16 different European countries.

Since the launch of the first 16-bit videogame platform in Europe in 1990, Electronic Arts Ltd. has established itself as the leading third party publisher of 16-bit videogames, with noted success attained by products such as Road Rash, Desert Strike and EA Hockey.

A founder and the President of Electronic Arts Ltd., Mark Lewis has worked for Electronic Arts for eight years. Lewis began his career with Electronic Arts Inc. as a producer before setting up Electronic Arts Ltd. Lewis, a graduate of Yale University, brought four years experience in the computer industry to Electronic Arts. His experience with educational and professional programming derived from his position as Managing Director of Island Technologies Inc.

In the last year, Electronic Arts Ltd. won two of the most prestigious awards in the European leisure computing industry, these being the European Computer Trade Show Award for Software Publisher of the Year, and the Annual 'Industry Dinner' Software House of the Year. 1992 also marked the opening of sales offices in both France and Germany, as well as the relocation of the parent European operation into larger premises.

Electronic Arts

1450 Fashion Island Blvd, San Mateo, CA 94404


Mindplay's Educational Arcade is Here
MINDPLAY'S EDUCATIONAL ARCADE IS HERE!

CHICAGO, IL--June 3, 1993--Mindplay introduces it's Educational Arcade on the Macintosh and IBM platforms. The titles currently available, on disk, in the Educational Arcade are: Math Magic, Easy Street, and Dyno-Quest. Kit-Fun and Race the Clock are available on CD-ROM.

Mindplay's award winning software has been acclaimed by schools across the country. Now the most popular edutainment titles are available for consumer distribution. Each product has been kid tested in homes and in schools to insure balance between educational content and kid fun appeal. Each title includes a user guide, colorful poster featuring Mindplay's characters and free coloring book. Mindplay's products live up to their slogan--The More You Play, The More You Learn.

EASY STREET

Award winning early childhood adventure for kids 3-8. Nicky needs your help. A shopping trip downtown should be simple except for one thing--Knuckles, Easy Street's love-struck gorilla. She's sweet on Nicky, but if she jumps into the wagon, you won't be able to finish shopping. More than 9 levels of play offers a unique learning adventure each time you play. Educational skills of reading, math and problem-solving are reinforced. Available on disk--$49.95.

MATH MAGIC

Magic is afoot for kids from 4-8 as they encounter entrapped dragons in the Land of Magic. Wizrow, sorcerer superb, needs your help to break down the walls of the dungeon and free your beloved pets. Every now and then, you will be faced with a different challenge--one that will test your knowledge of mathematics. Correct answers to the questions will further you in your quest to free the magical dragons! Educational skills include: counting, addition, and subtraction. Virtually unlimited levels of play. Available on disk--$49.95.

DYNO-QUEST

Prehistoric adventure simulation for kids from 8-14. Kaboom! Your ship has been blasted back into time, to the day of the mighty dinosaur! As Captain Time Bound, you will test your thinking skills, trading scarce resources for information until you gather all the information about the dinosaur you went back to discover. -Educational skills include: decision making, critical thinking, risk taking, and map reading. Available on disk--$49.95.

KID-FUN

Karaoke fun for kids from 3-8. Sing along with Cindy The Song lady! Kid-Fun is the lively music she brings to children of all ages. Her songs spark the imagination with upbeat energy and cheerful Lyrics. Youngsters listen and join in singing, providing hours of entertainment. Vivid descriptions, catchy lyrics, and appealing animations encourage creativity. These songs are created to enhance a child's self-esteem. watch as the words touch youngsters and listen to the giggles erupt. Educational skills include: reading and listening. Available on CD-ROM.

RACE THE CLOCK

Family Fun for all ages. Jog Your Memory! Ready, set, go! You're being challenged to a supersnappy matching game guaranteed to delight you with hours of educational entertainment...Here, exposing and matching squares become tricky as seconds tick away...Nine levels of play in English or Spanish allows you to match words or video pictures. Educational skills include: concentration, memory, vocabulary, verbs, and matching. Available on CD-ROM.

Mindplay's consumer products are distributed exclusively in North America by Electronic Arts Distribution under its Affiliated Label program.

Mindplay - 602-322-6365

Electronic Arts Distribution

1450 Fashion Island Blvd, San Mateo, CA 94404


Electronic Arts PTY in Australia/New Zealand
ELECTRONIC ARTS PTY. LTD.

CHICAGO, IL--June 3, 1993 -- Electronic Arts Pty. Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Electronic Arts, is Australia and New Zealand's leading independent marketer and distributor of entertainment software products.

Electronic Arts Pty. Ltd. established its distribution headquarters in Queensland, in 1987, to reach the Australia and New Zealand markets. Regional Offices are established in Sydney and Melbourne with Business Managers heading up each of these regions. Each regional office has a team of field and telephone sales people to ensure that every customer receives full service and support in each State of Australia and New Zealand. We have built powerful relationships with national computer software retailers such as Brash's, Dick Smith Electronics, Myer/Grace Bros, Tandy and Virgin Megastores together with leading independent entertainment software stores. At the same time, Electronic Arts Pty. Ltd. is focusing on expanding distribution to leading mass merchants and toy store chains plus the rapidly expanding video retail channel.

Electronic Arts Pty. Ltd. reaches even further into the market through the expansion of our Affiliated Label program. Through this program, entertainment software is marketed and distributed for high quality publishers, companies like Gremlin Graphics, Maxis, Millennium, New World Computing, Origin, Spectrum HoloByte, Strategic Simulations Inc. and Three Sixty Pacific.

Electronic Arts Pty. Ltd. is strategically positioned to move in to the future through employing two key strategies. First, Electronic Arts Pty. Ltd. will make an investment in people, continuing to build up our regional sales presence and local product development throughout Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific. Second, Electronic Arts Pty. Ltd. will embark on a series of aggressive media marketing campaigns for our major titles.

At Electronic Arts Pty. Ltd. we believe that as the years unfold, our competitive advantages and diverse approach to doing business will enhance our strategic industry leadership role and result in still greater prosperity and growth. In short, we believe we will continue to be the most serious and successful player in one of the most entertaining and dynamic market places today and tomorrow.

ELECTRONIC ARTS PTY. LTD.A.C.N. 003 367 824, 46 Smith Street, Southport, 4215, Australia

Phone: (075) 911388 Fax: (075) 916068; Sydney Phone: (02) 9116662

Fax: (02) 9116664; Melbourne Phone: (03) 3422422 Fax: (03) 3422431


EBook CD-ROM's Premiere at CES
NEW EBOOK CD-ROM'S PREMIERE AT CES

CHICAGO, IL--June 3, 1993--Ebook, Inc., a leading publisher of CD-ROM titles, is debuting its development tools and new CD-ROM titles at this Summer's Consumer Electronics Show.

KAA'S HUNTING

The second of the Jungle Book series, KAa's Hunting, by Rudyard Kipling, is a tale of Mowgli, the boy-wolf. Disregarding the advice of his friends, Mowgli acquaints himself with the Bandor-log, the monkey people. Meeting up with Kaa makes him wish he'd listened to his friends. This story features complete narration, an on-screen dictionary, illustrations by Virginia Hurley, original multimedia music and a learning guide. Ebook's new Electronic Book software combines all the elements of multimedia in a way never before shown...a truly memorable experience. Kaa's Hunting retails for $39.95.              -

MOSAIC MAGIC

Ebook has licensed and will publish Mosaic Magic produced by KinderMagic Software for both Windows and Macintosh. Mosaic Magic is a toy, a creativity tool, and a math tutor all in one. Designed for the 4 to 11 year old age group, Mosaic Magic features four challenging game choices; Tattle Tiles, Masterpieces, Magic Mirrors and Mosaic 1,2,3. With over 120 pictures, puzzles and patterns, each game presents a variety of challenges and solving them is fun. Mosaic Magic introduces numbers, conveys critical math concepts, strengthens thinking skills, challenges problem solving abilities, inspires creativity, builds visualization skills, and encourages playful inventiveness while learning. Mosaic Magic Macintosh & PC CD-ROM retails for $34.95. Mosaic Magic IBM PC retails for $39.95.

EBOOK MACAUTHOR

Ebook has licensed Chemeketa Community College's The Textbook Toolbox, and will publish it as Ebook MacAuthor, with-in a multimedia authoring system for the Macintosh platform. Ebook MacAuthor retails for $295.00.

Ebook MacAuthor is a HyperCard-based multimedia authoring tool that guides the non-technical user through the process of creating an interactive electronic book. using Ebook MacAuthor, a user can make choices about how multimedia pieces will look and operate. Once these choices are made, the system builds a shell that conforms to the user's specification. With the help of the authoring palette, the user can then import graphics, text, sounds, movies, notes, and glossary entries.

The complete electronic books adhere to Apple's human interface guidelines and use standard objects familiar to all Macintosh users. Electronic books may be distributed or sold without paying additional licensing or royalty fees and users of Ebook MacAuthor can create an unlimited number of "books" using the system.

Ebook, Inc. is a titles, tools, and technology developer and publisher of arts and humanities, children's Multimedia Storybooks, and Picturebooks, Multimedia Music Books, Multimedia Comic Books, and general interest titles for the MPC, Mac and VIS CD-ROM platforms.

Ebook, Inc. -- (510) 429-1331

Electronic Arts Distribution

1450 Fashion Island Blvd, San Mateo, CA 94404


Humongous Ent. for Junior Adventurers
HUMONGOUS ENTERTAINMENT'S PRODUCT LINE FOR JUNIOR ADVENTURERS

CHICAGO, IL--June 3, 1993 Humongous Entertainment announces products for the Junior Adventurer on the Macintosh, PC, CD-ROM and 3DO systems. Titles currently available from the Junior Adventures line are: Putt-Putt Joins the Parade, Putt-Putt's Fun Pack and Fatty Bear's Birthday Surprise.

Humongous' Junior Adventures line products add a new level of sophistication to children's software. Puzzles develop problem-solving, logic, and deductive reasoning skills. The products explode with sound and animation, talking characters, and original music scores that bring the story to life. Each includes an Adventurer's Handbook filled with additional activities. In all, Humongous is dedicated to developing software that is educational, entertaining and doesn't underestimate your child's skill and imagination.

PUTT-PUTT JOINS THE PARADE

Designed for ages 3-8, Putt-Putt loins the Parade is the first title released from Humongous Entertainment. Grab your car wax and buff your bumpers, it's time for the annual Cartown Pet Parade. Help Putt-Putt tackle the local carwash, explore a toy store, rescue a puppy, and more, before heading to his front row spot in the parade. Available on Disk--$49.95 and CD-ROM-- $59.95. Available on 3DO, Fall '93.

PUTT-PUTT'S FUN PACK

Putt Putt's Fun Pack features six different games for kids ages 3-8. Join Putt-Putt for a game of Checkers or Remember! Sharpen letter and spelling skills with The Cheese King, a very special version of Hangman. Also included is Tic-Tac-Toe, Pinball Builder, and a variety of Circus Block Puzzles to ensure hours of fun. Four levels of difficulty provide a product that grows with your child. Talking characters add to their excitement. Putt-Putt's Fun Pack includes a 32-page Adventurer's Handbook filled with additional educational activities. Available on Disk and CDROM--$39.95.. Available on 3DO, Fall '93.

FATTY BEAR'S BIRTHDAY SURPRISE

Humongous manages to combine education with entertainment once again in their third title from the Junior Adventures line. This new title introduces the well-loved stuffed bear, Fatty Bear, who only comes to life for children. This friendly, cuddly cub lives with a delightful young girl named Kayla. Kayla is the bear's best friend. Tomorrow is Kayla's birthday and Fatty Bear is planning a surprise party for her. By organizing the other toys (which come to life only at night), Fatty Bear sets off to decorate Kayla's room, bake cakes, and do much more. Of course there are plenty of distractions...the pesky family pet keeps taking things from the player, and there's always time for another game of bowling or Mr. Veggie Head before Kayla wakes up. As with all the Junior Adventures products, a surprise is packed inside. In Fatty Bear's Birthday Surprise, the player will find a glow-in-the-dark frisbee to enjoy. Available on Disk--$49.95 and CD-ROM--$S9.95. Available on 3DO, Fall '93.

PUTT-PUTT GOES TO THE MOON

Due to a freak accident at the local fireworks factory, Putt-Putt is blasted to the moon. There he meets Rover, a sad and lonely little Lunar Terrain Vehicle, who has been left behind by the astronauts. Putt-Putt and Rover each have very unique abilities. By combining these and working together Putt-Putt and Rover are able to return safely to Earth. This product stresses the need for teamwork and cooperation and the lasting value of friendship. Putt-Putt and Rover must accomplish a few good deeds for the Moon People (car-like inhabitants of the moon) before they meet the Man in the Moon and are homeward bound. Available on Disk and CD-ROM for IBM,, Macintosh, and 3DO, Fall '93.

FATTY BEAR'S WORLD PACK

In the spirit of Putt-Putt's Fun Pack comes this challenging compilation of activities bursting with animation, dazzling sounds, and Fatty Bear, the talking teacher and your child's playmate. Fatty Bear's World Pack features 6 different activities from around the world. While introducing kids to cultural diversity, This product also teaches math skills, logic, critical thinking, and language. A specially designed Adventurer's Handbook extends the child's understanding of the cultures represented in the game. Available on Disk and CD-ROM for IBM, Macintosh, and 3DO, Fall '93.

Humongous Entertainment's titles are distributed exclusively in North America by Electronic Arts Distribution under its Affiliated Label program.

Humongous Entertainment -- (206) 487-0505

Electronic Arts Distribution

1450 Fashion Island Blvd, San Mateo, CA 94404


ICOM Ships Sherlock Holmes Vol III
ICOM SHIPS SHERLOCK HOLMES, CONSULTING DETECTIVE VOLUME III

CHICAGO, IL--JUNE 6, 1993--Leading CD-ROM developer, ICOM Simulations, Inc., will feature Sherlock Holmes, Consulting Detective Volume III at the Summer Consumer Electronics Show.

Sherlock Ill presents the Baker Street detective in three new cases, "The Solicitous Solicitor," "The Banker's Final Debt," and "The Thames Murders." The original Sherlock, released in CD-ROM versions for six platforms, sold in excess of 225,000 units--by far the largest ever for interactive video games on CD-ROM.

"As the breakthrough product in this new genre called 'interactive movies,' Sherlock Holmes, Consulting Detective continues to introduce a completely new generation of Sherlock Holmes fans to the fascination and intrigue of this timeless literary classic," said ICOM President Dennis Defensor. "And, because it is authorized by the estate of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, fans are guaranteed a genuine murder mystery experience."

Featuring enhanced color quality, Sherlock Holmes, Consulting Detective Volume III includes more than one hour of color motion video on a single CD-ROM and is available for the Macintosh, DOS, and Sega-CD. Sherlock III carries a suggested retail price of $69.95.

ICOM Simulations, Inc., based in Wheeling, IL and founded in 1985, publishes a wide range of products and interactive titles for many computer/game platforms.

ICOM Simulations, Inc. -- (708) 808-6458

Electronic Arts Distribution

1450 Fashion Island Blvd, San Mateo, CA 94404


Mindcraft Game Intros at CES
DESPERATE BATTLES, DETAILED ASSAULTS AND MAGICAL VICTORIES!

CHICAGO, IL -- June 3, 1993 -- Mindcraft Software, Inc. presents Bloodstone--An Epic Dwarven Tale, Strike Squad, Siege: Walls of Rome (working title), and many others at the Summer Consumer Electronics Show.

BLOODSTONE--AN EPIC DWARVEN TALE

A very rich and detailed role-playing experience revolves around the ancient Dwarven tribes and the search for the legendary axe of Khamalkhad. Several new heights in fantasy gaming will be reached, including breath-taking cut-away scenes and fully digitized voice and sound effects (with compatible systems).

This new title features many classic role-playing characteristics including terrifying new monsters to vanquish, powerful spells to cast, and wondrous places to visit. There are multiple dwarven tribes that enable the player to choose to play enemy or ally. Playability depends upon the player's skill level and increases with the outcome of the game. Available for the IBM PC in July 1993.

STRIKE SQUAD

Futuristic battle strategy combined with unique role-playing components add interest and support to a well developed storyline. Players select crew members from a most unique set to battle the variety of unfamiliar aliens that confront them. They travel from planet to planet in their attempt to complete a diverse slate of missions. They buy and sell powerful weapons and experiment with amazing new high-tech devices. There is a two-player option available, so players can square off against their companion, or combine forces against the common enemy. It's futuristic battle strategy and role-playing at its best. Available for the IBM PC in July 1993.

SIEGE: WALLS OF ROME

Mindcraft's best-selling strategic castle assault simulation returns. From the Golden Age of Athens to the Fall of the Roman Empire, from Africa and Britain to India and China--relive the glories and defeats of the heroes of ancient times. Fully detailed castles are based on historical design, and the troop types come from the actual warriors and existing legends of the time. Players lead their troops on extended campaigns--each battle with its own set of challenges. Use the editor to bridge the continents and the centuries in their own "what if' campaigns; play a wide variety of ready scenarios, and experiment with a self-made supply of battle options limited only by the breadth of their own imagination. Available for the IBM PC in August 1993.

DOMINION

An epic strategy game with a very original flavor...worry no longer about the petty details of running a kingdom or conquering the world. Select the right people, and they'll do it all for you. Interfere only as much as necessary. Diplomacy, intrigue, economics, politics, betrayal, and war are sure to be prominent issues within the realm. Super VGA color graphics, digitized sound effects (with compatible systems), and original soundtrack make this one a must for game players. Available for the IBM PC computer in September 1993.

MECHAMANDER

Far in the future, fully mechanized and highly skilled mercenary legions will be available for hire to smaller, independent planets of the galaxy. In Mechamander, players own and lead such legions. With men and equipment, players travel from planet to planet fulfilling the terms of each contract. After each successful mission, they can recruit new men (to replace those lost), purchase new equipment (if they can afford it), and choose a new contract from among those offered. Available for the IBM PC computer in October 1993.

STAR LEGIONS II (working title)

Players have mastered all the skills of strategic planetary conquest in Star Legions, but can they achieve the same success at planetary defense? In Star Legion ll, the tables have turned and they must successfully repel the unmitigated assaults of the all-powerful Krellan Empire to save their planet from being added to the ranks of the conquered. More battle options, new graphics, and an improved computer opponent will be added, as will modem capability for head-to-head play. Available for the IBM PC computer in November 1993.

GRYPHON MASTERS OF HAVLAR

First in the brand new "Realms of Fate" series, Gryphon Master of Havlar presents a whole new world for role-playing gamers to explore. Utilizing all the advanced capabilities of today's PCs, it has beautiful visual imaging and an intricately detailed world populated by fully developed and interesting characters. Available for the IBM PC computer in November 1993.

Mindcraft titles are distributed exclusively in North America by Electronic Arts Distribution under its Affiliated Label program.

Mindcraft Software -- (310) 320-5214

Electronic Arts Distribution

1450 Fashion Island Blvd, San Mateo, CA 94404


Morgan Interactive, The Ugly Duckling
MORGAN INTERACTIVE PRESENTS

The Ugly Duckling

CHICAGO, IL--June 3, 1993 -- Morgan Interactive, offering education through entertainment, will show The Ugly Duckling at the Summer Consumer Electronics Show. The Ugly Duckling will be released this fall on Macintosh and PC CD-ROM.

Morgan has brought this classic fairy tale by Hans Christian Anderson to life in an animated, interactive story for children ages 3-8. The story begins with a baby duckling that looks quite different from the rest of the flock. Children follow the duckling on his search for happiness and acceptance in a world that shuns him because he doesn't look like all the rest. Readers are touched by the experiences of the duckling as he grows up and learns the hard way to value himself for the unique creature he is, looking beyond the outer appearance and into his heart.

The first story in Morgan Interactive's line of children's entertainment products, The Ugly Duckling, is sure to provide hours of entertainment for your child while developing essential reading skills. It features over 500 click points of animation and sound including musical fences, marching ants, and flying bats. There are three original sing-a-longs to delight children and enhance the story. In fact, children and parents alike will greatly enjoy exploring and discovering the adorable and charming animals and sounds as the story unfolds.

Look for additional titles from Morgan Interactive--highly creative products that fully utilize the power of today's high end microprocessor technology in the production of high-quality art and animation.

The Ugly Duckling is distributed exclusively in North America by Electronic Arts Distribution under its Affiliated Label program.

Morgan Interactive, Inc. -- (415) 693-9596

Electronic Arts Distribution

1450 Fashion Island Blvd, San Mateo, CA 94404


5 New Multicom Pub. CD-ROM Releases
MULTICOM PUBLISHING PRESENTS 5 NEW CD-ROM RELEASES

CHICAGO, IL--June 3, 1993 -- Multicom Publishing is unveiling their 5 new titles at the Summer Consumer Electronics Show, Americans in Space, Astrology Source, Better Homes and Gardens Healthy Cooking, National Parks of America, and Wines of the World. Multicom titles feature a high degree of video and multimedia elements. Most are available for both Macintosh and MPC CD-ROM in one package.

AMERICANS IN SPACE

Interested in space exploration, have a child that needs to do a report on space travel, here is a product for you. Americans in Space is a complete video and photographic history of American manned space flight. Users will have complete access to historical data, detailed information of projects, missions and even future space station plans at the touch of their fingers.

Learn first hand what it is like to actually live in space or to experience a disaster. Access any space mission and learn more about it by just entering a project or date.

Americans in Space features more than 500 narrated photographic images and over an hour of full-motion narrated video. It is definitely your multimedia ticket to space travel. Americans in Space will be available on Mac & MPC CD-ROM in Summer '93.

ASTROLOGY SOURCE

Astrology Source is an innovative and entertaining method of obtaining astrological information about the user, family, and friends. Just by entering a date of birth, a world of mysterious astrological information, charts, photographs, images, and narration is at the users fingertips. Amaze friends and family with an explanation of their signs' characteristics, traits, and compatibility with others. Users can check-out their horoscope, while listening to interesting narration and music. Astrology Source is designed to provide hours of astrological fun for the novice or advanced user. Astrology Source will be available on MPC CD-ROM in Summer '93.

BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS HEALTHY COOKING

Enjoy healthy cooking with a name you can trust. Better Homes and Gardens Healthy Cooking CD contains a "how to" section that provides tips and techniques for the novice to experienced chef. The user will find over 420 recipes, nearly 100 full motion video clips, and a section illustrating styles and usage of utensils.

This CD-cookbook will suggest recipes based on ingredients available, or preparation time, or on calorie, sodium, or cholesterol restrictions. It will calculate ingredient amounts, create a shopping list, and provide nutritional information for any given number of servings.

Better Homes and Gardens Healthy Cooking CD also includes full color photographs of each recipe comprehensive indexing and enjoyable music matched to the ethnic origin of the recipe. Better Homes and Gardens Healthy Cooking will be available on Mac & MPC CD-ROM in Summer '93.

NATIONAL PARKS OF AMERICA

Planning a vacation, a park enthusiast, or just enjoy the outdoors? Here for your viewing pleasure is National Parks of America filled with hundreds of extraordinary photographs by renowned photographer, David Muench. This is an interactive-directory featuring 230 parks, all with comprehensive park information. The user may -locate and select a park by name, geographic location, or by special criteria, such as hiking, camping, fishing, etc. Once a park has been selected, the user has complete access to visitor and activity information. Users will be able to read historical facts, observe weather conditions, view nearly a thousand full-color photographs, and video. National Parks of America will be available on Mac & MPC CD-ROM in Summer '93.

WINES OF THE WORLD

For wine connoisseurs and those that want to be, Wines of the World is the complete interactive wine reference guide covering the history of wine, growing regions, the growers' perspectives, and geography from around the world. Wine making, tasting, characteristics, ranking, cost and much more is explored in detail. Hundreds of photographs, video, narration, maps, and text provide users with a multimedia experience which allows them to learn- about wines and reference them according to type, cost, region, characteristics etc. This title gives thousands of rankings, tips of how to evaluate wines yourself, and the ability to store personalized rankings and comments. Wines of the World will be available on Mac & MPC CD-ROM in Summer '93.

Multicom's products are distributed exclusively in North America by Electronic Arts Distribution under its Affiliated Label program.

Multicom Publishing -- (206) 622-5530

Electronic Arts Distribution

1450 Fashion Island Blvd, San Mateo, CA 94404


MAXIMUM IMPACT FROM NOVALOGIC

CHICAGO, IL--June 3, 1993 -- NovaLogic will feature Comanche Maximum Overkill: Mission Disk #1 & Mission Disk #2 (IBM-PC) and WolfPack (IBM-CD) at the Summer Consumer Electronics Show.

COMANCHE MAXIMUM OVERKILL MISSION DISK #1 & #2

A whole new experience awaits the flight veterans of the most realistic helicopter combat simulation ever. Players who liked Comanche Maximum Overkill, should prepare themselves for an even higher level of rotor-driven excitement.

Each mission disk (sold separately) continues the unsurpassed visual imagery of the original. Computer Gaming World's Military Advisor states that the game contains " a more believable terrain model than the Army's Combat Mission Simulator."

The retooling of Artificial Intelligence requires a new approach to strategy and tactics. Fresh challenges await Comanche pilots of all skill and experience levels.

MISSION DISK #1

Three new campaigns encompass a total of 30 additional missions, with several vivid new terrains to negotiate. Players can fly a midnight assault in a snow-covered valley, or sweat their way through a high noon fire-fight in an arid desert gorge.

With Mission Disk #1, players must be prepared to seek out and elude a host of unfamiliar enemy hardware as they strafe BRDM-3 Russian Gun Jeeps, take out transportable SCUD launchers, out maneuver HIND 24 Gunships, and much more! NOT A STAND ALONE GAME. Comanche Maximum Overkill is required to play Mission Disk #1.

MISSION DISK #2

Plenty of new missions are wrapped around completely original scenery. See the water ripple beneath you as you dive into ocean and wide river scenarios! Encounter lots of new vehicles such as OSA II Russian missile boats, Lebed Russian air-cushion water craft, M1 tanks, and other mobile instruments of destruction.

NOT A STAND ALONE GAME. Comanche Maximum Overkill is required to play Mission Disk #2.

WOLFPACK

The power and potential of CD multimedia are both brought to full realization as the classic game buster of submarine warfare makes new waves in simulation gaming.

Players go back to the days of World War n, when Hitler's U-Boats posed the most dominating threat to sea travel the earth has ever seen. They command U.S. Naval Forces from the surface as the Allied Escort Commander, using their tracking and/or evasive skills against the invisible enemy below. Or they play the part of the German submarine commander and run silent and deep in search of Allied ships that must be sunk at all costs.

The animation sequences and inspiring musical score create a gaming atmosphere as yet unparalleled in other software formats. Senses are activated in a way never before' experienced as players are plunged into the very heart of the North Atlantic conflict.

Players of the earlier version will immediately notice many brand-new missions that will challenge those on either end of the torpedo.

Wolfpack in CD-ROM has all the ingredients to please both the raw and the battle-tested in this highly-evolved new gaming format.

Comanche Maximum Overkill, Mission Disk #1 & Mission Disk #2 and Wolfpack, are distributed exclusively in North America by Electronic Arts Distribution under its Affiliated Label program.

NovaLogic -- (818) 774-0600

Electronic Arts Distribution

1450 Fashion Island Blvd, San Mateo, CA 94404


Total Distortion Music Video Adventure Game
POP ROCKET LAUNCHES TOTAL DISTORTION CD-ROM

POP ROCKET LAUNCHES PIONEERING ENTERTAINMENT SOFTWARE PRODUCT TOTAL DISTORTION, THE FIRST MUSIC VIDEO ADVENTURE GAME AT CES.

CHICAGO, IL--June 3, 1993 -- Pop Rocket, Inc. announces Total Distortion, the first Music Video Adventure Game on CD-ROM, at the Summer Consumer Electronics Show. The company plans to release MPC, Macintosh and 3DO versions of the product and will exhibit with Electronic Arts at McCormick Place North, booth #7120. Pop Rocket is an affiliated label of Electronic Arts.

Total Distortion is a fantastic and entertaining adventure for both kids and adults. The preview demonstrations have resulted in over 50 featured articles in major computer, entertainment, and design magazines in Japan, Europe, and the United States.

Players are Adventurous Music Video Producers as they travel to the Distortion Dimension in search of fresh material for their music videos! Mingle with virtual rock stars and make custom music videos. This game, one of the largest in history, is filled with interactive 3D animation, challenging games, talking characters, creative activities, and hard rockin' music!

Pop Rocket President Joe Sparks said: "We are very excited about this production and the world-class distribution provided by Electronic Arts. Gauging from the response so far, I believe Total Distortion will be a milestone product appealing to a large audience. We've received great interest in the product from leaders in the television, software, and consumer electronics industries who view TD as a great example of how mainstream interactive media will be implemented in the future--on interactive television networks and fiber-optic services."

Total Distortion combines the creativity of music video with the thrill of adventure gaming. Players of all ages can quickly and easily create elaborate music videos and sell them to producers back on Earth. The player is challenged to create videos for TV Producers, who evaluate the player's music video productions and decide whether or not they want to buy them. The player must pursue his/her career as a foreigner in the dangerous and supernatural Dimension of Distortion.

The gaming system within Total Distortion is unique--rewarding courage, creativity, and intellect with game, fortune, and survival. The player can customize the levels of difficulty and danger for each playing experience. Innovative software devices and 3D animation allow them to quickly assemble music videos, navigate to hr-out locations, and interact with the bizarre inhabitants on the Plane of Distortion.

Total Distortion Designer Joe Sparks explains the Music Video Adventure Game concept: "...Total Distortion has many of the elements found in 'traditional' adventure gaming--players have an inventory to store and use items, stats for your character like physical health, mental health, life force, and others. Players can die of starvation, violence, traps, etc., and more. They have long conversations with talking characters that have memory, personality and smarts. It all happens in full-blown multimedia: great 3D animation, over 50 all original songs, professional voice overs, a giant soundtrack, and over 500 megabytes of top quality, custom-created interactive media.

Here's the twist--In most adventure games of the Fantasy Sword of the Ultimate Barbarian variety, players are rewarded with silver keys, bright gems, and gold pieces which they can use to buy better weapons and potions. There they find more keys, gems, and gold pieces. In Total Distortion, players might find a few gems, but the real treasure is 'media treasure,' as in video clips players can grab with their camera, sound chips, lost recordings, smart video, and more. They don't just sit in your inventory, players can take them back to the media station in their tower and create long, complex, layered music videos with them. These are not just 'pointless' music videos either. TV Producers back on Earth have the brains to dissect your creations, and pay or not pay accordingly. They know if you're trying to cheat them, they know what they like, and it's up to you to figure out what sells in the TV markets. So, the treasures are more than just icons, you have to DO something with your treasure. Something creative..."

Total Distortion, which retails for $99, will receive wide distribution in North America through the leader in entertainment software, Electronic Arts Distribution (EAD). Macintosh version due June 1993, MPC version due fourth quarter 1993.

System Requirements for Macintosh Version: Apple Macintosh Color Computer with CD-ROM drive, 4 megabytes of RAM or more, 12" Color monitor or larger, System 6.07 or greater.

ABOUT POP ROCKET

Pop Rocket Inc., located in San Francisco, CA, founded in December 1991, to develop and publish interactive media products. Pop Rocket President Joe Sparks was co-developer of the pioneering and popular CD-ROM title 'Spaceship Warlock.' Pop Rocket is staffed with a talented team of experienced multimedia developers and marketing professionals. The company's goal is to be the most innovative developer and publisher of interactive media.

Pop Rocket, Inc.

Box 170460, San Francisco, CA 94117

(415) 731-9112; Fax (415) 731-1710; AppleLink--POPROCKET;

Compuserve--76300,2737; American Online--J Sparks.

Electronic Arts Distribution

1450 Fashion Island Blvd, San Mateo, CA 94404


Sanctuary Woods Multimedia CES Intros
PREVIEW OF NEW TITLES AT CES FROM SANCTUARY WOODS MULTIMEDIA CORPORATION

CHICAGO, IL--June 3, 1993 -- Sanctuary Woods Multimedia Corporation announced today that they will be showing the second adventure in the Awesome Adventures of Victor Vector & Yondo series, The Last Dinosaur Egg, and The Selfish Giant an Oscar Wilde story at the Summer Consumer Electronics Show.

THE LAST DINOSAUR EGG

The Last Dinosaur Egg takes Victor Vector & Yondo back in time from the Precambrian era to the Cretaceous. Back to the Age of Reptiles, to retrieve an egg of the last and greatest of the dinosaurs, Tyrannosaurus rex. Along the way they will struggle with malfunctioning equipment, primordial jungles, swift-flowing rivers, and marauding dinosaurs, as you guide Victor Vector and Yondo on a wild trip through time.

THE SELFISH GIANT

The story is set in the giant's very beautiful garden where children love to play. One day the selfish giant banishes the children from the garden, and from that day forward, snow, frost, hail and the North Wind play there. All the seasons pass him by now because of his selfish act. Will Spring ever come again? Delve into this richly detailed story to find out.

The Selfish Giant features word-for-word synchronized narration, word definitions, original songs and activities. This charming story will delight children of all ages.

Founded in 1988, Sanctuary Woods is publicly traded on the Vancouver Stock Exchange (SWD). The Company is a leading developer of family-oriented interactive education and entertainment titles on CD-ROM. Based in Victoria, British Columbia, Sanctuary Woods presently has 3 titles available with 8 more to be released in 1993. The titles are produced for the Macintosh, IBM and 3DO platforms. Sanctuary Woods is an affiliated label of Electronic Arts.

Sanctuary Woods tides are distributed exclusively in North America by Electronic Arts Distribution under its Affiliated Label program.

Sanctuary Woods -- (604) 380-7582

Electronic Arts Distribution

1450 Fashion Island Blvd, San Mateo, CA 94404


3 New SSI Game Titles at Summer CES
SSI Unveils Three New Game Titles at Summer CES '93

D&D STRONGHOLD, D&D FANTASY EMPIRE and ARCHON ULTRA

CHICAGO, IL--June 3, 1993 -- Strategic Simulations, Inc., a leader in the computer game market for more than a decade, introduces some of its most advanced simulation products ever at the International Summer Consumer Electronics Show. Each game features superior 16-bit graphic displays, extensive support of the most sophisticated sound cards, excellent game play, and the detailed simulation SSI players demand.

D&D STRONGHOLD

Strategy Simulation available for the IBM PC in July 1993 $59.95

D&D Game Stronghold is the first kingdom simulator set in the DUNGEONS & DRAGONS game world. Players battle computer-controlled adversaries to become Emperor by building and expanding a kingdom while dispatching all opposing kingdoms. As players construct new structures, the populace and the kingdom grow stronger.

Factors such as the farmland, population, housing, taxes, and troops must be dealt with, as well as a multitude of D&D game monsters and changing seasonal conditions. Stronghold's striking visual presentation includes a ground-view camera angle that zooms in and out using 3-D scaling technology. Digitized voices, music, and sound effects heighten the fantasy mood. The easy-to-use interface features mouse or keyboard commands, an intuitive movement magnet, and a priority pyramid.

D&D FANTASY EMPIRE

Strategy Action available for the IBM PC in September 1993--$59.95

D&D Game Fantasy Empire features the world's first computer Dungeon Master, who mediates all elements of game play. As the player seeks to conquer the D&D world of Mystara, the DM casts spells invoked by the player or even shows displeasure at the player's style of play. Thanks to superb animation, 256 color VGA display, and sound effects, the DM literally comes to life on the screen.

Facing as many as 20 different computer-controlled opponents, the player interacts with fantastic races, commands dozens of troop types, deploys special forces, and constructs a variety of buildings.

Extensive character interaction, including treaties, provides for diplomacy tactics. When combat occurs, the game switches to real-time arcade action seen from an overhead perspective. Players can choose to control any character and issue general battle orders.

ARCHON ULTRA

Strategy Action available for the IBM PC in August 1993--$59.95

One of the most popular action/strategy games, Archon, is being redesigned to take full advantage of today's advance computer technologies. Archon Ultra by SSI is a complete renovation of the original version, with state-of-the-art graphics, sound, game play, and feature enhancements.

As either the black side or the white side, players take turns moving pieces in an attempt to conquer the Archon board by capturing all of the enemy pieces, or by occupying the five "power points." The fantastic pieces include Unicorns, Banshees, Dragons, Basilisks, and Golems, each rated for different abilities. The crisp 3-D view of the board is smoothly animated in 256 color VGA graphics.

When conflict occurs, Archon Ultra switches from the strategic view to a fast paced, arcade-style combat sequence. Players can choose to control all elements of the game or just play certain segments. A continuous music score and sound effects provide audio excitement. The game is designed for one or two players and can be played with mouse, joystick, or keyboard.

D&D Stronghold, D&D Fantasy Empire and Archon Ultra are distributed exclusively in North America by Electronic Arts Distribution under its Affiliated Label program.

Strategic Simulations Inc

675 Almanor Ave, Suite 201, Sunnyvale, CA 94086-2901

408-737-6800;  Fax: 408-737-6814

Electronic Arts Distribution

1450 Fashion Island Blvd, San Mateo, CA 94404


Lastest Three-Sixty Releases from CES
THREE-SIXTY PRESENTS

CHICAGO, IL--June 3, 1993 -- Three-Sixty is known for its tactical, strategic simulations. At the Summer Consumer Electronic Show they will be featuring their latest efforts. Targeted at the World War II strategist, Three-Sixty will be showing V for Victory Gold-Juno-Sword, High Command, and Victory at Sea.

V FOR VICTORY: GOLD-JUNO-SWORD

Three-Sixty Pacific, Inc. today announced the upcoming release of the fourth product in the award winning V for Victory series, V for Victory: Gold-Juno-Sword. Set in 1944 Gold-Juno-Sword brings the D-Day invasion of Normandy to the forefront as 100,000 Allied troops assault Hitler's vaunted Atlantic Wall. Eight German Panzer divisions and three powerful Commonwealth corps are engulfed in the titanic battle for the French town of Caen and the Commonwealth beaches. The player acting as the Allied commander must take and hold a beachhead large enough to serve as a foot hold in Europe and open a second front against Germany. The player acting as the German commander must destroy the Commonwealth divisions and force them to withdraw from the continent.

As with the previous three products in the series, Gold-Juno-Sword with sport Super VGA graphics, the distinctive V For Victory interface, and standard features such as "Limited Intelligence," extensive campaign analysis, and historical variants. New features include additional terrain types, new weather effects and forecasts, and all new scenarios ranging from defending the Orne Bridges to the complete Campaign game. As always, a tutorial scenario is available for the beginner.

This product will support both PC and Macintosh formats. The Mac version will be available in May; the PC version will be available in June.

HIGH COMMAND

Combining the finest elements of grand strategy with resource management, Three-Sixty announces High Command: The War in Europe 1939-45.

Set in Europe in 1939, the players have complete control of all military, economic, and political resources in their quest to lead either the Allied or Axis forces to a World War II victory. The player acting as leader will face numerous economic, military, and political decisions: allocate resources to military units immediately, or invest in company infrastructures first?

Allocate resources to negation or to sabotage? Military options include complete control of air, land, and sea forces at strategic and tactical levels; economic options include production, research and development, and foreign aid; political options include diplomacy and breaking enemy codes. Game play also features flexible weather conditions, the ability to adjust Allied and Axis intelligence, and a strong computer opponent.

Players plan and execute their grand strategy through the use of High Command's strategic map. Presented in Super VGA graphics, the strategic map offers 20 display modes that can be activated alone or in combination. In addition, High Command features a streamlined, comprehensive setup screen and a state-of-the-art, icon-driven interface that allows for smooth and simple access to the complex game options. Beginners can assign virtually any of the game elements to the computer and take on additional decision-making responsibilities as their experience and skill level increases.

Last year Colorado Computer Creations made its first version of this product available through direct mail "baggy sale" only. Impressed with this independent development effort, Three-Sixty negotiated a long-term agreement with Colorado Computer Creations comprising further development of High Command: The War in Europe 193945 through the integration of Three-Sixty's graphics and interface technology, and retail distribution of the new product through Electronic Arts' Affiliated Label program. In addition, the agreement also calls for the joint development and release of several new products during 1993 and 1994.

VICTORY AT SEA

Releasing this fall is Three-Sixty's long-awaited World War II Pacific naval game, Victory at Sea. Designed by world-renowned military expert James F. Durmigan, Victory at Sea will feature complete strategic and tactical games, Super VGA graphics, and will support both IBM and Macintosh platforms. In addition, Three-Sixty will use Victory at Sea to launch its revolutionary GameBook concept.

Victory at Sea will be the premier World War II Pacific theatre product on the market due to its depth of play. Victory at Sea is actually two games in one. In the strategic game players can direct the entire Pacific campaign at the task force level. When opposing forces get within range of each other, gamers have the option to "go tactical" and play out the engagement on a ship-by-ship basis. The GameBook is a true on-line book comprised of World War II pictures and over 100,000 words of historical background text. By double clicking on game objects such as ships or geographic locations, players will find at their fingertips a wealth of information ranging from commander photographs and biographies to historical analysis. With additional access provided through the use of key work Hyper text linkage, menus, and dialog boxes, the GameBook will enhance the player's game experience by providing an interactive educational tool and a sense of historical perspective and realism. Three-Sixty is proud to pioneer the use of Hyper text technology in the gaming industry.

James F. Dunnigan is a well-known figure in military affairs and in wargaming. Founder and former chief game designer for Strategic Publications, Inc., Dunnigan has created over 100 games and to date has published numerous books, all addressing military issues. His television appearances include an episode of Donahue and, most recently, a half-hour question and answer session with Tom Brokaw addressing Iraqi aggression in the Gulf region.

Three-Sixty titles are distributed exclusively in North America by Electronic Arts Distribution under its Affiliated Label program.

Three-Sixty -- (408) 879-9144

Electronic Arts Distribution

1450 Fashion Island Blvd, San Mateo, CA 94404


EA Launches Six Major 3DO Titles
ELECTRONIC ARTS LAUNCHES SIX MAJOR 3DO TITLES AT CES

Chicago, IL - June 3, 1993 -- Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: ERTS) today launched six titles for the 3DO Interactive Multiplayer. Electronic Arts will be showing all six of these titles, and will have further product information at booth 7120 at McCormick Place North.

PGA TOUR Golf allows players to tee off against 60 top PGA TOUR pros. Four actual Tournament Players Club courses are featured, utilizing digitized video footage and fully accurate elevation data. Variable wind conditions, ten different ball lies, specialty shots, CD-quality digitized sounds, and an enhanced interface designed specifically for the 3DO platform are all included. Additional EA SPORTS features are instant replay, tournament updates from sportscaster Ron Barr and stats on each golfer.

John Madden Football has become the best selling 16-bit football videogame of all time. The highly-praised game engine has been enhanced for the 3DO system, and features fully digitized player animations, 3D-rendered field and stadium art, and CD-quality digitized sound and commentary. EA Sports now brings the official NFL license to John Madden Football, enabling play with real teams and logos.

Twisted: The sitcom of game shows. Trapped in a twisted TV Land, the challenge is to save a video contestant from eternal life in a game show! In this unique and intriguing game, players pair up with digitized partners who talk and interact with them. The challenge is to solve living jigsaw puzzles, zap commercials against the clock, mix and match famous voices, and mastermind thousands of other brain-boggling games. It's a perfect game for the whole family.

Worldbuilders, Inc.: Where Terraforming is the Corporate Agenda. Cast as the CEO of Worldbuilders, Inc. the player specialises in the art and science of terraforming planets. Picture an interstellar space adventure set to the music of Holst's The Planets, with textured graphics of unparalleled clarity designed on a Silicon Graphics system. Add an atmosphere of cyberpunk to the motion video sequences, and gameplay featuring components of strategy, action, and simulation-plus an educational element-and you get a space opera as only the 3DO system can provide.

Road Rash: The Blood of the Couriers features lawless, high-speed motorcycle racing with blistering frame rates and CD-quality sound. Road Rash pushes texture mapping to a new level for a revolutionary photo-realistic road effect, and introduces a den of iniquitous characters so real, the player feels like part of a bike gang. The players compete in a series of adrenalin-pumping races in rush hour traffic, canyon runs, and derelict inner-cities while avoiding punches, kicks, and swings from other competitors!

Shock Wave: Invasion Earth 2019. The player is cast as an elite fighter pilot aboard the first ever orbital aircraft carrier. Full-screen video mission briefings and news reports give the location of the alien attack ships; this prompts the player to blast into battle over true-color photorealistic terrain. Shock Wave fully utilises the graphic potential of the 3DO system to provide unparalleled realism in a gaming environment.

Electronic Arts

1450 Fashion Island Blvd, San Mateo, CA 94404


EA Announces Initial 3DO Product Lineup
ELECTRONIC ARTS ANNOUNCES INITIAL 3DO PRODUCT LINEUP

Chicago, IL - June 3, 1993 -- To demonstrate its commitment to the 3DO Interactive Multiplayer, Electronic Arts (NASDAQ:ERTS), a global leader in interactive media, has announced plans to release six major new software products.

The release of the majority of these first titles John Madden Football, PGA Tour Golf, Road Rash, Twisted, Worldbuilders, Inc. and Shock Wave) is timed to coincide with the fall 1993 debut of the Panasonic REAL 3DO Interactive Multiplayer. Additional titles from Electronic Arts will be released by Christmas. They include the first 3DO product from Origin Systems Inc., and EA*Kids, both operating divisions of Electronic Arts.

Electronic Arts' consistently high growth has been importantly fueled by technological innovation. The company was one of the first major publishers to see the potential of the Commodore Amiga in 1986 and to actively support the Sega Genesis in 1991. In 1993, while continuing to defend its leadership position in the 16-bit computer and videogame markets, it will push the boundaries of 'real life in a box' to new extremes by offering consumers high quality software for use on the Panasonic 3DO Interactive Multiplayer.

3DO technology, featuring unique graphics animation architecture and compact disc-quality music and sound effects, represents a tremendous advance in the multimedia presentation of entertainment software. For example, it allows full utilization of graphic effects such as texture mapping, depth of field, light-sourced shading, true-color and motion video.

Additionally, users will interact directly with real people and real sounds (no more cartoon-like sprites!), so the multi-sensory experience will feel far more realistic than ever before.

Jack Heistand, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Electronic Arts, said that the company "enthusiastically supports the 3DO Company's effort to create a new standard for the industry with a new generation of hardware that is the most capable home media player ever introduced.

"Electronic Arts has a mission to rapidly establish a position of leadership in the 3DO entertainment software market, as it has successfully done in other fields of entertainment software. The sheer bandwidth and calibre of EA's 3DO product portfolio can be illustrated by taking a look at the pedigree of our release schedule: John Madden Football is the best-selling 1 bit football videogame of all time. The Wing Commander series from Origin is generally regarded as the leading interactive-movies brand in personal computing. EA*Kids will bring Sesame Street and Peter Pan characters to life to educate our children. Other titles will feature movie-quality special effects, animations and soundtracks.

"Electronic Arts has always made software that is "Simple, Hot and Deep". The 3DO platform is re-defining just how 'Hot' interactive software can be", concluded Heistand.

Electronic Arts

1450 Fashion Island Blvd, San Mateo, CA 94404


EA Releases Epic Adventure TECHNOCLASH
ELECTRONIC ARTS ANNOUNCES THE RELEASE OF THE EPIC ADVENTURE TECHNOCLASH

Chicago, IL, June 3, 1993 - Electronic Arts (NASDAQ:ERTS) has announced the early August release of the epic adventure Technoclash.

Priced at $49.95 and designed specifically for the Sega Genesis, Technoclash is also compatible with the new Sega 6-button controller pad which will debut in late June at $19.99.

For gamers of all ages, here's the story: Technolords from the outer realm have constructed an inter-dimensional portal, through which the destructive Engine Man enters the Inner Realm--c land inhabited by wizards and their apprentices.

The Engine Man is wreaking havoc throughout the Inner Realm, and something needs to be done fast to stop the destruction. The fearless and talented wizard Prince Ronnan has been chosen by the High Council of the Inner Realm to destroy the engine men and their creator. To search and find the creator the player must go through 7 levels (Caesar's world, junkyard, desert, underground city, portal cavern, tween place and teg temple) to the final destination back through the inter-dimensional portal.

Gamers play the role of Prince Ronnan, who can summon the aid of bodyguards Faarg (not too bright, but loyal and fast on his feet; also a fast shooter) and Chazz (the clear bodyguard choice in later levels because he possesses more damaging spells and can also levitate) to help him in his quest. He can also utilize a number of combat and non-combat spells.

The combat spells range from the Basic (the least powerful but an "endless" weapon) to the Mondo (a spell that simultaneously blasts all enemies off the screen). There is also a heal spell which restores life to Prince Ronnan and his bodyguards.

Prince Ronnan also has the advantage of calling upon the eyes of his ancient magical falcon, Indar. While the player (as Prince Ronnan) soars through the Inner Realm utilizing Indar's eyes to scour the terrain and locate all the Inner Realm's enemies, he is rendered invincible and all action is benevolently suspended.

Electronic Arts

1450 Fashion Island Blvd, San Mateo, CA 94404


EA General Chaos for Sega Genesis
ELECTRONIC ARTS SEEKS ORDER FROM GENERAL CHAOS

Chicago, IL - June 3, 1993 - Electronic Arts (NASDAQ:ERTS) has announced that General Chaos for the Sega Genesis will be released in August at a price of $49.95. General Chaos is the creation of Brian Colin and Jeff Nauman, whose track record includes time at Williams/Bally working on titles such as Rampage, Archrivals, and Xenophobe. The game has been produced for Electronic Arts by Chris Wilson.

General Chaos is a real-time, head-to-head action game that allows the player to control a team of five hand-picked commandos fighting against tough opposition. Play may be either one, two, or two-player cooperative, and is a combination of fast-paced reflex action and lightning-swift strategic decision-making. Graphically, the game features cartoon-style caricatures and a comical array of explosive effects.

General Chaos and General Havoc are arch-rival army commanders, who have been at war for some time (it could even be said that for these conflicting countries, war has become something of a national pastime). Each general prides himself on being able to draw upon four groups of ruthless and nefarious commandos, each of which is skilled in techniques of combat, subterfuge, and downright nastiness appropriate for a variety of missions.

Once the player selects a crack team, the general takes his troops to war. Squad members are individually directed around fifty unique battlefields, and given specific instructions to counteract enemy advances. At all times, the general must be ready to react instantaneously to pushes from the enemy, either as a group, or individually.

Each commando under the general's control is assigned a particular duty, that is especially relevant to his natural skill and training. The gunner is equipped with an automatic machine gun, and the chucker with grenades. The launcher uses a heavy bazooka, the scorcher sets things afire with a flame-thrower, and the blaster carries dynamite for eliminating mission targets or for trapping the opposition. A limited number of medic teams may be called upon to patch up the wounded, who are basically wasting precious combat time by lying on the ground!

Electronic Arts

1450 Fashion Island Blvd, San Mateo, CA 94404


Mutant League Football for Sega Genesis
MUTANT LEAGUE FOOTBALL FOOTBALL ACTION WITH AN EXCITING TWIST!

CHICAGO, IL, June 3, 1993 - Electronic Arts (NASDAQ:ERTS) has announced the release of Mutant League Football for the Sega Genesis. Mutant League Football is a new action game with a football theme. It will be available in late June priced at $49.95.

Mutant League Football is set in the future on a distant planet, where trolls, aliens, robots, skeletons, and super-humans fight it out for victory. The game features 16 teams (including the Deathskin Razors with their versatile offense, merciless defense, and the occasional bribed official, and the Midway Monsters who live and die - literally - by their running game). In addition, gamers can play with three all-star teams, each with a different mix of players.

The player can mutilate mutants in 19 different stadiums containing some of the nastiest places in the galaxy. Death is commonplace and mercy is ridiculed. Strewn with natural and unnatural traps and debris that add excitement, unpredictability, and serious injuries, the fields can be more dangerous than the players themselves.

Mutant League Football also features "nasty" audibles (one replaces the ball with dynamite), and unique wild plays (like "Hail Scary" and "Deathbone"). Featuring football strategy with a wild, gory twist, Mutant League includes one to two-player simultaneous play and a death index that allows the player to decide how extreme the game should be.

MUTANT LEAGUE HOCKEY

THE NEXT IN THE LINE OF MUTANT LEAGUE PRODUCTS

Mutant League characters bring their mutated mayhem to the ice in the wildest, goriest, funniest hockey game ever.

The game features booby-trapped ice rinks and fierce conditions (like ice sharks and land mines), crowd interaction, a special 2-point shot from the blue line, weapons that can be used during gameplay (axes, T-N-T, sledgehammers and chainsaws), and the most bizarre Zamboni ever seen sweeping up body parts between periods.

Watch out for Mutant League Hockey in early '94.

The Mutant League line of products is in no way associated with EA SPORTS.

Electronic Arts

1450 Fashion Island Blvd, San Mateo, CA 94404


First EA CD-ROM Release, The Labyrinth
ELECTRONIC ARTS ANNOUNCES FIRST CD-ROM RELEASE: THE LABYRINTH

Chicago, IL -June 3, 1993 -- Electronic Arts (NASDAQ:ERTS) has announced the release of The Labyrinth for the PC and compatibles CD-ROM/MPC. This game will be Electronic Arts' first release on CD-ROM, and will be available in the fall of this year at a price to be announced. The Labyrinth is the creation of Michal Todorovic and Bradley W. Schenck of New Worlds Development. Randy Breen is the producer for Electronic Arts.

The Labyrinth is a fantasy adventure featuring a series of graphic and logic puzzles which must be completed in order to solve the entire game. Problems must be solved in a nature that affects both space and time. For example, certain puzzles, once solved, put events in motion that will aid in the ultimate destruction of the Labyrinth itself. Therefore, the player must create conditions which essentially, change history! The Labyrinth features over 250 megabytes of SVGA 3D-modeled and rendered graphics, which provide a photorealistic gameplay environment, and it utilizes an intelligent design point-and click interface.

The player is whisked away from the contemporary word by a subway car, and is thrown directly into the game. King Minos (of Greek mythology) has captured the spirit of his ancient master-builder, Daedalus (father of Icarus.) It was Daedalus who designed and built the infamous Labyrinth of Knossos. Minos is utilizing the captive spirit of Daedalus to create a new Labyrinth-one which bridges both space and time, and has doorways into a number of historical epochs. Minos plans to rule Earth via The Labyrinth, and become the ultimate despot-not simply the ruler of his era, but the ruler of the entire history of The World.

Daedalus strives to fight off the mental captivity under which his spirit has been placed, and sets out to recruit a technically-advanced warrior--who just happens to be an innocent bystander from the twentieth century!

The player must pass through The Labyrinth, solving conundrums of logic, and setting various chains of events in motion in order to influence actions in later historical eras, like the Middle Ages, Pre-Columbian America, the Bronze Age, the Old West, and the present. The player does all of this by simply interacting with 'hot buttons' and icons on-screen as he pursues his ultimate quest--to locate and overcome the source of the awesome power of Minos.

Electronic Arts

1450 Fashion Island Blvd, San Mateo, CA 94404


Super Baseball 2020 for Sega Genesis
SUPER BASEBALL 2020

CHICAGO, IL, June 3, 1993 - Electronic Arts (NASDAQ:ERTS) has announced the release of Super Baseball 2020 for the Sega Genesis. Super Baseball 2020 is a new action game with a baseball theme and is also a conversion of the arcade hit. The product will be available in September. It will be priced at $59.95.

It's the year 2020, and there are new rules and wild twists to the original game of baseball. Players can choose from teams made up of males, females, and robots to play in this action-packed, fast-paced futuristic baseball game.

There are a total of twelve teams in two leagues, each with 16 unique players. Each team has its own characteristics with hard hitters, great fielders, and fast runners. A player can strengthen his team by collecting prize money for good plays. Each time the player takes a base, scores a run, makes a play, or forces the end of an inning, he earns extra dollars which can be used to purchase power-ups for the pitchers or batters. The player needs to watch out, though, as bad plays can reduce the prize money!

The infield and outfield bleachers are covered by a special armored glass so that the fair zone becomes wider. The unique fair zones are to the sides of 1st and 3rd bases, opening Super Baseball 2020 up for more hits and runs. After every new inning, exploding crackers creating obstacles that make fielding a little more exciting--are placed in the outfield.

Super Baseball 2020 also features two types of play: the one-player league and the one-player-vs-two-player. When the player is in the one player league, he can play single games or a 15 game season - one game against each of the fearsome opponents. With the password save, a player can go back to finish the season whenever he wants. In the one-player-vs-two-player, the player battles it out against another friend.

From the seventh inning on, the batting power of one player is somewhat increased for both teams. This feature provides both teams with the possibility of a come-from-behind victory late in the game!

Super Baseball 2020 is not an EA SPORTS title.

Electronic Arts

1450 Fashion Island Blvd, San Mateo, CA 94404


EA James Pond II & Blades of Vengeance
ELECTRONIC ARTS ANNOUNCES TWO PLATFORM GAMES TO SHIP IN THE FALL JAMES POND III: OPERATION STARFISH

CHICAGO, IL, June 3, 1993 - Electronic Arts (NASDAQ:ERTS) has announced the release of James Pond III: Operation Starfish for the Sega Genesis, the fourth in the line of James Pond Products.

The evil Dr. Maybe has returned to create havoc in the world. He has a new and evil plan: mining yogurts, ice cream and cheese from the moon's rich mineral supplies. F.I.5.H. has discovered his plans to monopolize the world's dairy market and have sent their top agent, James Pond, into space to deal with the problem.

Pond's mission is to make his way across the moon - avoiding many natural hazards, bizarre lifeforms and traps. He has to rescue three trapped F.I.5.H. agents (who will pin him on his quest) and eventually make his way to the cheese mines, where he will face his arch foe, Dr. Maybe.

Pond has a number of abilities and power-ups to use on his travels. In addition to his powerful jumping, ducking and running abilities, he can use suction boots (which allow him to walk on any surface ), a fruit suit (which doubles as a deadly attack weapon, allowing him to roll onto enemies to destroy them), skis, rocket boots and anti-gravity rocket boots. He can also drive a lunar buggy, a drilling machine, a giant moon-worm and a mini rocket. Pond also has his new sidekick to call upon in times of need, Finnius Frog.

James Pond III: Operation Starfish will be available in late fall at a price to be announced.

Blades of Vengeance

CHICAGO, IL, June 3, 1993 - Electronic Arts (NASDAQ:ERTS) has today announced the release of Blades of Vengeance for the Sega Genesis.

Blades of Vengeance is one of the most graphically rich platform games to-date. Set in the caves, forests and fortresses of a faraway world, Blades of Vengeance will pit the player against the evil lord and his minions including Medusa, vampires, dragons, and zombies. He may choose to be the warrior, the huntress or the wizard; each have their own unique weapons and powers, and then join the bloody battle.

With over 7 intense levels, each with end of level bosses, Blades of Vengeance can be played in either one or two-player mode.

Electronic Arts

1450 Fashion Island Blvd, San Mateo, CA 94404


Wordbuilders Inc Strategy Game for 3DO
WORLDBUILDERS, INC.

Chicago, IL - June 3, 1993 -- Electronic Arts (NASDAQ:ERTS) today announced the release of Worldbuilders, Inc. for the 3DO Interactive Multiplayer. Worldbuilders, Inc. is an epic game of strategy and action, with educational overtones.

The player takes the role of Chief Executive Officer at Worldbuilders, Inc., a firm specializing in Terraforming the art and science of transforming worlds from desolate rocks into planets suitable for colonization by humankind and friendly alien species. The player's task is to identify worlds suitable for Terraforming within a compact star cluster. Exploration is accomplished by an advanced command ship, control of which lies in the hands of the player. A major contract is at stake, and rival entrepreneurs are out to ensure that this current mission is Worldbuilders, Inc.'s last.

Despite the difficulties, the player has a wealth of advanced technology at his disposal. Miniature black holes can be strategically placed in order to alter the gravitational pulls and thus orbits of previously-stable planets. Nanotechnology can be used to alter the atmospheric make-up of a world, and comets or meteors can be utilized to bombard a planet's surface to create the right level of water content or gaseous mixture to lead to the origin of a life-supporting atmosphere. After the acceleration of a suitable planet's progress toward genesis, the fun really starts. Appropriate biological packages can be exploited in order to fertilize the planet, introduce life forms, and do everything that the would-be deity always dreamed of doing.

It would be too easy if it ended there. Once a planet has been terraformed and colonized, maintenance is essential so that aberrant life forms that can extinguish the newly-located populous don't develop and so that rivals can't force Worldbuilders, Inc. into a combat situation. Indeed, the player may decide that combat leads to advantageous situations from time to time (a combat sequence is a fun way to eliminate an opportunely weak rival!) At any time, a scientific database may be called up which provides real-life physics and astronomy information, and contains NASA video footage.

As well as a storyline of a depth and complexity rarely seen in computer entertainment, Worldbuilders, Inc. illustrates the stunning graphical abilities of the 3DO Interactive Multiplayer and features a merit listing that Reads like the closing credits for a Hollywood movie. Producer Noah Falstein worked at Lucasfilm Games for 8 years where he produced such gaming classics as Battle Hawks 1942 and co-designed the line of Indiana Jones graphic adventures. Computer art and effects have been created on the highly-regarded Silicon Graphics system, and have been directed by the team of Kurt Kaufman (ex-Industrial Light and Magic) and Syd Mead (production designer for the movies Tron and Bladerunner). Intensive use is made of the 3DO Interactive Multiplayer's built-in Cinematic Software Tools, such as fully-animated 24-bit color displays produced in full 3D-rendering. Compact Video of the characters with which the player interacts adds to the feel of a cyberspace virtual environment.

Electronic Arts

1450 Fashion Island Blvd, San Mateo, CA 94404


EA Haunting Starring Polterguy for Genesis
ELECTRONIC ARTS SCARES UP SOME FUN ON THE GENESIS: HAUNTING STARRING POLTERGUY TO SHIP THIS FALL

CHICAGO, IL, June 3, 1993 - Electronic Arts (NASDAQ:ERTS) has announced the upcoming release of Haunting Starring Polterguy for the Sega Genesis. Haunting Starring Polterguy is a new action/strategy game to be released in September '93.

The evil and greedy Sardini family - Vito and Flo, and their teenage kids Tony and Mimi "arrange" the early demise of their relative, Guy, to get their hands on his inheritance and then use the cash to purchase four mansions.

But Guy's spirit can't rest as long as the slimy Sardinis inhabit the mansions. It's now time for him to seek revenge from beyond the nether-world..as a ghost: Polterguy!

As Polterguy, gamers use their newfound supernatural powers to "possess" over 250 different objects in the Sardinis' mansions - fright items, or "fright-ems" - which can be used to scare the evil family out of their lavishly furnished homes. The player can watch the Sardinis' comical reactions and facial expressions when Polterguy scares 'em with a chainsaw or meat cleaver!

Getting in the way, however, is Polterguy's limited supply of vital ectoplasm, which powers his scare tactics. Along with replenishing ectoplasm supplies throughout the game, gamers must avoid nasty Ectobeasts that are out to ruin Polterguy's good time.

Designed by John Salwitz and Dave Ralston - creators of Cyberball, Rampart, Paperboy Haunting Starring Polterguy will be available on a 16 meg cartridge which includes great graphics and sound effects that enhance gameplay.

Electronic Arts

1450 Fashion Island Blvd, San Mateo, CA 94404


Adventures of B.O.B. for Genesis & SNES
The Adventures of B.O.B.

CHICAGO, IL, June 3, 1993 - Electronic Arts (NASDAQ:ERTS) has announced the release, of The Adventures of B.O.B. for the Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo Entertainment System. This new title will be the first original product from Electronic Arts to reach the Super Nintendo, and it will be available in late June.

B.O.B. is the coolest alien android and has a hot date on his calendar. The only problem is, his babe resides on the other side of the galaxy. So B.O.B. borrows his Dad's car and sets out for love. Unfortunately, giant asteroids are not known for keeping on track, and as B.O.B. passes the Planet Goth, a stray asteroid totals his transport.

Forced to crash land on the planet surface, B.O.B. has to battle his way through a multitude of platforms and puzzles in order to make his romantic rendezvous. The aliens who inhabit the planet don't take too kindly to stranded motorists, and neither do their bosses. These guys are intelligent and send out scouts to find just how determined B.O.B. really is. If the player chooses to kill the scout, the boss will treat B.O.B. harshly; if B.O.B. scares the scout he'll simply use more cunning to defeat our hero.

To defend himself, B.O.B. is equipped with a gun arm that holds six different ammunition types, a huge punching fist, and a selection of secret gadgets such as a spring board, a helicopter head, a stun and remote bomb, a force-field bubble, and an umbrella parachute.

Throughout the adventure, B.O.B. encounters an array of enemies such as sand worms that attack from below, head crushers that disguise themselves as rocks and ambush when least expected, and huge floating metal spheres that will crush B.O.B. if he is caught off-guard.

With three worlds (containing over 45 levels) to cross, the Adventures of B.O.B. is one humongously excellent cart featuring the most streetwise alien ever! B.O.B. will be available from Electronic Arts on Super Nintendo in late June and Sega Genesis in late July. It will be priced at $59.95.

Electronic Arts

1450 Fashion Island Blvd, San Mateo, CA 94404


Road Rash & Twisted Premiere on 3DO
ROAD RASH AND TWISTED PREMIERE ON 3DO AT JUNE CES

Chicago, IL - June 3, 1993 -- Electronic Arts (NASDAQ:ERTS) has announced the release of Road Rash: Blood of the Couriers and Twisted: The Sitcom of Game Shows for the 3DO Interactive Multiplayer.

Road Rash: Blood of the Couriers is lawless high-speed motorcycle racing game with bare-knuckle combat featuring blistering frame rates and photo-realistic 3D road effect with texture mapping. A CD-quality full stereo sound track featuring Doppler and echo effects provides a feeling of distance and dimension to the sound effects.

Road Rashing is the latest underground craze sweeping California. It's immoral dangerous, and illegal--the most fun to be had in leather! Rashers race on public roads--screaming over self-styled 'tracks' through city streets, freeways, canyons, and vineyards- punching, kicking, and clubbing their way up the field. Some call * cheating-rashers call it fun. During the race, players must avoid innocent pedestrians, belligerent cops, road kill, annoying pooches, and tourist-filled cabs moving at a snail-like 55 mph--or must they? The spoils of victory are high: enough cash for upgrades to Super or even Nitro bikes. The price of losing is higher still: earning a reputation as a wimp! Extra cash for upgrades may be earned by running high-risk courier jobs.

Players may choose from eight characters of dubious moral standing. Once fully acquainted with each personality, players get to pulverize them in either a single race slug-fest, or in the full Road Rash circuit.

Twisted: The sitcom of game shows--is a perfect example of a product that would not have been possible before the advent of the 3DO Interactive Multiplayer. It is a combination of boardgame, TV Show, strategic enigma, and logic puzzle, and it features motion video, a CD-quality soundtrack, and 24-bit true-color photo-realistic graphics. Motion video clips of real movies are manipulated in unimaginable ways to form the most mind-boggling puzzles yet devised.

Trapped in a twisted TV Land, the challenge is to save a video contestant from eternal life in a game show! In this unique and intriguing game, players pair up with digitized partners who talk and interact with them. The challenge is to solve living jigsaw puzzles, zap commercials against the clock, mix and match famous voices, and mastermind thousands of other brain-boggling games.

This visually stimulating contest uses real people in a surreal world--the characters are fully digitized actors who live out their captive lives on the TV screen. Twisted is a fun game for the whole family, purveying a surreal and comic nature that raises genuine concerns about its ceators!

Electronic Arts

1450 Fashion Island Blvd, San Mateo, CA 94404


Shock Wave: Invasion Earth 2019 for 3DO
ELECTRONIC ARTS CAUSES A SHOCK WAVE!

Chicago, IL - June 3, 1993 -- Electronic Arts (NASDAQ:ERTS) has announced the release of Shock Wave: Invasion Earth 2019 for the 3DO Interactive Multiplayer.

Shock Wave is a science fiction flight simulation featuring 3D graphics beyond anything ever seen in the videogame market. Building upon the processing power of the 3DO Interactive Multiplayer, the Shock Wave development team, led by designers Michael Becker and Stewart Bonn, have blended video and photographic images with 24-bit true-colour artwork (rendered on a Silicon Graphics system) to create a realistic and graphically-stunning gameplay environment.

The year is 2019, and for the first time in our history, the Earth's nations are no longer warring against each other. In this unprecedented time of global peace, the United Nations launches the UNS Omaha, the world's first orbital aircraft carrier. The Omaha's mission is research and exploration, and eventually, mankind's first colonizing mission to the stars. But someone else is watching, and waiting...

Without warning, Earth is bombarded from space by an unknown alien race. Military bases and airfields are instantly destroyed in the brutal attack. As the huge alien armada moves to land and destroy the last few remaining human defense forces, it looks like there is no hope for the survival of the human race. But, miraculously, the Omaha has managed to escape destruction. The desperate crew of the orbital carrier prepare to defend our planet with the only weapon they have: the F177s, the untested prototypes of the first sub-orbital fighter. The fate of humanity rests upon the squadron of test pilots, our only hope for defeating the alien invaders.

The player is a pilot in the Omaha's test squadron, an untried rookie who's never flown a single mission in the F177s. And there's no time to learn! The aliens are landing in New York, Moscow, London, and other cities around the world, and only the crew of the Omaha can stop them! The player blasts off into battle against waves of alien assault craft in a relentless fight for the survival of the human race. The mission is to fly against swarms of alien fighters, outmaneuver the alien ground forces, and take on the alien motherships in deadly aerial combat.

Shock Wave presents a major technology advance in flight simulations. It combines cinematic motion-video scenes of real actors, 24 bit three-dimensional rendered sets, and high quality digitized sound to create a stunning showcase for this science fiction interactive movie. In the F177 cockpit, real video images of other pilots appear as the fighter flies through the texture-mapped landscapes created with photographic images and real-world terrain data.

"You've never seen anything like this," says Steve Crane, EA's Director of 3DO Development. 'We're combining real video, three-dimensional images, and realistic terrain to create an unbelievable gaming experience. This is the first in a new line of science fiction games, and it's right on the cutting edge of the new 3DO technology."

Electronic Arts

1450 Fashion Island Blvd, San Mateo, CA 94404


Jungle Strike (Genesis) Desert Strike Sequel
JUNGLE STRIKE

THE SEQUEL TO DESERT STRIKE FOR THE SEGA GENESIS

CHICAGO, IL, JUNE 3, 1993 - Electronic Arts (NASDAQ:ERTS) has announced the release of Jungle Strike the much anticipated Sega Genesis sequel to Desert Strike. Available in July, Jungle Strike will be priced at $59.95.

The son of the Madman deposed in Desert Strike, has emerged with a vengeance, eager to seek revenge for his father's death. EA Air Force needs an expert pilot once again to save the world from total destruction. Will the hero of Desert Strike emerge from retirement and grab his helmet in preparation for battle?

With no military force left, the son of the madman has enlisted the help of a powerful South American drug lord, who commands the world's largest private army. Together, they plot to build nuclear weapons and to destroy Washington, DC.

Jungle Strike offers fast arcade action, with the realism and depth of a simulation. The player now commands a Super Comanche helicopter, which is faster and better armored than the previous Apache. New vehicles include a Stealth Fighter, Attack Hovercraft, and Special Forces Motorcycle. The player must obliterate the enemy's mobile radar tanks, stolen patriot missile launchers, command centers, and drug smuggling speed boats, in a variety of locales and conditions including rivers, jungles, cities, desert, and snow - with this new arsenal of weapons.

The player must take out the son of the vicious madman and complete nine intricate campaigns. Each campaign involves several dangerous missions that take place by both day and night and are best accomplished in a logical sequence. Success is mandatory; all the missions must be accomplished in all the campaigns before the location of the madman and drug lord is revealed. The player must rescue hostages, capture commanders, and recover stolen nuclear weapons while defeating the drug lord's army. The terrain is alive with new enemies such as stolen Patriot Missile Launchers, ground weapons that move and shoot at the same time, and enemy choppers that actually hunt the player down.

This is a solo, clandestine operation with no back-ups. Success depends on the player and the copilot. The new Super Comanche helicopter and other vehicles are equipped with an onboard battle map to help plot attack routes, and a flight recorder keeps track of your status throughout each campaign. The player begins with a full tank of gas and a full load of weapons, but supplies run out fast and become more and more scarce as the campaigns progress.

Electronic Arts

1450 Fashion Island Blvd, San Mateo, CA 94404


Seal Team Special Forces Combat Simulation
SPECIAL FORCES COMBAT SIMULATION: SEAL TEAM

CHICAGO, IL., June 3, 1993 - Electronic Arts (NASDAQ:ERTS) has announced the release of Seal Team, a hyper-realistic 3-D simulation of US Navy SEAL combat operations.

A Seal Team team jumps from a Huey and bellies through 200 yards of mud while rounds from an AK47 shriek overhead. Now their flanker is hit. They radio for air support and a dust-off, and suddenly the night is ablaze with tracers and the percussive shock waves of mortar fire. Welcome to the "Forest of Assassins," Vietnam's Mekong Delta,--the reptile-infested jungle that is the sanctuary of the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army.

The player is the point man who leads a crack team of combat specialists deep into enemy territory, to complete high-risk missions of reconnaissance, ambush, rescue, and demolition all experienced through the multiple views of an advanced 3-D engine. The enemy lies in ambush, and he is their prey.

The FIRST truly realistic 3-D battlefield for the PC, Seal Team is a unique simulation of the US Navy SEAL's war against the Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese Army from 1966-69. Seal Team gives the player leading edge 3-D simulation technology with unique 1st and 3rd person player perspectives, and multiple external views for unparalleled control and views of the battlefield. Designed in conjunction with the UDT-SEAL Museum Association Inc. for unmatched depth and authenticity, Seal Team has four separate tours with 80 historical missions based on actual combat reports.

With realtime tactical command, the player gives orders to his SEAL Team or to individual soldiers for maximum combat flexibility. They can command different formations, fields of fire, approach routes, and firing orders. The player can use an arsenal of 35 realistically different weapons: M-16s, AK-47s, Ithaca Shotguns, grenades, M60s, Stoners, RPGs, LAWs, and more! If these weapons can't dislodge the enemy, then they can call in jet, helicopter gunship, and armored gunboat strikes to take them out.

Seal Team is rendered in 256-color VGA graphics for stunning realism and offers digitized sound effects for a realistic battle experience. A stirring musical sound track sets the mood and is supported by the major soundboards.

Seal Team will be available on IBM PC and compatibles in early September. It will be priced at $59.95

Electronic Arts

1450 Fashion Island Blvd, San Mateo, CA 94404


Runes of Virtue for SNES
RUNES OF VIRTUE

Chicago, IL - June 3, 1993 -- Electronic Arts (NASDAQ:ERTS) has announced the release of Runes of Virtue: Darkwatch Warriors for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. The game is scheduled for a Christmas season release, at a price to be announced.

Runes of Virtue is a fantasy role-playing game in the Ultima tradition, and has been developed by Origin Systems, Inc. - a subsidiary of Electronic Arts based in Austin, Texas.

Through the mystic moongate, lies the land of Britannia, where a world of magic and adventure awaits the player. As one of four valiant champions, the objective is to overcome treacherous traps and fantastic creatures on the way to a final confrontation with the Black Knight.

Runes of Virtue is easy to learn, and emphasizes creative problem solving over violence, making it ideal for beginning adventurers. With over 150 levels to explore, spread through 10 dungeons, Runes of Virtue is a quest unlike any other for the Super NES.

Electronic Arts

1450 Fashion Island Blvd, San Mateo, CA 94404


John Madden Football for 3DO Video Game
EA SPORTS TO SHIP FIRST 3DO FOOTBALL TITLE

John Madden Football Makes CD Debut At CES

CHICAGO, IL, June 3, 1993--John Madden Football, the leading franchise game of EA SPORTS, a division of Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: ERTS), has been enhanced for the 3DO system and now features fully digitized player animations, 3D-modeled field and stadiums, and CD-quality digitized sound and Madden commentary. This award-winning game also has a new engine that gets players closer to the action with a lower field perspective that allows the football players to appear larger and makes pass plays easier to follow downfield.

Already the best-selling 16-bit football video game of all time, John Madden Football now adds a National Football League (NFL) license to its widely-anticipated 3DO version. This makes the authenticity in the game even greater as team logos appear everywhere--on helmets, in endzones, on the team selection setup screen, and throughout the playoffs and the Super Bowl. Tn fact, the official NFL logo is now emblazoned at midfield.

The 3DO version of Madden Football also allows players to compete in both regular season and post season modes. When competing in post season, players choose their favorite team -- Eagles, 49ers, Chiefs, Cowboys, or any other one of the 28 NFL teams--and try to win the big one on Super Bowl Sunday. There are a total of 38 teams, including the eight best-ever NFL championship teams and two All-Madden Teams, from which to choose.

After an exhaustive analysis of the '92 football season, the EA SPORTS design team collaborated with Madden to create and refine a more strategic playbook. The results include 72 offensive plays (as well as two new formations--single back and "I"--that are sure to keep defenses on their toes) and 68 defensive plays.

What's more--new on-line scouting reports allows gamers to review player ratings on-screen rather than having to refer to a manual, thus speeding-up gameplay. Over 1,300 players are rated on a variety of skills, including speed, agility, catching, throwing, and blocking. Actual video clips of the NFL teams are also featured during the scouting reports.

And best of all is that John Madden's personality truly shines through the 3DO version of Madden Football. His exclamations--which have been recorded and digitized into the game so that they sound remarkably similar to those of a game on TV--can be heard after a big hit, after a diving catch for a touchdown, and after a number of other exciting plays.

Electronic Arts

1450 Fashion Island Blvd, San Mateo, CA 94404


Sybase Build Momentum OO Graphical Tool
SYBASE ANNOUNCES BUILD MOMENTUM -- NEW OBJECT-ORIENTED, GRAPHICAL TOOL FOR CLIENT/SERVER APPLICATIONS

Build Momentum is the First Client/Server Tool that Combines a Graphical Interface with the Team Development Capabilities and Scalability Required to Run Large Production Applications

EMERYVILLE, CA, August 30, 1993 -- Sybase, Inc., The Enterprise Client/Server Company, today announced Build Momentum, a graphical, object-oriented (OO) application development environment for client/server solutions on Windows, Windows NT, Macintosh and Motif platforms. Build Momentum is the first client/server tool to combine graphical productivity with industrial strength capabilities to run large, production applications. The product has four key differentiators: advanced object-oriented architecture, industrial strength, multiplatform support, and optimization for client/server architecture. Build Momentum is one of three products in Sybase's Momentum product family, also announced today.

Dr. Robert S. Epstein, Sybase executive vice president, commented, "The majority of customers today are building client/server applications that leverage graphical client environments such as Windows or the Macintosh. As they begin to deploy production client/server applications, they need tools that are not only good for prototyping but also have the robustness to support large, complex applications. We designed Build Momentum as a next generation client/server tool -- the first tool that combines powerful graphics with production-oriented features to run enterprise-wide applications."

Build Momentum

The Build Momentum product is based on an advanced object-oriented architecture. It features a graphical interface for visual programming as well as its own object-oriented language, Object Momentum, which has a Visual Basic-like syntax. At the core of Build Momentum is a multi-threaded kernel, which is the basis for several unique capabilities including multi-platform support and industrial-strength, high performance.

* Advanced Object-Oriented Architecture: Build Momentum provides users with all of the benefits of OO technology, including reusable code and higher quality applications, but doesn't require users to become experts in OO techniques. The product allows two modes of operation, standard and advanced mode. In standard mode, developers use and customize objects defined by others and employ traditional programming methods. In advanced mode, programmers have the full range of object-oriented capabilities available to them and may define new class libraries or even define new system events. The Build Momentum product's two modes allow customers to fully leverage the skills of their staff and make a smooth transition into the world of object-orientation.

According to Sybase, Build Momentum is the first graphical tool that allows sophisticated developers to redefine the behavior of their application environment without the need to drop down to a low level programming language. This is especially important to large customers and Value Added Resellers (VARs) because they can easily customize the development environment to suit their unique requirement.

* Industrial Strength: Sybase designed the Build Momentum tool to provide industrial-strength development capabilities and high performance features for building and running enterprise-wide applications.

Build Momentum provides an integrated development environment, including team development and project organization features designed to support the development of large client/server applications. Team development features include check in-check out, version control, and shared libraries. Build Momentum's sophisticated, multi-project organization tools provide hierarchical viewing, access, and control.

The Build Momentum product provides the scalable high performance to support end user environments from small work groups to hundreds of users and enterprise-wide applications. It supports applications running large numbers of screens and objects with continuing high performance. One of the product's unique features is self-optimized performance, in which it monitors the application code that is being used the most, and automatically compiles it into machine code for optimum performance. Another advanced capability is the Build Momentum product's unique multi-threaded architecture which enables multiple windows to process simultaneously, even in environments which are not inherently multi-threaded such as Windows 3.1.

* Multi-Platform Graphical User Interface: The Build Momentum product supports all major graphical platforms including Windows, Windows NT, Macintosh and Motif platforms. The product utilizes native platform look and feel, and uses a superset, rather than a "lowest common denominator" approach. Using Build Momentum, customers can develop applications on one platform, and automatically deploy to other platforms, without additional customization or programming.

* Optimized for Client/Server Architecture: Sybase designed the Build Momentum product to reflect the company's expertise in client/server computing in which components of the application run on both the server and the client. Because it is built for this environment, Build Momentum includes editors for writing both the client and the server components of an application. In addition, client/server computing requires open integration with a variety of data sources.

The first release of Build Momentum works with non-SYBASE data such as DB2 and Oracle in two ways: through Microsoft's Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) application programming interface and through Sybase's Omni SQL Gateway product. Sybase plans to deliver direct access to Oracle in the future.

Leveraging Existing Customer Investment

The Build Momentum tool provides customers with an easy migration path from Sybase's current character-based tool, APT Workbench. Because Build Momentum supports APT Workbench's 4GL language, APT SQL, the product automatically supports APT application code.

Availability and Pricing

The Build Momentum product is scheduled to go into beta test on Windows and Windows NT in 4Q 1993 and begin commercial shipments in 1Q 1994. The product is expected to be commercially available on Macintosh and Motif platforms in 2Q 1994.

Pricing for development versions of Build Momentum will range between $2,000 - $4,000 per development license. Prices will be consistent across platforms, with price ranges dependant on functionality (for example, single developer versus team development capabilities).

Sybase, Inc.

Sybase, Inc. (NASDAQ: SYBS) develops and markets a leading family of client/server-based software products and services for on-line, enterprise-wide applications. Sybase's integrated family of software includes servers, tools, connectivity, and administration/control products that provide complete desktop to mainframe solutions. Headquartered in Emeryville, CA, Sybase markets its products worldwide through its direct sales force, telesales, distributors, OEMs, VARs, and systems integrators.

Sybase Inc, 6475 Christie Ave, Emeryville, CA 04608


Bulls vs Suns, NBA Season for Super Nintendo
BULLS VS. SUNS: THE NBA SEASON

Now Play With All 27 NBA Teams Through 82-Game Season

CHICAGO, IL, June 3, 1993--EA SPORTS a division of Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: ERTS), today announced the release of Bulls vs. Suns: The NBA Season for the Super NES- The game is led by the two conference finalists and showcases the fierce competition and rivalries among all 27 NBA teams. Game players can also select personal all-star teams from the starting rosters of each playoff team or from the East and West All-Star squads.

With a battery backup, the game now provides full-season play. Players can take their favorite team through the NBA season and track and save team standings. Gamers can even trade NBA players to turn a lousy team into one that competes for the NBA title. Individual player stats from the '92-93 NBA season are in the game--scoring averages, rebounds, free throw and 3-point percentages, assists, blocked shots, steals, and total minutes played. In addition, stats for league leaders are tracked throughout the season in five categories--points per game, total rebounds and minutes, and free throw and 3-point percentages.

Using the custom team-builder, players can now send a hand-picked team of players like Clyde Drexler, Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, John Stockton, and David Robinson onto the court against the World Champion Chicago Bulls. Dream even further: Would a team of five Kemps be too quick for five Patrick Ewings? Might a couple of Barkleys and a trio of Drexlers against three Isiah Thomases and two Shaquille O'Neals be a mismatch--or a major upset? Bulls vs. Suns: The NBA Season is full of fantasies like these for the hard-core NBA fan.

Bulls vs. Suns: The NBA Season also allows for much more defensive control. For example, game players can choose a full-court or half-court press, and they can select how aggressively they want their players to defend in specific game situations. They can also go for the steal, but they must be careful; if they're too aggressive on defense, they're liable to get burned for breakaway baskets, tire out their players, and foul more often.

Like all EA SPORTS games, the players and their trademark athletic attributes are based on real athletes. NBA players are rated according to shooting and rebounding ability, free-throw accuracy, court speed, jumping ability, and endurance. The game features signature slam dunks, finger-rolls, and cross-over dribbles by front-line players.

A smart "coach" with a little luck will use his or her players' talents to the fullest to battle throughout the season on the way to a world championship. Players need to take injuries into account now and rely more heavily on production from their bench players.

The game features realistic sound (including coaches who yell "Shoot it!" as the 24-second clock winds down). Not only does one play the game the NBA way, game players also have to coach like a pro. They'll have to keep an eye on each player on the court and be ready to go to the bench at any time. They'll have to take into account other factors, such as game fatigue and one-on-one player match-ups.

Signature moves include Robinson's windmill slam, Stockton's behind-the-back pass, Drexler's air-reverse slam, Scottie Pippen's double-pump jam, and Kevin Johnson's windmill finger roll.

Game players will have to be wary of the refs, too--just like a real NBA game. On-screen ref will whistle a 10-second backcourt violation, traveling, and offensive and defensive fouls. And they watch the 24-second dock, so be sure to get the shot off!

Accuracy from the foul line is another factor. Bulls vs. Suns: The NBA Season features EA SPORTS' T-Meter free-throw, which controls the power and accuracy of each free throw.

EA SPORTS "cameras" show the action all over the court, including instant replays and scores from other games from around the NBA. There are even pre-game and halftime shows with up-to-the-minute analyses of the game.

Electronic Arts

1450 Fashion Island Blvd, San Mateo, CA 94404


Racal Network Mgmt for Small Networks
RACAL BRINGS AFFORDABLE NETWORK MANAGEMENT TO SMALL NETWORKS

August 30, 1993 -- SUNRISE, FL -- Racal-Datacom has released a new set of PC-based entry-level software products, designed for authorized Racal distributors. The new products bring the "large system" functionality and benefits of the Communications Management Series (CMS) 400 network management to departments and small businesses at an affordable price.

The CMS 400 is a modular management system that controls the broad range of Racal-Datacom local area and wide area network devices as well as non RacalDatacom products using the standard SNMP interface protocol.

"All features of the CMS 400 element management system have been preserved in an entry level system that has been resized to address the needs of small network users," said Scott Bagnall, Racal-Datacom senior product manager. The CMS 400 software runs with Microsoft's Windows on an IBM compatible PC.

The new applications include a CMS 400 Leased Access Manager for Windows, a CMS 400 LAN Internetworking Manager for Windows, and a CMS 400 Dial Access Manager for Windows.

The CMS 400 Leased Access Manager application offers a Microsoft Windows color graphical interface and "point and click" mouse control to manage Racal-Datacom access devices in a leased-line private network. The Excalibur family, Omnimode family, Omnimux family, and the Racal-Datacom line of switching and restoral equipment are managed with this application.

The CMS 400 LAN Internetworking Manager is a graphics-based Windows software application for configuring, monitoring and controlling the Racal-Datacom INX intelligent hub and RNX router products adhering to the SNMP protocol. Users can automatically discover, monitor, and poll the health of any SNMP device on the network.

The CMS 400 Dial Access Manager is a Windows software application for monitoring and controlling Racal-Datacom RMD and ALM dial access devices in a public switched network environment. The Dial Access Manager offers the capability to collect and measure call performance information which allows network and element problems to be quickly identified and isolated. This eliminates costly and time-consuming delays and retries. The call statistics collected by CMS are stored and exported in a standard dBase IV format allowing users to generate reports and charts using commercially available programs such as MS's Excel and Access

The new CMS 400 products arc being offered through Racal-Datacom's U.S. and international indirect channels and will be made available in September 1993. RacalDatacom is also offering authorized resellers a complete demonstration kit that includes a CMS 400 system and supporting literature.

A subscription update service is available for both users and resellers which includes telephone support, CMS Electronic Bulletin Board, and two new releases per year.

Racal-Datacom offers network solutions for the delivery and management of information between local and remote locations. The company offers the widest range of local area and wide area networking products and services in the industry. Racal's broad product line is managed by a single, open and integrated network management platform, and backed by a full range of services including network design and integration, worldwide maintenance and support.

Racal-Datacom reported worldwide revenues of $560 million for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1993. Parent company Racal Electronics Plc reported revenues of $1.43 billion for the year.

Racal-Datacomm, 1601 N. Harrison Parkway, Sunrise, FL 33323-2899

Mailing Address: PO Box 40744, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33340-7044


EA Announces Initial 3DO Video Game Products
ELECTRONIC ARTS ANNOUNCES INITIAL 3DO PRODUCT LINEUP

Chicago,IL - June 3, 1993 -To demonstrate its commitment to the 3DO Interactive Multiplayer, Electronic Arts (NASDAQ:ERTS), a global leader in interactive media, has announced plans to release six major new software products in the fall of this year.

The release of the majority of these first titles John Madden Football, PGA Tour Golf, Road Rash, Twisted, Worldbuilders, Inc. and Shock Wave) is timed to coincide with the fall 1993 debut of the Panasonic REAL 3DO Interactive Multiplayer. Additional titles from Electronic Arts will be released by Christmas. They include the first 3DO product from Origin Systems Inc., and EA-Kids, both operating divisions of Electronic Arts.

Electronic Arts' consistently high growth has been importantly fueled by technological innovation. The company was the first major publisher to see the potential of the Commodore Amiga in 1986 and the first major developer to actively support the Sega Genesis in 1991. In 1993, while continuing to defend its leadership position in the 16-bit computer and videogame markets, it will push the boundaries of 'real life in a box' to new extremes by offering consumers high quality software for use on the Panasonic 3DO Interactive Multiplayer.

3DO technology, featuring unique graphics animation architecture and compact disc-quality music and sound effects, represents a tremendous advance in the multimedia presentation of entertainment software. Por example, it allows full utilization of graphic effects such as texture mapping, depth of field, light-sourced shading, True-color and motion video.

Additionally, users will interact directly with real people and real sounds (no more cartoon-like sprites!), so the multi-sensory experience will feel far more realistic than ever before.

Jack Heistand, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Electronic Arts, said that the company "enthusiastically supports the 3DO Company's effort to create a new standard for the industry with a new generation of hardware that is the most capable home media player ever introduced.

"Electronic Arts has a mission to rapidly establish a position of leadership in the 3DO entertainment software market, as it has successfully done in other fields of entertainment software. The sheer bandwidth and calibre of EA's 3DO product portfolio can be illustrated by taking a look at the pedigree of our release schedule: John Madden Football is the best-selling interactive sports videogame of all time. The Wing Commander series from Origin is generally regarded as the leading interactive-movies brand in personal computing. EA-Kids will bring Sesame Street and Peter Pan characters to life to educate our children. Other titles will feature movie-quality special effects, animations and soundtracks.

"Electronic Arts has always made software that is "Simple, Hot and Deep". The 3DO platform is re-defining just how 'Hot' interactive software can be", concluded Heistand.

Electronic Arts

1450 Fashion Island Blvd, San Mateo, CA 94404


5 Publishers Join EA Affiliated Label Pgm
FIVE PUBLISHERS JOIN ELECTRONIC ARTS' AFFILIATED LABEL PROGRAM

CHICAGO, IL June 3, 1993 -- Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: ERTS), a leader in bringing interactive entertainment into the home, has expanded its Affiliated Label program. The addition of the following five publishers gives Electronic Arts a strong position in the distribution of third-party multimedia software, the company announced today.

Electronic Arts continues to be committed to building the affiliated label business to complement its existing products and brands. Currently, the Affiliated Label business is focused on the growing multimedia market, or CD-ROM products. The five publishers pining the Electronic Arts Affiliated Label program are Aris Multimedia Entertainment Inc., Mindplay, Morgan Interactive, Multicom Publishing, and Twin Dolphin Games Inc. All five are either already publishers of CD-ROM software or they are in the process of moving into this new market.

"We are working with retailers to develop this expanding market of CD-ROM multimedia. With the alliance of these five publishers, Electronic Arts and its affiliated publishers are leaders in interactive entertainment," said Nancy Smith, vice president of sales.

"The software entertainment industry continues to grow and to diversify. Through all this change, Electronic Arts remains committed to staying ahead and presenting the best of the independent publishers through the broadest retail channel possible," said Kelb Conway, director of affiliated labels. "By joining the Electronic Arts Affiliated Label program, these publishers have added products to our catalog that complement and expand our current Affiliated Label CD-ROM product line, launch us into the infotainment market, and enhance our position in educational entertainment."

A brief sketch of each of the publishers follows:

* Aris Multimedia Entertainment Inc, founded 1991, is regarded as a pioneer in electronic publishing and CD-ROM software development. Aris has consistently had titles in the top 10 multimedia CD-ROM category. Product plans for '93 include expanding into the entertainment market with the release of e-World and Video Cube product lines.

* Mindplay is a seven-year old division of the thirteen-year old company--Methods & Solutions, a leading developer of educational and entertainment titles for CD-ROM, Macintosh, and MS-DOS. Mindplay supports learning through discovery, outstanding graphics, and animation--along with solid educational presentation.

* Morgan Interactive believes in educating through entertainment. With this in mind, it produces CD-ROM titles focusing on creative elements including animation, music, and writing. The company is currently producing several series of edutainment products utilizing a family of original characters, high-quality animation, original songs, and extensive sound effects.

* Multicom Publishing is a leading creator of interactive CD-ROM entertainment, special interest, educational, and reference software Multicom brings superb titles from publishers such as Better Homes and Gardens, and Simon & Schuster to life with video, audio, animation, photographs, and text. Multicom Publishing has produced high-quality multimedia software since 1991.

* Twin Dolphin Games Inc. is a developer and publisher of recreational software for personal computer and other emerging-delivery system. This fall it will release Forgotten Castle: The Awakening, a role-playing adventure set in dungeons beneath a fantastic medieval castle. In addition to Forgotten Castle, Twin Dolphin will be releasing three fun and challenging windows games this fall.

Current members of Electronic Arts' Affiliated Label program include Ebook, Inc., Humongous Entertainment, Inc., ICOM Simulations, Inc., Mindcraft Software Inc., NovaLogic, Inc., Pop Rocket, Inc., Sanctuary Woods Multimedia Corp., Strategic Simulations, Inc., Three-Sixty Pacific, Inc., and Zelos Ventures Inc. With this expansion, Electronic Arts is distributing products for 15 affiliated publishers developing quality titles for the IBM PC, Macintosh, CD-ROM, and the soon-to-be released 3DO system.

Electronic Arts

1450 Fashion Island Blvd, San Mateo, CA 94404


Sybase Previews Enterprise Momentum
SYBASE PREVIEWS ENTERPRISE MOMENTUM, A MODEL-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK FOR BUILDING ENTERPRISE CLIENT/SERVER APPLICATIONS

Enterprise Momentum Combines Object-Oriented Technology, Model-Driven Development, and a Central Repository to Create a Breakthrough Process for Developing Client/Server Applications

EMERYVILLE, CA, August 30, 1993 -- Sybase, Inc., The Enterprise Client/Server Company, today unveiled plans for an object-oriented, repository-based development environment for building enterprise client/server applications. Called Enterprise Momentum, the product provides the first new development process specifically designed for large, multi-department client/server applications. The product's new development process, Applications from Models, enables customers to automatically generate and maintain applications directly from models, greatly improving design, development and maintenance productivity. Models are graphical descriptions of business processes, data structures and user interfaces. They are stored in an integrated repository, ensuring application consistency and quality across the enterprise.

Enterprise Momentum is one of three products in Sybase's Momentum family, which was announced today. Sybase expects to deliver Enterprise Momentum in the second half of 1994.

Dr. Robert S. Epstein, Sybase executive vice president, commented, "Most of today's applications are developed using traditional procedural programming -- a development process that has remained relatively unchanged for 30 years. The reusability features of object-oriented technology have improved the quality and speed of development without fundamentally altering the process. Enterprise Momentum introduces a new process for developing client/server applications that combines and extends the concepts of model-driven development and object-oriented technology and applies it specifically to client/server computing. The result is not only more efficient development and maintenance, but more effective business applications."

Enterprise Momentum

The Enterprise Momentum environment consists of three product components:

* Enterprise Modeler, an integrated set of modelers that graphically and declaratively define applications in terms of business processes and rules, data structures, and graphical user interface (GUI) models.

* Enterprise Meta Server, an open repository that stores models and synchronizes them with client and server applications.

* Enterprise Application Builders that automatically generate both client and server applications. Enterprise Application Builders also dynamically regenerate and distribute application components when a model is changed.

The Enterprise Momentum product will be available on major platforms including Windows, Windows NT, Macintosh and Motif.

Applications From Models

The Enterprise Momentum product's new development approach, Applications From Models, provides greater development lifecycle efficiency through the specification, design, development and maintenance phases. It accomplishes this through three key technological and productivity breakthroughs:

* Enhanced Models: Enterprise Momentum provides models that more closely reflect an organization's business process. Sybase has enhanced traditional design constructs as well as providing new models for representing object-oriented applications. For example, the Enterprise Momentum process model not only describes the business process, it also includes error handling and impact analysis. The entity relationship model defines not only data structure but also computations, constraints and declarative business rules. And its GUI model not only shows presentation format, it incorporates event logic and data integrity rules. Because the models in the Enterprise Momentum environment more completely represent business processes, they make the design process more collaborative between business managers and information technology professionals.

* Model-Oriented Client/Server Development: Once the models are created, customers use the Enterprise Application Builders to automatically generate client and server applications. Developers can also modify the generated applications and capture those changes back in the original models. The ability of the models to capture changes to the applications ensures consistency, so that future iterations of the generated applications include those customizations. The Enterprise Momentum product automates maintenance as well as development: it enables developers to change and enhance applications through changing a model, rather than altering application code.

* Object-Oriented Repository: The Enterprise Meta Server is an object-oriented repository, which is the key to ensuring application quality and consistency. Designed specifically for client/server application development, the repository permits reusable application components to be inherited across both client and server applications.

Open Architecture

Sybase's Enterprise Momentum provides an open architecture that can be integrated seamlessly with SYBASE tools, third-party CASE tools and application development products, and heterogeneous data sources.

Sybase's current CASE product, Deft will be migrated into the Enterprise Modeler component. Build Momentum and Gain Momentum, both products in the Momentum family, can interface to the Enterprise Meta Server and be integrated as application builders into the Enterprise Momentum environment.

The Enterprise Meta Server complies with the CASE Data Integration Format (CDIF) standard. Sybase is committed to working with leading CASE vendors to offer customers a range of modeling tools and leverage existing CASE investments. Today, three CASE companies -- Bachman Information Systems, Interactive Development Environments (IDE) and LBMS -- announced their intent to support Enterprise Momentum.

Sybase encourages third-party tool vendors to support the Enterprise Momentum product. The company will publish the application programming interface to the Enterprise Meta Server, allowing third-party tools to interoperate with the repository as application builders.

Finally, applications generated in Enterprise Momentum will access nonSYBASE data such as Oracle and DB2 through Sybase's interoperability products, including Omni SQL Gateway and Open Server.

Sybase, Inc.

Sybase, Inc. (NASDAQ: SYBS) develops and markets a leading family of client/server-based software products and services for on-line, enterprise-wide applications. Sybase's integrated family of software includes servers, tools, connectivity, and systems management products that provide complete desktop to mainframe solutions. Headquartered in Emeryville, CA, Sybase markets its products worldwide through its direct sales force, telesales, distributors, OEMs, VARs, and systems integrators.

Sybase Inc, 6475 Christie Ave, Emeryville, CA 04608


Aris e-World Interactive Video Adventures
ARIS CREATES "e-World" SERIES OF INTERACTIVE VIDEO ADVENTURES ON CD-ROM

Alternating Currents First to Debut in Extensive e-World Series; CD-ROM Utilizes Aris' New "VideoPlay" Interactive Video Playing Software

CHICAGO, Il -- June 3, 1993 -- Aris Entertainment will make its entry into the burgeoning multimedia storytelling market with e-World, a series of interactive movies using the firm's new VideoPlay interactive playing software. The series will be distributed in the U.S. retail market exclusively through Electronic Arts.

The first e-World title to hit the market will be Alternating Currents, a 40 minute mystery/adventure story completely told in video. As with all e-World titles, the user is in control of the story line. At various points in the story the user has a choice of determining in what direction the plot will unfold by clicking a mouse on one of several hot spots. The list price for Alternating Currents will be $34.95.

As such, there are six different endings to the "movie" and more than 40 different variations of the plot in all, said Chris Kitze, president/CEO. Unlike many interactive titles, e-World is designed to be marketed through not just software outlets, but traditional video stores as well. Borrowing from the video and motion picture industries, Aris Entertainment has produced a "trailer" for Alternating Currents featuring almost three minutes of non-stop action highlights. That trailer will make ib debut at CES; the full product will ship in September.

One of the principles behind driving the e-World series in video store distribution will be the VideoPlay interactive video playing software. VideoPlay, which will come free with all e-World titles, allows players to interact with the story through layered interaction and the ability to read script files. VideoPlay will support the AVI/Microsoft Video for Windows video standard and future releases will support a variety of playback standards, including QuickTime and MPEG, said Kitze. All e-World titles require a Super VGA monitor and an MPC-compatible CD-ROM and will support both 8-bit and 16-bit sound cards.

The company's philosophy, according to Kitze and company co founder, chairman and CFO Diane Heppting, has been to develop utilities first (Aris' MPC Wizard is currently atop the CD-ROM charts, with its MediaClips multimedia presentation software consistently in the Top Ten), then develop games (Video Cube), and finally to produce interactive multimedia storytelling CDROM's (e-World).

Aris Multimedia Entertainment, Inc., was founded in October 1991, by Chris Kitze and Diane Heppting. Kitze is regarded by many as a pioneer in the field of electronic publishing and CDROM software development. Heppting has had a long history of product management and marketing positions for various computer peripheral companies over the past decade. The company is a leading publisher of multimedia software titles for the exploding CD-ROM market.

Electronic Arts

1450 Fashion Island Blvd, San Mateo, CA 94404


Expert Maps Gold Edition for Windows
Expert Software's Gold Series Becomes Global With The Release Of Expert Maps Gold For Windows

Powerful maps program is an encyclopedia, atlas, and map designer all in one

CORAL GABLES, FLORIDA (August 22, 1993) - Expert Software, Inc., has expanded its Gold Series with the release of its fourth title, Expert Maps Gold Edition for Windows. Expert Software already offers three additional Gold Series programs which include Expert Home Design Gold for DOS & Windows, and Expert Travel Planner Gold for Windows. All Gold Edition programs have a Suggested Retail Price of $49.95.

"Our fourth Gold Edition release (Expert Maps Gold for Windows) further legitimizes our Gold Series line," said Sue Currier, president of Expert Software, Inc. "Expert has proven that we can add sheer power to our programs without requiring our consumers to pay through the nose."

Expert Maps Gold for Windows wears many hats as an educational & recreational program. The program resembles an encyclopedia with its extensive database of geographic, demographic, economic, and travel information. Its 300 up-to-date country and regional maps liken it to an atlas. Its expansive set of drawing tools and map symbols lets you be your very own map designer.

Expert Maps Gold for Windows smart pushbutton toolbar icons allows you to quickly access world data, time zones, and satellite views. Additional tool bar icons include zoom-in/zoom-out tools to display any level of detail and a measure tool to display distances (miles, kilometers, and nautical miles) between any two cities.

Additional Expert Maps Gold for Windows features:

* True MDI (Multiple Document Interface) allows you to view

  flags, maps, graphs and charts simultaneously.

* View over 170 flags.

* Status bar which shows geographic coordinates and country

  names as you glide your mouse over them.

* Rotate the globe on any axis to change your perspective.

* Drawing tools include: arrow, circle, bezier, curves, and

  gradient fill.

* Save your maps in the standard bit map format (.BMP) for

  use with other programs.

While there are other maps programs on the market, Expert Maps Gold for Windows is the only program that allows you to display, re-size, and customize any map or selected region. Other competitive programs are limited to a pre-defined selection of regional maps which cannot be re-sized.

Expert Maps Gold for Windows is also the only program that offers graphical world data in multiple formats to compare and contrast data of several different countries. Furthermore, Expert Maps Gold for Windows satellite view of the Earth from any perspective makes competitive program's flat view pale in comparison.

Expert Software is located at 800 Douglas Road, North Tower, Suite 355, Coral Gables, FL 33134-3128


SPA Study on Export Regs Precluding US Co's
New SPA Study: Export Regulations Preclude US Companies From a Cashing in on Multi-Million Dollar Encryption Software Market

September 1, 1993 (Washington, DC) -- US software companies are losing millions of dollars a year due to outdated export control laws that penalize a growing segment of the software industry, according to a study released today by the Software Publishers Association (SPA).

That segment is encryption software, which allows computer users to protect information stored in their personal computers from electronic eavesdroppers. Encryption software uses mathematical formulas, or algorithms, to scramble information, making it difficult for anyone other than authorized recipients to read.

In precluding US manufacturers from providing their encryption products to the global marketplace, the government is placing American firms at a distinct competitive disadvantage.

The computer revolution has spawned the need for encryption products to secure data and protect privacy. Nonetheless, the US government is concerned that widespread use of encryption may harm our national security by preventing US security agencies from being able to intercept foreign electronic communications. The SPA study shows, however, that the government's policy does not reflect the reality of the international marketplace, where foreign encryption products are proliferating. "Export restrictions simply prevent US companies from generating foreign revenues and creating new jobs," according to Ken Wasch, SPA's Executive Director.

The SPA study identifies 215 foreign hardware, software and combination products that encrypt text, file and data. In testimony today before the Computer Systems Security and Privacy Advisory Board, a federal policy review board, SPA Government Affairs Representative Douglas Miller testified that these foreign encryption products are being manufactured in 20 foreign countries, including Russia, Japan, South Africa, Germany, India, the United Kingdom and Canada. "Of these 215 products, 84 employ the Data Encryption Standard (DES)," said Miller.

DES is the algorithm used by the United States government to protect its secrets, since it is believed to be unbreakable. While DES or DES-strength encryption is legal to own and use in the United States, federal regulations prohibit its commercial export in most circumstances. Following a July 1992 agreement between the SPA and the U.S. government, encryption substantially weaker than DES can now be exported. However, many foreign customers demand to have their secrets protected by the use of DES or its equivalent.

In addition to the products mentioned above, Miller identified 33 foreign encryption software kits that employ the DES algorithm. "The kits are installed by the user inserting a floppy diskette," said Miller. "The kits allow DES encryption capabilities to be easily programmed into a variety of applications."

On the domestic front, Miller identified 283 encryption products, of which 148 employ DES. "Because these products cannot be exported, their manufacturers cannot compete with the rapidly growing number of foreign firms in the encryption market," said Ilene Rosenthal, SPA's General Counsel. "While current export regulations prevent the US software industry from competing overseas, they are not effective in preventing the export of DES encryption technology. DES encryption-software is available worldwide via Internet, the world's largest computer network. It is also spread through pirated copies of domestic programs employing DES."

"It cannot be any clearer: the existence of widespread and affordable cryptographic products overseas is an indisputable fact," stated Ken Wasch, SPA's Executive Director. "Based on that fact, unilateral export controls keep US firms from competing in the global marketplace."

The Software Publishers Association is the principal trade association of the personal computer software industry. Its 1,000 members represent the leading publishers in the business, consumer, and education software markets. The SPA has offices in Washington, DC, and Paris, France.

Software Publishers Association

1730 M St, Northwest, Suite 700, Washington, D.C. 20036


Sybase Ships Gain Momentum 2.0
SYBASE BEGINS COMMERCIAL SHIPMENTS OF GAIN MOMENTUM 2.0

Multimedia Client/Server Development Environment Targeted at Information Delivery For Extended Office Applications

EMERYVILLE, CA, August 30, 1993 -- Sybase, Inc., The Enterprise Client/Server Company, today announced the first commercial shipments of Gain Momentum 2.0, the most recent release of its object oriented, multimedia application development environment. With Gain Momentum 2.0, developers can now build interactive information delivery systems that combine the rich content of multimedia with the flexibility of client/server computing.

Gain Momentum is one of three products in Sybase's Momentum product family, also announced today. The Gain Momentum 2.0 software is designed to facilitate a new class of easy-to-use, yet powerful business applications that Sybase has identified as "extended office" applications. These applications are characterized by the requirement to use an information rich interface to improve productivity of "elective" users such as company executives, customers or trading partners. Major corporations and government agencies use Gain Momentum in applications such as decision support systems, electronic information kiosks, command and control systems, interactive product catalogs and electronic performance support systems. By making it easier to interact with business information, Gain Momentum 2.0 applications extend the reach of client/server systems to new audiences and increase end user productivity.

GAIN MOMENTUM 2.0

Gain Momentum has been in production since May 1992. Gain Momentum 2.0 was announced and went into beta test in July 1993. The product consists of visual development tools; GEL, a fourth generation language (4GL); the Application/Object Store which enables the effective management of complex object and their properties, and a suite of multimedia editors. New capabilities in Gain Momentum 2.0 include seamless, code-free integration with relational database management systems, specifically SYBASE SQL Server and Oracle.

Availability and Pricing

Gain Momentum 2.0 is now commercially available on SunSPARC, IBM AIX and HP-UX workstation platforms. Pricing starts at $10,000 for single developer licenses. Volume licensing is available for both developer and runtime versions of the product. Current Gain Momentum customers will receive the 2.0 version automatically under their maintenance agreements.

Gain Momentum is scheduled to be available on Windows NT in 1Q 1994.

Sybase, Inc.

Sybase, Inc. (NASDAQ: SYBS) develops and markets a leading family of client/server-based software products and services for on-line, enterprise-wide applications. Sybase's integrated software family includes servers, tools, connectivity, and systems management products that provide complete desktop-to-mainframe solutions. Headquartered in Emeryville, CA, Sybase markets its products worldwide through its direct sales force, telesales, distributors, OEMs, VARs and systems integrators.

Sybase Inc, 6475 Christie Ave, Emeryville, CA 04608


NHL Hockey from EA Sports
NHL HOCKEY

REALISTIC HOCKEY ACTION - NOW FOR THE PC

CHICAGO, IL, June 3, 1993 - EA SPORTS, a division of Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: ERTS) today announced the upcoming release of NHL Hockey for the PC. NHL Hockey combines the hot-arcade action of previous Sega Genesis/Super NES versions with a new in-depth layer of coaching strategy.

Licensed by both the NHL and the NHLPA, the game features team names, team logos, player names and faces, and season schedules. The full-season mode allows players to simulate the actual 1992 NHL season comprised of 84 games. In addition, players can compile team and player stats throughout the season and compete for end-of-the-season awards like the Hart and Ross trophies. They can also play in a number of different modes including coaching only, full control and two player head-to-head.

Choose from one of 24 actual teams, with a complete roster of 28 actual players, and take them through the playoffs in an effort to win the Stanley Cup. Conkol all the action from slap shots to body checks. Simplified rules and strategy decisions make the game enjoyable for both novices and seasoned experts looking to take their teams all the way to the finals.

EA SPORTS announcer Ron Barr's digitized voice sets up every game. A digitized rink announcer introduces starting line-ups and goal summaries, and realistic organ music brings the rink to life. Real NHL video footage highlights will appear at random times throughout the game to make it feel like you're watching a game on TV.

Skills of players such as Luc Robitaille, Brian Leetch, Paul Coffey, Adam Oates, Chris Chelios and Jeremy Roenick are measured by 14 skill attributes - including shot power, skating speed and stick handling. Game players will now have to take into account the personal skills and attitudes of their team members--and the opposition--when playing the game.

"For the first time in video game history, the two biggest powers in the world of hockey have joined forces to design the most realistic hockey simulation ever created for the PC. The sound along with the digitized video make you feel like you're right in the rink," commented Rich Hilleman, Electronic Arts vice president and NHL Hockey designer.

Electronic Arts

1450 Fashion Island Blvd, San Mateo, CA 94404


Kasparov's Gambit Chess Game
KASPAROV'S GAMBIT

CHESS FROM THE WORLD CHAMPION KASPAROV'S GAMBIT

Suggested Retail Price $59.95

Chicago, IL, - June 3, 1993--Electronic Arts (NASDAQ:ERTS) has announced the release of Kasparov's Gambit. The World's Chess Champion, Garry Kasparov acts as both the personal coach and the toughest opponent in the most comprehensive computer chess program ever! Kasparov's Gambit was co-designed with the World Champion and his expertise was built into the game.

What sets Kasparov's Gambit apart from worthy competition already on the market is the program's unique approach to chess tutorial. The long-standing World Champion worked closely with EA's developers to devise an intricate system of move-by-move evaluations of the player's strategy. Mr. Kasparov actually appears on the screen via video, and coaches in simple, direct language he helped to prepare. His dedication to the development of the program's tutorial mode accords with his well-known efforts to bring chess into main-stream culture, and reflects his deeply-held belief that chess is good for the mind. No matter what level of play, Garry Kasparov will help improve any chess game with this real time coaching feature.

The algorithm at the heart of the game is called Socrates II, and is the strongest ever offered to the public on a PC. Socrates II won the 1993 International Computer Chess Championship and even the most advanced players will find an extremely challenging opponent at the higher levels. In addition, the game features numerous styles of play which vary in aggressiveness, creativity, and focus. These enable the player to customize the program to suit specific human tendencies and approaches.

Kasparov's Gambit includes all the essential features that computer chess enthusiasts have come to expect: extensive tutorials, a running game analysis, 2-D and customized 3-D boards, an extensive 500-volume library of history's most famous games, a battery of illustrative quizzes, tournament play, and a rating system. All these features are presented in photorealistic, Hi-Res Super VGA graphics and startlingly crisp digitized sound. In all areas, Kasparov's Gambit is truly the most advanced chess game ever invented for the personal computer.

HEURISTIC SOFTWARE

Heuristic Software is a chess-specific software house, in business for more than ten years. Recently, Heuristic has been venturing into other areas of software development attempting to diversify and reach more of the established PC market. Heuristic's experience is invaluable for several reasons.

Heuristic Software has two International Masters and one FIDE Master. Julio Kaplan, the president and founder of Heuristic, was World Junior Champion in 1967. Chess Master Marc Leski is still active on the International Chess scene, most recently playing on the team (with former World Champion Boris Spassky) which won the French League and will go on to compete for the European Cup. Both International Masters have taught chess to players of all levels for several years. FIDE Master Craig Barnes held the title of United States High School Champion and has been with Heuristic since it's inception. No other Chess software house in the world has even a remotely comparable staff.

Over the years Heuristic has produced approximately 409 different table-top machines, running on a variety of chip architectures. Our best table top machine, the "Renaissance" is universally recognized as the ultimate in user interfaces for table-top machines. Renaissance incorporates a serial port, the "Open Systems Architecture" system which allows independent developers to develop products which interface to Renaissance. It also has a removable module system which allows perennial updating to the Renaissance's strong program. Heuristic's products have twice won the prestigious "Chess Computer of the year" award - given (according to a poll of the world's top Chess journalists) by the premier Chess Computer magazine in the world, Germany's "Computer Schach und Spiele".

Heuristic's years of experience in developing Chess for the small-chip machines gives them ideal expertise for developing the target machines such as Nintendo Game-Boy. Heuristic will continue developing and maintaining on e of the strongest computer Chess programs in the world for the table-top Chess machines which Heuristic has been producing all these years, and will continue to produce.

Julio Kaplan, president of Heuristic Software Corporation, is an ex-professional chess Player. He was Junior World Chess Champion from 1967-69, is an International Master, and has achieved an ELO rating of 2485. He has written many books and articles about chess and has taught chess for many years. Julio holds a Masters Degree in Computer Science from the University of California at Berkeley where his focus of study was artificial intelligence. Since 1980 Julio has been working on computer chess and has been instrumental in the development of all the chess machines in the Saitek product line. Julio founded Heuristic Software in 1981.

THE MAKING OF KASPAROV'S GAMBIT

The rigorous geometry of chess is perfectly suited to the calculative power of electronic computers. Indeed, long before personal computers won a place in modern business and culture, programmers endeavored to formulate chess-playing algorithms, as much for the progress of computer science as to challenge accomplished chess players. From the beginning, human chess masters proved themselves superior to computerized opponents; and even now, with the mind-boggling advances in microchip technology, the most powerful main-frame computers fail to beat the greatest chess minds on the planet. Some say it's only a matter of time, but Garry Kasparov, the undisputed world chess champion since 1985, begs to differ. No opponent, whether human or computer, has succeeded in supplanting his authority.

With the advent of personal computers came accessible chess-playing software, and over the years such chess programs have staked out a private niche in the retail software industry. Call it science or entertainment, but computer chess has continued to grow in popularity because of steady improvements in algorithmic prowess, design innovation, and graphical brilliance. Electronic Arts, for all its success in the multifarious genres of software entertainment, has yet to release a chess game; and there's a reason for that. EA is used to setting standards. EA refused to enter the fray with less than the best chess software ever developed for the personal computer. Soon, the world will have its hands on one of Electronic Arts' most dedicated efforts: Kasparov's Gambit.

Negotiations between Electronic Arts and Kasparov began nearly four years ago, when Executive Producer Richard Hilleman (now Vice President of Production) approached the World Champion. Kasparov had already worked with a successful chess computer company on a line of stand-alone machines, and Hilleman hoped to interest Kasparov in helping out on a PC-based design. In his first two meetings with Hilleman, Kasparov made dear his desire to bring chess into the curriculum of primary schools in Western Europe and America. Garry emphasized that he wanted much more out of a PC chess design than a challenging opponent--he wanted to endorse a bona fide tutorial program so that players of all ages and levels could improve their skill at their own pace, on their own time, and enjoy themselves in the process. Underlying all of this remains a responsible notion that the mental discipline learned from chess-playing increases the mind's (particularly the young mind's) overall problem-solving abilities.

So, after many months of intensive collaboration and rigorous testing, Electronic Arts has developed what is sure to be the strongest and most versatile chess program for the personal computer. Naturally, Kasparov's Gambit features the very strongest chess playing algorithm possible - the program engine that won the 1993 International Computer Chess Champion. The most distinctive feature of Kasparov's Gambit is a dedicated, on-line tutorial, tailored to meet the demands of players ranging from beginner to expert. Add to that all the expected features and options, the most vivid computer graphics, and an effortless menu interface, and you wind up with a game that surpasses the competition.

Electronic Arts

1450 Fashion Island Blvd, San Mateo, CA 94404


mdbs Ships M/4 Report Windows Reporting Tool
mdbs ships Windows-based reporting tool, M/4 Report

LAFAYETTE, IN - September 1, 1993 - Micro Data Base Systems, Inc. (mdbs) is shipping M/4 Report, a Windows-based reporting tool for the MDBS IV client/server database engine.

Reporting Ease of Use

Windows Based  M/4 Report is the first Windows-based reporting tool for MDBS IV. This product was developed by Advanced Programming Techniques, Inc. (APT) of Boston for mdbs. "MDBS IV customers will benefit greatly from this package," says Barry Parshall, MDBS IV Product Manager. "M/4 Report was fundamentally developed for the network model engine. It is the first end-user reporting tool that taps the enormous potential and flexibility of the MDBS IV engine."

Ease of Use

Although developers can benefit from the tool, M/4 Report is targeted primarily to end-users. By combining the modeling flexibility of the network model database with the familiar relational paradigm, M/4 Report enables virtually any MDBS IV user to design custom reports quickly and easily. "M/4 Report gives end-users the ability to design true WYSIWYG reports," says Elizabeth Gooding, President of APT. "A report designer can drag and drop columns anywhere on the layout and create multiple sort levels for multiple groups with ease. Very complex reports can be created with just a few clicks of a mouse button. No programming is required."

Rich Features

M/4 Report has all the features that users expect from a Windows reporting tool, including a wide variety of statistical functions and export features. A comprehensive installation and set-up procedure allows the product to handle the sophisticated MDBS IV network model database, including the modeling of true many-to-many relationships.

Pricing

For additional information about M/4 Report or pricing, call Micro Data Base Systems, Inc. at (800) 445-MDBS or (317) 447-1122.

MDBS IV

MDBS IV is a high-performance OLTP database management system designed for commercial applications involving complex data relationships and massive amounts of data. Among the 250,000 work stations logging into MDBS IV daily are applications such as Solomon's SOLOMON III Accounting Series, IMRS' FASTAR, and McDonnell Douglas' Pro*Kit Workbench.

Founded in 1979, Micro Data Base Systems, Inc. is a pioneer in database management software. mdbs' client/server products include MDBS IV, an entity-relationship model database management system, and Object/1, an object-oriented graphical development environment. Other development tools available include KnowledgeMan, an object-based relational DBMS, and GURU3D, a comprehensive knowledge-based expert systems environment.

Advanced Programming Techniques, Inc. provides cost-effective reporting and database publishing solutions on a variety of operating platforms. APT's products and consulting are well-suited to commercial and corporate developers, particularly those involved in special expertise in financial systems development.

mdbs - Micro Data Base Systems Inc

Two Executive Dr, PO Box 6089

Lafayette, IN 47903-6089


MultiModem PCS w/Enhanced Voice & Lower Price
Multi-Tech Announces Enhanced Voice and a Lower Price for the MultiModemPCS

MOUNDS VIEW, MINNESOTA--August 27, 1993--Multi-Tech Systems, Inc., a leading data communications technology company, announced today the latest release of the Personal Communications System (PCS) firmware and software with enhanced voice quality. In addition the price of the patent pending MultiModemPCS hardware and MultiExpressPCS software has been reduced to $949 U.S. (previously $1149 U.S.) The enhanced voice firmware and software is available in any new units shipped and as a free upgrade to all PCSs already purchased.

"There are now two voice compression algorithms available for PCS users," According to Raghu Sharma, President of Multi-Tech. "Normal voice recording is now done using a 16K bps compression algorithm, and voice-over-data operation is done with 9600 bps compression. The original release of the product used 9200 bps for both types of communications. The new algorithms mean that voice quality is enhanced in both situations. The 9600 bps option also can be selected for message recording by the user for efficient use of disk space."

Digitizing and compressing voice signals for efficient transmission via digital communications media has been in place for years. While appropriate for simple voice transmissions, these traditional compression schemes do not work when combining voice and data transmissions over a single telephone line. The most common voice digitization scheme results in a digital bitstream at 64K bps. This is generally referred to in the industry as Pulse Code Modulation (PCM). Transcoding algorithms used to compress PCM are called Adaptive Delta Pulse Code Modulation (ADPCM) that can result in 32K or 16K bps bit streams. With ADPCM, the quality of compressed speech at 16K bps is marginal.

Multi-Tech has developed two algorithms for compressing speech to 16K and 9600 bps based on Vector Quantization which provides superior quality over comparable ADPCM techniques. Instead of encoding the speech waveform on a sample-by-sample basis as in ADPCM, Vector Quantization works with blocks of samples matched to vector table values which most closely match the waveform.

The 16K bps algorithm is used primarily for voice mail and multi-media mail and requires 120K bytes of disk space per minute of speech. The 9600 bps algorithm is used primarily for simultaneous voice and data operations (e.g., Show and Tell), because it requires less bandwidth during transmission. For those users concerned about disk storage space, the PCS software can be set to use 9600 bps for voice storage applications. The 9.6K bps algorithm requires 72K bytes per minute of speech storage.

The addition of the new compression algorithms enhances the PCS's quality and efficiency in voice mail, multimedia mail, and voice-over-data modes. The operation of the PCS as a normal phone is not affected because voice is transmitted in its native analog form when "telephone" mode is active.

Multi-Tech Systems, which reported sales of $81 million for 1992, was founded in 1970 to manufacture data communications equipment and systems for the global market of networking product users. The Minnesota-based company is well-known for its MultiModem line of dial-up communications products. Multi-Tech's family of products include a complete line of data/fax modems, MultiMux statistical multiplexers, DSUs, 3270/3780/5250 emulation systems, X.25 PADS/Switches, UNIX serial interfaces, communications software, LAN/WAN connectivity products, and most recently, the MultiModemPCS, a voice/data/fax personal communications system. These products are sold in over 70 countries through a worldwide network of distributors, manufacturer's reps, systems integrators, value-added resellers (VARs) and retailers. Multi-Tech Systems, Inc. can be contacted at its headquarters: 2205 Woodale Drive, Mounds View, Minnesota 55112, main numbers (612) 785-3500 or (800) 328-9717, Technical Support (800) 972-2439, BBS (612) 785-9875 or (800) 392-2432, U. S. FAX (612) 785-9874


Microflex-VL/S w/40MHz Cyrix Cx486S & Local Bus
MICRO EXPRESS MICROFLEX-VL/S IS CYRIX 486S LOCAL BUS ENTRY

Santa Ana, CA, August, 1993..A PC, based on the 40-MHz Cyrix Cx486S chip, with VESA-standard local bus, is now available from Micro Express. Called the MicroFLEX-VL/S, this PC will also be upgradable to the Pentium. With 4-MB of RAM, a 200-MB fast hard disk drive with VESA caching controller (1-MB of disk caching), both 5-1/4" and 3-1/2" high-density floppy disk drives, a VESA-standard local bus video card, an SVGA monitor, 256K of RAM cache, a math coprocessor, a mouse, DOS 6.0 and Windows 3. 1, this PC is offered for only $1795.

For an additional $25 each, PFS:Windows Version 2 and PFS:Publisher for Windows will be bundled with the system.

This PC will, in many cases, outperform PCs based on the 486DX2-66 chip. Since the 486DX2-66 chip operates internally at 66 MHz, but externally at only 33 MHz, the true 40MHz Cx486S chip has the advantage of operating externally at 40 MHz. This means that the VESA local bus components, such as the video and disk drive controllers operate at 40 MHz instead of at only 33 MHz in the case of the 486DX2-66. Thus, video-intensive programs, like Windows or desktop publishing, and disk intensive programs, like databases, are likely to run faster on this PC that on a 486DX2-66 PC. Performance is further enhanced by the inclusion of a VESA caching disk controller with 1-MB of internal RAM (expandable to 16 MB). This controller also supports the new 2.88-MB floppy disk drives, which are available as an option with this PC.

Additional performance enhancement results from zero wait-state operation, and the inclusion of a math coprocessor.

The MicroFLEX-VL/S contains a local bus video card that allows resolutions up to 1280 x 1024 pixels, with high-color (32,768 colors) at up to 1024 x 768, and true-color (64.8 million colors) at a resolution of 640 x 480.

MicroFLEX-VL/S is housed in a mini-tower case, measuring 7.1"[W] x 14.6"[H] x 18.25"[D]. The case has provision for three accessible 5-1/4" disk drives, one accessible 31/2" disk drive, two internal 3-1/2" disk drives and one internal 5-1/4" disk drive. The proprietary motherboard has eight expansion slots, including two 32-bit VESA local bus slots, five 16-bit slots and one 8-bit slot. Up to 32-MB of RAM are supported on the motherboard.

The excellent AMI BIOS, with password protection and selectable shadowing of both system and video BIOS, is used and 2K of direct-mapped, write-back RAM cache is included. The BIOS automatically detects the Cx486S and enables NO LOCK caching. This feature improves the performance of the computer when protected-mode applications are used, resulting in much more efficient RAM caching. A CMOS clock-calendar is included, as are built-in diagnostics.

The Finest Available Customer Support

A full 2-year warranty is included on parts and labor for this PC, with shipping for the first 4 months paid both ways by Micro Express, as well as a 30-day money-back guarantee. Optional on-site service, through GE, is also available. If a part fails, Micro Express offers 24-hour express board replacement service. As with all other Micro Express computers, this machine is burned in for 72 hours before shipping to eliminate early failures. In addition, a toll-free number is provided for free unlimited technical support. Technical support is available 24-hours per day and 7-days per week as part of the exclusive Micro Express "Always" customer support program. When technical documents are required, Micro Express offers Automated FAX-back Service. Using this service, documents can be requested through voice-mail and will be FAXed directly to the customer without human intervention.

The MicroFLEX-VL/S is available now, direct from Micro Express.

Micro Express is an award-winning manufacturer of notebook, laptop, portable and desktop microcomputers that are fully IBM compatible. Micro Express offers extremely high quality and a wide range of additional features at a very competitive price. Micro Express personal computers are regularly rated at the top of comparative reviews in computer trade magazines, having won such honors as PC Magazine Editors' Choice, PC World Best Buy, Computer Buyer's Guide Best Buy, BYTE Magazine One-To-Watch, PC Week Analyst' s Choice and many others. The company also offers a selection of high-performance add-in peripheral boards and monitors.

Micro Express, 1801 Carnegie Ave, Santa Ana, CA 92705

714-852-1400;  fax: 714-852-1225


Sybase Momentum, Enterprise Client/Server Dev
SYBASE ANNOUNCES MOMENTUM-- A COMPREHENSIVE FAMILY OF TOOLS FOR ENTERPRISE CLIENT/SERVER DEVELOPMENT

Object-Oriented Graphical Tools Offer New Capabilities for Different Classes of Applications and Development Processes

EMERYVILLE, CA, August 30, 1993 -- Sybase, Inc., The Enterprise Client/Server Company, today announced a major new tools initiative targeted at meeting the complex development requirements for enterprise client/server applications. Sybase's new tools family, Momentum, consists of three integrated products: Build Momentum, targeted at graphical front and back office applications; Gain Momentum, for multimedia information delivery; and Enterprise Momentum, providing a new development approach for large, enterprise-wide applications.

All three products provide state-of-the-art, graphical, object-oriented technology focused on improving development productivity and increasing the quality of applications. Build Momentum and Enterprise Momentum will be available on Windows, Windows NT, Macintosh and Motif platforms. Gain Momentum is currently available on Motif and will be available on Windows NT.

Sybase, widely recognized as a client/server database leader, further extends its reach into the client/server tools marketplace with this announcement. Mark B. Hoffman, Sybase president and CEO commented, "Today's initiative is significant for both Sybase and the industry as a whole. It is the culmination of a two year investment in tools -- both through R&D and acquisitions. The resulting tools are the first to combine a graphical user interface, practical implementation of object-oriented technology, and the team development facilities required to build large, complex client/server applications. We expect the Momentum family to increase our customers' development productivity, and to set new functionality standards that the industry will strive for."

The Momentum Family

Sybase's Momentum family consists of three products:

* Build Momentum, a new product announced today, is a graphical, object-oriented application development environment for developing and deploying applications on Windows, Windows NT, Macintosh and Motif platforms. Build Momentum is an industrial strength tool that combines a highly visual graphical interface with the strong team development capabilities and scalability required to run high performance production applications. Build Momentum is scheduled to go into beta test in 4Q 1993 and begin commercial shipments in 1Q 1994.

* Gain Momentum is the first object-oriented multimedia development environment that combines the power of an information-rich user interface with seamless integrated access to relational database management systems (RDBMS). GainMomentum 2.0, which delivers RDBMS integration, went into beta test in March and was announced in July 1993. Today, Sybase is announcing commercial availability of the product.

* Enterprise Momentum is an object-oriented development framework, based on an active repository, that provides a new development process for building complex, enterprise-wide applications. Enterprise Momentum consists of the Enterprise Modeler, the Enterprise Meta Server (repository) and Enterprise Application Builders. Sybase expects to deliver this product in the second half of 1994.

The Momentum products are all based on an advanced object-oriented technology that provides the benefits of enhanced productivity and quality through application code reusability. In addition, the company offers a practical implementation to object-orientation that provides an easy migration path for customers. Developers can achieve the benefits of using objects without being experts in object-oriented programming techniques such as inheritance, encapsulation or polymorphism.

A Comprehensive Approach: The Right Product for the Right Project

According to Dr. Robert Epstein, Sybase executive vice president, "Our customers are telling us that no one tool can do it all. People have varying requirements based on price, user interface, scalability, development process and systems management features. We now offer customers the right product for the right project -- powerful products optimized to take full advantage of graphical PCs and multimedia workstations."

Sybase has identified applications for three types of user environments in enterprise client/server: back office, front office and extended office applications.

Sybase's current development tool, APT Workbench, is targeted at back office applications, which are primarily character-based, on-line transaction processing (OLTP) data entry applications.

The Build Momentum tool is targeted at front office applications, characterized by graphical, management-oriented, and real-time decision support applications. The product also benefits customers who are migrating back office OLTP applications from character terminals to new graphical platforms.

Gain Momentum is targeted at information delivery in the extended office -- requiring an information-rich user interface to entice "elective" users within a company (for example, executives) or outside the company (for example, customers, or trading partners) to interact with the computer system.

Productivity: The Right Development Process for Enterprise-Wide Applications

With the Enterprise Momentum environment, Sybase is introducing a new development process targeted at large-scale, multi-departmental applications. Stewart Schuster, Sybase vice president of marketing, commented, "People have been developing applications with procedural code for the past 30 years. Recently, many users have adopted object-oriented programming techniques in order to realize the benefits of reusable code. With Enterprise Momentum, we've combined the benefits of object-oriented technology with model-driven application generation to create 'model-oriented' development."

Enterprise Momentum is an object-oriented, repository-based environment that enables a new approach to the development process that Sybase calls "Application from Models." Application from Models allows users to automatically generate and maintain applications directly from models, greatly improving programming and maintenance productivity. The models are stored in a central repository, ensuring application consistency and quality across the enterprise.

Open Architecture

Through the Momentum family, Sybase expands its commitment to its Open Solutions partnerships with independent software vendors. Enterprise Momentum software is based on an open architecture and will work with third-party development tools, CASE products and heterogenous databases and data sources. The company's goal is to allow customers to mix and match the products they require in a heterogenous, networked environment.

Migration and Integration

Sybase will continue to support APT Workbench and customers will be able to easily migrate APT applications into Build Momentum. Deft, Sybase's CASE (computer aided software engineering) product, will be migrated into the Enterprise Modeler components of the Enterprise Momentum product. Both the Build Momentum and Gain Momentum tools will work as application builders in the Enterprise Momentum environment.

Sybase, Inc.

Sybase, Inc. (NASDAQ: SYBS) develops and markets a leading family of client/server-based software products and services for on-line, enterprise-wide applications. Sybase's integrated family of software includes servers, tools, connectivity, and systems management products that provide complete desktop to mainframe solutions. Headquartered in Emeryville, CA, Sybase markets its products worldwide through its direct sales force, telesales, distributors, OEMs, VARs, and systems integrators.

Sybase Inc, 6475 Christie Ave, Emeryville, CA 04608


Accolade LIcensing Deal with NFLPA
ACCOLADE ANNOUNCES LICENSING DEAL WITH NFLPA

SAN JOSE, Calif.-AUGUST 30, 1993--Accolade, a leading publisher of sports simulations, today announced a multi-year agreement with the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) to use the names and statistics of the real pros in Unnecessary Roughness, a new football simulation set to release this fall. The product will be a graphically intensive and aggressive football simulation and will feature extra-large rotoscoped and scaling player graphics in a rotating 3D polygon stadium. It will also be the only football simulation to feature infinite camera views to put game players right on the field. Unnecessary Roughness will be available in October for IBM PC and compatible computers at a suggested retail price of $69.95. A version for the Sega Genesis will be available in November for $69.95.

Unnecessary Roughness players go head-to-head against real NFLPA pros in a ferocious battle of outrageous tackles, impossible one-handed catches, brutal head-butts, and flying helmets. This high-impact football game is filled with intense moves and realistic animation. Players can choose from Thurman Thomas, Ronnie Lott, Barry Sanders, Reggie White, "Neon" Deion Sanders and others from any of the 28 pro teams. Players can compete in an exhibition game, play a complete season against all the pro team cities, or even customize their own league and take their favorite team through the playoffs to the championship. Team and player stats are also updated all the way through the championship.

Unnecessary Roughness features a variety of ways to view the game including infinite camera angles, zoom settings, instant replay and automated highlights after the game. With the extensive playbook, team construction and logo editor, players can customize the game any way they choose.

This realistic football game is complete with the voice of pro football, sportscaster, Al Michaels who calls the play-by-play. Michaels has been honored with many awards in his career, including the coveted Emmy, and most recently was voted the most popular professional football play-by-play announcer by the readers of the San Jose Mercury News. His recognizable voice can also be heard in Accolade's popular HardBall III and soon in Brett Hull Hockey.

"Real players and realistic gameplay are what our consumers look for in a sports game," -said Charlotte Taylor Skeel, Director of Licensing. Unnecessary Roughness will have the NFLPA license, intense gameplay, realistic graphics and animation. Everything today's market demands."

Accolade is a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of entertainment software for PC compatible computers and leading video game machines, including the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Nintendo Gameboy and Sega Genesis.

Accolade, 5300 Stevens Creek Blvd, San Jose, CA 95129


EA Signs Phenom Shaquile O'Neal
EA SPORTS SIGNS BASKETBALL PHENOM SHAQUILLE O'NEAL TO MULTI-PRODUCT CONTRACT

FIRST GAMES TO BE AVAILABLE ON SEGA GENESIS & SUPER NINTENDO ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM

CHICAGO, IL, June 3, 1993--EA SPORTS, the leading publisher of interactive sports entertainment and a division of Electronic Arts (NASDAQ:ERTS), recently announced that it has signed a multi-year licensing agreement with the Orlando Magic's rookie superstar Shaquille O'Neal to co-design a line of basketball games.

The games will initially be developed for play on the Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo Entertainment System . CD-ROM and PC formats will be considered for future development. The first game is scheduled to be on store shelves in late 1993, concurrent with the start of the new pro basketball season.

"Not since Michael Jordan has such a dominant rookie come into the NBA," said Don Traeger, EA SPORTS executive producer. "Shaq's charismatic style and overwhelming success has the basketball world buzzing. We plan to combine his on-court tenacity and charming personality with advanced technology to make games that have never before been seen."

O'Neal's real-life image will be digitized and incorporated into the games as new breakthroughs have allowed technology from TV and the movies to be brought into games for the home.

The 7-foot-1-inch, 300-pound rookie superstar O'Neal is happy with his decision. "EA SPORTS has created some great games and together we will make my games the best. I'm looking forward to integrating my hard slamming, jamming, intimidating, in your face style into their games."

O'Neal's agent Leonard Armato says the agreement came down to the game publisher's successful history. "EA SPORTS has established itself as the premier sports game-maker," he said. "Shaq and EA will make a great team designing exciting games that will capture everyone's imagination."

"Shaq joins EA SPORTS' impressive hall-of-fame lineup of Dr. J, Larry Bird and Michael Jordan. He will continue EA's tradition of creating excellent games with basketball greats," added Traeger.

EA SPORTS is a division of Electronic Arts that publishes real sports games for real sports fans. Each game includes TV-style coverage, lifelike action with signature moves, instant replays and real player statistics. Current EA SPORTS games include Jordan vs. Bird, Bulls vs. Blazers, The NBA Playoffs, Michael Jordan In Flight, John Madden Football, NHLPA Hockey and NHL Hockey, PGA TOUR Golf and Tony La Russa Baseball. The NFL and MLBPA are additional premium licenses.

Electronic Arts

1450 Fashion Island Blvd, San Mateo, CA 94404


IBM & Shiva Development & OEM Agreement
IBM AND SHIVA ANNOUNCE DEVELOPMENT AND OEM AGREEMENT FOR REMOTE NETWORKING

San Francisco, CA, Interop--August 25, 1993--In a move that solidifies Shiva Corporation's leadership in the remote networking market, company executives today announced that they have reached an agreement wit IBM Corporation to jointly develop remote networking technology. The goal of the Shiva-IBM agreement is to provide products that allow mobile and remote users of IBM computers to easily access data and communicate with their corporate offices as if they were on the company network. IBM will show a technology demonstration of remote networking in their booth (#1936) at Interop.

The market for remote networking is experiencing rapid growth, driven by increasing numbers of mobile and remote computer users who want access to corporate resources. According to Forrester Research (Cambridge, MA), 75% of Fortune 1000 companies will need to set up remote networking programs by 1995.

Said Shiva President Dan Schwinn: "This is the most important development in Shiva's eight-year history. Over the past 12 months, Shiva's sales of remote networking products have grown 350%. This alliance will help both IBM and Shiva meet the accelerating demand for remote networking." Shiva corporation was ranked #25 in the 1992 Inc. 500 listing of the fastest growing private companies in the U.S.

Said Don Haile, NS Director of Network Access for IBM's Networking Systems Line of Business: "Like Shiva, we see remote access as an exciting, growth market. Increasingly, our customers are asking for solutions that provide remote access to their networks for employees working at home or while traveling. We are working with Shiva on remote access products that draw on the strengths of each company."

To meet this growing demand, Shiva and IBM will jointly develop multi-port, multiprotocol remote networking technology for Token Ring and Ethernet networks. Support for frame relay technology, along with DOS, Windows and OS/2 clients, will make the IBM solution compatible with other IBM networking products. This technology will be designed to meet the needs of the IBM customer and will address several areas essential to remote networking:

* Ease of configuration

* Concurrent support for a wide variety of access speeds

* Multi-protocol support over a single link via frame

  relay support (RFC 1294)

* Support for IEEE 802.2 and NetBIOS applications along

  with traditional IPX and TCP/IP support

In May 1993, Shiva shipped LanRover/T for NetWare, the first remote networking server for enterprise-wide, mission-critical Token Ring networks. Shiva's LanRover/E provides access to Ethernet networks for NetWare and AppleTalk Remote Access (ARA) users. Using Shiva's remote networking products, computer users can communicate by modem over standard phone lines to the corporate network, so that employees working at home, from hotels or in satellite offices can work as if they were still in the corporate office, using electronic mail, databases and other computer-based resources.

Shiva Corporation

Founded in 1985, Shiva Corporation is the leading supplier of remote networking products. Shiva Corporation is located at Northwest Park, 63 Third Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803


New Panasonic SideWriter Personal Printers
NEW PANASONIC PERSONAL PRINTER USHERS IN ERA OF TURNKEY DESKTOP AND MOBILE COMPUTING SOLUTIONS

Laser Quality Device Has Industry's Smallest Footprint And Is First Fully Transportable for Traveling Use

SAN FRANCISCO/Aug 24, 1993 -- Panasonic Communications and Systems Co. (PCSC), a unit of Matsushita Electric Corp. of America, today introduced the SideWriter family, a line of upright laser-quality printers with a desktop footprint smaller than any comparable personal computing output device. The printers -- which stand only 14 inches high, take up .52 square feet or a space slightly larger than a standard envelope, and weigh just 14.3 pounds -- represent a breakthrough in the design of personal desktop printers, according to Tim Curran, group general manager for Panasonic's Computer Products Group.

Incorporating innovative LED (or Light Emitting Diode) printing technology, the SideWriter family is available in two versions -- one featuring Adobe's PostScript printer language and one with HP PCL4 printer language only. The new printers can be placed next to a PC in virtually any work or home environment, allowing users to execute all their computer output tasks without requiring additional printer stations or sacrificing a large portion of valuable workspace.

The PostScript printer doubles as a personal plain paper fax machine with the addition of the PostScript fax option. PostScript fax is a high quality, lower cost alternative to thermal paper fax and is compatible with the more than 20 million Group 3 fax machines installed worldwide. Faxes are sent directly from the software application using the same steps needed to print a document.

Both printers offer users document security by eliminating the need to broadcast a print job over a network. Additionally, the PostScript model offers ample security, since its fax option allows for sending or receiving PC-based plain paper faxes in an office or on the road.

The SideWriter family is also transportable, letting users couple the printer with a laptop or notebook computer to create a traveling system -- complete with optional plain paper fax capability, without giving up professional print quality. Priced at under $1,000 for the PostScript model and under $700 for the PCL model, the SideWriter printers also establish new price/performance standards for this category of laser printers.

"Clearly the future of personal computing is to bring total functionality to the user's fingertips, including printing," said Mr. Curran. "Another trend is the explosive growth of home and mobile computing, which this product also addresses, giving users a laser quality printer so small it can fit into any home office or be taken on the road."

Standard Features, Uncommon Design

In addition to their inventive physical features, the new printers also provide industry-standard print speed, quality and compatibility at a price affordable to individual users. Both printers in the new line, the KX-P5400 and the KX-P4400, output documents at an optimal rate of four pages-per-minute (ppm). The P4400 incorporates HP PCL4, providing 28 bitmap fonts. The P5400, in addition to HP PCL4 and its font capabilities, also incorporates Adobe's PostScript Level 2 printer language with 17 scalable fonts.

PostScript is the computer graphics industry standard desktop printer language, enabling compatible printers to produce documents with a variety of high quality typefaces and graphics. The P5400 has two megabytes (2MB) of memory to handle any PostScript print file. The P5400 also offers a plain paper PostScript fax option for secure, PC-based fax send and receive.

Designed, developed and manufactured by Matsushita in Japan, SideWriter delivers high print quality in the smallest laser printer form factor in the industry (5"w x 11"h x 14 "d; .52 square feet footprint).

The SideWriter products offer resolution of up to 300 x 300 dots per inch (dpi). They can handle an input of up to 100 sheets of paper -- ranging in size from executive to standard to legal -- in a side paper tray. Maximum output tray capacity is 50 sheets.

Both printers use parallel interfaces and work with all IBM PCs and compatibles. The P5400 has the additional option of an AppleTalk interface, making it compatible with Macintosh computers. It also has an optional serial port to offer accelerated communication between the computer and the printer.

Both printers also comply with the Energy Star program for printers sponsored by the Environmental Protection Agency. The program acknowledges that the SideWriter printers are energy efficient office automation equipment.

Pricing and Availability

In addition to supplanting the conventional idea of laser-quality printers as large, bulky desktop devices, the SideWriter family also alters the popular notion that laser-quality output is too expensive for individual users. The printers will be available through authorized Panasonic resellers nationwide for a suggested retail price of $649 for the KX-P4400 and $999 for the KX-P5400. General availability for the KX-P5400 and the KX-P4400 is planned for September and October, respectively. Prices for the Fax, AppleTalk, Memory and Serial Port options and the PostScript upgrade will be announced at a later date.

In the United States, Panasonic Communications & Systems Company markets an extensive line of office automation equipment, including dot matrix, LED and laser personal printers; color thermal printers; the PanaSync line of color monitors; phase-change, magneto-optical and WORM optical-disk recording and storage equipment; the Panafile II series of optical filing products; filing sub-systems; computer scanners; office and personal copiers; whiteboards; electronic typewriters; and the Panafax line of plainpaper and thermal facsimile machines.

Panasonic Communications & Systems Company

Two Panasonic Way

Secaucus, NJ 07094


EA Sports Soccer for Sega Genesis
EA SPORTS SOCCER

SAN MATEO, CA, June 3, 1993 - EA SPORTS, a division of Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: ERTS), today announced plans for its first soccer game for the Sega Genesis, EA SPORTS Soccer (working title).

EA SPORTS Soccer is played from a unique three-quarter style top-down perspective that allows players to see more of the playing field, and gives them the best possible control of the action on the field. The 30 degree isometric view combines the "coolness" of a 3D view with the depth and playability of a standard side scrolling view.

Players can choose from over 40 international teams that play like their real-life counterparts, each with different playing styles. Game players select offensive and defensive strategies and align themselves according to individual players' strengths and weaknesses. Teams will compete in round robin-style tournaments on their way to capture the cup.

Computer intelligence is modeled on actual soccer strategies and tactics and adds a level of realism and authenticity never before seen in a soccer video game. Animations like bicycle kicks, slide tackles, diving goalies, chest traps, diving headers and leg traps capture all the action and variety of a real soccer match.

Variable field conditions can impact the game as the playing surfaces change, so players must take into account slipping, slow down, and ball physics as the turf changes during the game.

Whether it's a bad pass or a goal, the stadium comes to life as the crowd responds to game situations with boos, groans, chants, and cheers.

An easy-to-understand play interface will mean users can easily pick up the rules of the game while strategy, line-up selection, and sophisticated player ratings provide depth for the more advanced player.

Electronic Arts is a diversified entertainment and education company that develops, publishes, and distributes software worldwide. The company is 11 years old and it had FY93 revenues of $298 million. Its corporate headquarters are in San Mateo, California, and it has offices in Texas, Canada, the U K, Europe, Australia, and Japan

Electronic Arts

1450 Fashion Island Blvd, San Mateo, CA 94404


SSN-21 Seawolf, Sequel to 688 Attack Sub
SSN-21 SEAWOLF, THE SEQUEL TO 688 ATTACK SUB

Chicago, IL - June 3, 1993 -- Electronic Arts (NASDAQ:ERTS) has announced the release of SSN-21 Seawolf for the PC and compatibles marketplace. This game is the sequel to 688 Attack Sub, one of Electronic Arts' biggest hits in the PC marketplace to date. SSN-21 Seawolf is being coded by John Ratcliff, who wrote the original, and produced for Electronic Arts by veteran simulations producer Paul Grace.

The game is the most advanced submarine simulation to date, and features the in-design SSN-21 Seawolf Attack sub. The US Navy initially combined five major programs in order to establish the Seawolf class: the 688 program, the new design SSN, SUBACS (Submarine Advanced Combat System), submarine electronic systems, and attack submarine research and development. However, since the Naval Sea Systems Command has more lately undergone budget cuts and the pattern of future military needs has changed in recent years, the scale of this operation has declined and the Seawolf is still on the drawing board. However, the US Navy states that the Seawolf will be "the fastest, deepest-diving, most heavily-armed United States submarine ever put to sea", and predicts that it will have three times the mission effectiveness of the 688. The SSN-21 will be equipped with a new conformal array sonar and 8 torpedo tubes and it will carry Harpoons, Tomohawks, Mark 48 ADCAP torpedoes and Sea Lance missiles and mines.

All this, of course, makes for a great game. Economic, ethnic, and political unrest in the former Soviet Union are beginning to deepen, with intense pressure from Red Army generals upon the military stability of the various Eastern bloc nations. After a military coup, a new politburo declares the reunification of the USSR and all diplomatic ties with the West are cut. Meanwhile, another coup has deposed Fidel Castro in Cuba, and a US-recognized government siezes power. As border skirmishes break out at spark points along the perimeter of the USSR, a Soviet task force sails from Archangel bound for Cuba. With strict orders from military leaders to avoid nuclear confrontation, World War III starts.

SSN-21 Seawolf is a game of stealth and cunning, fully recreating the atmosphere of underwater warfare, with much of the game action happening within the sonar room. More than 40 types of surface ships and 25 submarines can be identified individually from their own unique sonar signatures. Over 100 sound samples are featured in state-of-the-art 16-bit stereo sound, such as torpedoes loading and firing, sonar pings, the waterfall room, and even whale song. The musical score supports an extensive range of sound boards, including Roland SoundCanvas and LAPC-l, Adlib, Soundblaster 8 and 16-bit boards, Gravis Ultrasound, and Proaudio Spectrum. Electronic Arts urges players to use a good pair of headphones when playing SSN-21 Seawolf--this will give a true feeling of 3D audio-imaging and will greatly enhance gameplay.

In periscope view, the player can see a variety of different animated water effects and backgrounds as well as thunder and lightning. Stunning digitized explosions, both underwater and surface, graphically illustrate the player's strike rate against mission objectives.

33 missions make up the overall campaign, with a random start mechanism ensuring variety of gameplay. Training missions are included, as are modem and network play capabilities.

Electronic Arts

1450 Fashion Island Blvd, San Mateo, CA 94404


Syndicate from Bullfrog
Bullfrog presents SYNDICATE

CHICAGO, IL., June 3, 1993 -- Electronic Arts (NASDQ:ERTS) has announced the release of Syndicate for the IBM PC and compatibles and the Commodore Amiga. Syndicate is the brand new title from Bullfrog Productions Ltd, one of the most innovative software development teams in the business, and also the creators of Populous and Powermonger.

The setting for Syndicate is a grim and dangerous future world some time after the Corporation Wars. The world's multinational corporations grew to such an extent that their power began to rival that of small countries. Before long, the corporations owned the small countries and corporate influence was felt at the highest level of world government. Then they developed the CHIP...

The CHIP is a technological revolution better than any drug. Inserted into the head, the CHIP can alter a person's perception of the outside world and give hope to the masses by numbing their senses to the misery and squalor surrounding them.

For example, a person living on the 49th floor of the grimiest city apartment block can buy a 'Mansion CHIP' which, once inserted, would make him immediately believe he was living in the grandest, most expensive mansion! Why change your environment when you can change your mind!' runs the company slogan.

The only problem is that the CHIP has a 'back door', and like any new and potent drug control of the CHIP means control of the people. Before long the corporations are at war with each other, battling to monopolize CHIP manufacture and toppling nations and governments in the process.

The greed of the corporations begins attracting dangerous criminal elements, and soon the crime Syndicates have infiltrated the corporate boardrooms and become the controlling force all over the globe. Using custom built cyborg-agents, they hunt down rivals and battle each other for ultimate control of the entire globe.

The player, looking to make a name for himself, takes the role of a young executive in one such Syndicate. From his control platform in an airship high above the city, he observes as his agents (controlled by CHIP technology) spread the shadow of Syndicate terror in a bid to conquer territory after territory, oust the rival Syndicates, and strive for world domination.

From the time of the stunningly atmospheric intro sequence with its state of the art, 3D rendered graphics, the player is aware that Bullfrog has once again created an original and stimulating experience. Having customized his corporate logo, he is faced with over fifty elaborate missions - each set in a living city that is alive with intelligent men and women, cars and commuter trains, rival agents, and law enforcement forces.

Within this environment, the player has complete freedom to perpetrate the nefarious deeds of the Syndicate! If he succeeds in conguering a territory he can raise taxes to fund research and development into more advanced weaponry and cybernetic body parts. Raise taxes too high and the territory becomes ripe for insurrection and defection to a rival Syndicate.

The use of new graphic technology on Syndicate means that it has had more full-time dedicated graphic artists working on it than all of Bullfrog's previous projects put together. What's more, realistic sound effects include music and digitized speech, making Syndicate Bullfrog's most unique title to date ! Syndicate will be available on IBM PC and compatibles (priced at $59.95) and Commodore Amiga (priced at $49.95) from Electronic Arts in June.

Electronic Arts

1450 Fashion Island Blvd, San Mateo, CA 94404


Aris Video Cube, Space Flight Video Puzzles
ARIS ENTERTAINMENT EXPLORES BRAVE NEW WORLD OF INTERACTIVE VIDEO PUZZLES FROM SPACE!

Video Cube: Space First in New Series to Combine Multimedia CD-ROM Technology With Puzzle-Solving Ability and Video Clips from NASA

CHICAGO, IL -- June 3, 1993 -- Aris Entertainment, whose utility program MPC Wizard recently became the number one bestselling CD-ROM in America, has launched its second major series of multimedia CD-ROM software titles with VideoCube: Space, an interactive puzzle incorporating 126 Microsoft Video for Windows videos, CD-quality original music sound effects and Rubik's cube-like series puzzles ranging from easy to exceptionally challenging.

"Most other games now on CD-ROM ware adapted from floppy-based games. Video Cube is one of the first multimedia games to use video as an integral part of the game," said Chris Kitze, president and CEO of Aris Entertainment. Space is the first of many titles that will utilize the Video Cube format.

Video Cube begins with an animated cube, containing dozens of video fragments, hurling itself through outer space, at which point the player must unscramble the stills on each side of the cube. The payoff for solving each side of the puzzle is a playing of the complete video, ranging from a few seconds to nearly a minute long. These dramatic sequences are from the National Space Aeronautic Administration (NASA) and include rocket launches, moon walks, and stunning videos of the heavens above and the earth below. Video Cube is a multi-level game that offers hundreds of variations in complexity of play, timed scoring and bonus point scenarios.

One of the most appealing parts of the game at retail is its remarkable packaging, which also is unlike any other CD-ROM on the market, with a 5 3/4" x 5 3/4" physical cube game included to complement the video game. "There are no other video games on the market where the packaging itself is a game," noted Diane Heppting, chairman and CFO.

The Video Cube will retail for $49.95. It is being distributed exclusively through Electronic Arts, which recently signed a distribution agreement with Aris for its newly developed game and interactive movie titles. Space will be followed by year's end with several other Video Cube titles, including discs on sports and Hollywood.

Video Cube requires a Super VGA monitor and a MPC-compatible CD-ROM and supports both 8-bit and 16-bit sound cards. Sound on the Video Cube can be played back at 16-bit/44k, 16-bit/22k, or 8-bit/22-bit formats.

The company's current product lines include utilities (MPC Wizard); clip art and multimedia presentation content (MediaClips); virtual reality/interactive movies (e-World); and games (Video Cube).

Aris Multimedia Entertainment, Inc., was founded in October 1991, by Chris Kitze and Diane Heppting. Kitze is regarded by many as a pioneer in the field of electronic publishing and CD ROM software development. Heppting has had a long history of product management and marketing positions for various computer peripheral companies over the past decade. The company is a leading publisher of multimedia software titles for the exploding CD-ROM market.

Aris Entertainment (310) 821-0234

Electronic Arts

1450 Fashion Island Blvd, San Mateo, CA 94404


EA Sports Signs Bill Walsh for Football Game
EA SPORTS SIGNS COACHING GENIUS BILL WALSH TO CO-DESIGN UPCOMING COLLEGE FOOTBALL GAME

CHICAGO, IL, June 3, 1993 - EA SPORTS (Electronic Arts, NASDAQ: ERTS) recently announced the signing of Bill Walsh to collaborate on the upcoming Sega Genesis game, Bill Walsh College Football. The game is scheduled for release in August.

Walsh, clearly one of the most successful coaches of all time, has won at every level from high school to pro. Walsh walked away from coaching pro football after unprecedented success because of his love for the college game.

Bill Walsh College Football is the latest product from EA SPORTS, a leading publisher of sports video games. Walsh, who coached the San Francisco 49ers to three Super Bowl titles, has just finished a promising season as Head Coach for the Stanford University Cardinal.

"Bill Walsh will be extensively involved in the game development process, ranging from giving scouting reports on last year's top 24 teams, including Stanford, to devising play-calling strategies and scripts, and offering playbook analysis," said Scott Orr, executive producer for EA SPORTS. "The plan is to put Walsh's unique teaching philosophy and personality into the game."

"Walsh's reputation and focus on teaching were also important to us in that we want College Football and future EA SPORTS games to teach kids about sports in addition to being a lot of fun to play," added Orr.

Orr and his development team have designed Bul Walsh College Football so that players will be able to study Walsh's complex strategies, then use them against 48 of the best teams in college football. Play in the snow, rain, and sun with the '92 champions from Alabama, or choose classic teams like Michigan of '85 and Nebraska of '83.

The game includes a low, on-field perspective that puts players in the middle of the action. Reverse-angle instant replay, customized audibles, and play-call mode options give players more control than any other football game on the market. On-field animations and "stadium cams" capture all the excitement and drama of college football.

"This is a very exciting game," commented Walsh. "You can be a novice at football and get right into it, or if you're an absolute expert you can apply that expertise as you play the game. Bill Walsh College Football gives every fan something they can really enjoy."

Walsh joins a prestigious lineup of EA SPORTS licenses that include Michael Jordan, Shaquille O'Neal, John Madden, Tony La Russa, PGA TOUR, MLBPA, NHLPA, NHL, NBA, and the NFL.

Electronic Arts

1450 Fashion Island Blvd, San Mateo, CA 94404


AGE Logic Releases X Image Extension Alpha
AGE Logic, Inc. Releases X Image Extension Alpha

New XIE standard allows interactive imaging for UNIX, PCs

San Diego, CA, August 30, 1993 - AGE Logic, Inc. of San Diego has released the alpha version of the X Image Extension Sample Implementation (XIE-SI) to the MIT X Consortium. The MIT X Consortium awarded AGE the XIE-SI development contract in January of 1993; the alpha release of XIE-SI represents a significant milestone for the project.

XIE is important because it will provide a standard and optimized way to integrate documents and image data into applications for Motif and the X Window System. By using XIE, imaging applications can be developed for supercomputers, workstations, X terminals and PCs running XIE server software.

Imaging technology and on-line documents have long held the promise for a "paperless office." But because imaging applications have required proprietary hardware and expensive integration efforts to implement, few could afford to take advantage of this technology.

"Before XIE, the X protocol had limited and inefficient mechanisms to display image data," explained Robert Weideman, product manager for imaging at AGE. "The AGE XIE-SI resolves these issues through specialized compression and de-compression algorithms. XIE makes it practical to access image data and scanned documents across the network from workstations, X terminals and PCs. Even interactive imaging is possible with XIE."

The XIE protocol supports color, grayscale, and bitonal (black and white) image formats. Server-side image storage can be either compressed (for maximum storage capacity) or uncompressed (for fastest retrieval and display time.) A number of operators are provided for image reformatting, enhancement and scaling, including color space conversion, convolution dithering, and contrast enhancement. Many operations can be applied to a specific region of interest within an image, leaving the rest of the image unchanged.

The alpha release of the AGE XIE-SI includes a beta-quality document imaging subset (DIS) of XIE, which is designed to reduce the cost and memory requirements for applications dealing primarily with bitonal images. CCITT Group 3 and Group 4 FAX and run-length encoding compression schemes are supported in DIS, along with affine geometric operations (for scaling, rotation and mirroring.)

"The increased performance and standard programming environment provided by XIE transforms X servers into platforms for multi-media and document imaging applications," noted Weideman. "The performance barriers for serious imaging in the X Window System are about to be lifted."

The AGE XIE-SI beta release to the MIT X Consortium is scheduled for the Fall, with the final release slated for delivery around year-end 1993. AGE was selected for the XIE-SI, in part, due to their expertise in providing performance-oriented X server technology for PCs, X terminals and embedded systems. AGE provided the industry's first 32-bit X server for MS Windows as well as the first X server for both RISC and CISC platforms running the Windows NT operating system.

AGE Logic, Inc., a privately owned corporation founded in 1984, is a supplier of X Window System software that enables PCs, terminals, workstations and embedded systems to access X applications residing on Unix-based hosts. Marketed under the XoftWare brand name, AGE offers a full family of PC packaged products for distributors/resellers, system integrators and OEMs, as well as customized embedded X products for the world's leading terminal, computer and systems companies. These XoftWare packaged products support industry standards such as Microsoft Windows, Windows NT, DOS and various PC Unix operating environments. AGE has alliances with major silicon, terminal and workstation companies to develop highly optimized, hardware-specific X servers tailored to their specifications. AGE is located in San Diego and can be reached at (619) 455-8600.

AGE Logic, Inc.

9985 Pacific Heights Blvd, San Diego, CA 92121


Star Micronics SJ-144 Laser Quality Color Prtr
STAR MICRONICS ANNOUNCES THE SJ-144 LASER-QUALITY PRINTER

SJ-144 Is First Laser-Quality Printer Under $600 to Offer Full Color and Monochrome Printing of Text and Graphic Images

NEW YORK, May 24, 1993 -- Star Micronics today announced the SJ-144 laser-quality printer that produces full color and exceptionally sharp, monochrome text and graphic images. The SJ-144 is designed to print glossy, vibrant color text and graphics on a wide variety of print media from laser-quality plain paper to overhead transparencies.

With a print speed of up to 382 characters per second and 360 dots per inch raster graphics resolution, the SJ-144 is an affordable alternative to more expensive laser printers, a significant and inexpensive upgrade from color dot matrix printers, and offers both a price performance and superior technological advantage over current ink jet printers.

The SJ-144 utilizes a Plain-Paper, Heat-Fusion printing process that allows it to print to a wide variety of media from laser-quality plain, coated or recycled paper to labels, card stock, envelopes and overhead transparencies. The printing process produces sharp images that resist smearing even when wet, or when marked by a highlighter.

With a suggested retail price of $599, the printer is intended for use by home office and small business PC users who want to add the advantage of laser-quality color to documents, presentations and designs.

Additional standard features of the SJ-144 include:

** Three paper feed paths: automatic paper tray with 30 sheeet capacity; manual rear feed for less flexible media; and manual front feed for cut-sheet plain paper.

** Three industry standard emulations plus Star's Automatic Emulation Switching for printing in multiple environments.

** Eight laser quality bitmapped fonts and fifteen scalable TrueType fonts for Windows 3.1.

** Star's Compressed Data Mode for reducing information transfer time of graphic data between PC and printer.

** Zoom Mode printing for reducing the size of any text or graphic to 80%, 67% or 50% of the original.

** 2-Page Printing Mode for printing two pages of data on one page.

** Label Mode for printing peel-off, strop labels up to 7.2 inches long

Options for the SJ-144 include a choice of 12 different color ribbons for printing peel-off, strip labels and a choice of two ribbons for printing color or monochrome transparencies.

The SJ-144 will be available in July of 1993 and will be sold in North and South America through Star's authorized distributors and dealers.

Headquartered in New York, Star Micronics America is a subsidiary of Star Micronics Company, Ltd., Shizuoka, Japan. Star markets one of the industry's most complete line of printers designed for use with personal computers. This includes 9-pin and 24-pin dot matrix, ink jet, laser and heat fusion printers.

Star Micronics America Inc

420 Lexington Ave, Suite 2702

New York, NY 10170

212-986-6770,  fax: 212-286-9063


Multimedia Directory of CD-ROM
A new multimedia directory of CD-ROM and multimedia titles, products, companies, and people in the industry is available from Resource International Publishing.

This directory lists titles, publishers, prices, distributors, and other details of over 3,200 North American titles.  Color box and screen shots, description, price and many other details are provided.  Some CD-ROM shareware, and a special "feature" highlighting one or more companies and its products is provided on CD-ROM each month.  Price is $29.95 plus $5.00 shipping and handling.

A feature of the CD-ROM is the large number of reviews on the more popular titles.  We have a service bureau of over 300 reviewers doing criticial reviews on titles.  Many titles have multiple reviews so the user can get a clear idea of just what the disc will do for him.

Resource International Publishing

Route 1, Box 168, Milford, TX 76670

tel: (817) 582-7373,   fax: (817) 582-7377

AOL: JanRS,   CIS: 70053,1702


ELCUT v3.0A 2D Field Simulation Swr for EE's
TOR (Russia) announces ELCUT 3.0A -- 2D Field Simulation Software for Electrical Engineering.

ELCUT is a PC-oriented interactive tool for engineering analysis and design. It solves plane and axisymmetric problems of electrostatics, nonlinear DC magnetics, current flow, nonlinear heat transfer and stress analysis.

ELCUT is able to solve problems of up to 100,000 degrees of freedom on almost any IBM compatable personal computer.

With problems of magnetostatics, ELCUT's capabilities include:

 -  nonlinear or anisotropic magnetic properties;

 -  special utility for editing B-H curves;

 -  special approximation functions for axisymmetric

    formulation providing high precision near the axis of

    rotation;

 -  permanent magnets with linear or nonlinear

    demagnetization curve;

 -  superconductors;

 -  distributed and concentrated currents;

 -  Dirichlet or Neumann boundary conditions;

 -  calculator: energy, self and mutual inductances, magnetic

    forces, torques, m.m.f., etc.

ELCUT was developed to make field calculations maximum fast, easy and intuitive clear. After 3 hours playing with ELCUT, you can solve quite complicated problem in 15 minutes.

The educational version of ELCUT (500 degrees of freedom) is available as a shareware for educational use and evaluation from world famous archives of SIMTEL20, WUARCHIVE or GARBO.

ELCUT COMPONENTS

With the model editor, you can define a finite element model quickly, easily, and completely in the ELCUT preprocessing phase. You also can import model fragments from AutoCAD or other CAD system. You can easily control the mesh density at several significant points. The smooth mesh in the whole region is produced automatically and very quickly.

The interactive postprocessor will help you to analyze the results with various forms of presentation: field lines, color maps, X-Y plots, etc., calculate different surface and volume integral quantities in the contours of arbitrary shape. It also can produce the tabulated output to a file for subsequent use in your own program.

The solvers based on an innovative Geometric Decomposition method are 10 to 50 times faster than any competitive program for PC.

Specific time expenses for solving linear magnetic problem of 50,000 nodes on different PC platforms are as follows:

     PC/AT-286/287 (16MHz, 2Mb RAM):     45 Min.

     PC/AT-386/387 (25MHz, 8Mb RAM):      8 Min.

     PC/AT-486     (33MHz, 8Mb RAM):    3.5 Min.

HARDWARE CONFIGURATION

 Computer:    A 286, 386 or 486 based IBM PC/AT compatible.

 Coprocessor: Intel 80287 or 80387 math coprocessor.

 Memory:      640K minimum, 2MB recommended (1MB extended),

              4-8MB recommended for huge problems.

 Display:     EGA, VGA color or LCD monochrome.

 Mouse:       Microsoft mouse or 100% compatible.

 System:      PC-DOS or MS-DOS (Rev. 3.3 or above).

DISTRIBUTION KIT

 1. Two 1.2MB or 1.44MB diskette.

 2. Hardware protection key.

 3. User's guide in English.

In addition to packaged software, we also offer software maintenance, consultancy and Hot-Line technical support via e-mail and fax.

ELCUT does not require expensive hardware, nor waste a lot of disk space, but it solves very large problems with high precision and a record speed. ELCUT has several customers around the world, including CERN in Geneva.

TOR Cooperative Enterprise produces CAE/FEA software for PC, which incorporates Russian programming quality with achievements of Russian school of linear algebra.

     TOR Co-op.

     6 Uglovoj per.,

     St.Petersburg, 198052 Russia

     +7-812-292 1965

     +7-812-110 1334 fax

     Email: mazin@tor.spb.su  (Internet)


Euphoria Programming Language V1.0
August 27, 1993 (Toronto, Ontario): Rapid Deployment Software is now shipping The Euphoria Programming Language version 1.0 for MS-DOS based machines. Euphoria stands for "End User Programming with Hierarchical Objects for Robust Interpreted Applications".

Euphoria is a completely new, general purpose, programming language. It has a simple, flexible language definition that should appeal to both professional and non-professional programmers. Euphoria offers dynamic storage allocation and dynamic typing.

Euphoria compiles programs into an intermediate language which is then interpreted at a very high speed. Benchmarks indicate that Euphoria is 10 to 20 times faster than Microsoft QBASIC and other conventional interpreters. Euphoria achieves this high speed while performing subscript checking, uninitialized variable checking and numerous other runtime checks.

Euphoria makes use of a 32-bit DOS-extender. This lets Euphoria programs break the 640K limit of conventional memory, and seamlessly utilize the extended memory on today's 386/486 and Pentium-based PCs.

Euphoria comes with a full-screen editor that features color syntax highlighting and auto-completion of Euphoria statements. This editor is written in Euphoria, and may be modified or enhanced by the user.

Euphoria has an integrated debug/trace facility that lets you watch your program being executed on one screen, while your program's output appears on another. Also included is a statement-level profile facility.

To stimulate interest in the language, a public domain (PD) edition of Euphoria v1.0 has recently been placed on Compuserve (EUPH10.ZIP), as well as GEnie, America Online, and dozens of smaller bulletin board services (EUPHOR10.ZIP). In addition to the Euphoria interpreter, the PD release includes numerous demo programs, games, benchmarks, and the Euphoria editor, all written in Euphoria and ready to run. There is also a concise version of the Euphoria Reference Manual. The only restriction on the PD edition is that programs larger than 50 executable statements cannot use the Euphoria debug/trace or profile facilities, and will only get brief error messages.

Since Euphoria does not emit machine instructions, it is highly portable to other systems, and will soon be available on OS/2, Windows, Macintosh and various UNIX systems.

This first release of Euphoria runs on any MS-DOS based machine that has a 386 or higher processor. Euphoria runs comfortably with 200K of extended memory. The Complete Edition of Euphoria is being offered for $43.95 U.S. or $49.95 Canadian.

         Rapid Deployment Software

         130 Holm Cres.

         Thornhill, Ontario

         CANADA

         L3T 5J3

         (416) 764-8636, changes to (905) 764-8636 on October 4.


LANLine 5210 MicroBridge for Workgroups
LANLINE 5210 MICROBRIDGE REVOLUTIONIZES WORKGROUP COMPUTING

OTTAWA, ONT. -- Aug. 27, 1993 -- With an aim to simplify network computing, Gandalf Technologies Inc. today announced shipment of its LANLine 5210 microBridge. Designed to improve the performance and security of workgroup PCs, the 5210 segments workgroups on a network backbone to reduce congestion. LANLine 5210 is a simple and inexpensive alternative to more complex bridge products and requires no expertise to install.

At an introductory price of $499 U.S., the LANLine 5210 is considerably less expensive than existing bridge products. No set up or configuration is necessary as the 5210 is powered from the Ethernet* connection, and can be installed within 30 seconds, even by the inexperienced user.

The newest member of the Gandalf Premier family of bridge products, LANLine 5210 supports up to 256 users and features automated learning within the workgroup, automated address aging, full Ethernet wire rate filtering/forwarding, and --  at 17 microseconds -- the best local bridge throughput in the marketplace.

Based on custom designed silicon, the LANLine 5210 is smaller than an audio cassette and is backed by a lifetime guarantee.  In developing LANLine 5210, Gandalf Premier took a radically different engineering approach.

Gandalf Premier designs products which address the dynamic needs of the computer marketplace and user demands for high performance local area networking devices.  Its objective is to provide high performance products which are inexpensive, yet easy to install and use. Its products are sold through Gandalf subsidiaries and distributors worldwide.

Gandalf Premier is a division of Gandalf Technologies Inc., an international designer, manufacturer and supplier of a broad range of telecommunications and networking systems.

LANLine and microBridge are trademarks of Gandalf Technologies Inc. "All other registered trademarks, trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners.


Gandalf Enters Local Bridge Market
GANDALF ENTERS HIGH-SPEED LOCAL BRIDGE MARKET

LANLINE 5211 CHALLENGES TRADITIONAL MARKET BY OFFERING SIMPLE OPERATION AND EASY INSTALLATION

OTTAWA, ONT. - Aug. 27, 1993 - Gandalf Premier announces LANLine 5211, an easy to install high-speed local bridge which isolates workgroups or Ethernet segments from networks.  Isolating a workgroup limits the traffic flow over a network backbone so perfomance improvements are enjoyed by every individual user within that workgroup. LANLine 5211 offers a choice of LAN interfaces and a wire rate filtering capacity usually found only on high-end bridge products, handling easily even the most demanding application.

Priced at $895 US,LANLine 5211 is the newest member of the Gandalf Premier line of LAN bridge products, complementing LANLine 5210 workgroup microBridge, recently announced, and the fully featured and managed RISC-based LANLine 5220.  It supports up to 1024 nodes and features both AUI and BNC LAN connectors, automatic address learning and aging, and the lowest throughput delay (<1 uS) of any current product.

LANLine 5211 ships in late August, 1993.

Gandalf Premier designs products which address the dynamic needs of the computer marketplace and user demands for high performance local area networking devices.  Its products are sold through Gandalf subsidiaries and distributors worldwide.  Gandalf Premier is a division of Gandalf Technologies Inc., an international designer, manufacturer and supplier of a broad range of telecommunications and networking systems.

LANLine and microBridge are trademarks of Gandalf Technologies Inc. "All other registered trademarks, trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners.


Low Volume CD-ROM Production Services

CD Publishing Corporation is pleased to announce its flexible CD-ROM production services for quantities ranging from single units to literally tens of thousands.

Realizing the growing demand for cost-effective access to low-volume CD-ROM runs (particularly those under 1,000 discs), we have organized our processes to excel at handling these requirements.

We can produce CD's in ISO 9660 format (w/wo Rock Ridge extensions) from input media ranging from floppy, hard drive, write-once CD, tapes in various formats, to even an Internet connection!  All you need to do is submit your data in the form of a file hierarchy, and we will take care of getting it onto CD-ROM for you.

Manufacturing rates are based on quantity ordered and desired turnaround time, while costs for pre-production services are quoted on an individual basis based on your exact requirements.

Manufacturing costs are broken down into categories for pre-mastering (from US$325), mastering (US$100 to US$1900), and production (US$1.40 to US$2.25 per disc before packaging).  On an overall basis, this equates to US$1.75 to US$18.60 per packaged and shrink-wrapped CD, in quantities ranging from over 10,000 down to 50.  Standard manufacturing includes two-color screening, while other features are available at extra charges.

One-off CD production (on write-once media) is also available, with pricing dependent on quantity required and amount of data to be mastered. Prices for this service range from US$61 to US$90 per disc.

Further information on these services is available from:

        CD Publishing Corporation

        4824 Fraser Street

        Vancouver, British Columbia

        Canada   V5V 4H4

        800-333-7565 (USA)

        604-874-1430

        604-874-1431 (FAX)

        <info@CDPublishing.com>

CD Publishing prides itself on being able to handle varying size productions, from very small jobs to time critical high volume ones with the most demanding requirements.  We welcome specialized production and manufacturing requests.


Special Delivery Multimedia Authoring Tool
Special Delivery by IMC

Special Delivery is the first multimedia authoring tool that makes the creation of interactive multimedia easy.  Simple to learn and easy to use, Special Delivery integrates QuickTime movies, pictures, sound, text and PhotoCD images to create powerful and effective communication vehicles for interactive presentations, kiosks, training and education. Using Special Delivery's interactive slide metaphor and a unique graphical user interface, anyone can develop interactive multimedia without scripting languages, timelines of flowcharts.  Now you are free to concentrate on media content and the message, instead of "fighting" the authoring tool.  With Special Delivery you can even add interactivity to your slides from Persuasion or PowerPoint.  To get you started, Special Delivery includes a host of slide templates, backgrounds and button graphics.  Special Delivery comes with built-in buttons that control movies, sound and navigation.  In addition, a slide sorter and a wide variety of transitions let you create professional looking materials quickly and easily.

We're proud of Special Delivery and we think you'll be pleased with its simple and innovative approach to creating interactive multimedia. To further the use of our products, we have created a demo version which is available via AppleLink or we can mail you a copy. Try it out! We think you will like it. This Demo version will not Save or Print.  Also, when running a presentation, the product will briefly blink "Special Delivery Demo"  at the beginning of each slide.

On AppleLink you can find the demo version of Special Delivery at "Software Sampler: Third Party Demos/Updates: Software Demos: Desktop Presentations".

Or if you prefer, we will sell you a demo version of Special Delivery for $10 dollars (includes shipping and handling, reviewers guide and an application example). If you buy the demo version and choose to purchase the full product, we will give you a $10 dollar credit. To order a demo version of Special Delivery contact us by phone, AppleLink or US Mail (Addresses listed below).

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

- Macintosh with 68020 or higher CPU. This includes LC,

- Macintosh II, Performa, Centris, Quadra and Powerbook models.

- Apple System Software 7.0 or higher

- 4 Megabytes of memory

- A Hard Disk

- A color monitor is recommended

- Claris Translators (included)

- QuickTime Extension

Developed and Published by:

 Interactive Media Corporation

 P.O. Box 0089

 Los Altos, CA 94023-0089

 (415) 948-0745

 AppleLink: IMCMARKETING

 Internet : IMCMARKETING@applelink.apple.com


Scientific Word v1.1 for Windows
Announcing Scientific Word v1.1 for Windows

(Las Cruces, NM---August 3, 1993) TCI Software Research, Inc. announced the release of Scientific Word (R) version 1.1 for Windows (TM). The first version, which was released in March of 1992, has received critical acclaim for making the time-consuming task of creating and editing complex technical documents much easier. Barry Simon stated in his PC Magazine "First Looks" review (May 26, 1992) that Scientific Word "has the potential to revolutionize scientific and technical word processing" and "makes technical documents much easier to write."

Dr. Roger Hunter, president of TCI and head of the company's development efforts, states that the new version and product features currently under development "will do as much for the advancement of the mathematical sciences as did the hand-held calculator." Scientific Word is designed to address the specific requirements of scientists and engineers, whose needs have been historically neglected by the business-oriented, mass-market word processors. Scientific Word's content-based approach is beginning to be recognized as the most effective way to process and communicate information, technical or otherwise.

A Next-Generation Technical Word Processor

Scientific Word combines an extraordinary math/text interface with TeX, a mathematical typesetting language developed by the noted computer scientist Donald Knuth. Scientific Word operates as a front-end to a dialect of the TeX language called LaTeX. Many technical journals require authors to submit manuscripts in LaTeX format. An entire document can be reformatted instantly to meet the specific style requirements of a particular publication. In his review of Scientific Word in the Notices of the American Mathematical Society, J.S. Milne states that "Scientific Word does an excellent job of combining an intuitive Windows interface with the power of TeX....[and] is likely to become the scientific word processor of choice for PC users."

Based on the latest object-oriented programming technologies, Scientific Word deals with real math objects, such as fractions, matrices, brackets and radicals. These objects have specific properties and behave intelligently. For example, the program automatically centers the numerator and denominator of a fraction and expands the fraction bar as the user constructs the expression. The same holds true for brackets and radicals.  Scientific Word recognizes mathematical functions and automatically selects the correct typeface, spacing and placement of limits required by those functions. Because the objects themselves are intelligent and adjust themselves as complex expressions are constructed, the task of entering and editing mathematics is that much easier.

Unrivaled Feature Set

According to Dr. Hunter, "the find and replace feature in Scientific Word is a major improvement over the same feature found in other word processors." Most Windows-based word processors treat mathematics as graphic objects so searching for a particular expression is virtually impossible.  Because Scientific Word treats mathematics as text (fully integrated), the user can easily and quickly search for any text and/or mathematics.

Other special features offered with Scientific Word include list generation, automatic equation and section numbering, spell checking with a variety of dictionaries available, cross references, footnotes/endnotes and automatic generation of table of contents, bibliographies, citations and indices. A wide variety of pre-defined LaTeX print styles are included with Scientific Word, and it comes bundled with a complete Windows implementation of TeX and LaTeX. Technical support is free, and users who have access to the Internet or CompuServe can receive technical support via TCI's e-mail address. TCI is also compiling an e-mail mailing list so users and other interested parties can receive regular product and upgrade information.

System Requirements and Pricing

Scientific Word requires a 386-based PC (or better), Microsoft Windows 3.1 (or Windows 3.0 with Adobe Type Manager (R) and 4 MB RAM. The program lists for $595 and comes with an unconditional 30-day money-back guarantee. Quantity, multiple-user, academic, and reseller discounts are available. Registered users can upgrade to version 1.1 for $15 (special handling costs extra).

TCI Software Research, Inc., established in 1981, offers two products: The award-winning T^3 (DOS-based) scientific word-processing system and Scientific Word for Windows. Inquiries should be directed to: TCI Software Research, Inc., 1190 Foster Road, Las Cruces, NM 88001, (800) 874-2383, (505) 522-4600, or fax (505) 522-0116.


RightOn 2.1 Released
Announcing the release of RightOn 2.1!

What is RightOn?

RightOn is a Windows 3.1 utility which allows you to program your right and middle mouse buttons to behave like the keyboard sending a keystroke to an application.

In addition, not only can you can set up your right and middle buttons simulate a keystroke, and you can also make those unused mouse buttons simulate a left-button double-click, which is often handy for launching icons or closing windows.

What's new in version 2.1?

 *  Clicking right mouse button in the title bar of a

    non-excluded application sends the window to the

    bottom of the window stack. Useful for looking at

    windows behind the window on top, without having

    minimize an application or take your hand off the mouse.

 *  Ability to exclude the Windows Desktop.

 *  RightOn is no longer sensitive to extra blanks when

    specifying applications to exclude.

 *  Left-mouse double-clicks work more consistently.

More info on RightOn 2.1:

More extensive documentation of how RightOn runs and how to get the most out of it  are in the online Windows help file.  Just select "Help..." from the system menu.

Registration:

RightOn is shareware, and registrations are only $15. In addition to supporting innovative shareware development, your registration will entitle you to free upgrades as they become available.

Steve McCarthy

6707 39th SW

Seattle, WA 98136 USA

Internet E-mail:     smccrew@hebron.connected.com

Phone:               (206) 932-3351


HIPPIX UNIX Integration Tols for MS Windows NT
New Version of HIPPIX(TM) Supports Windows NT(TM)

August 22, 1993 (Salt Lake City, UT) - Hippo Software today announced a new version of its UNIX(R) integration tools for Microsoft Windows NT(TM).

HIPPIX provides a library that supports over 90% of the functions of the POSIX 1003.1 API. These functions differ from the POSIX implementation provided in Windows NT in that they can be used with calls to the Win32 subsystem. Applications that use the HIPPIX library are source code compatible with POSIX compliant UNIX systems.

Also available is a suite of over 100 UNIX utilities, including SH, VI, AWK, GREP, MAN, MAKE, LEX, YACC, and the RCS revision control system.  All HIPPIX utilities are implemented using the more than 150 functions supplied in the library.

Hippo Software does not require any royalty or runtime licensing fees, so developers may freely distribute the HIPPIX Shared Library (DLL) with their applications.

Pricing and Availability

HIPPIX is priced at $79 for the libraries, and $79 for the utilities. If you order them together, the price is $109. The Beta version is available immediately; purchasing the Beta automatically entitles you to a free upgrade when the final release is made (6-8 weeks).

For More Information:

For further information on HIPPIX, contact Hippo Software at 72360,2675 on Compuserve, or from the Internet use hippix-info@hippo.com.

 Hippo Software, Inc.

 448 East 400 South, Suite 303, Salt Lake City, UT  84111

 (801) 531-1004 * (801) 531-1302 FAX


Travel Points of Interest, Version 2
Facts Online releases Version 2 of their Travel Points of Interest software with many improvements, including:

UPDATED LISTINGS. Many of the listings have changed telephone numbers, new addresses, etc.

FASTER. The file handling is completely different, resulting in much faster loading and searching.

EASIER.  The whole program is totally written in a better language. You get command buttons and list boxes for less typing and clearer operation.

BETTER SEARCHES.  You get all the advantages of searching with latitude and longitude; yet it is free from graphy hassles. Now you pick from hundreds of cities and select the distance you want from the city's center. The software invisibly determines the coordinates and finds places. This works even if the points of interest are in a different city or state. In addition, you can search by state and the entire U.S.A.

Check your favorite BBS or online service for a copy of the shareware version. Registration is $25 + $4 s&h (in California, add sales tax).

Facts Online

PO Box 99367, San Diego, CA 92109

619-483-5393,  fax 619-483-0107


Reminder, We Post What We Get When We Get It!
This is just a quick reminder to those reading our electronic distribution of PC and Macintosh industry news...

We typically process and distribute all news received within one to three days of receipt. Each article includes the full text of the original press release as provided directly by the company, author, or representative public relations firm. We include the article's original release date so you can gauge the relative "newness" of the information. Our online news areas on America Online, Delphi, PC-Link and other services also include the date the article was actually posted online within the article heading information.

From time to time we do get occasional information that is somewhat old by the time it's received but in most cases we generally still process that information and include it with the normal news flow. A case in point is the recent batch of computer and video game information just received from Electronic Arts and their affiliated labels distribution program. The material was received in early September even though it was officially released at CES some months ago. Our feeling is that the information is still valid and worth processing even though it was late getting to us. If you disagree, please let us know.

By the way, don't forget that monthly news archive files are generated at the end of every month and are available for downloading from our online areas. The same archive files are generally available from various Internet archive sites within one to two weeks following that. We also offer a subscription service for news archives on disk for those that have asked.

Robert Baker, President

BAKER ENTERPRISES


AGE Ships Eval Kits for ATX X Window Swr
AGE SHIPS EVALUATION KITS FOR XOFTWARE ATX X WINDOW SOFTWARE SYSTEM FOR EMBEDDED APPLICATIONS

SAN DIEGO, CA, September 7, 1993 -- AGE Logic, Inc. has announced the availability of packaged evaluation kits for its new XoftWare ATX (Advanced Technology Software) X Window software system, which includes a multitasking executive, the XoftWare X11R5 server and X libraries, selected local clients, XoftNet communications software, XoftBoot ROM-based boot software, configuration software and utilities.

Evaluation kits are currently available to run on LSI LR33020 RacerX Development Hardware. XoftWare ATX currently is available for MIPS-based microprocessors, Intel i960, AMD29K, TI34020 Series and Motorola 88K microprocessors.

"XoftWare ATX is an advanced X Window software solution for the embedded application developer or X terminal manufacturer to build an MIT X11R5-based system that can be optimized for the selected microprocessor and specific display hardware," explained Peter J. Shaw, president and CEO of AGE.

"AGE's objective is to provide as comprehensive a range of X Window software tools as possible. XoftWare ATX is another important offering in our program for developing strong strategic alliances with display manufacturers and embedded applications developers," said Shaw.

XoftWare ATX provides the complete X11R5 server with extensions, an embedded multitasking executive that has been optimized for a wide range of microprocessor families, dynamic downloading of local clients, high performance XoftNet networking software, local Window Manager support, local client support, and local terminal emulation. In addition, XoftWare ATX provides re-entrant libc and X libraries, optional X extensions, and has been designed for easy configuration to support a full range of X terminals and embedded applications.

XoftNet is AGE's implementation of the Internet protocols necessary to handle the unique requirements of X Window server software. Included are basic protocols ARP, IP, UDP, TCP, ICMP, and SL/IP. In addition, NFS Client, TFTP and Telnet network applications are supported, as well as SNMP, DNS, and BOOTP network services. The SNMP agent is MIB-II compliant in accordance with RFC 1213.

An NFS client that allows the X server and local clients to access files from any NFS server on the network is also incorporated into XoftWare ATX. A simplified Ethernet driver, nvram, and video for booting ATX from a network host is included as well. A XoftWare ATX processor may serve as a console for host booting and running diagnostic through its terminal emulation capability, operating as a simple ASCII terminal through the serial line.

AGE expects to announce a packaged XoftWare ATX Software Developer's Kit that includes all the code and documentation required to support X Windows for embedded applications. Users of the developer's kit will be required to obtain the appropriate compilers and tools for the selected microprocessor from the silicon vendor or appropriate third party sources.

AGE Logic, Inc., a privately owned corporation founded in 1984, is a supplier of X Window System software that enables PCs, terminals, workstations and embedded systems to access X applications residing on Unix-based hosts. AGE has alliances with major silicon, terminal, and workstation companies to develop highly optimized, hardware-specific X servers tailored to their specifications. Marketed under the XoftWare brand name, AGE offers a full family of PC packaged products for distributors/resellers, systems integrators and OEMs, as well as customized embedded X products for the world's leading terminal, computer and systems companies. These XoftWare packaged products support industry standards such as Microsoft Windows, Windows NT, DOS, and various PC Unix operating environments.

AGE Logic, Inc.

9985 Pacific Heights Blvd, San Diego, CA 92121

(619) 455-8600,   FAX (619) 597-6030


Award of Navy NAVFAC CAD 2 Contracts

HUNTSVILLE, Ala., August 31, 1993 -- Intergraph Corporation (NASDAQ: INGR) today announced that the Navy Information Technology Acquisition Center has awarded NAVFAC CAD 2 contracts to Intergraph Corporation of Huntsville, AL and to Cordant Incorporated of Reston, VA, in support of the Naval Facilities Engineering Command. The 12 year contracts, awarded on August 30, 1993, have a duration of 8 years for purchase and an additional 4 years for maintenance, training and support services.

Under these awards, the contractors will compete against each other for government business. Each contract has a guaranteed minimum of $1 million over it's life, however, the total obligation against both contracts may not exceed the approved Delegation of Procurement Authority of $550 million.

These contracts will be used to fulfill facility engineering requirements for computer-aided design and drafting (CADD), geographic information systems (GIS) and computer-aided facility management for the Navy as well as other DOD and civilian agencies with a facilities engineering mission. The contracts are mandatory for the Navy for facilities engineering requirements and optional for other agencies.

Intergraph

Huntsville, Alabama 35894-0014

Phone: (205) 730-8877,   Fax: (205) 730-8300


Sigma Designs & Pixel Joint Dev Agreement
SIGMA DESIGNS ENTERS INTO JOINT DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH PIXEL TRANSLATIONS

Announces availability of high level, Advanced Imaging Manager (AIM) ToolRit

FREMONT, Calif., August 26, 1993 -- Sigma Designs, Inc. (NASDAQ--SIGM) today announced that it has entered into a joint development agreement with Pixel Translations, a leading provider of image display, image printing and image compression and decompression tools.

Under the terms of the agreement, Sigma Designs and Pixel Translations will jointly make available a high level API (Application Programming Interface) for developers using Sigma's imaging display controller products. The new API, Advanced Imaging Manager (AIM), provides an image management library and a set of development tools for applications developers. The API allows Windows 3.x developers access to an array of accelerated display and printing image enhancement routines, resulting in substantially improved performance in document imaging applications.

"We are extremely happy to be partnering with Pixel Translations to deliver a complete, high level development kit for imaging processionals and developers," said David Rose, group manager, imaging products at Sigma Designs.

"The combination of Pixel Translations' image management techniques with Sigma's hardware delivers the fastest and most powerful display products in terms of resolution, performance and developer support," continued Rose.

Based on existing technology from Pixel Translations, AIM offers new extensions beyond Pixel Translations' standard image display product including special support for Sigma's display controller hardware and support for Sigma's direct image print capability. AIM also provides advanced image caching for the best available image flip rates and capabilities for scaling, rotation, scale-to-gray, scrolling, and decompression of images.

"Sigma Designs offers a full line of outstanding products for the imaging display market," said Steve Francis, vice president of marketing at Pixel Translations. "By developing an API with Sigma Designs, we are offering imaging developers an interface which works with Sigma's products, but also supports a variety of other peripherals."

Sigma Designs will be integrating AIM technology into all of its existing products as well as many of its new, high-performance imaging display systems. Supporting extremely high resolutions and refresh rates, Sigma products offer display solutions for both color and monochrome/grayscale systems. Sigma's new product offerings, the WinMach 1600XP and MultiMode 200XP, also feature hardware-based document image compression, decompression, rotation, and scaling capabilities, providing the most robust features and capabilities for complex document imaging applications.

Demonstrating Sigma's commitment to customer service and support, Sigma will be offering a comprehensive program for developers taking advantage of their new AIM toolkit. The program includes thorough technical support by Sigma and Pixel Translations' development staff, expanded toolkits, evaluation equipment, and incentives for rapid implementation. The AIM toolkit is available for immediate shipment to document imaging application developers.

Developers can also be secure in the knowledge that by writing to the AIM API, all supported imaging display functions are implemented across the entire Sigma product line, thereby ensuring continuing support of Sigma's evolving family of imaging products. Additionally, application developers minimize recurring engineering costs by writing to a single API with universal product line support and expandability.

Pixel Translations is the leading worldwide provider of integrated development tools for scanner control, image display and printing, and image de/compression. It has supplied scanner and image management tools to leaders in the OCR, PC facsimile, and document management markets for over three years. The company was founded and is staffed by experienced imaging professionals. Pixel's offices are in San Jose, Calif., from which it serves customers around the world.

Sigma Designs, headquartered in Fremont, Calif., is a leading manufacturer of high resolution color, grayscale and monochrome display systems, as well as multimedia and video display adapters. Products are available for both IBM PC and Macintosh compatible computers and are designed for end-user productivity and comfort. All Sigma products are sold worldwide through a network of dealers and distributors. For sales information, customers may call 1-800-845-8086 or 510-770-0100.

Sigma Designs Inc

47900 Bayside Parkway, Fremont, CA 94538

510-770-0100,  fax 510-770-2640


KeyStone Adds 7 New Video Titles
KEYSTONE ADDS SEVEN NEW VIDEO TITLES

Provo, Utah- Building on the unparalleled success of their earlier training videos, KeyStone Learning Systems today announced the addition of seven new titles to their family of Microsoft Windows application instructional videos. Learning Access, PowerPoint 3.0, Project 3.0, Windows for Workgroups, Mail, FoxPro 2.5 and DOS & Windows Basics, join other Watch & Learn Series videos: Windows 3.1, Excel 4.0, Word 2.0, in providing companies and individuals with quality, personal training at an affordable price.

KeyStone's approach, unique in the industry, is to provide step-by-step instruction by professional, qualified software trainers, who specialize in teaching people software applications on a day to day basis. These specialist normally charge hundreds of dollars per person to give the same training which is now available on video tape. The videos are not intimidating to new users, and are designed to give even the experienced user new insight into specific program complexities. There are two or more videos of 90 to 120 minutes duration each, to teach each Windows application. Priced, reasonably, between $49.95 and $99.95, special set pricing is also available. KeyStone provides customer satisfaction with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Order today by calling KeyStone Learning Systems at 1-800-748-4838.

KeyStone Learning Systems Corp

125 East 300 South, Suite 205, Provo, UT 84606

800-748-4838,  801-375-8680


SalesLink for Windows Development Kit
SalesLink for Windows/Development Kit Lets Users Build Customized Sales Force Automation Solutions

Schaumburg, IL, September 3 - SalesLink Systems today announced its SalesLink for Windows Development KIT, a software and services "bundle" that easily enables end user companies to build customized, Windows-based sales force automation systems.

SalesLink for Windows Development Kit includes an unlimited-user source-code license for the generic SalesLink software, the SalesLink Toolkit for customizing the software, and a 200-hour package of services from SalesLink Systems including consulting, system design and documentation development.

Based on introductory pricing available through December 1,1993, companies may elect to buy the SalesLink for Windows Development Kit at a bundled price of $34,995 including all software and services, or may choose to purchase the SalesLink source code license and Toolkit for $22,995, then pay by the hour for SalesLink's consulting and other services.

SalesLink Systems also will offer the Development KIT to VARs and OEMs on a license-plus-royalty basis.

SalesLink for Windows, optimized for use as a "client" in various client/server computing environments, enables users to create a variety of customized sales process reports, including call reports, sales forecast reports and Competitive Action Analysis outcome reports. It also facilitates the easy flow of information between field users and their managers, who can aggregate and analyze held user reports through a customized companion product, SalesLink for Windows Manages Edition.

SalesLink for Windows also features a variety of customizable time- and territory management tools, including a graphical calendar, phone lists, to-do lists and notebook. At the heart of the system is a fully relational database of customer and contact profile records.

"SalesLink for Windows Development Kit represents an important evolution from our original focus on developing comprehensive, customized solutions for large sales forces," said SalesLink Systems President William N. Holmes. "Many companies traditionally have fulfilled their information systems requirements on the basis of 'make-vs.-buy' analyses. The SalesLink for Windows Development KIT recognizes that today's sophisticated company increasingly is seeking a third alternative - self-sufficiency through a collaborative effort between its internal I.S. staff and an outside vendor.

"The approach we offer in the SalesLink for Windows/Development Kit provides affordable access to our proven technology and methodology, rapid development of customizable systems through the Toolkit, and a variety of important support services from SalesLink Systems," Holmes asserted.

SalesLink Systems is a unit of The Strategic Marketing Group (SMG), founded in 1988 to provide information systems and consulting services that increase sales force productivity. SMG formed SalesLink Systems in 1990 to develop and market customized sales force automation solutions for companies engaged in business-to-business selling of products or services characterized by a complex, information-intensive selling process.

SalesLink for Windows, with an installed base of nearly 1,000 users, is in use at several major companies, including Ameritech Information Systems and American Airlines SABRE Travel Information Network.

SalesLink for Windows uniquely and conveniently captures the outcome of every competitive selling opportunity and the reasons for those outcomes, and facilitates the graphical analysis of the aggregated information, a process SalesLink Systems describes as "deriving knowledge from information."

For more information, please contact SalesLink Systems, 1515 Woodfield Rd., Suite 660, Schaumburg, IL 60173, 708/517-1100.


Matlab Conference Oct 18-20
THE MATHWORKS TO HOLD WORLDWIDE MATLAB CONFERENCE OCTOBER 18-20

NATICK, Mass. Aug. 25, 1993 - The MathWorks, Inc. will hold its first worldwide technical conference for users of MATLAB and related products in Cambridge, Mass., Oct. 18-20. The three-day meeting will feature renowned experts in mathematics, science and engineering presenting more than 150 papers identifying innovative uses of MATLAB, SIMULINK and the family of related toolboxes.

The MathWorks' executives will also discuss future technical directions of its product lines, and solicit comments and suggestions from users at the conference. Sneak previews of new MATLAB products, upgrades and work-in-progress are expected to be among the conference's technical highlights.

This is the first time The MathWorks has sponsored a public forum for its 140,000 users to exchange ideas and information for the MATLAB technical computing environment. A portion of the extensive list of industry applications to be discussed Includes: Chemical Engineering, Education, Fluid Dynamics, Fuzzy Logic, Image Processing, Neural Networks, Robust Control, Signal Processing, Simulation, and Software Development.

Over 150 presentations will describe specific applications of MATLAB, including: "Innovative uses of MATLAB Related to Medical Imaging and Image Analysis," by Tom Medl, Sverdrup Technology; "Using MATLAB for Monitoring and Debugging of Embedded Real-Time Control Systems," by Klas Nilsson, Lund Institute of Technology, and "Engineering Education," by Deroles Etter, University of Colorado.

Technical application sessions and teaching laboratories will provide users with time-saving tips for performing complex tasks and offer first-hand looks at new and recently-released products. Attendees will be invited to test recently released MATLAB 4.0, which includes powerful object-oriented graphics, enhanced 3-D scientific visualization, new language features, debugging tools, sound and animation.

A focal point of the conference will be "The MATLAB Lab," a resource area available to attendees interested in receiving assistance from the technical support and engineering staffs. Users can bring applications they have created using MATLAB. By sharing and exchanging their MATLAB files, attendees can acquire useful new tools to enhance their own technical computing activities.

Registration

The 1993 MATLAB conference will be held at The Hyatt Regency Cambridge, in Cambridge, Mass. Registration is $395 for users from commercial sites, $295 for users from educational institutions, and $75 for full-time students. Group discounts are also available. Attendees are invited to attend a private evening reception at the Boston Computer Museum. To register, please call J.R. Schuman Associates, at (617) 235-6373, or write: 1993 MATLAB Conference, 316 Washington St., P.O. Box 81220, Wellesley, MA 02181-0002.

MATLAB is the most powerful technical computing environment on the market today. It provides numeric computation software, a 4GL programming language, graphics and application-specific toolboxes that allow users to analyze and visualize data, analyze and optimize engineering systems designs and algorithms, and create mathematical models.

The MathWorks Inc., based in Natick, Mass., develops, markets and supports high-performance software for interactive numerical computation, visualization and dynamic system simulations. The MathWorks' products are relied upon by more than 140,000 users at the world's leading commercial and government research laboratories and organizations, and educational institutions.


Designer's Guide to Single Board Computers
New "Designer's Guide to Single Board Computers and Flat Panel Systems"

Sept 7, 1993 -- Greer, SC . . . Computer Dynamics announces the release of its new 32-page "Designer's Guide to Single Board Computers and Flat Panel Systems." This 1993 full-line catalog, featuring many new products, includes complete descriptions, photos and specifications of Computer Dynamics' line of "Incredibly Embeddable", 100% PC-compatible single board computers. They range in processor power from the 8088 through the 486DX2.

Also included are Computer Dynamics' flat panel display systems, featuring the "DisplayPacs." DisplayPacs combine a variety of flat panel displays (color and mono LCD, EL) and touchscreens with their single board computers to form powerful, compact operator interface systems. Other flat panel products include the VAMP (a combination color LCD and touchscreen that plugs into any standard VGA analog output), and the FP-Kit (like the VAMP with a PC bus flat panel driver card.)

The "Designer's Guide" also features information on software development tools for ROMed applications and touchscreen implementation, development systems, expansion boards, and Computer Dynamics' new PCMCIA interface boards. A line of accessories completes the catalog.

The "Designer's Guide to Single Board Computers and Flat Panel Systems" is available free from the manufacturer: Computer Dynamics, 107 S. Main Street, Greer, SC 29650. Phone 803-877-8700, Fax 803-879-2030.


Postman's Sort Ported to Windows
Worlds Fastest Sorting Program is Ported to Windows.

SANTA BARBARA. CALIFORNIA -- Robert Ramey Software Development version 2.23 of the Postman's Sort for Microsoft Windows.

Windows users and developers with the need to sort large amounts of data can now use the worlds fastest known sorting program. The Postman's Sort Developer's Kit includes a standalone sorting program as well as a Windows DLL that can be incorporated in user applications.

Sorting is the ordering of records within a file by date, name, zip code, account or some other piece of data. It is used by almost all commercial applications such as preparing bank statements, accounting reports, mailing lists, phone books, etc. and is an integral part of all data base systems.

It is widely believed that the time required to sort records in a file must increase disproportionately to size of the file. An article in August '92 C Users Journal demonstrated a sorting program for which the sorting time would be strictly proportional to the file size. The Postman's Sort for Windows implements this program in the Windows Environment.

The program is called the Postman's Sort a method of sorting records similar to that used by post offices.

Robert Ramey Software Development

3949 1/2 Foothill Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93110

805-569-3793


Postman's Sort Ported to OS/2
Worlds Fastest Sorting Program is Ported to OS/2.

SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA -- Robert Ramey Software Development version 2.23 of the Postman's Sort for Microsoft OS/2.

OS/2 users and developers with the need to sort large amounts of data can now use the worlds fastest known sorting program. The program operates in the OS/2 command line environment as is functionally identical to its DOS relative.

This means that end users and developers can use the same high performance across DOS, WINDOWS, and OS/2 with little or no changes in functionality or usage. The standard Postman's Sort Developer's Kit included all three versions.

Sorting is the ordering of records within a file by date, name, zip code, account or some other piece of data. It is used by almost all commercial applications such as preparing bank statements, accounting reports, mailing lists, phone books, etc. and is an integral part of all data base systems.

It is widely believed that the time required to sort records in a file must increase disproportionately to size of the file. An article in August '92 C Users Journal demonstrated a sorting program for which the sorting time would be strictly proportional to the file size. The Postman's Sort for OS/2 implements this program in the OS/2 Environment.

The program is called the Postman's Sort because it uses a method of sorting records similar to that used by post offices.

Robert Ramey Software Development

3949 1/2 Foothill Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93110

805-569-3793


Postman's Sort Doubles Sorting Speed Again
New Computer Program Doubles Sorting Speed - Again

SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA -- Robert Ramey Software Development announced version 2.23 of the Postman's Sort. This version uses 32 bit instructions to run twice as fast as previous versions.

The Postman's Sort has recently been incorporated into the Flagship product of a major SQL vendor. Response to SQL queries requiring sorting are TEN times faster than with the previous system.

One customer reported the following results when sorting a 100,000 record file consisting of 15 byte records.

Psort386   18 seconds

Psort      56 seconds

Foxpro     95 seconds

Clipper   313 seconds

Dbase     504 seconds

The test was conducted on an PC compatible with a '486 running at 33 Megahertz with no disk caching enabled.

Sorting is the ordering of records within a file by date, name, zip code, account or some other piece of data. It is used by almost all commercial applications such as preparing bank statements, accounting reports, mailing lists, phone books, etc. and is an integral part of all data base systems.

The program is called the Postman's Sort because it uses a method of sorting records similar to that used by post offices. Until now, computer sorting has been done by comparing records two at a time. The time required to sort records increased disproportionately to the number of records to be sorted. For most files, the time required to sort records using the Postman Sort is strictly proportional to tho number of records in the file.

Robert Ramey Software Development

3949 1/2 Foothill Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93110

805-569-3793


Nintendo & Silicon Graphics - 3D Game Machines
Nintendo and Silicon Graphics will collaborate to develop a 64-bit chip set for a new 3D-game console targeted to sell for under $250. The joint agreement couples the game expertise of Nintendo and the visual computing technologies of Silicon Graphics. Together, they will produce Reality Immersion Technology (RIT) to allow players to step inside real-time 3D worlds. At the heart of the system will be the MIPS Multimedia Engine chip set - a 64-bit MISP RISC microprocessor, a graphics coprocessor, and one or more custom chips. The chip set's computing power will exceed the throughput of most workstations. The graphics subsystem also matches most moderate-performance workstations. It handles 24-bit color images and generates more than 100,000 polygons per second while performing real-time antialiased 3D texture mapping to produce realistic graphic images. The set will also handle CD-quality audio and provide video resolution better than the NTSC or PAL standards used in television. The technology's first implementation will debut in 1994 as an arcade-style game, and is expected in a home game consolr by late 1995.


Free 1994 National Instruments Catalog
Free 1994 Catalog Describes Software and Hardware Products for PC/XT/AT, PS/2, and EISA-based Instrumentation Systems

September 1, 1993 -- Austin, TX - National Instruments announced that its new 528-page, full-color 1994 catalog is now available. The free catalog describes software and hardware products that engineers and scientists use to develop integrated measurement and instrumentation systems based on PC/XT/AT, PS/2, EISA, and other computer platforms.

The 1994 catalog is color-coded into five sections - Instrumentation Software, GPIB, Data Acquisition, VXI/MXI, and Customer Education. The first four sections feature comprehensive tutorials, complete with application examples, to help readers learn more about IEEE 488.2, SCPI, plug-in data acquisition (DAQ) systems, signal conditioning accessories, digital signal processing (DSP), VXI, and MXI. Complete ordering, pricing, and warranty information is also included. The catalog has been redesigned so users can more easily find technical specifications of the company's hardware and software products. Also new to the 1994 catalog is a page summarizing the company's OEM programs and policies. In addition, the catalog contains listings of application notes, demo disks, and free software tools that help users build PC-based instrumentation systems. A convenient reply card is included for easy ordering of these items.

New products highlighted include multiplatform versions of LabWindows/CVI and LabVIEW application software; updates to the NI-488.2, NI-DAQ, and NI-VXI driver-level software; GPIB controller interfaces; a PCMCIA GPIB interface; PCMCIA data acquisition hardware; and SCXI signal conditioning modules and accessories.

Target Applications

National Instruments products are used in applications requiring the measurement, monitoring, or control of any type of physical phenomena. Typical applications include laboratory automation, automated test, process monitoring and control, factory automation, applied chemistry, educational instruction and research, medical research, and motion control.

To request copies of the free catalog or for product information, please contact National Instruments, 6504 Bridge Point Parkway, Austin, TX 78730-5039, (512) 794-0100, or call toll free in the U.S. and Canada at (800) 433-3488. Fax: (512) 794-8411.


Tektronix Endorses NI-VXI Standardized VXIbus
Tektronix Endorses NI-VXI Standardized VXIbus Interface From National Instruments

August 1, 1993 -- Austin, TX -- As part of an alliance formed between National Instruments and Tektronix, Inc. to develop, market and sell a new line of integrated test and measurement systems, Tektronix today announced its endorsement of the National Instruments standardized VXIbus interface software, NI-VXI.

Tektronix and National Instruments have also committed to developing an evolving open software standard that will function as a superset of the NI-VXI software. As an extension of the Open Measurement Solutions (OMS) alliance and future Systems Integration Services and products, both companies will help develop this standard as an open industry standard.

VXI Software Compatibility

This endorsement of the NI-VXI standard will establish software compatibility across controllers from different vendors protecting the software investment for both users and vendors. Currently NI-VXI compatibility extends across 30 platforms including embedded and MXI-equipped computers.

Tektronix plans to use NI-VXI in its future VXI embedded controller products to give Tektronix VXI users increased VXI functionality and compatibility with the National Instruments line of embedded computers and high-speed MXIbus products. A major factor in this strategy is the depth of the NI-VXI software.

NI-VXI: Software for VXIbus Systems

NI-VXI is the basis for Resource Manager software, interactive VXI Resource Editors, tools for interacting with and debugging the backplane and devices, and comprehensive libraries of software routines for programming VXI.

In addition to supporting the National Instruments MXI and embedded controllers, all programs developed using this software standard will be source-code compatible with many other VXI controller platforms. These platforms include the VXIpc-486 family of embedded controllers from National Instruments and a range of MXI-equipped computers running a variety of operating systems including DOS, Windows, Windows NT, Macintosh OS, OS/2, SunOS, Solaris, ISC 386/ix, AIX, ULTRIX, SCO UNIX, AT&T UNIX, VxWorks and LynxOS.

OMS: A Strategic Alliance

OMS represents a strategic alliance formed in September 1992 between National Instruments Corporation, Sun Microsystems Computer Corporation and Tektronix, Inc. to develop, market and sell a new line of integrated test and measurement systems based on industry-standard products. By joining forces, the partners offer customers the most comprehensive, yet open and flexible, test and measurement solutions in the industry. Unlike products from other vendors, these systems can be linked easily to equipment from other companies to ensure users will not be locked into single-vendor solutions and that systems can be easily expanded to meet future needs.

About the Companies

National Instruments, headquartered in Austin, Texas for 17 years, manufactures LabVIEW and LabWindows software, along with hardware interface products used by engineers and scientists to build integrated instrument systems using industry-standard personal computers and workstations.

Tektronix is a leading manufacturer of electronic products and systems with positions of market leadership in test and measurement, computer graphics and television systems. Revenues in fiscal 1992 totaled $1.3 billion, of which approximately one-half were in Test and Measurement. The Company employed 10,191 people at the end of its most recent fiscal quarter. Tektronix is headquartered in Wilsonville, Oregon and has operations worldwide.

National Instruments Inc

6504 Bridge Point Parkway

Austin, TX 78730-5039

512-794-0100,  800-433-3488,  fax 512-794-8411


Microsoft Selects NetSoft 3270 Applet Provider
Microsoft Selects NetSoft as 3270 Applet Provider.

NetSoft's New 3270 Applet Well Received by 700 Beta Users of SNA Server for Windows NT.

LAGUNA HILLS, CA, September 8, 1993 -- NetSoft reported today that its new 3270 PC-to-host emulation applet has been well received by the 700 beta users of Microsoft's SNA Server for Windows NT. NetSoft also announced that it has been selected by Microsoft as a strategic software development partner to provide key software technology for the SNA Server.

Microsoft's SNA Server provides Windows and Windows NT users with seamless access to IBM mainframes. The 3270 applet is a specially-designed, simplified, 3270 emulator bundled by Microsoft with the SNA Server for the next six months. Developed by NetSoft, the 3270 applet provides 3270 emulation services for both 16-bit Windows and 32-bit Windows NT clients connected to the SNA Server. The applet emulates an IBM 3278 display station, supporting one host session, Windows copy and paste functions, and host file transfer facilities.

"We feel that Microsoft's SNA Server will emerge as a very important piece of the SNA enterprise networking system," said Raymond Chan, NetSoft's vice president of business development. "Up to 90% of installed SNA Servers for Windows NT will connect to IBM mainframes. We believe that our 3270 applet will provide Windows and Windows NT users with an excellent connectivity solution."

"NetSoft has proven to be an outstanding working partner," said Vesa Suomalainen, Microsoft's product line manager for IBM connectivity. "Microsoft increasingly wants to work with partners who complement our work. Our relationship with NetSoft is a prime example of this. We chose NetSoft because of their extensive SNA and Windows experience."

In related news, NetSoft disclosed that its future product plans involve a number of new connectivity products for both Windows and Windows NT. "We will be announcing a full-capability 3270 emulator for Windows NT in the near future," said Gene Ousey, NetSoft's product line manager for PC-to-mainframe products. "This new product, coupled with our existing Windows solutions for 3270 PC-to-mainframe and 5250 PC-to-AS/400 access, will provide ideal upgrade paths for Windows users who like the 3270 applet in SNA Server, but want to move up to more feature-rich connectivity packages."

Founded in 1980, NetSoft is an industry pioneer in PC-to-host technology. The company was the first to develop an asynchronous connectivity solution for Windows-to-mainframe access, and the first to develop a Windows-to-AS/400 solution that eliminates the need for IBM's PC Support/400 software.

NetSoft recently unveiled its third-generation New Systems (NS/) technology, and introduced its first NS product, the NS/Router. The NS/Router is the first Windows-based APPC client/server protocol engine for PC-to-AS/400 access across LANs and WANs.

NetSoft (formerly Network Software Associates) offers a comprehensive family of PC-to-host products, including 3270, 5250, APPC, RJE and LU0 connectivity solutions for MS-DOS, Windows and Windows NT. NetSoft is headquartered at 39 Argonaut, Laguna Hills, CA 92656. Phone: (714) 768-4013 or (800) 352-3270.


Computer Athlete
Find out how America will stay fit in this age of home computers and learn how your existing exercise equipment can easily and inexpensively be converted into a high-tech fitness entertainment center that interacts with your PC. The dilemma of the once-boring and monotonous cardiovascular workout has FINALLY been solved!

Imagine that while exercising you are projected into a virtual reality computer game where your motions directly correspond with your video athlete. The "thrill of competition" inspires you to race with other bikers, skiers, rowers, runners and even robot steppers. Along the way, you score points as you dodge hazards, pass menacing characters and wipe-out your competitors; the crashes are hilarious! And with every 1,000 points, your video athlete advances to another world that's designed to please and amuse you. As you can tell, cardiovascular exercise has never been so much fun!

With the Computer Athlete, your ordinary fitness equipment will evolve into state-of-the-art exercise stations by linking them to IBM compatible PCs. The easily attachable velcro button controls and the infra-red light sensor makes the Computer Athlete universally adaptable to all exercise bikes, stair-steppers, treadmills, cross-country and rowing machines. The left and right buttons allow you to navigate in the game while the light beam monitors how fast you travel down a winding road, ski over a snowy path, or row on open waters.

The software, appropriately titled ExerCitement!, is included with your Computer Athlete. It features five different games that turn seemingly endless minutes of exercise into a fun-filled adventure. The ExerCitement! program runs directly off the floppy disk which makes it simple to operate. Just power on the PC and you're ready to go. The various skill levels makes this arcade-style fitness program sophisticated enough to challenge the abilities of every player. And, with new Computer Athlete games being constantly developed, every Computer Athlete owner can continue to enjoy the most modern fitness entertainment centers available!

The Computer Athlete has received rave reviews by computer magazines, health dubs, rehabilitation centers, office fitness centers, and homes! Special factory-direct pricing is currently possible at $159.95 by contacting Computer Athlete, Inc., at 1-800-860-4506.

Computer Athlete Inc

5193 Betonywood Place, Dublin, OH 43017


DinoSource Educational Multimedia Package
September 7, 1993 (Lake Ariel, PA) Westwind Media, a brand new educational multimedia company, is pleased to announce the release of the company' s flagship product, DinoSource, for both Macintosh and MPC computers, marking the beginning of a new generation in interactive media.

Unlike any other dinosaur product currently available, DinoSource is more than a database of dinosaur facts. Instead, this program combines an extensive narrated database with highly interactive game sections. Kids have the opportunity to become paleontologists, rappelling down cliff faces and using digging tools to unearth and identify their very own dinosaurs. The program also includes Dinosaur Dilemma, a "game show" where kids answer dinosaur-related questions, all randomly selected for each game. A huge on-line glossary and help system makes the program easy for dinosaur fans of all ages, and the narration and music add interest to an already exciting subject.

Westwind Media was founded by a group of gifted programmers, artists, and writers from some of the best known software companies around. They migrated to rural Pennsylvania to create an artists' collective dedicated to the creation of the absolute best in multimedia productions. Future releases will include Tales of The Wild Zeep, a zany interactive storybook about a creature who defies gravity, Hilda Drampit, and the Other Thing. Also coming soon are the Heroic Tales Series, where the myths of the world take shape in imaginative retellings with lavish graphics and animations, and Whales & Dolphins, exploring the anatomy, behavior, and environment of these lovable sea mammals. For a free catalog of these and other ground-breaking titles, call 1(800) WEST-555.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Westwind Media's DinoSource

Learn about the Giants of the Past using the technology of the future!

Kids of all ages can explore the exciting world of dinosaurs with Westwind Media's premiere release, DinoSource. Depart from the traditional encyclopedias on disc and try the Dinosaur Dig, an interactive simulation in which budding young paleontologists fly to Raptor Ridge in a 3-D helicopter to excavate dinosaur fossils! Kids rappel down the cliff face to one of three levels and use deductive logic and authentic tools to unearth these prehistoric creatures from the depths and identify their fossilized remains.

In Dinosaur Dilemma, a fun, highly interactive game show, users put their knowledge of dinosaurs to the test. Play alone, or compete against your friends. Hundreds of randomly drawn questions guarantee a new game each time !

In the extensive Dinosaur Database, more than 200 dinosaurs come alive through sound, animation, original illustrations, and fully narrated text. This full-featured dinosaur resource is accurate through mid-1993, including dinosaurs discovered just a few months ago!

* Over 200 Dinosaurs and their Vital Statistics!

* Fact or Fiction section covering Dinosaur Myths and

  Extinction Theories!

* All Original Art and Animation!

* Nearly 3 hours of Narration, Music, and Sound Effects!

* On-Line Help Screens and Glossary!

* 5 CD-Audio Tracks of Original Music Playable on Any Home

  CD player!

Available NOW for Mac or IBM / PC CD-ROM!

FOR A FREE CATALOG, CALL 1-800-937-8555

DinoSource is clearly the best educational dinosaur program available. Because it combines the vast resource of information in the Dinosaur Database with the fun and interaction found in the Dinosaur Dig and Dinosaur Dilemma, it is as entertaining as it is educational ! It just doesn't get more interactive--or FUN ! Discover the past with the technology of the future!

System Requirements:

Macintosh: 2MB free RAM, CD-ROM drive, 8-bit color, System 7.0

IBM/PC: 2MB free RAM, CD-ROM drive, VGA+ (256-color) display, Windows 3.1, and a mouse

Suggested Retail Price: $99.00


2 New Educ Windows Titles from Expert Software
Expert Software Offers Two New Educational Titles In $14.95 Windows Line

Expert Typing and Maps are two latest entries in Best Value Windows Line

CORAL GABLES, FLORIDA (September 2, 1993) - Expert Software, Inc., has expanded its Best Value Windows Line with the release of Expert Typing and Expert Maps for Windows. Both titles began shipping immediately and have a Suggested Retail Price of $14.95.

"Expert Typing and Maps for Windows are two can't miss programs. They fall under two of the most popular categories on the market home/productivity and education," said Sue Currier, president of Expert Software, Inc. "And they were developed on the booming Windows platform at a price to move."

Currier adds. "As educational programs, they are part of a software category that currently accounts for annual revenues of $120 million and is expected to jump to over $300 million by 1996 according to the Robertson, Stephens & Co. Study."

Expert Typing for Windows is a tutorial program for beginners and experts that offers structured practice to learn touch typing and improve typing speed. The programs on-screen status bar lets you track your progress by providing information on typing speed, accuracy, elapsed time, completion percentage and more.

Additional Expert Typing for Windows features include:

* Beginner, intermediate, and advanced skill levels.

* Print out reports that show test results.

* Tracks individual progress of multiple students or family

  members.

* Includes exciting arcade game to make learning fun.

Expert Maps for Windows is a complete map editor, atlas, and encyclopedia. Outstanding features include maps for over 120+ countries, statistics and text data for each country, a Multiple Document Interface, graph data for various topics, plus the following additional features:

Access information easily with smart push button toolbar icons.

* An extensive database contains current economic, demographic

  and geographic information on any country.

* Customize any map by adding lines, text, circles and more

  using drawing tools.

* Add text in any font, size, and color.

* View the topography of the entire world.

Expert Software is the developer of Windows, MS-DOS, and Macintosh titles which have appeared on many of the industry's leading hot and best seller lists. Expert Software is located at 800 Douglas Road, North Tower, Suite 355, Coral Gables, FL 33134-3128. For consumer product information contact: 800 759-2562.


PrairieSoft Enters Macintosh Marketplace
PrairieSoft, Inc. Enters the Macintosh Marketplace

September 1, 1993--West Des Moines, IA--PrairieSoft, Inc., a newly formed company based in West Des Moines, has announced the acquisition of several well-known Macintosh products from CE Software: DiskTop, Alarming Events, Amazing Paint, In/Out, MacBillboard and MockPackage Plus Utilities. MockPackage, first released in 1984, is among the pioneer products for the Macintosh. DiskTop is a favorite file management tool for many users and has won numerous awards both in the United States and in Europe.

"Even with all the enhancements made to new Macintosh system software, the products PrairieSoft will be offering will provide the missing links," said Gil Beecher of PrairieSoft. "These products were among the first of their kind for the Macintosh. They are useful to power users and novices alike. Each product provides a unique function for Macintosh users that is not available elsewhere. DiskTop, for example, provides a much better 'Find' function than the one built into System 7 saving the user time."

"Currently, efforts are focused on creating a new look to the packaging of the products," said PrairieSoft's Paul Miller. "At this time no schedule has been set, but upgrades and revisions will be made to the products. We are also planning a very aggressive marketing program.

"We have taken over all technical support and will provide existing and new customers with the kind of help and support they were accustomed to with CE," Miller continued. "Our goal is to support and enhance the experiences of existing users while introducing our products to a new generation of Macintosh users."

All PrairieSoft products are available from dealers and resellers worldwide. International users should contact their local distributors for pricing and availability.

PrairieSoft looks forward to announcing new additions to our product line as well as upgrades to our existing products, making them even more valuable to the Macintosh community.

The PrairieSoft product line:

DiskTop--The ultimate file management tool ! A must for hard-drive users. DiskTop finds, copies, moves, replaces, or launches files and applications without bouncing back and forth to the Finder. DiskTop makes working with your Mac easy, smooth and efficient.

Alarming Events--The finest personal scheduler that money can buy. Never miss another meeting. Keeps track of things to do and archives things you've done, events and appointments. Simple to use; it's the personal time management tool you've been waiting for.

In/Out--Keep everyone in your office informed about who is where. In/Out displays the availability of people and resources like conference rooms, special equipment, company vehicles and more. Set it to notify you when the needed person checks in. Owners tell us it proves to be more valuable than they expected, because it prevents wasted footsteps and misdirected phone calls. In/Out is designed for small-to mid-sized Macintosh networks.

Amazing Paint--The most fully featured black and white paint program ever. Sometimes the situation calls for a "paint" document. When that time comes, Amazing Paint is the best way to create it. Multiple "undos" and the ability to handle all styles of type make this a powerhouse among black and white paint programs.

MockPackage Plus--A classic set of utilities. MockPackage Plus is a disk full of great, useful tools. Anyone who shares a LaserWriter will find LaserStatus, included on this disk, to be worth the full package price. MockPackage Plus contains all those little "extras" that the others forgot.

MacBillboard--Allows you to create greeting cards, ready to fold, or large size prints of "paint" format documents. Comes with its own set of paint tools and templates for printing.

Users outside the United States and Canada should contact their local distributors for pricing and availability of PrairieSoft products. You may also contact PrairieSoft directly via phone (515.225.3720) or fax (515.225.2422).

PrairieSoft Inc

PO Box 657620, West Des Moines, IA 50265

AOL: PRAIRIESFT;  AppleLink: PRAIRIESOFT


RACAL-DATACOM LAN PERFORMANCE ANALYZER UPGRADED

Sept. 13, 1993 -- SUNRISE, FL. -- Release 1.3 of the Racal-Datacom LAN Performance Analyzer (LPA) is now shipping. LPA complements the Racal-Datacom WAN Performance Analyzer (WPA) in providing customers with the necessary tools to perform proactive performance monitoring and analysis to ensure maximum availability of an entire LAN/WAN inter-network. In addition, the LPA is an integral component of the Racal Management System.

The LAN Performance Analyzer is a software product that provides the ability to proactively manage a single LAN segment/ring or LAN segments/rings spread throughout an enterprise-wide network. Designed for network managers and MIS professionals, LPA combines stand-alone network monitoring and analysis with remote network monitoring via industry standard network management protocols.

The LPA offers real-time monitoring, network analysis, full protocol decoding, automatic network baselining, alarming, load simulation, automatic network mapping, and much more. The on-line consultant provides a guided problem-solving capability to help diagnose and solve network problems. All major LAN protocols can be monitored and decoded. The LPA supports the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) and the remote monitoring RMON MIB, to form an integrated, enterprise-wide network control system. The product runs on IBM-compatible 486 computers under the OS/2 V2.0 and V2.1 operating systems.

The new 1.3 release includes the following new features in addition to a number of other improvements:

* A point and click solution bar for predefined monitoring

  and analysis functions

* Out-of-band LAN communication between LPA Managers and

  LPA Agents

* SNA alert generation

* Cursor-sensitive help

* Decoding of ISO protocols

* Support for DDE to Windows applications (under OS/2 V2.1)

* Filtering and file handling enhancements

The LPA is a tool for the management of an entire enterprise-wide network for greater organizational productivity and more efficient use of critical corporate resources.

LPA integrates the industry-leading performance analysis system designed by ProTools, Inc. with other components of the Racal Management System. An example of this integration is alarm consolidation with the CMS 400. This consolidation enables automated and self-healing network operations. Automated operations capabilities of the CMS 400 can initiate user defined command scripts which can be used for proactive self-healing. Additionally, Racal-Datacom's WAN Performance Analyzer (WPA) may be invoked via the new Solution Bar feature in the LPA.

LPA FOUNDATION MANAGER

The central network management product, LPA Foundation Manager, monitors and analyzes network traffic on both the local network as well as remote sub-networks. The LPA Foundation Manager supports both Ethernet and Token Ring within the same product.

LPA CORNERSTONE AGENT (LPACAE and LPACAT)

The LPA Cornerstone Agent resides on remote sub-networks, serving as both a remote agent for LPA Foundation Manager as well as a stand-alone local network analyzer. It contains a subset of the functions of the LPA Foundation Manager so it can also be used as a stand-alone analyzer on a single LAN segment. The LPA Cornerstone Agent supports either Ethernet or Token Ring operation depending on the specific model number ordered.

Pricing for the LPA products starts at $1,05.

For reader's inquiries about this product, call (800) RACAL-55. Overseas callers should use (305) 846-4300 to reach our worldwide sales office.

Racal-Datacom offers network solutions for the delivery and management of information between local and remote locations. The company offers the widest range of local area and wide area networking products and services in the industry. Racal's broad product line is managed by a single, open and integrated network management platform, and backed by a full range of services including network design and integration, worldwide maintenance and support.

Racal-Datacom reported revenues of $560 million for fiscal year ending March 31, 1993. Parent company Racal Electronics Plc reported revenues of $1.43 billion for the year.

Racal-Datacomm, 1601 N. Harrison Parkway, Sunrise, FL 33323-2899

Mailing Address: PO Box 40744, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33340-7044

305-846-1601;  Fax: 305-846-3935


Computer Based Training from CinC
COMPUTER BASED TRAINING

Concepts in Computing, a multimedia consulting firm, is now offering software packages for Computer Based Training (CBT). PC-compatible software systems that support "hypertext" seraches, graphic images, audio files, animation, and full motion video provide "hands on" traingin presentations for a variety of industries. Applications can be as simple as notebook based shop floor maintenance and trouble-shooting aids, using electronic versions of manuals, to full interactive LCD panel classroom environments. Trainers can allow students to proceed at their own pace and in their own time frame. On line self testing and evaluation becomes a useful part of many packages. Concepts in Computing specializes in customized CBT systems for a wide variety of training applications. For more information contact:

Concepts in Computing

401 Park Ave, Beloit, WI 53511

608-365-2992,  fax 608-365-7114


PC-Client Offers Mac/Windows LAN Faxing

August 3, 1993 -- Circuit Research Corp. Nashua, New Hampshire, manufacturer of the FlexFAX series of modems and router equipment, announced the introduction of a Windows based client software to access the 4-Sight Fax Macintosh fax server. The new product will allow networks with both Macintosh and IBM PCs and compatibles to send and receive faxes via the Mac-based 4-Sight Fax CommsServer. "Two-thirds of the prospects we call on for the Mac server have a larger installed PC base - nearly two to one" cites Warren Stewart, Sales Manager for Circuit Research. The PC-Client, with PC-Link will offer the functionality of the current 4-Sight 4-Link DA, introduced last May. Pricing has not yet been set.

Circuit Research Corp

800-4-4SIGHT


McAfee NETShield 1.5 NetWare Anti-Virus Swr
McAFEE ASSOCIATES INTRODUCES NETSHIELD 1.5 ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE FOR NETWARE NETWORKS

Over Twenty Enhancements Dramatically Increase Virus Detection, Performance, and System Management Capabilities

SANTA CLARA, CALIF. (September 14, 1993) -- McAfee Associates, Inc. (NASDAQ:MCAF), the world's leading developer and electronic distributor of anti-virus software for personal computers and networks, today introduced the next generation of its popular NETShield anti-virus software for NetWare fileservers. Version 1.5 incorporates over twenty new performance, virus detection technology, and system management features, further establishing NETShield as the industry's most effective virus protection software for enterprise-wide NetWare networks. NETShield 1.5 new detects 2,017 known fileserver viruses, more than any other leading anti-virus NLM on the market today, as reported by Patricia Hoffman's VSUM virus information summary survey, published August, 1993.

NETShielf is an advanced, 100% server-based product that incorporates McAfee Associates' award-winning ViruScan virus detection technology. NETShield detects all viruses types, including encrypted, memory resident, multipartite, overwriting, parasitic, polymorphic and stealth viruses. NETShield uses checksumming, scanning, string scanning, filtering and fingerprinting techniques to detect known and unknown viruses.

NETSheild complements the security offered by typical workstation anti-virus software products by providing complete monitoring of all network services that access or execute server-bases files, including files that are moved or copied to the server. NETShield monitors all NetWare commands to ensure complete protection of fileserver data resources. In addition, NETShield cannot be overridden or aborted by end-users, even if they have disabled their workstation-based anti-virus protection.

"Network security is the top concern of LAN managers today," said Bill Larson, McAfee's president and CEO. "The increasing reliance on servers as the keeper of mission-critical data has raised awareness of the risk posed by viruses being distributed across networks. Given this environment, it is critical that fileservers be protected against all viruses, known and unknown. NETShield 1.5 meets this challenge by implementing several first-of-their-kind proprietary virus detection technologies that allow us to detect more viruses than any other vendor."

NETShield 1.5 incorporates technology breakthroughs that utilize proprietary algorithms and protection mechanisms to protect against new, undiscovered viruses. NETShield assigns a CRC (Cyclic Redundancy Check) value to all executable files and monitors that value for changes that would indicate virus infection.

Many NETShield functions have been enhanced to provide broader and faster scanning capabilities. High performance scanning algorithms have been implemented to improve scanning speed, especially when scanning large files. NETShield also allows administrators to increase scanning speed by specifying the CPU usage priority and by specifying the scannign mode, such as on-demand, on-file-access, periodic scans.

Enterprise-wide system administration has been improved with the addition of automatic anti-virus NLM synchronization across the network. This new feature automatically installs the most recent NETShield version, ensuring full protection across the network without having to manually update each server.

System administration capabilities have also been augmented with a redesigned C-Worthy interface to improve ease of installation and use. New pick lists have been added to speed selection of installation setup options. In addition, all current settings are easily viewed from a system management console screen.

System management features have been augmented to provide network administrators complete control over their anti-virus security resources. New configuration reporting and log maintenance facilities have been added to provide comprehensive reporting capabilities. Logging and console reporting have been improved to include critical events such as start and end times of scans, scan cancallations, and records of all virus warnings. System security has been improved through expanded password protection.

NETShield runs on any NetWare 3.11 fileserver and requires 600 kilobytes of server RAM. The software is priced at $495 for the first file server and includes two years of free updates. Site and volume discount licenses are available. Site license holders of competing anti-virus NLMs can receive a 50% discount by upgrading to NETShield under McAfee's Competitive Upgrade Program. Readers can download a fully functional version of NETShield for a five day free trial through the McAfee BBS at (408) 988-4004 (8-N-1), CompuServe (Go McAfee), America Online (McAfee) or Internet (McAfee.com).

McAfee Associates, headquartered in Santa Clara, California, develops, markets, and distributes general purpose personal computer utilities and network software designed for electronic distribution. Its anti-virus product line is the premier brand of virus protection, detection and eradication software for corporations, with millions of users worldwide. The company's software is distributed electronically through a network of bulletin boards, CompuServe, America Online, Internet, and through a unique network of 180 authorized agents who provide local sales and technical support.

McAfee Associates Inc

2710 Walsh Ave, Suite 200, Santa Clara, CA 95051-0963

408-988-3832,  fax 408-970-9727,  bbs 408-988-4004


NEC DROPS PRICE ON THE SVGA MONITOR

...14-inch value-oriented Super VGA color monitor...

Wood Dale, m., Sept. 13, 1993--In an effort to further expand its marketshare in the high-volume 14-inch CRT market, NEC Technologies, Inc., today announces a price reduction on its SVGA color monitor from an estimated selling price of $350 to $330. The SVGA monitor represents NEC's value-oriented solution to Super VGA color computing. With the addition of the SVGA monitor in June, 1993, NEC expanded its monitor offerings to include the value 14-inch, entry-level monitor market.

"NEC's MultiSync 2A monitor was the best-selling 14-inch monitor for several years," said Jim Schwabe, vice president of NEC's Graphics Business unit. "NEC would like the SVGA monitor to have comparable sales."

NEC's SVGA monitor's low estimated selling price of $330 and capability of displaying high resolutions (1024 x 768NI) make the monitor ideal for entry-level business applications and the SOHO market.

The SVGA monitor features non-interlaced, VESA-compliant resolutions of 640 x 480, 800 x 600 and 1024 x 768 to allow for flexibility and reduced eye strain. The SVGA monitor is ergonomically designed with a modern cabinet, a removable tilt swivel base, small footprint and the most commonly used controls up-front. The SVGA monitor also features NEC's Reduced Magnetic Field Technology which meets strict Swedish MPR-II guidelines for lower ELF/VLF emissions.

Offering mainstream flexibility, the SVGA monitor is compatible with VGA, Super VGA and XGA resolutions. The monitor has horizontal frequencies of 31.5, 35.2, 35.5, 37.9 and 48 KHz, a vertical refresh of 50 to 90 Hz, and a video bandwidth of 65 MHz.

The SVGA is currently available through NEC's nationwide distribution of authorized resellers and has a one-year limited warranty. For additional information via fax call NEC FastFacts at 1-800-366-0476 and request document #143101.

NEC Technologies, Inc. is a leading supplier of computers and peripherals for the North American market. Product lines include award-winning MultiSync monitors, Silentwriter and Colormate printers, PowerMate, Image, Express and Ready systems products, and MultiSpin CD-ROM hardware, ProSpeed laptop computers and UltraLite notebook computers. NEC Technologies, Inc. is a subsidiary of NEC Corporation.

NEC Technologies

1255 Michael Dr, Wood Dale, IL 60191

708-860-9500


New Video Courseware for WordPerfect 6.0
NEW VIDEO COURSEWARE FOR WORDPERFECT 6.0!

LOS GATOS, Calif. -- (September 9, 1993) -- Anderson Soft-Teach announces it will ship a complete video training course for WordPerfect 6.0 for DOS. Shipments of the training package will begin September 30th, 1993.

The new WordPerfect 6.0 training courseware includes three volumes covering the essentials of WordPerfect. Topics covered in Volume I include creating and revising a document, working with blocks of text, and formatting a document. Volume 2 provides instruction on working with multi-page documents, creating and modifying a table, merging documents, and managing your files. Finally, in Volume 3, the student will learn how to use styles and graphics, automate with macros, and work with outlines. Detailed course outlines can be obtained directly from Anderson Soft-Teach.

Each training volume includes a videotape for instruction, a step-by-step workbook and practice disk for hands-on practice (disk duplication license also included), a self-test to measure learning retention, and a classroom guide for easy implementation of the courseware into a classroom setting. Anderson Soft-Teach will also send a certificate of completion to each student who successfully completes the self-test. The student workbooks include additional exercises at the end of each lesson to reinforce skill development. Anderson Soft-Teach's unique "In-Practice" and "Extra for Experts" segments help users apply the training to real business situations.

"With today's smaller PC training budgets, corporations are looking for ways to leverage their resources and "make do" with the resources at hand. By using technology-delivered instruction such as video in the classroom, trainers can cover more PC classes while maintaining a high-quality PC training program," says Dave Ferguson, Vice President, Anderson Soft-Teach.

The complete three-volume course will be sold for $995. Anderson Soft-Teach also offers a "version insurance" program. Users can take advantage of a 50% discount when upgrading courseware purchased within the last six months, a 25% discount within 6-12 months, and a 10% discount after 1 year. The videotapes are closed captioned for the hearing impaired.

The WordPerfect 6.0 course also includes the new Classroom Guide. This guide outlines for the classroom instructor exactly how to incorporate Anderson Soft-Teach courseware into their classroom training programs. Step-by-step instructions provide for smooth and effective classes.

The SmartClassroom approach, created by Anderson Soft-Teach, is helping many training professionals successfully meet their training demand while facing shrinking resources, frequent software version changes, and multiple software platforms. In a SmartClassroom, Anderson SoftTeach videotapes can be used as the lecture portion of the class. An instructor monitors the class, starting and stopping the videotapes to introduce topics, facilitate discussion, and answer questions. The instructor then initiates hands-on exercises, which are provided. At the end of the course, the instructor administers the self-test. There are tremendous savings in course development and delivery time for the corporate trainer.

"We like the pace of the SmartClassroom instruction," says Linda Johnson, Support Specialist for Boyle Engineering, "and we like the fact that the exams are already written -- we're not professional teachers, and it's convenient to have the materials already prepared "

Trainers who are already using the SmartClassroom approach report that they are putting many more students through their PC training programs by using Anderson Soft-Teach videotapes and workbooks as the core of their classes. According to Joyce Boeringer, Systems Analyst for McDonnell Douglas, "Using the Anderson Soft-Teach courses in the classroom has allowed us to train about 120 students per week. It seems we're always trying to do more with less, and using Anderson Soft-Teach in the class is one of the ways we've found to do it."

Anderson Soft-Teach is currently celebrating its 10-year anniversary as the producer of the largest library of video courseware in the industry for personal computer software. Its products are sold both domestically and internationally. Anderson Soft-Teach's current line of courseware topics includes: Windows, Word for Windows, Excel for Windows, PowerPoint, WordPerfect for Windows, MS-DOS, Lotus 1-2-3, WordPerfect, dBASE IV, Introduction to PCs, Introduction to LANs and others. Anderson Soft-Teach is a privately owned company located in Los Gatos, California, and can be reached at (800) 338-4336 or (408) 399-0100.

Anderson Soft-Teach

983 University Ave, Los Gatos, CA 95030


Rational Systems DOS/4GW Upgrade
    NATICK, Mass., September 10, 1993 -- Rational Systems today announced an upgrade to DOS/4GW, the DOS extender included with the WATCOM C/C++(32) and FORTRAN 77(32) programming languages. DOS extenders allow 32-bit programs to run on Intel 386 processors (and compatibles) under DOS, in an OS/2 2.x DOS box, in a Windows 3.x DOS box, or in a Windows NT DOS box.

     DOS/4GW Professional adds performance enhancements for demanding applications, and the ability to bind the DOS extender to the application.  DOS/4GW programs do not need to be recompiled or relinked to take advantage of the upgrade.

     DOS/4GW Professional includes a high-performance virtual memory manager and will demand-load applications.  Almost all DOS/4GW applications that utilize virtual memory will load and run significantly faster under DOS/4GW Professional.  In addition, DOS/4GW Professional is approximately 50K smaller in memory and on disk than DOS/4GW.

     DOS/4GW Professional, with unlimited royalty-free distribution, is available for $298 from Rational Systems, 220 N. Main St., Natick, MA 01760; telephone (508)653-6006


SynchroMaster 200 Scan Converter
Interlaced / Progressive Scan Converter

RGB Spectrum announces the development of the SynchroMaster(TM) 200, a high resolution scan converter that converts bi-directionally between interlaced and non-interlaced (progressive scan) signals.

SynchroMaster 200 offers two modes of operation:  Interlaced to non- interlaced conversion is used to eliminate flicker in an interlaced signal prior to display on a monitor.  The output has a horizontal scan rate exactly double the input.  Primary applications are in the display of 1024-1049 line interlaced images.

Non-interlaced to interlaced conversion is used to convert the output from a non-interlaced computer display to an interlaced signal at one half the scan-rate; the lower scan-rate signal can be accepted by light- valve projectors and other devices that cannot display very high scan- rate signals directly.

SynchroMaster 200 features autosync, RS-232 control, double buffering, and freeze frame.

RGB Spectrum, 950 Marina Village Parkway, Alameda, CA 94501

Phone: (510) 814 7000,   Fax: (510) 814 7026


SynchroMaster 300 Video Mixer for Computers
Video Mixer for Computers

RGB Spectrum's SynchroMaster(TM) 300 combines the output from two high resolution imagers or computers (up to 1280 x 1024 pixels) to produce a composite high resolution picture.

The SynchroMaster 300 is designed for real-time image fusion applications in simulation, where it allows the production of images of greater complexity than a single computer or scene generator can produce in real time, and in medical imaging for comparative analysis of real and synthetic images.

Typically, one image is used as the foreground and the other as the background.  The background signal is digitized and written to a 1280 x 1024 frame buffer, synchronized to, and combined with the foreground signal.  Images are combined by using a chroma key, a luminance key, or a weighted sum algorithm.

The SynchroMaster incorporates a frame store synchronizer to allow the mixing of asynchronous images from disparate sources.

RGB Spectrum, 950 Marina Village Parkway, Alameda, CA 94501

Phone: (510) 814 7000, Fax: (510) 814 7026


Insight Research Telecom Industry Reports
LIVINGSTON, NJ.  September 9, 1993:  The recent court ruling giving Bell Atlantic and the other RBOCs the green light to move full steam ahead into video programming will bring the new information highway and its attendant mass market for multimedia computing just a little closer to reality.  For multimedia computing applications, wireless data personal communicators, and other aspects of  computing's next wave to become mass market phenomena, major changes must take place in local telecommunications capability. According to recent studies by Insight Research Corp., today's telecommunications landscape is about to be rocked by a series of changes-changes that will transcend traditional industry boundaries and cross technologies as never before.

Insight's research suggests that the fast-packet ATM-based national information highway will be only as effective as local voice and data transport.  One study, _Competition in the Local Loop: Telcos, Cable TV, & Wireless in the Emerging Telecommunications Network 1993-1998_, puts forth several possible scenarios for future competition among the RBOCs, competitive access providers, cable TV operators, and wireless services for market share of voice, data, and video. It takes the bottom-up view that the technological and market changes on the local level are the ones that will spur developments in telecommunications throughout the decade.

The other study,  _Network Topologies for Future Telecommunications Services, TVs, Telephones & Change in Telecommunications Networks 1993-2000_,  posits that consumer demand for new entertainment TV services is remaking the infrastructure of the TV and telephone networks.  The huge revenue potential of interactive TV and games is accelerating adoption of new technology in the TV and telephone industries.  Both networks will handle two-way, switched, wideband traffic well before the year 2000, according to Insight, creating an extensive level of overlapping, interconnecting, and competing capabilities.  But competition will only be apparent in the local-distribution segments of both networks, Insight argues.

For more information and pricing data on the two reports, please contact:

The Insight Research Corporation      (201) 605-1400 voice

354 Eisenhower Parkway                (201) 605-1440 fax

Livingston, NJ 07039


PowerSim for Windows Dynamic Simulation
=====  P o w e r S i m   f o r   W i n d o w s  =====

The Complete Software Tool for Dynamic Simulation

The human environment is highly complex and dynamic. POWERSIM  makes dynamic modeling and simulation available to PC-users in a wide variety of areas; Management, corporate and public planning, industrial simulations, environmental issues, experimental sciences, education, and  training.

POWERSIM  provides you with a powerful set of tools to do the things that spreadsheets and databases can't do.

K e y   F e a t u r e s :

 * Model objects for visual modeling using stock-and-flow

   diagram symbols.

 * Dynamic objects (time graph, time table, number, slider/bar)

   for displaying simulation results.

 * Static objects (frame, text, picture, line) for tailoring

   user interfaces, e.g. for building management flight

   simulators (MFS).

 * Auto reports displaying simulation results at each

   variable symbol.

 * Arrays (indexed variables).

 * Capable of handling large models.

 * Causal-loop diagramming.

 * Parallel simulation allowing links between co-models.

   Fast simulator.

 * Parameter adjustment during simulation.

 * Simulation Control containing Auto Pause, Delay,

   Multiple Runs.

 * Large, expandable function library.

 * Advanced integration methods (Runge-Kutta 2, 3, or 4; var.

   or fixed step size).

 * On-line Help explaining concepts and built-in functions.

   Context-sensitive help for all menus.

 * Windows Standard; Toolbars for frequently used commands,

   Multiple Document Interface (MDI).

S y s t e m   R e q u i r e m e n t s :

 * IBM or IBM compatible PC with 80386 processor or higher.

 * 4 Mb RAM or more.

 * Hard Disk (min. 4 MB free space).

 * Mouse.

 * MS-DOS 3.1 or higher.

 * Microsoft Windows 3.1 or higher.

A p p l i c a t i o n   A r e a s :

 * Management: Decisions based on system dynamics modelling and

   policy analysis, systems thinking, development of scenarios,

   simulation games, MFS's

 * Industry: Process-simulation, etc.

 * Ecology/Environment: Simulation of ecological systems,

   environmental problems, etc.

 * Science: Modeling and simulation as tools in testing

   hypotheses. Experimenting with complex, dynamic systems,

   chaotic systems, systems dominated by feedback, delay,

   and non-linearities.

 * Education and Training: Modeling and  simulation as

   pedagogical tools. Learning By Doing, Learner Directed

   Learning.

P r i c e s :

Prices in US dollars (USD) pr. July 1 1993, not including sales tax. Prices subject to change without notice.

POWERSIM version 1.0x:

 __ Standard, Single User        NOK3500, USD595

 __ Educational, Single User     NOK1750, USD295

 __ Standard, Site License (see below)

 __ Educational, Site License (see below)

Shipping & Handling:

 __ Regular (air mail) 1st copy: NOK100,  USD25

 __ Regular, each extra copy:    NOK25,   USD10

 __ Express (courier), 1st copy: NOK1000, USD200

 __ Express, each extra copy:    NOK100,  USD20

License information:

Educational licenses are available for students and employees at educational institutions; schools, universities etc. Site-license agreements can be arranged for business and educational institutions and other user groups. If you are more than 5 users at the same institution, a site license agreement will pay off. Please contact us for an offer, indicating the number of installations you will need!

 POWERSIM AS

 Nygaten 3, P.O. Box 642

 N-5001 Bergen, Norway

 Telephone: +47 55 31 32 38

 Telefax:   +47 55 31 31 36, +47 56 37 35 00,

            +47 57 88 23 88


Search City 1.1 Text Retrieval Swr for Windows
SEARCH CITY 1.1

An ARS INNOVANDI Product

Search City is a Text Retrieval Software Product for Windows Power Users.

Today's PC users are faced with the ever increasing burden of storing and managing vast quantities of electronic information stored as text documents. Traditional ways to manage data found in structured, field-oriented databases are not sufficient for handling information found in unstructured files and documents. A new generation of text retrieval tools and systems are emerging that allow users to manage and access all their information with ease.

Search City puts advanced searching tools in the hands of PC power users. It is for people who need to have information quickly available at their fingertips. This group includes executive and managerial professionals, knowledge workers, technicians, administrative and support personnel, among others.

The product introduces a number of PC text retrieval innovations including "byte-stream" indexes, a simple user interface, PowerQuery language, customized filter technology and a single, integrated solution for both structured and unstructured text-based information.

Text retrieval is a stand-alone utility, as well as a key component in databases, document management systems, word processors, e-mail, OCR systems, bulletin boards, integrated utilities and CD-ROMs.

"Byte-stream" Indexing - The most sophisticated search methodology

Search City's "byte-stream" index methodology, the first for the PC platform, is not based solely on keywords, found in today's older inverted file technology, but on character strings. It lets one search for characters, words and phrases to radically increase the ease, precision and speed of information retrieval when dealing with complex queries and large databases.

Best GUI for text retrieval

Part of the strength of Search City is its single screen approach to finding information. With Search City's navigational and search tools, one can never get lost or confused during the search process. All tools are clearly indicated to help the user look at the "hits" or files that contain the hits after a query has been generated. When one identifies the exact piece of information desired, one click will open the full document.

PowerQuery language

Search City provides powerful query capabilities that the user exploits combining simple commands or operators. It describes the search one wishes to perform. This approach allows the user to continually refine and narrow the search, ultimately zooming on the desired location of information.

Customized filters and subjects

Search City's filter technology increases the capability to find information without making the query more complex. It is a simple way to map characters to other desired choices. Using subjects is a powerful way to classify and subclassify information to shortcut searches. Both are ways to customize the product to one's specific needs.

One product for structured and unstructured data

Search City lets the PC user find information buried in textual databases, as well as unstructured files like e-mail, faxes and user-composed documents, all with the same interface and approach. The user doesn't have to jump around using different methodologies or utilities to access both kinds of data structures.

Language support

This version is available in English or Spanish.

Requirements

- Search City 1.1 runs on MS-Windows 3.0

- 286 or higher processor.

- 2 Mb RAM (4 recomended)

ENHANCEMENTS

Efficiency:

Search speed has been enhanced by using 32 bits code and fine tuning critical algorithms.

File Group Index makes search velocity independent of the quantity of text files.

User defined Stopwords (Null words)

Index size was reduced about 40%.

Easy of use:

Several enhancements make our highly appreciated User Interface even more elegant and easier to use. In addition, we have eliminated the differences between what the technical press calls "file indexers" and "textual databases".

File Formats support:

Drivers for: MS-Word for Windows, WordPerfect 5.0 or 5.1, MS-Write, ANSI Text (Notepad), OEM Text (DOS text) and more are on the horizon.

Speed Synonyms:

An unlimited number of synonyms can be used without affecting search speed. This substantially improves the capacity to encounter information, without the necessity of writing complex expert queries.

Language support

This version is available in English or Spanish. We are working on other languages.

Requirements

- Search City 2.0 runs on MS-Windows 3.1

- 386 or higher processor

- 2 Mb RAM (4 recomended)

- 1.1 Mb in Hard Disk (with examples)

The price of Search City 2.0 for a sigle user is US$ 200 plus shipping and handling, this includes a install disk with Search City 2.0 and manual.

There is a Demo version in ftp.cica.indiana.edu /pub/pc/win3/util searchit.zip. This DEMO version only can index less than 100 Kb of text. This Demo version has some bugs fixed in the final version.

 ARS INNOVANDI

 Phone  : (56-2) 231 1936

 Fax    : (56-2) 231 9756

 Address: Providencia 2184, piso 3

          Santiago, CHILE


Baker's NewsBits 9/15
Miscellaneous NewsBits from Assorted Sources.....

Microsoft will begin charging support fees for all its operating system products, including Windows. As of October, buyers of MS-DOS, Windows and Windows for WorkGroups will receive 90 days of free technical support, but will then have to pay for additional support. Users of Microsoft applications, such as Excel or Word, will continue to receive support for free.

Supra now has a fax-on-demand line for sales and technical documents. Call 503-967-0072 and follow the voice instructions. Tech notes cover ROM upgrades, silent answer and initialization strings and more. Supra Corp (Vancouver, WA) 206-750-9600

Microsoft has targeted consumer software as a potential growth market and in the coming months will offer at least six home entertainment multimedia programs based on material from Byron Press, a New York-based CD-ROM publisher. The first offering will be "Isaac Asimov's The Ultimate Robot," an interactive exploration of the world of robots. A version for the Macintosh will be available this fall, followed by a Windows version in early 1994.

Blue Jean Bond is a 100% cotton recycled paper made from the tattered remains of blue denim fabrid. The paper has a distinctive blue cast and visible threads for the ultimate in environmental correctness. Supposedly it prints in laser printers as well as offset presses. Esleeck Manufacturing, 413-863-4326

Novell unveiled NetWare Connect, a NetWare Loadable Module that offers mobile, remote, and centralized network users with inbound and outbound communication paths. A replacement for NetWare Asynchronous Communications Services (NACS), the software allows NetWare servers, bulletin boards, service bureaus, or remote hosts to be dialed up over asynchronous, X.25 or ISDN lines. Should be available in October for $187 per port.

Fargo Electronics has a free Amiga driver for their Primera color printer and two new distributors have just been signed. Fargo Electronics Inc (Eden Prairie, MN) 612-941-9470

Lotus will soon begin shipping cc:Mail Group Pack, an entry level messaging solution aimed at small businesses and corporate workgroups. Bundled with Organizer, the company's personal information manager, the new electronic-mail package will be priced at $845 for a 10-user configuration.

PageBlaster plugs into a fax modem and low-cost color printer to print color PostScript images from remote sites, or plain paper Group 3 faxes. Hardware is $995 with UltraScript MacFax software for Macintosh users costing $199. Pacific Rim Data Sciences (Fremont, CA) 510-226-8930

New Jokes Disk ($24) upgrade is available with 500 new jokes for The Humor Processor that displays jokes and more. Also available, a competitive upgrade program that offers new Time Logger Windows software to users of DOS competitors at a special $49 price versus $139 list. Responsive Software (Berkeley, CA) 510-843-1034

From Visualogik Computergraphic Technologies in the Netherlands comes Wash Font, a Type 1 PostScript font that contains the complete set of international wash-label symbols which comply with the VTWS standard no less.

Everswitch has an almost indestructible PC keyboard that retails for $800. The surface is quarter-inch aluminum plate with piezo keys that don't stick up and don't travel. Supposedly tamper-proof and damage-proof for the most severe environments. Everswitch (Silver Spring, MD) 301-622-5600


MultiExpress Data/Fax Swr Price Reduced
Here's good news for data/fax communications users at multiple user sites. Multi-Tech Systems has put a new, simplified site licensing plan into place, and it brings the power, utility and simplicity of MulltiExpress data and fax communications software to multiple user sites at unheard-of pricing.

In fact, this new pricing means that up to 250 users can take advantage of MultiExpress at less than the cost of furnishing the software to three users separately. For instance:

MultiExpress for DOS: our comprehensive communications software package combines remote control and asynchronous communications software in one easy-to-use package. It operates on LANs and stand alone PCs.

Single Copy Price: $199     License Price: $499

MultiExpress for Windows: our Windows asynchronous communications software providing standard file transfer protocol support, standard terminal emulation support, support for COM, MCSI, and Int 14 communications links, and more, all under a user friendly interface.

Single Copy Price: $149     License Price: $399

MultiExpressFAX for Windows: powerful software for Multi-Tech's Group 3 fax modems in Windows. Supports COM, MCSi, and int 14 communications links, and operates as a client to MultiExpressFAX Server. Send/receive, operating either in background or faxing from applications.

Single Copy Price: $99      License Price: $249

MultiExpressFAX Server: works with Multi-Tech data/fax modems and networking products like MultiModemLAN and the MiniArray to turn a PC on a LAN into a Fax Server with powerful broadcast and scheduling capabilities.

Single Copy Price: $99      License Price: $249

Multi-Tech Systems Inc

2205 Woodale Dr, Mounds View, MN 55112

612-785-3500,  800-328-9717,  fax 612-785-9874


European Community Database on CD-ROM
Macmillan New Media and Deloitte & Touche Europe Services Launch European Community Database on CD-ROM

Cambridge, Massachusetts, September 10, 1993--Macmillan New Media, the electronic publishing division of Macmillan, Inc., joined forces with Deloitte & Touche Europe Services to publish a new CDROM for businesses pursuing ventures in the emerging European Community (EC).

Entitled European Update on CD-ROM, the product offers professionals easy access to essential and timely information on how to operate intelligently in the EC. Updated quarterly, it includes over forty reports on economic policy, the legislative environment, tax and legal issues, external trade relations and major industry developments. European Update also features in-depth analysis of economic and legislative changes from Deloitte & Touche Europe Services' multinational consulting team. Based on their work with key EC decision and policy makers, the team provides companies with practical guidance on how to identify new opportunities and effectively manage changes that impact their business.

Said Frederick Bowes, III, Macmillan New Media's president, "Aside from being a great timesaver, "European Update on CD-ROM is the most cost-effective way for professionals involved with international expansion to stay on top of Europe's constantly-changing business climate. And they don't even have to leave their desk! It's a valuable resource for companies of any size and specialty."

European Update on CD-ROM uses Folio 3.1 software, which is capable of supporting Windows, DOS and Macintosh applications, all on a single disc. The first issue is scheduled for release in mid-September. Subsequent updates will follow in November, 1993, and February and May, 1994. The suggested retail price is $495 and includes three updates.

Based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Macmillan New Media is a leading producer of CD-ROM and multimedia products for the professional, education, medical and consumer markets.

Deloitte & Touche Europe Services is the European Community Client Service Center of Deloitte & Touche Tohmatsu International, one of the world's largest audit, tax and consulting firms, with over 57,000 people in 104 countries. Based in Brussels, Deloitte & Touche Europe Services provides business advisory services related to European affairs, both in the EC and Eastern Europe, and is staffed by a multinational team of legal and economic experts from all over Europe and the USA.

Macmillan New Media

124 Mount Auburn St, Cambridge, MA 02138

617-661-2955,  fax 617-868-7738


Lahey 32-bit Fortran & Fortran 90 Deals
New Pricing on Lahey's 32-bit Fortran and Pre-purchase Plan for Upcoming Fortran 90

Incline Village, Nevada, September 8, 1993 -- Lahey Computer Systems has reduced the price of F77L-EM/32 by 33%, and introduced a $400 pre-purchase price for their PC Fortran 90.

32-bit Fortran Price Reduced 33%

"With the price of F77L-EM/32 dropping from $1195 to $795, we are making EM/32 available to the more price-sensitive buyer. This is the first time our 32-bit Fortran has been priced below $1000," remarked Guy Ceragioli, Vice President of Marketing. "As an added bonus, EM/32 5.2 includes a new version of our SOLD (Source On-Line Debugger)."

Fortran 90 Pre-purchase

Lahey's Fortran 90 is under development and can be purchased today by those owning the current version of EM/32. Unlike competing products, Lahey's Fortran 90 does not use translator technology nor is it a FORTRAN 77 with just a few 90 features. It's a full Fortran 90 that even has popular 77 extensions not included in the new standard. It will become Lahey's premier product for developing or porting Fortran programs.

"The $400 Fortran 90 pre-purchase helps to answer the demand and interest we are getting from users for a Lahey Fortran 90 language system. We are rewarding the early buyer with a great price, and giving these customers a chance to begin using beta versions of our Fortran 90 as early as January 1994. New EM/32 buyers can take the $400 they save on the price of EM/32 and use it to pre-purchase our Fortran 90," commented Mr. Ceragioli.

The Fortran 90 Pre-purchase Plan: 1) guarantees the buyer they will be one of the first to receive Lahey's Fortran 90 2) guarantees them the lowest price for Version 1.0, and 3) gives domestic buyers the option of receiving an early release through the beta-test program. Lahey Fortran 90 beta testing is scheduled to begin in the 1st quarter of 1994, and the official release is scheduled early in the 2nd quarter. The $400 Fortran 90 pre-purchase is subject to expiration on or before December 31, 1993.

Fortran 90 Product Description

The Fortran 90 language system combines Lahey's Fortran compiler design with Intel Corporation's highly optimized code generation technology. By using the Intel code generator, Lahey will deliver a product optimized for the 386, 486 and Intel Pentium processors. Lahey's Fortran 90 is a full implementation of the Fortran 90 Standard. This means users can run all their programs written in Fortran 77 and take advantage of 90 features to write new applications or optimize older programs. For example, Fortran 90 array expressions help users write tighter and faster code. Other key 90 features include: Data Types (Structures, Pointers, Kind, . . .), new program control features (DO/END DO, DO WHILE, CASE, . . .) better array handling, more intrinsic functions, modules and procedures, and more. Lahey Fortran 90 is designed for professionals who need fast execution speed and want to use the latest Fortran programming features.

F77L-EM/32 Product Description

F77L-EM/32 Version 5.2 is a highly optimized language system for scientists, engineers, and programmers who downsize or develop large Fortran applications. With EM/32 and the bundled Phar Lap DOS-Extender, programs as large as 4GB can easily be moved from workstations and mainframes to personal computers. EM/32 includes the features and software tools essential to writing efficient and portable code. It is a complete implementation of the Fortran 77 Standard and it contains popular DEC VAX, IBM VS, and Fortran 90 features. EM/32 also includes a full suite of software tools to assist the programmer: Editor, Profiler, Make Utility, Video Graphics and a new enhanced Debugger. The latest version of Lahey's debugger includes an upgraded and faster user interface, better on-line help, and an improved Action Window. The Action Window is used for entering commands and displaying output.

Availability and Pricing

EM/32 Version 5.2 is available today at a list price of $795 with updates priced from $75 to $300 depending on the customer's version. The Lahey Fortran 90 pre-purchase is priced at $400. You must own the current version of F77L-EM/32 to qualify for the Fortran 90 pre-purchase. For more information call (800) 548-4778 (702) 831-2500.

Corporate Profile

Founded in 1967, Lahey Computer Systems specializes in the design and production of Fortran language systems and development tools for scientists, engineers, and professional programmers. Their award-winning PC Fortran language systems--Lahey Personal Fortran, F77L, and F77L-EM/32--are used worldwide.

Lahey Computer Systems

PO Box 6091, 865 Tahoe Blvd, Incline Village, NV 89450

702-831-2500,  fax 702-831-8123


EPIEgram Newsletter for Educators
INFORMED SOFTWARE BUYER KEY TO EDUCATIONAL REFORM SAYS EDITOR

Educators struggling to find money in their budgets for computers have a further surprise:  computers need software programs which relate to their specific classroom needs. Parents trying to offset the slow pace of school reform through use of home computers find salesperson know little about K-12 software.

"It's understandable," says Earl L. Fultz, editor of the educational newsletter, EPIEgram. "First of all, the amount of K-12 software programs is staggering -- more than 10,000 from some 1100 publishers and more arriving at the rate 100 to 200 per month." Reviewing, he adds, is "haphazard and not always reliable."

Help, however, has arrived. EPIEgram, the Newsletter of Software and Systems for Learning, is making it easier for educators and parents to find the right software. Through its affiliation with EPIE Institute, publisher of "The Latest and Best of TESS" (software selector), EPIEgram each month publishes information on the latest K-12 releases from educational software publishers, gleaned from the TESS database.

In addition to data on new K-12 programs, EPIEgram also carries the latest on new systems, on trends in educational reform, success stories such as Indian River County in Florida, the first "wired" community in America, and other essential information for teachers and parents intent on utilizing computer based learning.

EPIEgram, the Newsletter of Software & Systems for Learning, is available for $65 for the full school year. To order, call or write EPIEgram, Sterling Harbor Press, Inc, Box 28, Greenport, NY 11944.   (516) 765-2378,    FAX   516 765-2544


Latest & Best of TESS (Educ Swr Selector)
NEW, 1993 EDITION AVAILABLE: LATEST AND BEST OF TESS

EPIE Institute is pleased to announce the publication of the 1993 edition of the Latest and Best of TESS (The Educational Software Selector). List: $29.95, plus $5 shipping/handling

This 224-page print directory contains information on more than 1,300 instructional and administrative software Programs specifically for Macintosh and MS DOS computers. Virtually all curriculum areas and grade levels are represented.

Culled from EPIE's nationally recognized database of information on educational software, the Latest and Best of TESS presents recently released products as well as the most highly rated, as reviewed by 70 respected review sources.

Included in each Program entry is a detailed description of the Program, suggested application, grade level, price, availability, and review citation. A separate index provides users with quick access to supplier data, including address, phone and ordering information.

The full, electronic TESS database contains information on over 10,000 educational software programs from over 1,000 suppliers and offers search capability to identify programs that meet specific software needs. TESS is available in electronic format to schools in states participating in the States Consortium for Improving Software Selection.

For more information, contact EPIE Institute, 103-3 W. Montauk Highway, Hampton Bays, NY 11946. Phone: (516) 728-9100/Fax (516) 728-9228.


SISCO to Distribute SOFTING ISP Fieldbus Prods
SISCO to Distribute SOFTING ISP Fieldbus Products in the U.S.

Sterling Heights, Ml, August 31, 1993 -- Systems Integration Specialists Company, Inc. (SISCO), of Sterling Heights, MI USA, and SOFTING GmbH, of Munich, Germany, announced today that they have entered into a product distribution agreement that will authorize SISCO to provide SOFTING's InterOperable Systems Project (ISP) fieldbus products to US customers.

As a distributor, SISCO will be authorized to sell SOFTING's ISP products to customers within the US and Canada. SISCO will be responsible for all pre-sales support, importing and customs clearance, and will also provide some post-sales support to its customers. SISCO will also offer integration, startup, training, and application development services to those customers desiring such services. SOFTING will be responsible for all development and product maintenance activities and will also provide technical support when needed.

"As a company committed to the application of real-time communications in manufacturing environments, the addition of the SOFTING ISP fieldbus line is a natural fit for us," said Ralph Mackiewicz, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for SISCO. "SOFTING's ISP products complement our existing capabilities in the areas of PLC, DCS, and MMS communications and will allow us to offer a broader range of communications solutions for our customers."

"SOFTING is very pleased to be working with SISCO on the establishment of a distribution channel and a technical competence center in the US," said Dr. Manfred Patz, President of SOFTING. "It is essential for SOFTING's business to have a distributor in the US which is able to advise companies on how to integrate ISP with their products, to give product training, and ensure fast product delivery."

The ISP products that will be distributed in the US comprise SOFTING's entire ISP product line including ISP interface boards for the PC/AT, ISP application software products for exercising and testing ISP networks and ISP protocol software for use by OEMs in incorporating ISP technology into their products and systems.

SISCO and SOFTING have had a long experience of cooperation together in the past. SOFTING has acted as a technical competence center and reseller of SISCO's Manufacturing Message Specification (MMS) products in Germany since 1989. With the establishment of SISCO as a distributor of the SOFTING ISP products, their cooperation is now even more substantial.

ISP is an emerging industry standard for fieldbus communications between control systems and intelligent sensors, actuators, and other I/O systems that is sponsored by the non-profit InterOperable Systems Project Foundation, Inc. of Austin, TX. For more information on the ISP Foundation please contact the ISP Foundation at 9390 Research Boulevard, Suite 100, Austin, TX 78759 or at (512) 794-8890.

SOFTING, a member of the ISP Foundation, is the world leader in ISP technology and is the only company currently offering a complete set of ISP products which implements all the functions and options of the ISP protocol stack. The majority of current members of the ISP Foundation are using SOFTING ISP products. SOFTING also has been a technology leader in the area of other fieldbus technologies such as PROFIBUS and CAN and is an active participant in the standardization efforts of ISO, IEC, and the ISA SP50 committees. For more information on SOFTING please contact SOFTING at Dingolfinger Strasse 2, D-81673 Munich, Germany or at +49-89-413-004-0 or via facsimile at +49-89-49-1018.

SISCO was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in Sterling Heights, Ml. SISCO offers a variety of real-time communications solutions for manufacturing including SOFTING ISP Fieldbus products, MMS application development tools, MMS and PLC application drivers for Windows/DDE, Lotus 1-2-3, USDATA's FactoryLink and other database applications, and communications tools for the Rosemount System/3 distributed control system (DCS). SISCO also offers systems integration, training, and application development services related to these communications technologies. SISCO is a recognized world leader in the field of MMS and has sold over 3,600 licenses of its MMS products world-wide. For more information on SISCO please contact Ralph Mackiewicz, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Systems Integration Specialists Company, Inc., 660519-1/2 Mile Road, Sterling Heights, Ml 48314-1408 or at (313) 254-0020.


Proxim Signs Merisel to Dist. Wireless LAN Hwr
PROXIM SIGNS MERISEL TO DISTRIBUTE WIRELESS LAN ADAPTERS

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Sept. 13, 1993 -- Proxim Inc., the world's leading supplier of spread spectrum wireless networking products, today announced that it has signed an agreement with Merisel, Inc. to distribute its RangeLAN and RangeLAN2 families of wireless LAN adapters for desktop and portable PC users.

"Merisel's world class distribution capability is of strategic importance to Proxim as computer users increasingly recognize the value of wireless networking," said Mack Sullivan, director of marketing for Proxim. "Merisel will help fill the growing channel demand for wireless LAN adapters for mobile systems, desktops and servers."

"As the industry's only full-line channel specialist, we take a unique approach to distribution by providing the entire reseller channel with leading products and unparalleled services designed to meet the needs of a very diverse and extensive reseller base," said Steve Hart, Merisel's director of connectivity. "Our new partnership with Proxim provides added depth to our wireless networking solutions offering, and an opportunity for Proxim to reach new customers."

Proxim's RangeLAN2 offers the longest range and lowest power consumption of any wireless LAN product in its class. Based on frequency hopping spread spectrum technology in the 2.4-2.483 GHz band, RangeLAN2 delivers an uncompressed data rate of 1.6 Mbps per channel over 10 independent channels. The RangeLAN2 family includes RangeLAN2/PCMCIA for notebook and handheld computers, RangeLAN2/ISA for desktop PCs and servers, and RangeLAN2/Bridge for plug-and-play network access to standard wired LAN environments. All RangeLAN2 systems come bundled with Proxim's unique RangeLAN2/Roaming software, allowing mobile computer users the unprecedented ability to move seamlessly from one LAN access point to another without ever losing connection to the network.

Proxim's award-winning RangeLAN family of products, which began shipping in early 1992, are designed for less data-intensive LAN applications such as E-mail, printer-sharing and file transfer, as well as many industry-specific mobile computing applications. Operating at a data rate of 242 Kbps per channel across three independent channels, the original RangeLAN family has a range of 300-500 feet in normal office environments and 800-1000 feet in outdoor or open space environments. The RangeLAN family includes RangeLAN/PCMCIA for portable computers, RangeLAN/ISA for desktop PCs and servers, RangeLAN/LT for Compaq Computer's Contura and LTE notebook computers, RangeLAN/Parallel for connection to the parallel port of any PC, and RangeLAN/Roaming.

Merisel, Inc. (NASDAQ:MSEL) is the world's largest publicly held distributor of microcomputer hardware and software products. Founded in 1980, the company maintains 27 sales offices and operates 21 distribution centers that serve the US., Canada, Europe, Latin America and the Pacific Rim, with an export sales group that serves the rest of the world. To support the sales of more than 20,000 products from over 700 manufacturers, Merisel offers extensive pre- and post-sales training and educational services to its customer vase of more than 65,000 computer resellers. Merisel has been recognized by Forbes magazine as one its Forbes 500 companies for 1991 and 1992. It was the third largest on the Fortune 100 list of the fastest-growing US. companies in terms of revenue in 1992, and is the largest of all the companies rated in 1993.

Founded in 1984, Proxim, Inc., headquartered in Mountain View, Calif, is the world's leading supplier of spread spectrum wireless networking products for end users, systems integrators, VARs and OEMs. The company designs, manufactures and markets an industry leading family of off-the-shelf wireless LAN adapters for desktop and portable systems, as well as spread spectrum radio modules and wireless RF modems for custom applications. To date, Proxim has shipped over 55,000 spread spectrum radio products.

Proxim, Inc.

295 North Bernardo Ave, Mountain View, CA 94043

415-960-1630,    Fax: 415-964-5181


Design & Build Your Deck Wins Hwr Award
Computer Software Program Wins National Hardware Award

Books That Work's Design & Build Your Deck Nails "Retailers' Choice" Award at the National Hardware Show

PALO ALTO, CA, Sept. 3, 1993 - Books That Work announced today that its premiere product, Design & Build Your Deck, received Do-lt-Yourself Retailing magazine's "Retailers' Choice" award at the National Hardware Show (hardware as in nuts and bolts, not bits and bytes), held in Chicago in August. Never before awarded to a software program, the "Retailer's Choice" award is an honor given to the most innovative and promising products displayed at the show. Of the 3200 exhibitors and thousands of new products, the Do-It-Yourself Retailing panel of retailers selected 30 exhibitors to receive the award.

Design & Build Your Deck is a multimedia software program that brings an electronic format to "how-to" publishing. A Windows-based CAD (computer aided design) product, Design & Build Your Deck features an easy to use electronic design workshop and a comprehensive electronic book on building that's filled with tips from construction pros. The program offers intuitive expert guidance through every phase of deck design and construction, providing a highly efficient, cost effective home-improvement solution.

Design & Build Your Deck comes on 31/2" diskettes (51/4" can be requested) and requires an IBM PC or 100% compatible, 386 or higher, 2 MB RAM minimum; VGA or Super VGA monitor, and Windows 3.1. It does not require CD-ROM.

Books That Work, Inc. is a publisher of interactive software devoted to the home how-to market. The company's products are distributed by Broderbund, and have been developed in conjunction with Sunset Publishing, the nation's leading how-to publisher. Books That Work was founded in June 1992 and is based in Palo Alto, CA. For more information or to place an order, call (800) 242-4546

Books That Work

285 Hamilton, Ste 260, Palo Alto, CA 94301

415-326-4280    Fax 415-326-9165


Best Guide to Using Windows NT Effectively
The Best Guide to Using Windows NT Effectively

By A Windows and Network Expert

Berkeley, CA-- Osborne/McGraw-Hill announces publication of Windows NT Inside & Out ($27.95, ISBN: 0-07-881826-5, 530 pages) by Tom Sheldon. bestselling author of Windows 3.1 Made Easy and Novell NetWare 4: The Complete Reference.

Written for a diverse audience, including those familiar with DOS, Windows, and other operating systems like UNIX, the book provides a perfect resource for anyone getting started with Windows NT.

In Part I, Sheldon introduces readers to Features and Planning for Windows NT, by covering Windows NT Hardware, NT Hierarchy and Security. Part II focuses on the basics of Using Windows NT including -- using applications. global techniques. working with files, using local and remote printers. utilities and accessories, and more. In Part III, Sheldon provides in-depth coverage of Customizing, Configuring, and Managing Windows NT. then applies his networking expertise by devoting Part IV to in-depth coverage of Network Applications including Microsoft Mail and Microsoft Schedule+. While structured as a tutorial, the book can be opened to any chapter to get information on a specific topic.

Sheldon's direct and comprehensive approach assures readers of a quick and confident start with this powerful new operating system.

Osborne/McGraw-Hill, 2600 Tenth St, Berkeley, CA 94710

510-549-6600,  Fax: 510-549-6603


Windows NT: The Complete Reference

A Survival Kit for Mastering Windows NT Release 1

Berkeley, CA-- Osborne/McGraw-Hill announces publication of Windows NT: The Complete Reference ($29.95, 658 pages, ISBN: 0-07881832-X) by Allen L. Wyatt that provides everything readers need to successfully migrate to Windows NT with complete coverage from installation and basic commands to advanced operations.

Readers familiar with Osborne's Complete Reference series will appreciate this book's over 200-page carefully constructed alphabetical reference section that clearly explains and illustrates every Windows NT command and function.

In addition to the reference section. Wyatt, author of over a dozen bestselling computer books offers a complete tutorial to NT. Divided into five parts. Part 1's Up Front with Windows NT begins with an overview, followed by Part 2's, Putting Windows NT to Work a detailed user guide to the product. Part 3's Getting More from Windows NT discusses NTs advanced capabilities including customization, enhancements, networking, and security features. The Command Reference section in Part 4 is followed by Part 5's appendixes with information on installation and the Configuration Registry.

With this Complete Reference, readers can harness the power and potential of Windows NT and get productive results in a flash.

Osborne/McGraw-Hill, 2600 Tenth St, Berkeley, CA 94710

510-549-6600,  Fax: 510-549-6603


Windows NT Programming Handbook
Windows NT Programming Handbook -- The Authoritative Guide to Getting The Most From Windows NT

Berkeley, CA-- Osborne/McGraw-Hill announces publication of Windows NT Programming Handbook ($29.95, ISBN: 0-07-881873-7, 300 pages) by Herb Schildt, one of the world's best-known C/C++ programming authorities.

Written for programmers getting started with developing applications under Windows NT, Schildt has written a well-organized, all encompassing handbook with detailed coverage of what Schildt considers, "the operating system that will take personal computing into the next century." Programers can replace volumes of incomplete documentation and confusing manuals, with this single volume.

Schildt begins with an overview of Windows NT and Windows NT programming basics. Subsequent chapters cover important programming topics that include processing messages, message boxes and menus, dialog boxes, creating custom icons, cursors, and bitmaps, controls. text. graphics and more. Also covered are features unique to Windows NT including consoles and multithread programming, as well as special 16-bit conversion notes to help programmers porting older Windows applications into the new Windows NT system.

With the Windows NT Programming Handbook, programmers, can make a fast transition to Microsoft's powerful new operating system.

Osborne/McGraw-Hill, 2600 Tenth St, Berkeley, CA 94710

510-549-6600,  Fax: 510-549-6603


Under A Killing Moon - Interactive Movie
Under A Killing Moon

Work on the anxiously awaited Interactive Movie, UNDER A KILLING MOON, is progressing well. As the first real Interactive Movie, Under A Killing Moon transports you to the virtual world of the feisty detective Tex Murphy. You are free to explore the virtual world at your leisure and solve Tex's cases.

Of course Under A Killing Moon has movie stars, more stars than have ever appeared together in a made-for-computer production. Margot Kidder, Brian Keith and Russell Means bring the virtual world to life

More realistic, more entertaining and more engaging than you ever thought possible!

Coming this winter on 2 CD-ROM's. Disk-condensed version to follow about three months later.

Access Software has been in business for over 10 years, creating definitive entertainment titles including the worldwide best seller, Links 386 Pro.

Access Software

4910 W. Amelia Earhart Dr, Salt Lake City, UT 84116

801-359-2900;  fax: 801-359-2968


HLPDK Help Development Kit Version 9.0
Write once, HELP many! Now with character format control!

September 5, 1993 -- HLPDK is a shareware hyper-text help database development kit, distributed by ISoft D&M, that includes two royalty free help engines and a help compiler with a built in cross reference tool. HLPDK supports the creation of help files for many target formats from one help source. Supported targets are:

* Windows 3.0/3.1 winHelp .HPJ/.RTF

* THELP 3.0 .HL (HL 6.0 & 6.10).

* QuickHelp 1.83 .SRC (HELPMAKE).

* POPHELP.TXT (MAKEHELP)

* OS/2 .IPF (IPFC)

* DESQview/X .HLP (MDVXHELP)

* TVHC 1.1 .TXT (TVHC).

* Native (Paradox 4.x & text).

* Native (Memory HDX & text).

* Word Processors (via RTF)

* Text Documents with automatic table of contents, glossary

  and index.

Version 9.0 adds support for automatic group menu generation, improved character format control (font, size etc ..) and more.

Developing help text is an important but often neglected part of application development. Developers often run out of time and/or money long before they even start it. Not a easy task to begin with (it requires skills in both application design and technical writing), today's help systems also require programming expertise and a good measure of time. As a result, many applications have inadequate help systems that do not really fulfill their objective - help the user. The problem is even more complex when an application has more than one target environment, each one using different formats and programming techniques to generate help text.

HLPDK cannot solve all the problems involved in help text generation, but it helps a lot. It allows you to write one help text source and compile it to many different targets. Take existing texts (user manuals, technical notes, etc.), add simple help commands, compile them and you have a complete help system with hot-links, indexes and directories !

You can download HLPDK from your favorite BBS or get the registered version directly from ISoft D&M (PO Box 5517, Coralville, IA 52241, Compuserve: 76350,333). Registration fee is $50. Help Engine sources can be obtained for an additional fee.


Visual Guide to Visual Basic for Windows
Ventana Visualizes a Whole New Approach to Visual Basic for Windows

Chapel Hill, NC--What better way to showcase the advantages of Visual Basic 3.0 than visually? With more than 600 illustrations, The Visual Guide to Visual Basic for Windows, Second Edition from Ventana Press does just that.

The definitive reference for the popular Windows programming language offers complete coverage of 400+ commands, techniques and tools in an easy-to-use alphabetized listing. With a user-friendly approach echoing that of the language itself, former Compute editor Richard Mansfield combines years of programming expertise with an appealing, readable style.

Lauded in its first edition for its comprehensive, visually stimulating layout, the Second Edition of The Visual Guide to Visual Basic for Windows reveals how to

* Create customized Windows applications to meet specific needs.

* Design animated controls.

* Make Windows programs communicate with each other.

* Tap into more than 600 powerful commands built into Windows

  itself.

* Master the secret techniques the experts use to make their

  programs visually exciting and easy to use.

* Build efficient, powerful database managers with the new

  Data Control.

Richard Mansfield's books on computers, including Desktop Publishing With Word Perfect 6 (Ventana Press), have sold over 250,000 copies worldwide. He was the Editor-in-Chief of Compute magazine for seven years.

The Visual Guide to Visual Basic for Windows, Second Edition is softcover, 1,388 pages with 600 illustrations. Suggested retail price: $29.95. ISBN: 1-56604-063-9.

Ventana Press publishes books that help computer users make the most of their hardware and software. Bestselling titles include Looking Good in Print, Voodoo Windows, The Windows Shareware 500, Looking Good With CorelDRAW! and Voodoo DOS. All titles are available in bookstores and through Ventana Press, P.O. Box 2468, Chapel Hill, NC 27515;  919/942-0220; FAX, 919/942-1140.


Voodoo OS/2, Tips & Tricks With an Attitude
OS/2 GETS VENTANA VOODOO TREATMENT

New Book Demystifies OS/2 2.0 and 2.1

Chapel Hill, NC -- Even to veterans, OS/2 sometimes looks like so much voodoo. But this hatful of tricks from master OS/2 sorcerer Allen Taylor lets users quickly translate the mumbo jumbo into the fastest, most reliable system available for running the PC.

"Books in the Ventana Voodoo series give quick solutions to problems and answers to questions that occur frequently but are not well-documented elsewhere," explains author Taylor. "With Voodoo OS/2, readers will learn to use OS/2 to accomplish more in less time and with less hassle."

Voodoo OS/2 puts the real power of OS/2 to work with a revealing array of secrets for optimizing efforts and avoiding costly traps. Users at all levels will discover tips for

* Orienting to OS/2 - launching and navigating safely, desktop

  menu magic, dialog boxes, controls and more.

* Adapting OS/2 - choosing colors, transforming the desktop,

  teaching an old mouse new tricks and otherwise magically

  altering the environment to fit individual styles.

* Empowering programs - running OS/2, Windows and DOS

  applications, folder and file fetishes and miscellaneous

  program spells.

* Working wonders with Workplace Shell - manipulating objects,

  window wizardry, finding lost files and other disk tricks.

* Demystifying multimedia - audio and video voodoo, hardware and

  hook-up hocus pocus, enchanting effects and more.

* Achieving OS/2 mastery - presto productivity, curse-free

  printing, multitasking magic, supernatural setup secrets

  and more.

Even the most wizened OS/2 wizard will find a surprising spell or two to transform the first true 32-bit operating system into a tool for top productivity and creativity.

Allen G. Taylor is president of Computer Power, a Portland, Oregon consulting firm specializing in system development, software design, database design and technology marketing. He is also a bestselling author, nationally recognized speaker and adjunct professor of computing science at Linfield College.

Voodoo OS/2 is softcover, 7 3/8" x 9 1/4", 238 pages with 120 illustrations. ISBN: 1-56604-066-3; Suggested retail price: $24.95.

Ventana Press publishes books and other materials that help computer users become more productive, including The Visual Guide to Visual Basic for Windows, Voodoo Windows, Looking Good in Print, The Windows Shareware 500, DOS, WordPerfect & Lotus Office Companion, Desktop Publishing With WordPerfect and Voodoo DOS. All titles are available in bookstores and through Ventana Press, P.O. Box 2468, Chapel Hill, NC 27515; 919/ 942-0220; FAX, 919/942-1140.


Actix Prostar VL Local Bus Windows Accelerator
ACTIX SYSTEMS SHIPS PROSTAR VL WINDOWS ACCELERATOR FOR LOCAL BUS

32-Bit Display Accelerator With 24 Bit-True Color Uses Cirrus Logic Graphics Accelerator Chip To Support 1024 x 768 Non-Interlaced Monitors And Industry's Highest Refresh Rates

September 8, 1993 -- (SANTA CLARA, CA)--Actix Systems, Inc., a leading designer and manufacturer of Microsoft Windows accelerators and other high-end video graphics adapter cards for IBM-compatible PC's, has begun shipping its ProSTAR VL Series, according to Philip Grasso, Vice President of sales and marketing.

The ProSTAR VL is the most cost-effective accelerated display solution in the market, said Grasso. This will join Actix's mid-to high-end line of Windows Accelerators, based on the S-3 chip. At a price less than Actix's basic GE32 model for ISA, ProSTAR is a true 32-bit bus design for VESA Local Bus. The board supports 1024 x 768 non-interlaced resolution and delivers sharp, stable images to VGA, SVGA, and multisync color monitors, making it ideal for Windows users with a 14-inch or 1 S-inch monitor. The ProSTAR VL also supports 16.8 million colors and up to 90 Hz refresh rate.

Actix maintains its support of higher refresh rates and exceeds worldwide image quality standards with the ProSTAR VL. Grasso believes supporting high refresh rates on the newest, multisync monitors will be as important to many users as the number of colors, size of screen or even BitBlt rankings. ProSTAR VL supports 90 Hz refresh at 640 x 480 resolution and 800 x 600 resolution in 256 colors.

In addition to high refresh rates, ProSTAR VL displays the full range of color depths (from 256 to 16.8 million colors) and supports high resolutions (up to 1280 x 1024), allowing the most exacting graphics work possible. ProSTAR VL contains a sizable selection of drivers, including Windows 3. 1, OS/2 2.0 and 2.1, AutoCAD 11 and 12, GEM 3.0 and 3.1, Ventura Publisher 2.0, WordPerfect, Lotus 123, MS Word, WordStar, and more.

The Cirrus Logic graphic drawing engine, CL-GD5428, is featured in the ProSTAR VL design. The CL-GD5428 graphics drawing engine is an enhanced VGA chip, which accelerates graphics in Windows, CAD and other graphic environments. This chip enables the improvement of overall graphics performance, including significant speed improvements over the fastest standard VGA and 16-bit VRAM-based accelerators. Operations such as dragging objects with the mouse, text scrolls and re-sizing windows are significantly improved.

The CL-GD5428 features a 15-, 16-, or 24-bit direct-color palette DAC, which provides up to 16.8 million colors on-screen at once to display vivid images. Other significant features include the independent video and DRAM timing which optimizes performance, and an advanced write buffer architecture.

The ProSTAR VL,, is designed for the VESA Local Bus at a maximum processor speed of 66 MHz, with 32-bit data and I/O transfer widths. The adapter also includes VESA BIOS and feature connector, and D Sub Miniature 15 pin (VGA standard) video connector. All Actix Windows accelerator boards are primarily designed to speed up Microsoft Windows, but will also speed up the on-screen graphics performance of CAD/CAM, illustration software, desktop publishing and multimedia applications. ProSTAR VL is now shipping and retails for $179.

Actix Systems

3060 Tasman Drive, Santa Clara, CA 95054

(408) 986-1625.   Fax: (408) 986-1646.


Galaxie Software Announces BibleScript 2.0
GALAXIE SOFTWARE ANNOUNCES BIBLESCRIPT 2.0 SOFTWARE

DALLAS -- August 1993 -- Dallas-based Galaxie Software announces BibleScript 2.0, a new software series offering Greek and Hebrew character capabilities at an inexpensive price.

The most unique feature of BibleScript is that it allows Windows 3.1 users to type Hebrew from right to left in any Windows based wordprocessor, drawing program or desktop publishing package. The user can type directly in the application, not in a notepad from which the text must be pasted later.

The BibleScript series includes two software packages: A Biblical Studies pack and a Hebrew only package. Fonts are also sold separately.

The Biblical Studies package with Biblical Greek and Hebrew, transliterated Hebrew and Greek Uncials retails for $99.95 and allows users to type in both languages. Using the customized keyboard templates, users may easily produce transliterated Hebrew, fully pointed Hebrew and fully accented Greek. The Greek Uncial script is helpful for textual critics commenting on possible scribal errors.

The Hebrew only package containing two Hebrew fonts also retails for $99.95. Other Hebrew fonts available separately for $59.95.

BibleScript fonts are fully scalable and may be used in word processors, tables, charts, footnotes or graphics programs. Greek, Hebrew and English fonts may be combined within the same document in bold, italic or bold italic styles.

According to Hampton Keathley, president of Galaxie Software, "The BibleScript series has greater capabilities than similar software packages on the market today."

Windows 3.1 running in enhanced mode is required for the right to left module to operate. A font manager is necessary to implement the Type 1 fonts in Windows 3.0.

Galaxie Software develops specialized font packages for both distributors and end-users.

Galaxie Software

214/414-5322,   800/723-8965


Farallon EtherWave 10BASE-T Adapters & More
Farallon Computing, Inc. has announced EtherWave, a new line of IBM compatible PCs and Mac daisy chainable 10BASE-T (RJ-45) adapters, cards, and transceivers for Ethernet.

Use EtherWave to expand 10BASE-T networks by simply "daisy-chaining" PCs,  Macs, PowerBooks, and printers from a single RJ-45 hub port or wall jack.  EtherWave saves you time and money because you don't have to pull additional  cabling simply to add a few more network nodes in an office or workspace. Use  EtherWave to expand the capacity of already installed 10BASE-T wiring hubs and  concentrators.

Use EtherWave products to quickly and easily create small, ad hoc networks by  building up to 8-node networks without a hub. No special understanding of  Ethernet, structured wiring, or 10BASE-T is required. And, because it is 100%  10BASE-T compatible, small EtherWave networks can easily grow into or be  connected to larger Ethernet networks.

EtherWave adapters finally make it possible to simply and reliably add  PowerBooks, printers, slotless Macs, and even Newton MessagePads to Ethernet  networks. Simply plug the appropriate adapter into the LocalTalk port of these  devices and connect them to other PCs or Macs, or directly to a 10BASE-T port.  For Macs and PowerBooks, an optional high speed serial driver boosts the  EtherWave Adapter to better than SCSI adapter performance without the hassle.

ETHERWAVE FAMILY HIGHLIGHTS

--EtherWave Cards, Adapters, and Transceivers are 100% 10BASE-T compatible.  They work with any 10BASE-T port or network.

--All EtherWave PC and Macintosh Cards, Transceivers, and Mac Adapters have 2  self-terminating RJ-45 ports. Unlike thinnet, adding nodes to the network doesn't require bringing the network down. EtherWave cards can be used in a daisy-chain or more traditional star configuration connected directly to a hub.

--EtherWave products can be used together to create networks of up to 8 nodes  and 100 meters (330 feet) end-to-end without a hub. EtherWave products can be  also used to add up to 7 additional devices to any 10BASE-T hub port. Any  10BASE-T product such as EtherMac(tm) cards or Ether10-T Starlet(tm) can be  installed at the ends of an EtherWave daisy chain.

--The Auto Crossover feature means that installing EtherWave products can be  done without any concern about using "crossover" or "straight-through" RJ-45  cables.

--A set of diagnostic LEDs is located on each Card, Adapter, and Transceiver,  simplifying installation and providing at-a-glance network monitoring.

--EtherWave's Power-off, passthrough feature means that powering off a Mac or  PC with an EtherWave Card, Adapter, or Transceiver installed does not cause any network disruption.

--EtherWave products won't impact a network's repeater hop count budget.  10BASE-T networks are limited to no more than 4 repeater hubs between 2  network nodes. With EtherWave, larger networks can be safely expanded, with no  impact to network performance.

--A 4.5-meter (15 feet) level-3 RJ-45 cable is included with each Card, Adapter, and Transceiver.

--Lifetime Warranty on all EtherWave products.

Farallon Computing, Inc.

2470 Mariner Square Loop

Alameda, CA 94501-1010 USA

(510) 814-5000,   Fax  (510) 814-5023


BIG BLUES: The Unmaking of IBM
"A detailed and devastating portrait of life inside the International Business Machines Corporation ... Mr. Carroll creates a you-are-there feel that will seem fresh even to veteran I.B.M. watchers."

--The New York Times Book Review

                    BIG BLUES: THE UNMAKING OF IBM

"The demise of IBM is a distinctly American Tragedy," says Paul Carroll, author of BIG BLUES: THE UNMAKING OF IBM (Crown Publishers, Inc., September 15, 1993).  "Founded on one man's vision, it grew to the point that it employed more people than the next five biggest computer companies combined, but IBM was blinded by arrogance and stopped competing.  The coming months are critical to determining its survival."  Once a paragon of success, professionalism, and market domination, IBM has, in the past few years, taken writeoffs close to $30 billion, wiping out nearly half the profits IBM has earned in its eighty-year history.  BIG BLUES is an inside look at what brought the most successful corporation in American history to its knees, shedding light on the problems that recently forced IBM to cut tens of thousands of additional jobs and report one of the largest losses any company has ever seen.

Carroll, A Wall Street Journal reporter, covered IBM for seven years, allowing him extraordinary access to its executives.  In BIG BLUES, Carroll not only details where IBM went wrong, but also reports boardroom revelations, provides personal anecdotes about the major players involved, and, through extensive interviews, brings into the story many of the other key figures in the computer and software industries.  "I thought it was important to capture the psychology of IBM, as well as evaluating its business decisions," says Carroll. "Many of IBM's actions seem senseless if you don't understand the feeling of infallibility and entitlement that permeated its hallways."

When Tom Watson, Sr., took command in 1914, IBM quickly became the unparalleled leader in tabulating machines, then dominated the mainframe computer industry as it began to develop in the 1950s and 1960s.  It was the PC explosion--which, ironically, IBM itself helped to start--that, in the 1980s, would herald the beginnings of trouble at IBM.  "The PC changed the computer market in fundamental ways, and IBM couldn't come to grips with that," says Carroll.  "IBM had plenty of opportunities in the PC business, but it would have needed to change to seize them, and it couldn't.  It was the most profitable, the most admired, the best company in the world at that time--so the concept of change was beyond them."  IBM's incredibly formal organizational structure, its reliance on jazzy presentations at the expense of action, and its endless task forces and meetings, made it a lumbering beast trying to play catch-up with responsive renegades like Apple and Microsoft.

BIG BLUES describes the inner workings of IBM, including its dreaded Management Committee, the company's luxurious version of the Supreme Court; its paranoid security measures, including security escorts on plane rides, there to verify that no prying eyes looked at company papers; and its stormy relationship with Bill Gates and Microsoft, where Big Blue culture clashed with a young company's informality--and lost.  One misjudgment alone cost IBM billions of dollars, as IBM haughtily declined when, in 1986, Microsoft asked them to buy 10% of Microsoft's stock for a pittance--a mistake reported for the first time in BIG BLUES.  There were many more misjudgments where Microsoft was concerned.

             * NOW AT YOUR LOCAL BOOKSTORE! *


FAN MAIL - Electronics Age Thriller
*Do you enjoy reading other people's mail?*

It's the only way to unmask the killer in Ronald Munson's new super-thriller FAN MAIL -- a brilliantly written tale of terror told in the form of faxes, phone messages, memos, e-mail, bug tapes, and some very creepy fan letters.

Read between the lines and you'll be jolted by shock after shock as you pick up the clues in the ingenious masterpiece of suspense -- the ultimate thriller for the electronic nineties.

"A fantasically crafty nail-biter...probably the best high-tech lady-in-jeopardy novel since _Sliver_." -- STEPHEN KING

"What a terrific thriller..scary, witty, and very funny."

   -- James Patterson, author of _Along Came a Spider_

"Wickedly entertaining...a fast-paced spellbinder."

   -- starred, _Publishers Weekly_

FAN MAIL by Ronald Munson

Published by DUTTON

            Penguin USA

At bookstores now, or to order with MasterCard or Visa, call 1-800-253-6476 (U.S. orders only; $2 shipping/handling).

ISBN  0-525-93624-6    $20.00


The Joy of CyberSex Explores Online Erotica
_The Joy of CyberSex_ Explores the Online Erotica Technology Revolution

Behind the screen of the average, unassuming computer, now lies asteamy underworld of erotic images and adult-only entertainment.  X-rated bulletin board services strip games, interactive online sexua lencounters and CD-ROMs packed with explici graphics and video clips are now as close as a personal computer.

Online erotica, or cybersex, is fast becoming one of the most controversial and explosive topics in the computer industry.  Major network television shows such as the CBS EVENING NEWS with Dan Rather and Hard Copy have featured this new computer revolution.  _Odyssey_, one of hundreds of available online services, has been featured on Donahue and ABC's "Primetime Live."

Leading the way into this new world is _The Joy of CyberSex: An Underground guide to Electronic Erotica_ from Brady Books.  the book is a humorous, provocative tour through the backrooms of more than 30 popular BBS's such as _Odyssey_, _Nix Pix , _Penthouse Online_, and _Pleasure Dome_.

In writing the book, Nancy Tamosaitis interviewed subscribers of erotica bulletin board services, including _The English Palace_, one of the largest S&M/B&D boards in the country, _The Swinging Door_, and _Jezebel's Parlour_.

Descriptions of the service, its modern numbers, and history are covered within the book.  Actual messages from the bulletin boards are included, as well as conversations between the authors and online users.  A special section provides detaile information for new users who want to get in touch with other subscribers.

All you want to know about cybersex but were afraid to ask is humorously 'exposed' in _The Joy of CyberSex_.  If you're looking to get turned on after booting up, we will show you where to go for cybersexual satisfaction," states Nancy Tamosaitis.

The book gives the novice user an intitiation into the bold new world of electronic erotica and is the experienced user's premier guide to the best and the latest in the cybersex world.  Phillip

Robinson looks into the future of cybersex and teledildonics -- where every fantasy will become a reality.  Peter Spear artfully guides the new user through the underground world of sexy CD-ROMs, games and new media.

The book comes with a companion disk containing demonstration versions of _Strip Poker Three_ and _Jigsaw Pinups_ from Artworx Software Company.  A disclaimer is printed on the book cover concerning the adult themes that are present in the visu l and written content.  The disk also contains a warning label for its graphic visuals.

Robinson resides in Sausalito, CA, and is the author of more than a dozen books in the computer field.  Tamosaitis of New York City, a public relations professional, has written for many cultural trend publications, including _The Instrumentali t_ and _Single Times_. Also contributing to the book are California residents Peter Spear, a writer, producer and software consultant, and Virginia Soper, a free-lance writer.

The Joy of CyberSex: An Underground guide to Electronic Erotica_ by Nancy Tamosaitis and Phillip Robinson $24.95 (book/disk set) 256 pp.


      Learning the UNIX Operating System

     By Grace Todino, John Strang & Jerry Peek

3rd Edition, 108 pages, ISBN: 1-56592-060-0, $9.95 US

We have published a newly-revised edition of our basic introduction  to UNIX.  It has been updated for the newest versions of UNIX.  This  third edition also includes new information on common commands for using  networks, window systems, and electronic mail.

   Table of Contents

     1:  Getting Started

     2:  Using Window Systems

     3:  Your UNIX Account

     4:  File Management

     5:  Redirecting I/O

     6:  Multi-tasking

     7:  Where to Go From Here

   Appendices

     A: Reading List

     B: Reference

-----------------------------------------------------------------

This and other O'Reilly books are available in North America, Japan,  and South and Central America through bookstores or directly from  the publisher.  To contact:  FAX (707/829-0104), phone 707/829-0515  (800/998-9938 in US & Canada), e-mail (order@ora.com), access our gopher catalog by "telnet gopher.ora.com. login as gopher", or  write O'Reilly & Associates, 103 Morris St., Sebastopol, CA.,  95472, US.  GSA # GS-02F-6095A

Beginning 11 August 1993, O'Reilly books will have new  international distributors:

*  UK, Europe, Middle East, and Africa (except Germany) through  International Thomson Publishing, Berkshire House, 168-173 High  Holborn, London WC1V 7AA, UK.  Telephone 071 497 1422; FAX 071 497 1426;  or e-mail allison.lawrence@itpuk.co.uk

*  Germany through International Thomson Publishing, Konigswinterer Strabe 418, 53227 Bonn, Germany. Telephone 0-228-445171-75; FAX 0-228-441342; or email 1002727.2422@compuserve.com

*  Asia through International Thomson Publishing, 221 Henderson Rd., #05-10 Henderson Building, Singapore 0315. Telephone  65-02-272-6497, FAX 65-02-272-6498

* Australia and New Zealand through Woodslane, Unit 8,  101 Darley Street, Monavale, NSW 2103, Australia.  Telephone  61-2-979-5944, Fax: 61-2-997-3348, e-mail: woods@tmx.mhs.oz.au


STAT!-Ref Oncology Library on CD-ROM
Jackson, Wyoming -- Teton Data Systems and Lea & Febiger proudly announce the release of the STAT!-Ref Oncology Library on CD-ROM. The library will feature Cancer Medicine by Holland and Frel and Physician Data Query from NCI. The library will also include The Medical Letter and Handbook of Adverse Drug Interactions both from The Medical Letter, the American Society of Hospital Pharamicists' Drug Formulary and Scientific American Medicine. Also, a Clinical MEDLINE is available, which is a collection of 5 to 10 years of worth of Oncology focused journal abstracts and citations from 30 leading journals. Teton Data Systems' hierarchical software gives the Oncologist access to the full text and tables of these books in a quick and easy to use electronic format.

According to John Spahr, President of Lea & Febiger, "With rapid advances in Oncology research and treatment, a publisher must fulfill the changing information needs of its customers. By providing both a printed book and an electronic retrieval system like CD-ROM, we are able to meet our customer's needs of quick retrieval of the expert information from Holland & Frel: Cancer Medicine 3rd edition."

In addition, The National Cancer Institute is praticularly pleased to have the PDQ database available on STAT!-Ref. PDQ, a database that has been providing the most current information available on the care and treatment of cancer patients for almost a decade, includes sections on cancer screening and prevention, state-of-the-art cancer therapy, clinical protocols evaluating new methods of cancer treatment, and the management of side effects caused by both cancer and its treatment. Susan Hubbard, Associate Director of the National Cancer Institute, states "We welcome the addition of STAT!-Ref to our many means of disseminating PDQ information, and we are excited at the prospect of enlarging our audience through STAT!-Ref Oncology Library on CD-ROM."

Teton Data Systems currently publishes STAT!-Ref Primary Care Medical Library and STAT!-Ref Cardiology Medical Library on compact disc for the Macintosh and PC running Windows. STAT!-Ref contains over 30 titles from 18 of the most respected medical publishers in the world along with a Clinical MEDLINE subset for each specialty of citation and abstracts from over 20 leading journals.

Teton Data Systems

211 East Broadway, PO Box 3082, Jackson, WY 83001

800-755-STAT,  307-733-5494,  fax 307-739-1229


Legalmaster Law Firm Financial Mgmt Swr
Legalmaster

Law Firm Financial Management Software for the Connoisseur

Legalmaster is for the person who recognizes that software properly designed and written can turn a function as mundane as time accounting and billing into a pleasurable, rewarding and creative experience. While there are hundreds of time and billing packages available, Legalmaster has repeatedly won plaudits from both users and independent consultants. Legalmaster is currently in use by over 12,000 Attorneys in Law Firms, Corporate Legal Departments et alii in organizations of from one to 300 professionals. Since smaller firms pay less for functionally equivalent software, Legalmaster is equally attractive to firms of virtually any size.

An exceptional feature of Legalmaster is its manufacturer's add-on policy. You can choose those modules that are cost-effective to you now and add others as you need them.

Legalmaster consists of a standard version and eight optional modules, each performing a variety of functions. All of the modules are fully integrated, thereby eliminating the need for any redundant entry of information.

Standard Version: Roughly half of all Legalmaster's users choose to get only what we call the standard version. This version allows you to keep track of time and advanced costs for billing purposes, print bills in a few thousand formats (which may vary from client to client or matter to matter), split the fees and costs for a matter among multiple clients, maintain accounts receivable (fees, costs, finance charges, sales taxes), monitor retainer and escrow trust accounts, produce a wide variety of management reports, and store detailed financial transactions indefinitely. The standard version also includes a series of report writers allowing you to tailor your own reports; we call them MIRC, Management Information Report Control.

It is difficult in this limited space to convey the wealth of Legalmaster's features that, taken together, so easily separate this product from those that consider themselves competitors.

* Clients and Matters may be entered "on the fly" during the entry of financial transactions, thereby eliminating the necessity of exiting from one function to perform the other.

* What CSP calls "narrative description codes" may be created to avoid the need to type commonly used phrases; these abbreviations may also be added on the fly, so you may create one just as you realize the need for it. Legalmaster will even capitalize the first letter in whatever a code represents if the code begins a sentence.

* Clients, Matters, Attorneys, etc. may be looked up in pop-up windows, so you needn't memorize any codes.

* A time or cost entry may be altered in any way without having to delete and reenter the transaction. A time entry may even be moved from one matter to another and Legalmaster automatically recalculates the billing rate.

* Activity for one matter may be split among multiple clients; though the transactions are entered but once, they appear on all bills with a pro-rata calculation of the total.

* The sophisticated date sensitivity of Legalmaster permits you to enter the current month's activity prior to billing and closing last month.

* Hundreds of thousands of historical transactions may be retained with virtually no response degradation to the day-to-day functions of the software.

* A series of reports may be requested to be printed automatically one after another so that many periodically required reports may be run overnight by an unattended machine.

Legalmaster's optional modules:

Import -- There are many sources of billable data that you may wish to pass on to your clients. Legalmaster's Import Module accepts data from about two dozen other softwware and hardware systems to assist you in recovering costs advanced without rekeying the data.

Remote is used by firms that wish to be able to enter financial activity at more than one computer but either do not have a network or do not wish certain people to have access to the network. Data at the remote station(s) may be passed to the host machine via floppy diskettes or cable. The remote stations may perform code validations and look-ups.

Conflicts is designed to minimize the likelihood that you are involved with the same person in more than one matter. Its purpose is to assist you in avoiding malpractice. Many malpractice insurance carriers require (or reward you with lower premiums if you have) an automated conflicts system. The primary advantage of Legalmaster's Conflict Module is that it searches through client and matter names in the billing system as well as through additional names that you may enter.

Working Attorney Revenue Distribution is designed for firms that frequently have more than one timekeeper working on the same matter and wish to be able to allocate the fee portion of the receipt. This module is unrelate to the billing function per se, it is purely a managment reporting function, although its data come from the same sources as does the billing information.

The G/L interface is generally licensed by firms that have fairly sophisticated charts of accounts in their General Ledgers and wish the accounts receivable transactions captured by Legalmaster to be sent to the G/L with no redundant entry required. Without this module, Legalmaster is still capable of producing reports with totals for G/L posting.

Legalmaster's calendar is a sophisticated appointment book permitting reports to be sorted by client, matter, employee, date, type of event, etc.

Merge is used by firms with multiple offices, each of which has its own complete version of Legalmaster, but the home office wishes to produce company-wide reports.

Security is used primarily by firms who are on a network and who don't feel all of their users should have access to all functions or data. One unique and commonly requested feature allows a user to be limited to whose time may be entered or altered.

SUPPORT/TRAINING: CSP's support has been repeatedly touted as the best in the business (by, among others, the ABA). All phone calls to the company are answered directly fo the support department. Average response time is 10 seconds! The length of the free period of unlimited support is six months for firms with more than 10 timekeepers, three months for all others.

Training conventions are held three times per year and moved about the country. On-site training is also available; one intensive day is all that is typically required.

SUPPORT MATERIALS: Legalmaster comes with a 600 page Users' Reference Manual showing every screen and describing every keystroke. The manual has been evaluated for completeness and understandability by, among others, Price Waterhouse and IBM Corporation.

DEMONSTRATION: A fully functional demonstration version is available for $15 ($70 if you want the complete manual). This fee applies towards the license. The demonstration version includes sample data; you may add your own, as well.

Computer Software for Professionals Inc

1615 Broadway, Suite 1400, Oakland, CA 94612

510-444-5316,   fax 510-444-5344


TALKShow Desktop Document Conferencing Swr
FUTURE LABS, INC. ANNOUNCES TALKShow, A DESKTOP DOCUMENT CONFERENCING SOFTWARE PACKAGE FOR WINDOWS

Cupertino, California -- Future Labs Inc. announces TALKShow Version 1.0. This interactive desktop document conferencing software for Windows is an affordable alternative communication solution. AT $199, TALKShow is just a fraction of the cost of video conferencing.

Utilizing a modem, network, or ISDN line, TALKShow allows multiple users to simultaneously review, discuss and annotate changes on TALKShow's White Board from the comfort and convenience of their desk. The introduction of desktop conferencing software eliminates the need to travel and meet in person and avoids multiple exchanges of fax documents.

TALKShow is a revolutionary way of communicating and doing business. It is designed to help individuals save time and be more productive. In real time, users can interactively review any document, spreadsheet, schematic, CAD design or bitmap picture. TALKShow can be used in conjunction with any DOS or Windows applications and incorporates easy-to-use tools and intuitive menus. The annotating tools are similar to those utilized in any meeting room: the standard white board, colored markers, pointers and eraser.

"Future Labs developed TALKShow to allow busy professionals to quickly and effectively discuss and finalize details visually as a compliment to their telephone conference. With this revolutionary software, people can communicate and collaborate on decisions more conveniently," said John Chua, President and CEO of Future Labs. "With TALKShow decisions can be made faster, without the routine delays involved in exchanging hardcopy documents," he concluded.

"It's a whole new way of working," said Dean Villegas, CAD Administrator of LSI Logic Corporoation and Executive Director of South Bay AutoCAD Power Users. "One major application that I can see for this product is in the product design and quality assurance areas. Anyone who uses a CAD system understands the need to communicate effectively and to shorten design-cycle times." he stated.

"TALKShow helps the company speed up the review cycle between clients, vendors and editors," said Sandy Dhuyvetter, President of Electronic Pen, Inc. "Our clients can review and approve graphics and video images all in one TALKShow conferencing session," she aded.

The requirements for TALKShow are: OS 3.3 an Winows 3.1 or later, a 386 or 486 platform with a 4MB memory. TALKShow can be used with any communications link, including: NetBIOS compatible network, Hayes compatible modem and ISDN link. TALKShow also supports Microsoft Object Linking and Embedding (OLE). Complete documentation and technical support are provided by Future Labs from its Cupertino headquarters. TALKShow is available today at $199 per single license. Multiple license agreements are also available.

Future Labs, Inc., founded in 1989, is the market leader in the design and development of software only desktop document conferencing solutions, which allow multiple users to conduct remote electronic meetings from various locations and platforms using the communications vehicle of choice.

Future Labs Inc

19925 Stevens Creek Blvd, Cupertino, CA

408-973-7228,  fax 408-736-8030


ZIPMAN Win/OS2 PKZIP/PKUNZIP Front Interface
Software Builders Inc. announces ZIPMAN for PKZIP/PKUNZIP for Windows and OS/2

ZIPMAN is a full featured Windows and OS/2 front interface to PKZIP/PKUNZIP. It allows a user to point and click and drag and drop to compress and uncompress files using PKZIP and PKUNZIP. A user no longer has to remember the options that PKZIP and PKUNZIP require. ZIPMAN has more features than its competitors currently on the market. It is the only PKZIP/PKUNZIP front interface that uses the Windows multi-document interface feature so that a user may open more than one ZIP file at a time for viewing. It is also the only one that can convert ZIP files to Self Extract ZIP files and run the PKZIPFIX program.

ZIPMAN conforms to the Windows File Manager drag and drop specifications so that a user may select and drag files from File Manager and drop them onto ZIPMAN for compression. ZIPMAN also allows users to view any file in a ZIP file without first having to uncompress it. Furthermore, a user can run any program that is compressed in a ZIP file without first having to uncompress it.

The cost for ZIPMAN for Windows is $34.95 and ZIPMAN for OS/2 is $39.95. Site licenses also available.

Headquartered in Atlanta, Software Builders, Inc. is an up and coming company that specializes in writing Windows and OS/2 front interfaces for existing products (usually referred to as a front end). The company's main focus is writing Windows and OS/2 front ends for VM, MVS and UNIX applications. However, Software Builders, Inc. will also write front end DOS applications. For more information, call 800-432-0025 (in Atlanta or outside the U.S. call 404-319-9621) or write to:

Software Builders Inc

1023 Chateau Lane, Smyrna, GA 30082


Legalex Calendar - Docket Calendaring Pckg
Legalex Calendar

Legalex is most popular among litigation professionals. Designed to be operated by the most novice of users, Legalex has features that should also please the most sophisticated. Legalex was developed to adapt to the way you already run your office; you may use the client and matter codes from your present filing system and produce reports that match the format of those that you are used to. If meeting deadlines is a critical part of your practice, Legalex is an excellent tool to help ensure that you never miss one again.

Legalex is a sophisticated docket calendaring package with the vital capability of allowing the user to supply rules, court rules or in-office conventions, that grant one calendar entry the ability to generate others. As a consequence, you may, for example, furnish the date of a court appearance and Legalex automatically calculates and stores the dates of all related required events. Although you  may create your own court rules, rules for many jurisdictions throughout the country are available by subscription, since they're constantly changing, from CSP.

-- Superior Courts (including Fast Track)

-- Municipal Courts

-- Federal Courts

-- Probate

-- Bankruptcy

-- Family Law

-- Workers' Compensation

Legalex is interfaced with the Legalmaster billing system; users of both systems need not reenter shared data.

SUPPORT/TRAINING: CSP's support has been repeatedly touted as the best in the business (by, among others, the ABA). All phone calls to the company are answered directly fo the support department. Average response time is 10 seconds! Legalex includes six months of unlimited telephone support. Thereafter, the fee for an annual contract is $195 for the single-station version and $395 for the networked version.

Training classes are held six times per year. On-site training is also available.

SUPPORT MATERIALS: Legalex comes with a 200 page Users' Reference Manual showing every screen and describing every keystroke.

DEMONSTRATION: A fully functional demonstration version is available for $40 and includes the complete manual. This fee applies towards the license.

COSTS: Single-station $995, multi-user $2495, court rules $75 each for an annual subscription.

Computer Software for Professionals Inc

1615 Broadway, Suite 1400, Oakland, CA 94612

510-444-5316,   fax 510-444-5344


ReelMagic MPEG Playback Card
Sigma Designs Debuts ReelMagic Breakthrough PC Card Delivering Full-Screen, Full-Motion Video with CD-Quality Sound

ReelMagic MPEG Playback Card Opens New Vistas for Games, Education and Presentation Markets

FREMONT, Calif., September 13, 1993 -- Sigma Designs, Inc. (NASDAQ--SIGM), a leading manufacturer of PC and Macintosh displays and multimedia products, today announced ReelMagic MPEG multimedia playback controller card for IBM-PC compatible computers. ReelMagic is a breakthrough product that allows ordinary PC systems to playback full-screen, full-motion, full-color video and CD-quality digital stereo sound -- all from a standard CD-ROM. Due in retail stores by late October, ReelMagic will sell for a suggested list price of $449, which represents a significant new price-performance ratio in multimedia hardware.

ReelMagic is based on the important MPEG (Motion Picture Experts Group) compression standard, which is compatible with a new generation of multimedia software based on MPEG. Most importantly, the MPEG capabilities of ReelMagic will allow standard PCs to take advantage of the upcoming VideoCD standard. VideoCD allows movies, TV shows and other videos to be played from a standard CD-ROM and is a multiplatform standard backed by the VideoCD consortium, which includes 3DO, Philips, Sony, JVC, Masushita, Goldstar, and Samsung. The broad backing behind VideoCD has already attracted commitments from major movie studios to supply films in the VideoCD format.

MPEG is an industry-standard technique for compressing video and audio. MPEG can achieve tremendous compression ratios, often as high as 200 to 1, which allows high-quality video and audio to be played directly from a single-speed CD-ROM. In addition to allowing a PC to play films and videos, the ReelMagic card can bring the benefits of MPEG compression to interactive games, educational software and multimedia products. Other markets will include public information kiosks, technical training applications, and desktop video.

ReelMagic will be supported by more than 12 entertainment and multimedia titles when it ships with more to be introduced by the end of 1993, ready to bring the intensity and realism of full-motion video to MPC Level 1 computers. The first VideoCD titles are expected out in time for the 1993 Christmas season.

According to Frank Leonardi, executive vice president of sales and marketing for Sigma Designs, "Video will now be displayed with realism never before seen on a consumer desktop PC. ReelMagic's quality will rival film in multimedia and educational applications. Best of all, it will satisfy both end user and developer demands at a price that appeals to the gamer as well as the business user. We believe ReelMagic will hit the street at less than $400."

How Does It Work?

The ReelMagic card displays 32,768 colors at resolutions of up to 1024 x 768 at 30 frames per second (fps) -- this is the same playback speed used with today's home TV, but with a higher image resolution. Compliant with VideoCD and with the MPEG standard (ISO CD 1172), ReelMagic supports playback of 30 fps (NTSC), 25 fps (PAL), and 24 fps (film) -- all directly from a standard, single-speed CD-ROM drive. ReelMagic performs the MPEG decompression using its own on-board processor, and does not rely on the system's CPU. This allows ReelMagic to work with even older 386 systems. Onboard MPEG decompression delivers simultaneous audio and video, eliminating the synchronization problems associated with other CD-ROM video standards. The ReelMagic board attaches to the VGA feature connector found on almost all VGA and SuperVGA display cards, so it can display all 32,768 colors on even a basic 16-color VGA card.

ReelMagic uses MPEG audio decompression to provide 16-bit stereo, CD-quality sound simultaneously with video. ReelMagic also doubles as a PC sound card that supports both Windows and DOS sound standards. ReelMagic works with all popular DOS games and applications that are compatible with either the SoundBlaster or AdLib standards. Because ReelMagic provides both 8- and 16-bit PCM sound at a sampling rate of 44.1 kHz and OPL-2 FM synthesis, users can take advantage of the large installed base of both Windows and DOS software applications that incorporate sound capabilities. For users wishing to add other audio features -- such as recording -- ReelMagic can coexist with a second sound card.

Minimum system requirements include a 386SX/16 or higher PC compatible computer, 2MB RAM, 2MB free hard disk space, VGA or SuperVGA card with VESA standard feature connector, VGA or multisync display, CD-ROM drive capable of 150KB/second sustained transfer, Microsoft Windows 3.1 or later, and DOS 5.0 or later.

The ReelMagic Standard

Because of the breakthrough represented by ReelMagic, it is fast becoming a standard for MPEG entertainment and multimedia development. Major entertainment software titles already are under development by such leading companies as Access, Activision, Aris, Interplay, Psygnosis, Readysoft, RainMaker Software, Solid Ideas, Sierra On-Line, Trilobyte, and many more. To ensure that a broad selection of software titles are available at the launch of ReelMagic, Sigma Designs has created an Applications Programming Interface (API) and a set of development tools that were provided to developers early in the product design cycle. Because ReelMagic supports important Windows standards such as MCI and OLE 2.0, it will be easy for developers to incorporate ReelMagic capabilities into their own products and for users to add ReelMagic capabilities to almost any application that supports OLE.

What's Included?

The ReelMagic MPEG playback card comes with an easy-to-use installation program, a full array of drivers and system software, utilities, and a MPEG game, thus providing a complete multimedia package right out of the box. Included are these items:

** 'Return to Zork' from Activision CD-ROM

Return to Zork is the latest game title in the popular Zork series of adventure games. The ReelMagic compatible version of Return to Zork uses ReelMagic to provide spectacular sound and video effects that go far beyond an ordinary computer game.

** Enhanced Windows Driver/Utility

ReelMagic includes a driver which allows Windows multimedia applications to display MPEG movies in documents. Windows applications compliant with Microsoft OLE or the Microsoft MCI standard, such as Microsoft Word, Lotus 1-2-3 Release 4.0 and Asymetrix Compel, can include MPEG movies in documents, bringing vivid action to business presentations, on-line technical manuals, and many other previously static documents.

** Installation and Demo CD

An installation CD-ROM included with ReelMagic permits the user to install the card entirely through software without having to change jumpers or flip DIP switches. An additional feature of the installation driver called "Intelligent Reconfiguration" detects when the configuration of the computer has changed and automatically reconfigures the ReelMagic card. Since ReelMagic has no jumpers on the board, reconfiguration is very easy. Also included on the CD-ROM are interactive demos from a number of current and future ReelMagic-compatible titles.

Pricing and Warranty

The ReelMagic ISA controller will be available in late October 1993 for a suggested list price of $449. An extended five-year warranty comes standard with the controller.

Sigma Designs, headquartered in Fremont, CA, is a leading manufacturer of high-resolution color, grayscale and monochrome display systems, as well as multimedia and video display controllers. Products are available for both PC and Macintosh compatible computers and are designed for end-user productivity and comfort. All Sigma products are sold worldwide through a network of dealers and distributors. For sales or developer information, call 510-770-0100 or fax 510-770-2640.

Sigma Designs Inc

47900 Bayside Parkway, Fremont, CA 94538

510-770-0100,   fax 510-770-2640

----------Frequently Asked Questions and Answers-----------

Q: What is ReelMagic?

A: ReelMagic is a high-powered MPEG playback card with 16-bit DSP sound capabilities. It can provide full-screen, 32,768 color video at 30 frames per second, and CD-quality stereo sound -- all using only a standard VGA/SVGA display card and an MPC1 compliant CD-ROM drive. In addition, ReelMagic is fully compatible with DOS game sound and Windows sound, and includes an interactive Demo CD of current MPEG titles and Activision's adventure game, Return to Zork.

Q: What is MPEG?

A: MPEG - which stands for Motion Picture Experts Group -- is an industry-standard technique for data compression that is optimized for video and audio. By analyzing changes between frames, an MPEG encoder can reduce the file size by a ratio of up to 200:1, thus enabling true full-screen, full-motion video with CD-quality audio. Because MPEG files can be transferred at rates as slow as 150 kilobytes per second, they can be played back directly from CD-ROM. Because MPEG is an open standard, it has attracted support not only from ReelMagic but also from vendors of entertainment systems such as 3DO and CD-I.

Q: What about MPEG 2?

A: Currently, MPEG 2 is still being evaluated and is not a standard. MPEG 2 has been developed exclusively for transmission over TV cable networks - it requires more storage space than is practical on a personal computer. For example, with MPEG 1 compression, a CD-ROM can hold 74 minutes of video and audio; using MPEG 2 compression, only 65 seconds will fit.

Q: What is the VideoCD format?

A: This is a platform-independent standard for delivering video and audio to consumers on CD-ROMs. Recently, several consumer electronics manufacturers, including Philips, JVC, Commodore, Goldstar, and Samsung, announced they will support this form with upcoming VideoCD players. Eventually, the hope is that VideoCD will promote one standard medium -- the CD-ROM - for distributing films, and that this medium will eventually replace video tapes. In fact, Paramount Home Video has already begun converting its libraries to MPEG format for VideoCD distribution. And when the films are released, ReelMagic will be able to play them.

Q: What are the target markets?

A: ReelMagic is a product with broad potential appeal. ReelMagic is especially well suited for the entertainment, education, training, and presentation markets. Games developed for ReelMagic will launch the next generation of computer entertainment. For education and training, ReelMagic offers a low-cost solution for producing high-quality, interactive learning. ReelMagic can enhance presentations to their full multimedia potential by adding full-screen, high-quality video and animation with CD-quality stereo sound.

Q: Is my current PC software compatible with ReelMagic?

A: Yes. ReelMagic is fully compatible with the DOS game standard and the Windows sound standard, so any sound-capable software can take full advantage of its high-quality, 16-bit sound functions. In addition, all video-oriented applications compliant with MS Windows OLE 2.0 will be greatly enhanced by ReelMagic.

Q: Do I need a 486 to use ReelMagic?

A: ReelMagic performs its MPEG decompression with its own onboard processor -- independent of your system and CPU -- so it doesn't require a high-end CPU chip. In fact, even a comparatively slow 16Mhz 386SX system is capable of transferring data from the CD-ROM to the ReelMagic card at the minimum required rate of 150 kilobytes per second.

Q: Will my 16-color VGA card impair ReelMagic's image quality or performance?

A: No. As long as your display card has a standard, VESA-compatible feature connector, it will support ReelMagic. Because ReelMagic simply uses this feature connector to pass through its own video signal to the VGA display card, ReelMagic is unaffected by the number of colors provided by your VGA card. With ReelMagic, you always get the full video quality of 32,768 colors.

Q: How much new software will be available for ReelMagic?

A: A large number of leading game and multimedia developers are already creating software to take full advantage of ReelMagic's impressive video and audio capabilities. The latest titles in this new surge of ReelMagic-supported programs include Return to Zork from Activision, Dragon's Lair from Readysoft, The Eleventh Hour from Trilobyte/Virgin, Lord of the Rings from Interplay, and World View from Aris.

Q: What do I need to take advantage of ReelMagic?

A: ReelMagic is a standard ISA add-in card that fits into any IBM compatible PC with a standard AT-style bus. ReelMagic compatible software is released on CD-ROM, and only a single-speed drive (MPC level 1) is required.


InVision Video Conferencing for Windows
Interop Show Demonstration Highlights Versatility of InVision Windows Video Conferencing Technology

Network Hardware, Software, and LAN/WAN Providers to Jointly Demonstrate New Windows Video Conferencing Technology Using Interop Show Network

SAN FRANCISCO -- At this years Interop 93 August exhibition, InVision Systems Corporation (formerly InterVision Systems) will be demonstrating InVision(tm), Video Conferencing for Windows, at various sites around the show floor using the show network.

Companies expected to participate in the demonstration include Beame & Whiteside, Ltd., LANNET Data Communications, Inc., Optical Data Systems (ODS), Kalpana Inc., ALANTEC, Network Express, Inc., MFS Datanet, Inc., and Performance Systems International (PSI). The demonstration is designed to show that InVision's audio and video conferencing technology has the versatility to support virtually any standards-based networking infrastructure.

InVision, Video Conferencing for Windows, consists of a CODEC (compression/decompression) interface card, a miniature color video camera, a telephone handset module, and software to add video teleconferencing capabilities to any PC workstation. Using Microsoft Windows 3.1 as the interface, InVision supports full-motion, bi-directional audio-video packets across any conventional computer network architecture, including Ethernet, Token Ring, FDDI and ISDN. And InVision can take full advantage of Windows's scalable images and multitasking so users can access files and data while conducting a teleconference.

"InVision is the first company to get it," said Paul Callahan, senior analyst for Forrester Research of Cambridge, Mass. "At the desktop, video conferencing has to rely on PC LAN technology as the distribution mechanism. It's not any easy problem to solve, but that's the reality."

"What InVision offers is a low-cost video conferencing solution that takes advantage of the existing LAN architecture," said Jim Geddes, president of InVision. "In all the demonstrations at this year's Interop show, the interconnecting infrastructures may vary, but the two most important elements remain the same: PC workstations running off-the-shelf TCP/IP. These common denominators make video conferencing a cost-effective technology that is accessible to everyone, regardless of their network or their budget."

Standards-based Technology

A demonstration of InVision's compatibility with off-the-shelf TCP/IP implementations for the PC will be incorporated into Beame & Whiteside Software Ltd. demonstrations running in Booth 1814. Demonstrations will include InVision running over BW-TCP and BW-NFS, Beame & Whiteside's TCP/IP and NFS client software for Windows. While InVision will be conducting a Windows-based video teleconference across the show network, Beame & Whiteside will be using the same workstations to highlight new features in the latest release of its TCP/IP and NFS software, such as a new electronic mail handler that supports UNIX mail from Windows, support for Windows Sockets API v1.1, new SL/IP functions for serial link network access, and new CD-ROM drive support. Since InVision uses TCP/IP as the transport protocol, Windows workstation users can simultaneously transfer data using the File Transfer Protocol, access other TCP/IP and NFS file servers, send electronic mail using the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol, and access other TCP/IP and NFS services at the same time they are using InVision's teleconferencing capabilities.

Infrastructure Independent

Other Interop demonstrations are designed to show that InVision is compatible with any wiring infrastructure, including the new high-bandwidth switching hub systems. For example, LANNET Data Communications Inc. will be demonstrating InVision with its newly introduced LANswitch intelligent hub system in Interop Booth 1310. LANswitch provides dynamically allocated bandwidth for virtually unlimited number of video conferencing sessions with a 1.28-Gbps, ATM-ready, cell-switching backplane and dynamic switching 10BaseTV Ethernet modules. LANswitch's ASIC-based 10BaseTV modules utilize adaptation layers and congestion control techniques to prioritize audio and full-motion video data transmissions so that no packets are dropped and video is delivered smoothly to the desktop over standard Ethernet. LANswitch is an ideal technology to support a product such as InVision.

In Booth 1834, InVision will be demonstrated running over ODS's Infinity Switchable Hub system, a chassis-based connectivity solution with modular backplanes to support FDDI, Ethernet and Token-Ring, and even the new Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) technology. ODS's Infinity Hub is designed to support scalable, easy-to-create network and workgroup configurations that can be integrated into a single network. These high-bandwidth network devices will show how easy it is to set up an InVision teleconference over Ethernet, FDDI, or Token-Ring architectures. ALANTEC will also be demonstrating InVision in Booth 5952 in conjunction with its PowerHub intelligent switching hub, which incorporates a new technology, IP Multicast routing which was specifically developed to support multimedia applications such as multi-participant desktop video conferencing. The IP Multicast routing capability in the PowerHub makes it possible to set up point-to-multipoint data transmissions without degrading network performance by broadcasting data packets to every device on the network. One user sends traffic to the PowerHub, which in turn forwards the traffic to selected groups of users for interactive desktop applications, such as video teleconferencing. By combining InVision with IP Multicast routing, it's possible to connect multiple users in a single video teleconference.

InVision is also ideally suited to interoperate with technology such as Kalpana's EtherSwitch, which is being shown in Booth 5344. EtherSwitch is a high-performance Ethernet switch that creates a parallel LAN architecture to increase data throughput up to 600 percent. Unlike conventional store-and-forward router systems, the EtherSwitch sets up parallel data paths that filter and forward all network traffic without losing packets. Since InVision's audio and video information are sent as conventional network packet traffic, systems such as the EtherSwitch will make it easier to set up video teleconferences without worrying about any potential impact on network bandwidth or data throughput. Kalpana's newly announced, full-duplex Ethernet is also ideally suited for applications such as video teleconferencing.

Wide Area Teleconferencing

InVision is also compatible with wide area networking systems. In Booth 325, for example, Network Express will be demonstrating InVision using its ISDN routing system. A PC workstation running TCP/IP and equipped with InVision video conferencing system will be connected to an NE ISDN router, which then routes packets from LAN to LAN to set up an InVision teleconference with a remote PC workstation. A single NE ISDN Router can support up to eight simultaneous video teleconference sessions (at 256 Kbps each), or can provide higher quality point-to-point connections using a wider bandwidth.

In Booth 5304, MFS Datanet will be demonstrating InVision with its national ATM network which currently links fourteen cities. ATM technology is hundreds of times faster than conventional communications systems since it uses a small, fixed cell size for data and high-throughput switching systems to achieve higher bandwidth connectivity. MFS executives predict that ATM infrastructures such as MFS Datanet will be ideal for graphics applications such as video teleconferencing because the infrastructure can support a greater bandwidth and faster data throughput which makes it easier to support real-time video and audio.

In Booth 5776, PSI will be demonstrating InVision running over its InterFrame Service, which delivers dedicated access to the Internet at 56, 128, 256, 384 and 512Kbps, and using T1. Among other applications, InterFrame can support Internet packet video technology. PSI's InterFrame is supported by a new multi-tier backbone that integrates cell-based switching, Frame Relay link-level access, and state-of-the-art router technology. Using InterFrame as a network infrastructure, InVision can be used to set up Windows-based teleconference sessions between any two users on the Internet.

"Interop is the ideal forum to showcase the power and compatibility of InVision," said Geddes. "Interop has traditionally been used to showcase how new standards-based technologies work together, and it gives us an opportunity to show that there are still new applications for established standards such as TCP/IP protocols. It also lets us demonstrate how different local and wide area network technologies can readily support PC-based teleconferencing. Attendees know that if new technology will run on the Interop show network, it will certainly work on their own networks."

InVision is compatible with all off-the-shelf network adapters and a wide variety of network drivers. As part of its interface, InVision offers an on-screen "mute" button and adjustable volume, contrast, brightness, and tint controls. It also has a Video Capture function to capture single image frames and multiple frames to disk. InVision is also compatible with any TCP/IP networking system for the PC, and has been thoroughly tested with TCP/IP solutions from Beame & Whiteside, NetManage, Microsoft, The Wollongong Group, FTP Software, Frontier Software, and other vendors. It has an adjustable transmission rate so information can be sent at 256, 384, or 512 Kbps, to optimize the network load. InVision can also generate from 10-22 frames-per-second. TheInVision Performance System Kit is available with Intel's more powerful CODEC, the Action-Media 2, which was jointly developed by IBM and Intel, and is priced at $3,395. The product first began shipping to customers in June.

InVision Systems Corporation specializes in developing and marketing video telconferencing technology for computer networks. InVision Systems is located at 8500 Leesburg Pike, Suite 300, Vienna, VA 22182; telephone (703) 506-0094; FAX: (703) 506-0098; electronic mail: CompuServe 72002,1677; Internet WK05020@worldlink.com


                      Love Your Job!

        Loving the Job You Have or Finding a Job You Love

            By Dr. Paul Powers, with Deborah Russell

             210 pages, ISBN: 1-56592-036-8, $12.95 (US)

We have just published the first careers guide for people who don't want to or can't change their jobs, but who are dissatisfied with at least one aspect of it.  While Love Your Job! is a departure from our technical books, editorially it fits very well within our desire to publish information that helps people in pain.  As with our other books, which attempt to offer "over the shoulder" advise to people stuck on a program or system, this book gives readers direct access to the advise of a leading management consultant who has had to deal with employee pain resulting from corporate downsizing.

There are many long, boring, and sometimes cynical books on how  to write a resume, dress for success, and look the interviewer in the  eye; Love Your Job! isn't one of them. Rather than showing readers how  to manipulate their way into getting a better-paying job, it encourages  them to look inside themselves at what is really important, and to  bring their best selves to work, whatever it may be.

In a series of one-page reflections, anecdotes, and exercises,  Love Your Job! can be read either from start to finish or in small  doses, when readers need their spirits lifted. The book contains four  sections, as well as an introduction and resource list:

- What does it mean to love your job? Reflections on what work

  means to you and what's important in a job.

- Can you keep loving your job? Solid advice and motivational

  exercises that will help you develop the skills and the courage

  to make changes in the job you're in.

- What if you don't have a job you love? Practical and

  inspirational hints for looking at your skills, meeting people

  who can help you, and overcoming your fear of change.

- Is there life outside your job? Reflections on how you can find

  time for your families and communities, as well as your job.

Our publishing Love Your Job! does not signal a departure from our commitment to technical book publishing.  Rather, it is an  acknowledgement that we not only bring our intellect and talents to work,  we bring all of ourselves and the lives that impact us outside of work.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

This and other O'Reilly books are available in North America, Japan, and South and Central America through bookstores or directly  from the publisher.  To contact:  FAX (707/829-0104), phone 707/829-0515  (800/998-9938 in US & Canada), e-mail (order@ora.com), access our gopher catalog by "telnet gopher.ora.com. login as gopher", or  write O'Reilly & Associates, 103 Morris St., Sebastopol, CA.,  95472, US.  GSA # GS-02F-6095A

Beginning 11 August 1993, O'Reilly books will have new  international distributors:

*  UK, Europe, Middle East, and Africa (except Germany) through  International Thomson Publishing, Berkshire House, 168-173 High  Holborn, London WC1V 7AA, UK.  Telephone 071 497 1422; FAX 071 497 1426;  or e-mail alison.lawrence@itpuk.co.uk

*  Germany through International Thomson Publishing, Konigswinterer Strabe 418, 53227 Bonn, Germany. Telephone 0-228-445171-75; FAX 0-228-441342; or email 1002727.2422@compuserve.com

*  Asia through International Thomson Publishing, 221 Henderson Rd., #05-10 Henderson Building, Singapore 0315. Telephone  65-02-272-6497, FAX 65-02-272-6498

* Australia and New Zealand through Woodslane, Unit 8,  101 Darley Street, Monavale, NSW 2103, Australia.  Telephone  61-2-979-5944, Fax: 61-2-997-3348, e-mail: woods@tmx.mhs.oz.au


Powerboard BBS RIP Menu Development Tool
NUIQ SOFTWARE INC INTRODUCES RIP MENU DEVELOPMENT TOOL

LARCHMONT, NY * NUIQ SOFTWARE INC, a New York based firm specializing in BBS software development announces the release of the RIP Menu Development Tool.

The utility, included with the new Powerboard BBS version 1.25A, provides means for BBS operators to design attractive high resolution graphic screens without a drawing program.  The elimination of the need for a steady hand, a color monitor, and a mouse will help the operator conver their BBS to one enhanced by mouse control and professional graphics.  The menu driven development system facilitates fast and easy integration of RIP graphics into the BBS.

The Powerboard software features a script language that allows the building of questionnaires, online games, specialized functions, even re-designing of the entire user interface.

The system can be installed in less than 5 minutes after answering 7 simple questions.  The initial installation yields a system ready to use with no further configuration.

Powerboard BBS software lists for $99 for single-node.  Multinode versions start at $175 for a 3-node package.  An evaluation copy of the software is available. Contact NuIQ by phone, fax, mail, or the product support BBS at 914-834-7830 (hst) 914-833-1479 (v32bis).

NuIQ Software, Inc., P.O. Box 832, Larchmont, NY 10538

(914) 833-3479  (914) 833-3623 (fax).


AST Wins Top Honors
AST WINS TOP HONORS IN CORPORATE, NOTEBOOK, DESKTOP AND MULTIPROCESSOR CATEGORIES

IRVINE, Calif., Sept. 13, 1993 -- In recognition of its growing presence in the worldwide market and its innovation in product design, AST Research Inc. has earned accolades from World Trade, PC Magazine U.K., PC World, Consumer's Digest and InfoWorld.

Complementing recent product awards received from the U.S. and U.K. press, World Trade magazine ranked AST No. 15 on its 1992 list of "Top 100" mid-size multinational corporations. In the Sept. 1993 issue, World Trade looked at fast growing mid-sized U.S.-based companies with total revenue ranging from $25 million to $3.5 billion and total revenue growth of at least 7.5 percent per year over the past five years. The companies were ranked by their 1992 international sales. Overall, the companies averaged 32 percent of their total sales overseas. AST reported foreign sales of $393 million in 1992. For fiscal year 1993, AST reported $582 million in international sales.

Underscoring its international reputation for high quality design across a broad line of PC-based products, AST's Manhattan SMP super server recently earned "Editor's Choice" from PC Magazine, UK edition. The Manhattan SMP, a fully symmetric multiprocessor, was ranked top among four competitors evaluated on performance, features and value in the Sept. 1993 issue.

"AST's machine was one of the best performers in both our database and NetBench benchmark tests," said PC Magazine's editors. "Its disk throughput is roughly four times that of any of the other machines, which is responsible for its excellent result in database tests." Pitted against the Tricord Powerframe, Viglen's EX Model 40 and Compaq's SystemPro/XL, the editors noted that the Manhattan SMP "slays the competition with its fast disk performance and its fast EISA network cards."

Noting AST's expertise in the mobile arena, PC World awarded "Best Buy" to AST's PowerExec 4/25SL ColorPlus notebook PC in its July 1993 issue. Sixteen vendors of 486 color notebooks were tested and AST's PowerExec 4/25 SL ColorPlus was "the Flying Ace of this review," said the editors.

With a removable 200-MB hard disk and 8MB of RAM, expandable to 32MB, the PowerExec 4/25SL insures easy expandability. It offers two PCMCIA slots and an optional SCSI port.

Battery life on the PowerExec 4/25SL also scored high marks in PC World's testing. AST's color notebook ran on an NiMH battery for nearly 5.75 hours without recharging, which enables uninterrupted coast-to-coast use. "AST earned its wings here by crafting a high-quality notebook that scores the most hits in portable usability with a minimal sacrifice of desktop power," editors added.

AST's Advantage! Plus 486DX2/66 mini tower has also been recognized, achieving "Best Buy" from editors of PC World in the Sept. 1993 review of 486-based "complete" systems among 21 vendors. Quality of overall integration, customer service, price, design and speed were considered in this evaluation of "complete systems" which included at least 8MB of RAM, a 200-MB hard drive, video display of 256 colors at 1024 by 768 resolution, a CD ROM drive, a sound card and a fax-modem. The Advantage! Plus is equipped with 8MB of RAM and a 340-MB hard drive.

AST also scored high marks for best service and support which includes one-year free on-site service and a toll-free technical support hotline with 24-hours-per-day, seven-days-per-week access. The Advantage! Plus 486DX2/66 "packs so many extra features under its mild-mannered exterior, and backs them up with such top-notch service, that this system comes close to our ideal of the complete PC," editors said.

Additionally, offering outstanding value for the price, two members of AST's expanded Advantage! family were dubbed "Best Buys" by Consumers Digest's editors in its July-Aug. 1993 issue. The Advantage! Plus 486DX/33 mini tower "boasts a superfast 33 MHz Intel microprocessor capable of making Microsoft Windows applications jump through hoops," they said. The Advantage! Pro 486SX/33 multimedia system earned Consumers Digest editors' praise as a "great choice" for users who specifically require stereo sound and CD ROM capability in a top-notch 486SX.

Two AST Bravo desktop PCs also received recent endorsements earning the "Buyers Assurance Seal" from InfoWorld in the Aug. 2 product comparison of PCs versus Macs. The Bravo 4/25s and the Bravo 4/66d received high marks based on performance, price, expandability, ease of use and support in a comparison of eight PCs and five Macs.

Corporate Background

AST Research Inc., ranked No. 367 on the 1992 Fortune 500 list of America's largest industrial companies, develops personal computer products with technologies ranging from hand-held portable computers to super servers.

The company reported record sales of $1.412 billion and record volume shipment increases of 69 percent for fiscal year ended July 3, 1993.

In July 1993, AST acquired Tandy Corp.'s PC manufacturing business. The acquisition makes AST the No. 4 U.S. and No. 6 worldwide personal computer company, according to the calendar year 1992 unit volume shipment data from International Data Corp. These figures include AST, Tandy and GRiD brands manufactured by AST.

AST's award-winning product lines include desktop, file server, notebook and pen-enabled computers, marketed under the Advantage!, Bravo, Premmia, Manhattan SMP, PowerExec, GRiD, Victor and PenRight! brand names.

The company is represented in 100 countries and operates 41 subsidiaries and sales offices worldwide. AST's corporate headquarters is located at 16215 Alton Parkway, P.O. Box 57005, Irvine, Calif. 92619-7005. Telephone (714) 7274141, (800) 876-4278. Fax (714) 727-9355.


AST Adds RIPscript for Easier BBS Navigation
AST ADDS RIPscrip WINDOWS-LIKE INTERFACE FOR EASIER NAVIGATION THROUGH WORLDWIDE BULLETIN BOARD SERVICE

IRVINE, Calif., Sept. 7, 1993--AST Research Inc. today enhanced its AST On-Line! Bulletin Board Service (BBS) with the new, award-winning BBS graphical standard, RIPscrip (Remote Imaging Protocol) from TeleGrafix Communications, Inc. Now, with the click of a mouse button, even novice computer users can search through AST software bulletins, find answers to commonly asked technical questions, or download new drivers and BIOS upgrades using colorful, easier-to-use, Windows-like menus.

RIPscrip allows integration of high-resolution graphics without the need for highly specialized software and the large overhead of most graphical environments.

AST is the first computer manufacturer to incorporate RlPscrip, allowing the system operator to create pull down and popup menus, windows, icons, buttons and dialog boxes to make using the BBS increasingly easier. TeleGrafix won the Dvorak/ Zoom award for Outstanding Advanced BBS Graphics Standard at the recent ONE BBSCON Online Networking Exposition and BBS convention.

To gain access to the new graphical interface, AST is providing RIPterm free of charge, a terminal program that replaces a user's communications software. BBS users also may use other communications software packages that support the new RlPscrip protocol, such as QmodemPro v1.5 by Mustang Software Inc. and the newly announced Telix For Windows by deltaComm Development.

"AST On-Line! is a vital component of our service and support program," said Don Leighton, AST's vice president of worldwide product support. "Because we offer technology products ranging from hand-held portable computers to superservers and sell through both the consumer and reseller channel, we have a diverse BBS audience. This new protocol is the communication link we've been seeking to make accessing our technical information easier for everyone."

Established in 1988 as a valuable addition to AST's customer support system, AST On-Line! is available free, 24 hours per day with unlimited access. The BBS includes a myriad of information -- new product descriptions, software upgrades, technical bulletins, switch and jumper settings, answers to typical service questions, and service center locations. A search program called ALEX allows users to navigate quickly through categories and text.

Users can enter RIPterm either through DOS or Windows. RIPterm software requirements are minimal: an IBM-PC compatible computer with modem, MS-DOS 3.0 or higher, 540KB minimum memory and an EGA or higher video adaptor.

AST has a total of 19 BBS locations worldwide and recently added three additional high-speed modem lines in the United States to accommodate the growing base of people using the latest in modem technology. AST's BBS based in Irvine, Calif., for example, receives approximately 2,000 calls per week and has 8,000 active users.

To access the BBS in the United States, users can call (714) 727-4723 for 2400 baud rate or (714) 727-4132 for 14,400 baud rate. To obtain a free copy of RIPterm, users can download file ASTRIPTM.EXE from AST On-Line! or request the RIPterm diskette, PN 507003-502, by calling AST at (714) 727-7641.

Complementing AST On-Line! is AST InfoFAX at (800) 926-1278 for access to technical information via fascimile 24 hours per day, and a 24-hour-per-day, 7-days-per-week telephone hotline at (800) 727-1278 for technical support. Corporate Background

AST Research Inc., ranked No. 367 on the 1992 Fortune 500 list of America's largest industrial companies. In July 1993 AST acquired Tandy Corp. 's PC manufacturing business. The acquisition makes AST the No. 4 U.S. and No. 6 worldwide personal computer company, according to International Data Corp.'s calendar year 1992 unit volume shipment data. These figures include AST, Tandy and GRiD brands manufactured by AST. AST's award-winning product lines include desktop, file server, notebook and pen-enabled computers marketed under the Advantage!, Bravo, Premmia, Manhattan SMP, PowerExec, GRiD, Victor and PenRight! brands.

AST reported overall record revenues of $409.2 million for the fourth quarter ended July 3, 1993, and overall record fiscal year-end revenues of $1.412 billion. This compares to revenues of $266.3 million for the fourth quarter of the prior year and $944.1 million for fiscal year 1992. The company is represented in 100 countries and operates 41 international subsidiaries and sales offices. AST's corporate headquarters is located at 16215 Alton Parkway, Irvine, Calif. 92718. Telephone (714) 727-4141; (800) 876-4278. Fax: (714) 727-9355.


AST Ships Premium SE P/60 Pentium-Based Server
AST SHIPS PREMIUM SE P/60, ITS FIRST INTEL PENTIUM PROCESSOR-BASED SERVER

Processor-board implementation fully exploits 64-bit performance of chip

IRVINE, Calif., Sept. 13, 1993 -- AST Research Inc. today announced it is shipping its first Intel Pentium processor-based server, the Premium SE P/60. The new server incorporates the 60-MHz Pentium chip on a processor board, where up to 128MB memory and 256KB of second-level cache also reside, optimizing use of the 64-bit data-path of the processor.

AST's Premium SE P/60 server maintains full compatibility with leading networking operating systems, with specific capabilities to address 32-bit operating systems such as SCO UNIX, Windows NT, Solaris, UNIXWare, OS/2, Novell Netware and Banyan VINES.

"The Premium SE P/60 takes users to a new plateau of speed and power, particularly effective in the critical high-use network arena," said Larry Fortmuller, AST's director of high-performance systems. "With a 64-bit data path, it eliminates the memory 'bottleneck' typical in 32-bit systems."

Engineered for the networking and multiuser environments, the Premium SE P/60 is a new model in the current i486 Premium SE line, available through AST's reseller network. It carries an estimated sales price of $5,449.

The Premium P/60, available in base configuration Model 33, includes 16MB of RAM expandable to 128MB, 256KB second-level cache memory and 8 available EISA expansion slots. FastSCSI hard drives mounted in slide-out trays, along with SCSI backplanes, provide cable-free drive installation for ease in upgrading or "hot" swapping. Up to 8GB of internal hard drive storage can be accommodated in the main cabinet. An optional three- or five-channel disk array controller provides the fault tolerance and high availability required for this level of computing. The Premium SE server also features AST FlashBIOS allowing BIOS upgrading over the network, security protection and AST Premium VGA high-performance integrated video.

AST's Premium SE servers are backed by a full three-year on-site warranty on hard drive models and three-year depot on base models. Service is provided by AST's more than 1,400 Authorized Service Providers. As part of its comprehensive service and support program, AST provides a 24-hour, 7 days-per-week toll-free technical hotline, Info-FAX and AST On-Line! worldwide 24 hour bulletin board service for technical support and product information. AST On-Line! features a new graphical interface for easy navigation through the myriad of information available on the service.

Corporate Background

AST Research Inc., ranked No. 367 on the 1992 Fortune 500 list of America's largest industrial companies, develops personal computer products with technologies ranging from hand-held portable computers to superservers.

In July 1993, AST acquired Tandy Corp.'s PC manufacturing business. The acquisition makes AST the No. 4 U.S. and No. 6 worldwide personal computer company, according to the calendar year 1992 unit volume shipment data from International Data Corp. These figures include AST, Tandy and GRiD brands manufactured by AST.

AST announced record revenues of $409.2 million for the fourth quarter ended July 3, 1993, and record fiscal year end revenues of $1.412 billion. This compares to revenues of $266.3 million for the fourth quarter of the prior year and $944.1 million for fiscal year 1992.

AST's award-winning product lines include desktop, file server, notebook and pen-enabled computers, marketed under the Advantage!, Bravo, Premmia, Manhattan SMP, PowerExec, GRiD, Victor and PenRight! brand names.

The company is represented in 100 countries and operates 41 subsidiaries and sales offices worldwide. AST's corporate headquarters is located 16219 Alton Parkway, Irvine, Calif. 92718. Telephone: (714) 727-4141, (800) 876-4278. Fax: (714) 727-9355


Kodak Picture Exchange Image Providers
KODAK SIGNS FIRST KODAK PICTURE EXCHANGE IMAGE PROVIDERS

Stock photo agencies are first participants in new on-line image service

ROCHESTER, N.Y., Sept. 13--Fourteen stock photo agencies have selected the Kodak Picture Exchange to market images for lease to advertising agencies, publishers, and graphic design firms. These will be the first providers to market images through Kodak's new on-line imaging service network.

The Kodak Picture Exchange links image buyers with images from some of the finest stock agencies and image providers. Expected to be available in the United States in the fall of 1993, the service will be among the first to provide quick and convenient global access to vast collections of images.

Subscribers will access the Picture Exchange with standard telecommunications network and computer platforms, including Macintosh computers and the Windows operating system. Subscribers will have a choice of image search routines--from simple keyword and phrase entries to sophisticated expert search routines using over forty image attributes.

Benefits to Picture Exchange image providers include expanded market reach, 24-hour customer access, reduced risk of lost or damaged originals, and improved customer communications. Kodak Picture Exchange image providers also can respond to customers faster. The Picture Exchange image data base will improve archive management for image providers.

Advancements in image telecommunications, digital storage, computing costs, and image digitization enable the Kodak Picture Exchange to be a cost effective image distribution marketing channel. Kodak's Photo CD technology is key to economic image digitization for the Picture Exchange.

"We are delighted to have signed some of the most recognized image providers in the industry," said Fred Geyer, general manager and vice president of CD imaging at Kodak. "These firms are using the Kodak Picture Exchange to further improve the level of service they offer their current and prospective customers. Technology is changing the way people store, search, retrieve, and access images, and these providers are in the lead."

The Kodak Picture Exchange represents Kodak's vision for a global image transmission services network, similar to text and data networks. It will link the suppliers of images, such as stock photo agencies, news organizations, museums, universities, corporations, and archives, with the customers they service. These include advertising agencies, graphic designers, publishers and researchers.

Representing Quality and Diversity

Each of 14 photo stock agencies who have an initial commitment of between 5,000 and 20,000 images to the Kodak Picture Exchange are recognized as suppliers of some of the finest images in the industry. These providers include the following agencies.

* Animals Animals/Earth Scenes--over 800,000 wildlife and nature images.

* Archive Photos--over 5,000,000 images, including news photos, Hollywood, engravings, and drawings.

* Light Sources--over 100,000 photographs, including medical, children, and New England images.

* PhotoBank, Inc.--over 300,000 photographs, including world travel, automobile, food lifestyle, industrial and medical images.

* Ewing Galloway--over 2,000,000 images, including historical and nostalgic photographs.

* FPG--One of the largest and oldest stock agencies in the world with over 6,000,000 images, serving clients in advertising, design, retail, travel, decor and editorial industries.

* Hulton Deutsch Picture Library--over 15,000,000 images, described by Harold Evans as "the greatest library of photojournalism in Europe."

* The Image Works--over 400,000 photographs, including images of humor, family, education, health care, occupations, culture, travel, recreation, and historical personalities.

* International Stock--over 1,000,000 images, including worldwide travel, model released people and lifestyles, corporate, industrial, medical, health, computer graphics, food, sports, scenics, and animal images.

* Photo Researchers--over 2,000,000 images, including photomicroscopy, medicine, high technology, and the sciences.

* Profiles West--images include recreational, such as skiing, mountain biking, whitewater, and the American West.

* Ro-Ma Stock--features fresh images of exotic landscapes, patterns in nature, plants, flowers and animals, as well as backgrounds, macro photography, art, sciences, and people involved with nature.

* The Stock Shop, Inc.--photographs including medical images.

* Tom Stack and Associates--images of flora and fauna of the world, including underwater and ecological images.

The Kodak Picture Exchange will allow people to use existing phone lines and standard modems to access images from their desktop computers. Subscribers will conduct fast on-line searches and will review and browse low resolution images. Once image users have selected the images they may want to use in an ad or publication, they submit the request to the appropriate image provider. This is done electronically through the Kodak Picture Exchange. The photo stock agency will negotiate image lease rights and prices directly with the image user, as is currently done.

Software will be available for Macintosh and Windows users. Prices will be announced in the fall, when the service is expected to go on-line. For more information on the Kodak Picture Exchange, consumers can call the Kodak Customer Assistance Center at 800-KPX-USER (579-8737).

Eastman Kodak Company

343 State Street, Rochester, NY 14650-0519


Kodak On-Line Picture Exchange Hollywood Test
KODAK ON-LINE PICTURE EXCHANGE SERVICE TESTED AT HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS

HOLLYWOOD, Calif., Sept. 13 -- Eastman Kodak Company today announced a three-month pilot of an application of Kodak's new on-line image service called the Kodak Picture Exchange. The application, called the Eastman Exchange, is designed to assist Hollywood studios in the selection and evaluation of film production sites. The application will consist of a private image database of key national locations that can be accessed using the Kodak Picture Exchange.

The Eastman Exchange's image database will comprise digitized still photographs of film sites compiled by state film commissions. During the test period, images will be provided by state film commissions in New York and Arkansas. Test program participants will include Disney, Universal, Warner Brothers, and Twentieth Century Fox studios.

Film producers will have immediate access to these images through standard telecommunications networks and computing platforms, including both Macintosh computers and computers using the Windows operating system. Location scouts can research images on their computers using simple key words and phrases. More detailed searches also can be conducted using over 40 image descriptors. Producers can review, browse, and even print out low resolution images on the spot.

Currently, film producers need to contact state film commissions by phone in order to discuss and obtain photographs of specific sites. Commission employees must search, process, and mail out the images to producers. This can be a timely and expensive process for both parties.

The Eastman Exchange pilot application and Kodak Picture Exchange services are examples of the benefits provided by the Kodak Photo CD System, which provides cost effective storage of images on compact discs.

"We view this venture as an important example of the value of the Kodak Photo CD System and the Kodak Picture Exchange to businesses today," said Phil Vogel, Manager of Worldwide Marketing, Kodak Motion Picture and Television Imaging. "By offering this pilot program to our customers, we hope not only to reduce the costs for location searches, but also to expand the number of sites that studios can access and vice versa."

If proven successful, Kodak plans to offer the use of the Eastman Exchange as a cost efficient service to film commissions and studios nationwide. Future applications for the Eastman Exchange could be used for talent and prop searches as well.

Eastman Kodak Company, 343 State Street, Rochester, New York 14650-0519


PRISM Guide Quarterly Multimedia Presentation
SOFTWARE AUTHOR ANNOUNCES PRISM GUIDE

Atlanta, Georgia, September 1, 1993 -- Gary Smith, a software author in Atlanta, today announces PRISM Guide -- a quarterly multimedia presentation, distributed as freeware. PRISM incorporates graphics and text files into an animated slide show and text reader which present the subject of belief systems.

The purpose of PRISM is to help us understand ourselves and our world by exploring and analyzing belief systems, and applying the insights to our lives.

One thing all human beings have in common is a belief system. Whether atheistic, agnostic, humanist, fundamentalist or liberal, a belief system is a central part of every person's life. PRISM offers slide show-type lessons and text containing life stories, quotes and suggested exercises having to do with belief systems.

PRISM is intended to be religion-neutral in order to be distributed to as wide an audience as possible. A diversity of belief systems are presented, and objectivity is maintained by using text that has been written by people holding those beliefs.

Survey questions are included, such as "What is your concept of God?" and PRISM users are invited to respond. The responses, if submitted to the PRISM editor, are considered for future volumes. The aim is to apply fairness and balance to the content of each volume of PRISM.

PRISM requires VGA and about I mg of hard disk space, and runs under DOS or Windows. One volume of PRISM Guide has been completed and is available for downloading from the Media BBS at 404-804-7889. Shareware distributor inquiries are welcome.

OEC Systems 4646 North Shallowford Rd, Atlanta, GA 30338-6304

404-394-1000,   fax 404-394-1006,  help desk 404-394-1007


Media Magic for Multimedia Presentations
OEC ANNOUNCES MEDIA MAGIC

Atlanta, Georgia, September 1, 1993 -- OEC Systems of Atlanta, established in 1980, today announces Media Magic, the software for creating multimedia computer presentations.

The mass marketing of the unique modular software is the result of a joint effort between Another Company of Ashland, Oregon and the media department of OEC Systems of Atlanta, headed by Gary Smith.

Media Magic is an easy-to-learn program to quickly put together pictures, text, speech, sound effects, music, animation and user interaction in simple or complex presentations which run under DOS or Windows on any standard IBM compatible computer.

Presentations created with Media Magic are used to sell products and ideas, deliver interactive information and educational material, and for computer based training.

Media Magic comes with a royalty-free, multi-faceted run-time program called MSHOW, which runs the created presentation.

Built-in features include: complete drawing program; sound effects library; music composition and optional synthesized speech through the ordinary PC speaker; Sound Blaster and other sound card support; special effects such as curtains, swipes and granular fades; .GIF and .PCX file display and creation; hook executable programs and batch files into multimedia presentations, plus:

Hyper-Link - which presents an on-screen arrow, movable with mouse or arrow/number keys, that the user can move to anything in a picture (icon, text, etc) and be taken to any place in the presentation;

Live Text - Any standard ASCII text file of unlimited size can be displayed within any picture in any font or color. The text can be scrolled with a mouse or arrow keys or can be set to automatically begin scrolling. Live text includes search, print and auto-scroll functions;

ASCII-Vector-Graphics - To edit exact locations of objects within the pictures, fonts and screen colors, the pitch and duration of sounds, or modify animations, etc.;

Presentation Mode - which gives the end user a menu bar from which to advance to the next screen, or back up, or GOTO, or search for specific word or phrase, or AUTOMODE, for unattended, self-running presentations. Three of the 12 Media Magic options are:

Puzzle - Make any standard .GIF or .PCX image into a picture puzzle, which end users can reassemble with mouse or arrow keys. Lots of fun and practically addictive;

File Encryption - Media Magic is capable of on the fly real-time decryption. With this module, you can create script files which are incomprehensible when viewed with text editors, but work just fine in Media Magic presentations;

Picture Menu - This is the ultimate graphical user interface. Now you can be free of windows, icons, and lightbar menus. Anything you write, scan, draft or draw will work as a menu image, background or icons. End users can run applications with absolutely no training!

One of Media Magic's most unusual features is its price. The core module, which is complete in itself for creating basic presentations, is just $29.95 and includes a tutorial and electronic manual. With a printed manual, it is $39.95. Modules, such as additional fonts, synthesized speech, multiple-choice test creation and file encryption, are $29.95 each. The full line of more than 30 software products developed by Another Company is available through OEC Systems.

OEC Systems 4646 North Shallowford Rd, Atlanta, GA 30338-6304

404-394-1000,   fax 404-394-1006,  help desk 404-394-1007


Chem-X links to ChemDraw

August 1993 -- Chemical Design is delighted to announce that its new partnership with Cambridge Scientific Computing is already bearing fruit. Cambridge Scientific Computing are well know for their established ChemDraw product, now supplemented by Chem3D and ChemFinder - collectively known as ChemOffice. Simply combine CSC's ChemOffice with Chemical Design's Chem-X for a smooth user interface with state-of-the-art chemical information access.

Chemical Design's powerful open-architecture client-server is able to export queries from ChemDraw to search Chem-X databases, and return the results for viewing to ChemFinder.

"ChemDraw is very widely used and is the preferred chemical structure drawing package on the Macintosh", notes Deborah Dunn, Executive Vice President of Chemical Design Inc. "The availability of ChemDraw under MS-Windows and integration with the Chem-X search engine is expected to be very popular." While the 2D draw and custom search screens in Chem-X will continue to be widely used for query generation, users already familiar with ChemDraw no longer need to learn to use another drawing package.

Typical configurations use IBM RS/6000, Silicon Graphics or Digital Alpha or VAX servers running Chem-X with PC and/or Macintosh front-ends. NFS or Digital PATHWORKS is required for file services. Links to relational databases such as ORACLE use the appropriate interface module of Chem-X and SQL*NET with TCP/IP or with DECnet communication software. Over the next six months software developments are expected to strengthen the relationship with Cambridge Scientific Computing.

Chem-X operates on IBM PCs (and compatibles), Apple Macintosh, UNIX workstations and VAX computers. For further information, please contact Chemical Design at the address above.

Chemical Design Inc

200 Route 17 South, Suite 120, Mahwah, NJ 07430

201-529-3323,   fax 201-529-2443


The Best C/C++ Tips Ever
The Ultimate Productivity Booster for the Most Widely Used Programming Language

With the very first page, Anthony Porter, author and object-oriented programming expert, takes C programmers on an insider's tip-by-tip journey leading to the creation of more reliable and efficient programs in his latest book, The Best C/C++ Tips Ever ($29.95, ISBN: 0-07-881820-6).

Organized by topic, this book offers over 400 tips designed to speed up any C programmer's C/C++ productivity immediately. Porter assumes readers have a basic knowledge of the syntax and semantics of C or C++ and are interested in "...writing programs that are elegant, efficient, and easy to maintain -- especially if you are likely to have to maintain them yourself."

The book's three parts cover features of the C and C++ languages, standard libraries that are delivered with the compiler, and MS-DOS specifics. Porter's tips discuss many key programming topics that include avoiding C and C++ programming pitfalls, improving understanding of the C and C++ languages, using standard library functions more effectively, tips on programming style, writing more robust C++ classes, updating programming code, and much more.

Systems and software developers, and C/C++ hobbyists will take a sizable upswing in productivity after trying these tested tips in The Best C/C++ Tips Ever.

Anthony Porter is an object-oriented programming expert living in Brussels, Belgium. He is the author of several optimizing compilers, and wrote Osborne's acclaimed, C++ Programming for Windows.

Osborne/McGraw-Hill, 2600 Tenth St, Berkeley, CA 94710

510-549-6600,  Fax: 510-549-6603,   orders: 800-227-0900


UNIX System Administrator Guide
New Unix System Administration Guide Offers Superior Guidance in One Handy Volume

While many books on Unix devote just a few chapters to system administration, authors Levi Reiss and Joseph Radin target the special needs of system administrators working with Unix System V and BSD Systems in their newly published book, Unix System Administration Guide ($34.95, ISBN: 0-07-881951-2, 640 pages).

Since Reiss and Radin assume that learning to master scripts is an essential part of a system administrator's training, they've created a hands-on guide providing extensive C language programs and shell scripts in almost every chapter. All shell scripts and programs were tested under both System V and BSD Unix, with the scripts written in Korn shell, Bourne shell, and C shell. A unique feature of the book are the test scripts covering all system administration functions. System administrators will find valuable source code for single-user microcomputer versions of Unix and for multi-user systems, including code for adding and removing users, and much more.

Beginning users will find a valuable overview of Unix with easy-to-follow explanations of individual commands and scripts. All Unix users will find that the book's command reference in the Appendix is ideal for finding any Unix command in a hurry.

For anyone working with Unix, this single volume is the only reference needed for mastering system administration.

Authors Levi Reiss and Joseph Radin are the co-authors of Osborne's outstanding book, X Window Inside & Out. Reiss is a consultant and designer of computer training materials and holds a master's degree in computer science from the University of Paris. Radin is a software engineer for an international high technology company. He holds a master's of science degree from the Technion, Israel Institute of Technology.

Osborne/McGraw-Hill, 2600 Tenth St, Berkeley, CA 94710

510-549-6600,  Fax: 510-549-6603,   orders: 800-227-0900


The Annotated ANSI C Standard
The ANSI C Standard -- Finally Annotated for Easy Understanding

Through an agreement with The American National Standards Institute, Herb Schildt, an Observing Member of the ANSI C Committee, clearly annotates and explains the C language as described in the Standard, making it more accessible to every C programmer.

Designed for easy reference, The Annotated ANSI C Standard ($39.95, ISBN: 0-07881952-0, 219 pages) contains the original untouched Standard printed on the left-hand page, with annotations, comments, and examples by Schildt displayed on the right-hand page.

While many compiler implementors have the time and patience to read and thoroughly understand the ANSI C standard most programmers do not. Since most programmers want quick, yet definitive answers to their questions about the language, its syntax, and its usage, this annotated version of the Standard addresses these needs.

To take full advantage of this book, Schildt advises readers to read through the Standard portion of the book at least once to get an overview of how it is organized. To find an immediate answer to a question, programmers can check the main listing for the topic given in the index, then follow through on all cross references whether in the standard or in the annotations. to be sure of obtaining all the important pieces of information required to answer their questions fully. Schildt explains the need for this type of reference by stating that, "The Annotated ANSI C Standard may eventually be to C programmers what the physicians'' Desk Reference is to doctors."

With the cost of the Standard alone at $135.00, The Annotated ANSI C Standard at $39.95, which includes Schildt's explanations and clarifications, is both the best value on the C Standard and a bonanza of reference information no C programmer, whether student or career programmer should be without.

Osborne/McGraw-Hill, 2600 Tenth St, Berkeley, CA 94710

510-549-6600,  Fax: 510-549-6603,   orders: 800-227-0900


Unnecessary Roughness Football Simulation
UNNECESSARY ROUGHNESS WILL KNOCK YOU RIGHT ON YOUR GRASS

-NEW SUPER VGA FOOTBALL SIMULATION WITH THE NFLPA LICENSE

Category: Football Simulation

Availability and Price: October - $59.95

Minimum System Requirements: IBM 386 and 100% compatibles, 33 MHz, 4 MB RAM, Hard Drive

Recommended System Requirements: IBM 486 and 100% compatibles, 50 MHz, 8MB RAM, Hard Drive Graphics Modes Supported: SUPER VGA (640 x 400) or MCGA (320 x 200)

SAN JOSE, Calif.-SEPTEMBER 13, 1993--The bone-snapping sport of football just hit a new level. Accolade, a leading publisher of sports simulations, today announced its agreement with the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) to use the names and statistics of the real pros in Unnecessary Roughness, a new football simulation set to release this fall. Featuring Super VGA graphics, this product will be the most graphically intense and aggressive PC football game available, and will offer extra-large rotoscoped and scaling player graphics in a rotating 3D stadium. It will also be the only football simulation to feature Infinity Cam, a new graphics technology that enables players to view the game from any angle. Unnecessary Roughness will be available in October for IBM PC and compatible computers at a suggested retail price of $59.95. A version for the Sega Genesis will be available in December for $69.95.

Unnecessary Roughness players go head-to-head against real NFLPA pros in a ferocious battle of outrageous tackles, impossible one-handed catches, brutal headbutts, and flying helmets. This high-impact football game is filled with intense moves and realistic animation set in a stunning 256 color Super VGA graphic environment (640 x 400 or MCGA graphics 320 x 200). Choose from Thurman Thomas, Ronnie Lott, Barry Sanders, Reggie White, "Neon" Deion Sanders and the rest of the NFLPA. Unnecessary Roughness is a one or two-player competition or a two-player cooperative game.

Players can compete in exhibition games, play complete seasons against all the pro league cities, or even customize their own league and take their favorite team through the playoffs and the championship. Full season team and player stats are updated all the way through to the championship. With Unnecessary Roughness, players can view the game from any location with infinite camera angles. This graphics technique allows gamers to get onto the field and into the huddle. Players can also import and export players from the 28 major football league cities, view close calls with instant replay, and view an automated highlight recap after the game.

Unnecessary Roughness provides players with a number of ways to customize their game including the ability to create the ultimate dream team. Using the team design editor, computer coaches can change the name, number and vital characteristics of each player, as well as instantly set the colors for the home and visiting uniforms of each team. Players can even customize their own team logos. For computer coaches whose forte is play design, Unnecessary Roughness offers an extensive playbook and construction feature where players can unleash their strategic imagination and create unlimited offensive and defensive plays. Unnecessary Roughness also provides players with a variety of pre-designed plays and playbooks.

This realistic football game is complete with the voice of football sportscaster, Al Michaels, who calls the play-by-play. Michaels has been honored with many awards in his career, including the coveted Emmy, and most recently was voted the most popular professional football play-by-play announcer by the readers of the San Jose Mercury News. His recognizable voice can also be heard in Accolade's popular HardBall IIl and soon in Brett Hull Hockey.

"I wanted Unnecessary Roughness to be the kind of football game I like to play, physical yet strategic" said Danny Pisano, the producer of the game. "Unnecessary Roughness brings gamers onto the grass with the real pros. This is everything football is supposed to be."

Accolade, 5300 Stevens Creek Blvd, San Jose, CA 95129

408-985-1700;  Fax: 408-246-1053


Pickle Wars by Karen Crother & MVP Software
New Game from Karen Crowther to be Published by MVP Software

Pickle Wars, Karen Crowther's whimsical new arcade/adventure game, will be released as an MVP Software product, announced David C. Snyder, President of MVP Software. Pickle Wars is the story of the peaceful planet of Arcadia, whose idyllic residents are now threatened by the big bad green Pickle race from a nearby galaxy. The game details the saga of the hero and heroine as they thwart the plans of the invaders and at the same time discover that there's more to life than fighting Pickles.

Besides the riveting storyline, Pickle Wars features 256-color, dual parallax, 4-way scrolling action, georgeous cinematic sequences, humor and a lively musical score. "Karen has put together a development team of some of the best writers, artists and musicians in the industry," said Dave Snyder. "We are pleased that she has chosen MVP as the publisher for this terrific new game."

Karen Crowther is the author of well-known educational games such as Talking ABCs, Word Rescue and Math Rescue. Although the emphasis in Pickle Wars is on telling a story and providing entertainment rather than learning, the elements of her earlier products that her fans now expect -- endearing animation, nonviolent action, and attention to detail -- grace her latest effort as well. "Add these features to the powerful new VGA game engine Karen has developed, and the combination makes Pickle Wars a surefire winner and a lot of fun," said Snyder.

Asked why she chose MVP as the publisher of Pickle Wars instead of Apogee, the publisher of the Rescue games, Crowther said, "I am very pleased with my association with Apogee. I chose MVP because I felt Pickle Wars would benefit from being an MVP product, but this does not mean that in the future I won't work with Apogee again. I approach each project on a case-by-case basis, and in fact I regularly work with publishers other than Apogee and MVP. I guess that's just the benefit of being an independent developer."

Although no release date has been set for Pickle Wars, Snyder anticipates that the product will debut in early 1994. Volume 1 will be available as shareware on BBSs and through disk vendors.

MVP Software is a developer and publisher of shareware and retail entertainment software products. Its titles include the award-winning Corncob 3D, Sand Storm and MVP Paint.

MVP Software

1035 Dallas SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49507

616-245-8376


a la mail 2.0 Windows Email System Still $595
a la mail 2.0 is still $595, unlimited users with no dedicated server required. PLUS 2.0 supports the new $95 Multi-user Network Fax Gateway!

a la mail Release 2.0 will be shipping by mid September, 1993. Release 2.0 will support the following:

* $95 Multi-user Network Fax Gateway. With a la mail, release 2.0 users can fax using any cheap fax modem on any PC in the office with our $95 fax gateway. a la mail routes your message to any designated PC with a fax board, and sends the message as well as any graphics that may be attached to it. The graphics can be in GIF, TIF, PCX, or BMP formats in up to 24 bit color! Again, one price of $95, unlimited users, no dedicated fax server.

* Application Workflow Enabler (Windows & DOS). This feature will allow any Windows or DOS application to exchange information through mail.

* Advanced Workflow Routing. Users of a la mail will be able to "route" Purchase Orders, Memos, Job Orders, Invoices, etc., "intelligently". If a user's message template follows the same route everytime they send it, a la mail will remember that route and do it for them.

* Spell-Checking. The market begs for this kind of functionality. This is a feature missing in packages costing thousands more. a la mail uses a dictionary of over 100,000 predefined words, plus your own additions.

After 2.0 ships, a la mode workgroup systems will release an a la mail Remote Gateway. This will allow a la mail users to dial-in from home and allow remote offices to communicate via a la mail. The Remote Gateway is expected to be priced at or below $200! We are confident everyone pricing remote-gateway components of any E-mail offering, will be excited about this news.

a la mail is aggressively priced at just $595 per network with unlimited users and is backed by a 30 day money back guarantee. It requires no dedicated file or mail server and is compatible with any network system that supports Windows.

a la mode workgroup systems

800-252-6633,  fax 405-359-5652,  CIS: 74140,3617


CD Book Publishers offers Govt CFRs on CDROM
Lower Prices and Free Offers

September 1993 -- CD Book Publishers announces new lower prices for all CFRs. Small volume CFRs like Customs, Animals, Navigation, are now $75, (50% off former prices.) Large multivolume CFRs titles like Food, Tax, Energy, Environment are now $200 each. In addition, we offer, new free combination packages and a free GPO US 1992 Code CD.

We offer extra discounts when three or more titles are ordered.

Call with your specific Request for Proposal (RFP) for any unique package of titles.

We offer a low price of $3500 for all of 1992 CFRs on Volume One. When you order Volume One complete for the $3500, Volume Two 1993 titles 1 through 27 complete is FREE, and Volume Three this Fall complete is only $500.

Order all three volumes per above and we will provide you the Government Printing Office, July '93 Edition of the 1992 U.S. Code (GPO: S/N 052-001-00438-8) on CD free, as an extra value incentive and to round out your U.S. law collection. This would give you all 1992 U.S. Codes on a single CD and most of the 1992 and 1993 CFRs from CD Book Publishers through Title 41, by this Fall. Our scheduled production plans are for December, '93 to January '94 for Volume Four depending on the actual GPO tape contents and release dates.

The specific content of our volumes, is listed on available order forms, and is subject to the GPO schedule of releases of the 9-track tapes for our CD processing.

The complete package gives you an excellent library of U.S. statutory and regulatory material with shelf-saving conveniences: twenty (20) CFRs from 1992 and all for '93. The individual GPO print books themselves in many cases cost more than our CDs. As technology innovators, we think this is what it takes to sell America on CD technology: better and cheaper than paper books.

CD Book Publishers

767 Arbolado Dr, Fullerton, CA 92635

714-526-6434


KPWin++ V1.13 C++ Code Generator
KPWin++ 1.13

Our C++ code generator now supports Borland C++ 3.1, Microsoft Visual C++ and Microsoft C/C++ 7.0 compilers. You'll find that the product has come a long way since it's original launch in December '92.

In this release, we've added an interactive development environment with a toolbar, a new editor, a syntax checker, automatic save functions, and project management options.

The KPWin++ help system is also much improved. KPHELP now uses WRAP to decompress text and images on-the-fly, -- has a free-form search option, includes many new code examples, and is supplied as a compiled .EXE.

You'll notice that all our new releases are now installed using WRAP and compiled using KPWin++. Many users are starting to follow our example and use compiled WRAP programs to do their own installation routines.

Most of the tools originally supplied with KPWin (like color, palette and font) are also compiled and installed in Program Manager. The KPWin DESIGNER.EXE is conspicuous by its absence. You can compile it with a few simple changes to replace loads with #includes. Just call us if you need help with this. We're working on a new version of DESIGNER which will take the KPWin interactive front end much further. We hope to supply this by early Fall '93.

KPWin++ V1.13 includes a new manual with a tutorial and compiler hints. Also, the new version of KPWin++ is optimized to allow compilation of very large .kbs. We've tested systems of 15,000 lines of code.

If you've been holding back on the upgrade waiting for us to get the bugs out of version 1.0, or if you've been waiting for Borland support, now is the time to get yourself a copy of this unique time and money saving product. You don't have to be a C++ programmer to use KPWin++. Just click on the Running Shoes icon and the compilation is handled for you. Try KPWin++ for yourself. You'll be delighted with the dramatic improvements in both productivity and performance.

Knowledge Garden Inc

12-8 Technology Dr, Setauket, NY 11733

516-246-5400,  fax 516-246-5452


WRAP v1.1b Windows Resource Archive Pgm
WRAP 1.1b

The Windows Resource Archive Program (WRAP) is a utility which lets you store bitmap images, text and binary files in compressed form.

Supplied as a DLL with KPWin language extensions, WRAP will make your distributed applications smaller and reduce the load time of large files.

You can use WRAP to write install routines (we do) and you can link the WRAP DLL to any development tool that supports DLLs.

An example of driving the WRAP compression functions from Visual Basic is included with the product.

The interactive front end, WRAPPER, and the WRAP help system have been enhanced and compiled using KPWin++.

We've also added new commands to add resources from the clipboard.

Finally, and most important, the early problems with large bitmaps and .EXE files have now been resolved.

WRAP is an inexpensive utility that all KPWin developers should have on their hard disks.

Knowledge Garden Inc

12-8 Technology Dr, Setauket, NY 11733

516-246-5400,  fax 516-246-5452


ViewMagic Low Emission 17-Inch Color Monitor
ETC INTRODUCES ECONOMICAL NEW VIEWMAGIC LOW EMISSION 17-INCH COLOR MONITOR WITH PRECISE COLOR CONTROL

New Flat Screen, Microprocessor-Controlled Muitiscan Monitor For PC/XT/AT, PS/2, and Mac IIs Is MPR-II Approved, Features Digital Front-Panel Color/Image Controls, Lists For $1279

Fremont, CA -- September 16, 1993 -- ETC Computer, Inc., a rising player in the monitor market, is introducing the ViewMagic Model CA-1765CPL, a 17-inch flat screen, microprocessor-controlled multiscan color monitor which conforms to the Swedish MPR II guidelines, the world's toughest very low frequency (VLF) and extremely low frequency (ELF) emission standards.

In addition to low emissions protection, the CA-1765CPL features front-panel digital controls for precise adjustment of color and image parameters and is list priced at $1,279.00, which is well below comparable low emissions monitors on the market.

Kent Huang, president of ETC, said, "Protection from low emissions is a feature that many users want, but have not been willing to pay the premium for. ETC's new Model CA-1765CPL is the first high-end, large screen color monitor that offers both low emissions protection and precise color control for $1,279. The introduction of affordable low emissions monitors will soon make this feature a common standard in the United States, as it is now in Europe."

The specially-designed CA-1765CPL offers protection from X-rays, prevents the flux of extremely low magnetic and AC electric fields, eliminates electrostatic charges and minimizes interference between closely located monitors. In addition to satisfying all MPR II guidelines, the monitor is approved by UL, CSA, TW/GS, FCC, FIZ, DHHS, and PTB.

Several unique design features of the CA-1765CPL low-emission monitor add to the user's safety, comfort and productivity including:

* An excessive X-rays protection circuit.

* A special coating on the surface of the CRT to eliminate

  electrostatic charges.

* Proprietary engineering techniques and a custom cancellation

  coil to prevent the flux of extremely low magnetic and AC

  fields.

* A solid-state deflection yoke to minimize interference between

  monitors and other electronic equipment located from 60cm to

  15cm apart.

The CA-1765CPL is designed for high-resolution color applications running on IBM PC/XT/AT, PS/2 and Apple Macintosh II systems. The monitor features a flat, non-glare screen anti-static screen, 12 factory-preset resolutions from 640 x 480 up to 1280 x 1024 non-interlaced, auto-scanning from 30KHz to 65KHz for horizontal frequencies, 52Hz to 120Hz for vertical frequencies, a 0.26mm dot pitch and front-panel adjustable controls for power, brightness, contrast, horizontal size and position, vertical size and position, screen rotation, pincushion, trapezoid, and RGB color matching of video (high light) and background (low light).

The CA-1765CPL is available separately and in OEM quantities as a branded ViewMagic PreciseColor or private-label products, and is backed by a limited two-year warranty.

The CA-1765CPL joins ETC's family of ViewMagic-brand monitors and is the second economical monitor in the PreciseColor series which includes user-adjustable controls for the color of both foreground and background images displayed on the screen. The monitor also includes front panel controls to adjust the display's vertical and horizontal position and to correct for rotation (tilted image), pincushion (bowed sides), or trapezoid (bowed top or bottom) screen distortions. A total of ten adjustments are confirmed by an alphanumeric readout, also located on the front panel.

ETC Computer, Inc. is a subsidiary of the ETC Group, which includes three manufacturing firms producing monitors, systems and auxiliary components and supplies. The ETC Group's new, seven-floor, 150,000 square-foot Taiwan facility features ultra-modern automated assembly lines with stringent quality control.

ETC Computer monitor products are marketed in the U.S. through its sales and service organization located at 2917 Bayview Drive, Fremont, CA 94538, telephone 510/226-6250, fax 510/226-6252. ETC's European sales and service office is located in Germany, telephone 011/49-2151-381122, fax 011/49-2151-391199.


Application Software Sales Increase 14%
Application Software Sales Increase 14% to $1.6 Billion in the Second Quarter, 1993

Home Education Fastest Growing Category

September 15, 1993 (Washington, DC) - Sales of personal computer application software in the US and Canada reached $1.6 billion in the second quarter of 1993, an increase of 13.9% from the second quarter of 1992 the Software Publishers Association (SPA) announced today. Unit sales in the same period grew by 25.2%. For the first half of 1993, sales increased 16.6% to $3.05 billion.

Sales of Windows applications grew 52.7% in the quarter, and accounted for 48% of industry revenues, or a total of $775 million. Sales of DOS applications were $495 million, but continued to slide, declining 16.2% for the quarter. The DOS decline would have been even larger but for a 28% increase in DOS word processor sales. Sales of Macintosh applications recovered this quarter, growing 14.1% to $267 million after declining in the first quarter.

Word processors remained the largest application category, with sales of $258 million, up 36.5%. Sales of Windows and DOS word processors increased 64% and 28%, respectively on strong shipments of new products.

The spreadsheets category was the second largest, with sales of $211 million. Sales in the category declined 8% versus the prior year quarter, as large declines of DOS products offset growth of Windows products.

The database category was third largest, with sales of $112 million in the quarter, an increase of 38% compared with the second quarter of 1992. Sales of Windows databases continue to be strong. In addition, Macintosh database sales were up 90% for the quarter, while sales of DOS databases declined 26%.

Home Education was the fastest growing software category, with sales up 55% to $35.7 million. Sales of home education products have been strong for several quarters. Sales in the other two home-oriented categories were more mixed. Entertainment software sales were up 22%, with between 16% and 26% increases in DOS, Windows and Macintosh applications sales. Finance software sales declined 14% for the quarter, as weakness in DOS applications (down 56%) more than off-set strength in Windows (up 58%) and Macintosh (up 294%) applications.

"Revenue gains in this quarter were limited by both price softness and higher than normal up-grade activity," said David Tremblay, SPA Research Director. "Unit sales grew 25% for the second quarter, about the same as the first quarter's 26% increase. However, revenue growth in the second quarter was 14%, compared with 20% for the first quarter."

The Software Publishers Association is the principal trade association of the PC software industry. Its 1,000 members represent the leading publishers in the business, consumer, and education markets. The SPA has offices in Washington, DC, and Paris, France.

Software Publishers Association

1730 M St, Northwest, Suite 700, Washington, D.C. 20036

202-452-1600,  Fax: 202-223-8756


Dalanco Spry Model 310A DSP/Data Acq Board
NEW DSP & DATA ACQUISITION BOARD

September 13, 1993 -- Dalanco Spry is pleased to announce the Model 310A DSP and Data Acquisition Board for the IBM PC/AT and bus compatible microcomputers.

The Model 310A is based upon the Texas Instruments TMS320C31 floating point DSP operating at 33 Mhz, for up to 33 MFLOP performance.

The Model 310A provides data acquisition for 4 differential channels at 14 bit resolution with programmable gain and a maximum sampling rate of 150 Khz. One 12 bit 300 Khz analog output is provided.

The Board may be populated with 0 or 1 Wait state static RAM ranging in size from 32K to 512K words.

The Model 310A features high throughput and easy accommodation in multiple board systems. PC to Model 310A data transfers may be as high as 3 Mbytes/sec. Thus, in data acquisition and output applications, the maximum continuous throughput to and from disk is limited only by the capabilities of the host PC's disk system.

The following software is bundled with the Model 310A: Assembler, Debugger, Signal & Spectrum Display, Record & Playback to/from disk. The MODA Program is also included. This program manages multichannel data acquisition, simultaneous record and playback for stimulus/response applications, and provides advanced pretriggering options.

The Model 310A is priced from $699, including software.

Dalanco Spry

89 Westland Ave, Rochester, NY 14618

716-473-3610,  fax 716-271-8380


Data Conversion Services
Data Conversion Update

Data Conversion Laboratory, the nation's leading data conversion service bureau, will be announcing three key technical developments and a new business model at the Seybold Conference in San Francisco, October 20-23.

DCL will be demoing for the first time in a public forum its proprietary technologies that have been the secret weapons of its clients. The technologies include: MindReader, a page structure inference engine; roffMaker, a troff to FrameMaker conversion program; and SGMLword, a roundtrip environment for converting SGML to word processing and back again. All of these technologies make use of DCL's unique Hub and Spoke approach, converting documents first to a "lingua-franca" of conversion and then into their target format.

In addition, DCL will be holding a press conference to announce its Business Partner Program and providing the first public showing of the DCL Business Partner Catalog. DCL has always been a premier supplier of data conversion services, but customer needs often go beyond conversion to authoring systems, SGML systems, CD-ROM services, composition systems, and so on.

DCL has formed key relationships with leading suppliers in all areas where conversion plays a significant part. These relationship form DCL's Business Partner program. Partners provide their portion of the service and then either subcontract or refer DCL for conversion work, where applicable.

Data Conversion Laboratory, located in Fresh Meadows. NY since 1981. provides data conversion services and custom software for complex conversion projects. Formats handled by DCL include: paper, microfilm, WordPerfect, Word, Wang, DisplayWriter, ATEX, ATOS, Miles-33, Xyvision, Datalogics, Penta, troff, BookMaster, Ventura, PageMaker. FrameMaker, Interleaf, Quark, CD-ROM formats, SGML (any DTD), and any text tagging language.

Customers include: AT&T, IBM, Novell, Sony, EDS. Andersen Consulting, Price Waterhouse, General Motors, McGraw-Hill, Ziff-Davis, Thomson Publishing, Agfa, Sikorsky Aircraft, Hoffman-La Roche Pharmaceutical, Chase Manhattan, Hartford Insurance, and hundreds of others.

Data Conversion Laboratory

184-13 Horace Harding Expressway, Fresh Meadows, NY 11365

718-357-8700,  fax 718-357-8776


The Buzz Aldrin's Race Into Space Companion
A Hot Blast of Inside Tips, Answers, and Space Age Facts

The Buzz Aldrin's Race Into Space Companion has all the tips and answers that players of this hot new game from Interplay could ask for, including inside information from the game's creator and the book's author -- Fritz Bronner.

In this Official Interplay Edition, Bronner reveals all the hidden tricks and traps that he's built into the game. Readers will discover a wealth of space-related information that will make the game more enjoyable every time it's played.

The Buzz Aldrin's Race Into Space Companion provides players with a background on many intriguing topics including the history of worldwide space exploration from 3,000 B.C. to the present day, details of the most successful space missions, vivid descriptions of spacecraft and rockets, and a Who's Who of astronauts and cosmonauts who had the greatest impact on space exploration.

Bronner then covers many details of the game's strategies using charts and data on hardware, sound cards, etc. Readers will experience a walk-through of a sample mission with Bronner as a guide that unlocks even more secrets of the game. Players will also be treated to an insider's view of space exploration with an exclusive interview with astronaut, Buzz Aldrin.

For players who don't want to be left on the launching pad, The Buzz Aldrin's Race Into Space Companion ($19.95, ISBN: 0-07-881938-5, 356 pages) guarantees the right stuff to make space history with every new mission.

In addition to the multimedia game Buzz Aldrin's Race Into Space, Fritz Bonner is the creator and designer of the board game, "LIFTOFF!."

Osborne/McGraw-Hill, 2600 Tenth St, Berkeley, CA 94710

510-549-6600,  Fax: 510-549-6603,   orders: 800-227-0900


Improv 2 for Windows Handbook
Announcing The Most Complete Guide to the Dynamic New Improv Spreadsheet for Windows

For Improv 2 users just getting started with this cutting edge spreadsheet package from Lotus. The Improv 2 for Windows Handbook ($27.95, ISBN: 0-07-881974-1, 473 pages) is the ideal guide.

Written by Denise Martineau, Patricia Quinn, and L. John Ribar, this new book is designed to help users take full advantage of Improv's unique and powerful capabilities. The book takes an enthusiastic and friendly approach and is loaded with interesting and specific examples. Readers will learn how Improv 2 allows a user to work with spreadsheets in an intuitive way, allowing for numerous views of the same data. The authors cover how to use the unique features of Improv that set it apart from other spreadsheets, including its dynamic and multi-dimensional format, and drag and drop changing views. Readers will also discover the best ways to use Improv's built-in templates for familiar business applications, including checkbook, loan analysis, expense reports, accounts receivable, and integrated financials. Improv users will appreciate the book's Appendixes which includes reference sections covering Improv Functions, LotusScript, a Quick Reference to Improv Defaults, and the Improv Character Set.

Since many readers will be switching from 1-2-3, Excel, or Quattro Pro, there is a chapter devoted exclusively to helping users of these programs make the transition to Improv. In addition, the handy removable command card includes command equivalents for 1-2-3, Excel, and Quattro Pro.

With the Improv 2 for Windows Handbook as a guide, the experience of comprehending and mastering Improv 2 can be as easy as 1-2-3.

Osborne/McGraw-Hill, 2600 Tenth St, Berkeley, CA 94710

510-549-6600,  Fax: 510-549-6603,   orders: 800-227-0900


Morph Online BBS for Multimedia Developers
Morph OnLine Turns On

Electronic BBS Connects Multimedia Developers

September 17, 1993 -- ORINDA, Calif. -- Multimedia developers can now get the latest news, tips, and job information via their desktop with the introduction of Morph OnLine, an on-line service designed to supplement Morph's Outpost on the Digital Frontier, the technical magazine for multimedia professionals published by Morph's Outpost, Inc.

"The response to the premier issue of Morph's Outpost on the Digital Frontier has been tremendous," said Doug Millison, Editor-in-Chief. "We are helping the professional community of multimedia developers get the technical information they need to create their art. Morph Online extends the monthly magazine and gives these developers a way to communicate with each other and stay up-to-date on the issues that are important to them."

Morph Online allows developers to share information, ideas, and provide a place to "hang out" as they navigate the uncharted regions of the digital frontier. Each department of Morph's Outpost on the Digital Frontier is expanded, and users can talk with the editors and writers of the magazine. The service is provided at no cost for developers, although telephone toll charges apply. Users can log on to Morph OnLine by dialing (510) 254-4554. Internet users can reach Morph OnLine by addressing messages to Morph's Outpost on the Digital Frontier staffers or contributors using the format: name@morph.com.

Exclusively targeted for the fast-growing group of multimedia trade professionals, Morph's Outpost on the Digital Frontier covers the technical news, tools, and technologies crucial to the growth of multimedia. Each issue of the magazine features in-depth interviews with leaders of the multimedia industry, hardware and software reviews, workshops on scripting and programming techniques, and columns from leading industry innovators.

Mailed on a "first issue free" basis to 25,000 multimedia developers worldwide each month, Morph's Outpost on the Digital Frontier is also distributed at all the important multimedia industry trade shows free of charge. 5,000 issues were given away at the Business Software Solutions '93 conference. 10,000 issues were handed out at SIGGRAPH '93 and 5,000 distributed to various registered developers of multimedia authoring tools.

The one-year subscription price is $39.95, and the single issue copy price is $3.95. The one-time, black-and-white advertising page charge is $2,500, and the deadline for advertising space reservations for the November issue is October 1, 1993.

For subscription information, call or write to: Circulation Department, Morph's Outpost on the Digital frontier, P. O. Box 578, Orinda, CA 94563, (800) GO-MORPH. For advertising information, contact Publisher Craig LaGrow at (510) 238-4540. For editorial information, contact Editor-in-Chief Doug Millison at (510) 238-4550.


Intex Tax Solver Headstart Version in Oct
Intex Solutions Responds to Clinton Tax Increase

1993 Version of Tax Solver Helps Users Find Ways to Save Taxes

"Headstart" Version Slated to Ship in October

September 10, 1993 -- Needham, MA. -- With significant changes to the tax code recently enacted by Congress and the Clinton Administration, individual, business and professional tax preparers are scrambling to see how their taxes will be affected. Intex Solutions' Tax Solver is the first program that permits users to easily examine the effect of any tax-saving strategy within a DOS or Windows spreadsheet. First introduced last year, Tax Solver utilizes the flexible "what-if' capabilities of Lotus 1-2-3 and Microsoft Excel to give users the unlimited ability to explore ways to save taxes. And because Tax Solver prepares a complete tax return from calculation of tax liability to the printing of IRS-approved tax forms, the need for tedious manual tax preparation is eliminated. The 1993 "Headstart" version of Tax Solver, which allows users to plan ahead and get a jump on their tax return, will ship in October at a special 25 % reduction in price; the "Final" version of Tax Solver will ship in January, 1994.

Created Especially for Spreadsheets Users

Tax Solver, created specifically for Lotus 1-2-3 and Microsoft Excel users, is the first tax preparation program to take full advantage of the latest DOS and Windows spreadsheet technologies, including file linking, graphics and "what-if" capabilities. The program provides spreadsheet users with the most comprehensive selection of tax forms available in any program. These 147 forms and schedules are IRS-approved and ready-to-use, with all formulas and links in place.

To use Tax Solver, users simply enter financial data once into the program, and Tax Solver automatically copies and calculates entries to all dependent forms, saving time and ensuring accuracy.

According to Marjorie Bose, Product Manager at Intex Solutions, "Tax Solver is the perfect solution for spreadsheet users who want a fast, easy and accurate way to calculate their taxes, but don't want to learn a complicated stand-alone tax package. If they know how to use a spreadsheet, they already know how to use Tax Solver. And with Tax Solver, users can customize their tax calculations and take advantage of their spreadsheet's powerful "what-if" capabilities to find ways to reduce their taxes."

Linked Worksheets for Speed and Accuracy

Because the worksheets in Tax Solver are linked, users need only enter tax information once; Tax Solver automatically transfers the entries from one tax form to another. This saves users time and also virtually eliminates errors in transferring values.

Built-in formulas handle all arithmetic and tax calculations, within a form and between forms. For example, the total capital gains computed on Schedule D is automatically carried forward to the 1040 form.

Test Any Tax Saving Scenario

Perhaps the biggest benefit of Tax Solver is that, as a spreadsheet add-on, Tax Solver allows users to easily test the tax advantages of various scenarios. Using the extensive "what-if" capabilities built into 1-2-3 and Excel, users simply change the values of any spreadsheet cell, and Tax Solver will instantly recompute their tax liability. For example, with a single entry, a couple can see whether filing "jointly" or "separately" is to their best advantage. In addition, if a user's calculation needs to be customized to suit a particular tax situation, Tax Solver makes it easy to simply edit that worksheet cell.

1993 "Headstart" Special

Now through December 31, 1993, Intex is offering a Headstart Special on its Individual, Business and Professional versions of Tax Solver. All three versions are priced at 25% off the original list price. The 1040 Individual module, which consists of 102 forms, lists for $79.95 and is available for $59. The Business module, which features four different form categories, 1041 Fiduciary (67 forms), 1065 Partnership (52 forms), 1120 Corporate (61 forms) and 1120S S-Corporate (56 forms), lists for $129.95 and is available for $99. (The terms of the license agreement allow business users to choose and use one of these categories.) The Professional module, which includes all 147 forms, lists for $495 and is available for $369. In addition, state tax forms for Massachusetts, California and New York will be available in January for $39.95. There is a $5 shipping charge.

All users who purchase Tax Solver before the end of the year will receive a free update disk in January 1994.

System Requirements

Tax Solver is compatible with 1-2-3 for DOS Release 2.3, 2.4, 3.1, 3.1+, 3.4, 1-2-3 for Windows Release 1.1 or 4.0, and Excel 4.0. Users should specify their spreadsheet and version when ordering.

Intex Solutions, 35 Highland Circle, Needham, MA 02194

617-449-6222


Catalog Creator Elec Price List Service
PROHELP ANNOUNCES IMMEDIATE AVAILABILITY OF CATALOG CREATOR ELECTRONIC PRICE LIST SERVICE

(Lilburn, GA - August 23, 1993) -- ProHelp Systems, Inc. announced today the immediate availability of the CATALOG CREATOR Electronic Price List Service. With this service, a complete, customized electronic price list and ordering system can be prepared and ready for royalty-free distribution to customers and salespeople in as little as thirty days.

Electronic price lists will operate on any DOS-based PC and are text-oriented for maximum performance and minimum use of disk space. They are designed to present price and availability information for large product lines and to make routine inquiries and orders faster and easier. They are ideally suited for repeat sales, major account programs, contract pricing agreements, and repair parts lists.

After installation, the customer can browse, search, and select products; get product information and exact pricing; create and manage orders; and fax or transmit orders back to the supplier for processing.

The service is priced at $1995 and includes recommending the best selections for customization; converting product and text data into the required formats; creating a complete installation procedure; and preparing a master disk with file compression for review and approval. Once approved, the supplier has only to duplicate the disks and distribute them to customers.

Custom programming services are also available to incorporate special features and proprietary functions such as intelligent product selection routines, pricing algorithms, and order handling procedures.

For more information, contact ProHelp Systems, Inc. at 385 Killian Hill Road, Suite C, Lilburn, GA 30247, Tel: (404) 279-2510, Fax: (404) 279-2511.


Avis Selects Sybase for New Reservation System
AVIS SELECT SYBASE

SQL Server Chosen as Heart of New Reservation System

EMERYVILLE, CA, September 13, 1993 -- Sybase, Inc. today announced that Avis Rent A Car System, Inc. is using the SYBASE SQL Server as the database standard for its multi-million dollar distributed processing system at its Worldwide Reservation Center (WRC) in Tulsa, OK. Avis chose the SYBASE SQL Server product to help improve response time processing reservations for customers.

Avis' new reservation system, named Tulsa Advanced Function Terminal (TAFT) is a $3.5 million Avis-designed distributed client/server-based environment. TAFT uses the SYBASE SQL Server software to speed up the reservation processing load across desktop computers, database servers, and Avis' Wizard mainframe system, which is based in its Garden City, NY headquarters.

The Avis WRC receives more than 23 million customer calls annually. Since the inception of TAFT 18 months ago, reservation agents have seen a 5% reduction in the amount of time they spend processing reservations over the phone. TAFT also automatically calls up information such as insurance regulations for specific regions.

Charles Bell, Avis' vice president, Worldwide Reservation Center, said, "By using the SYBASE product, and moving to a client/server architecture in TAFT, Avis has reduced reservation processing time, training and keystroke requirements, and has realized telecommunications savings -- we're knocking 20 seconds off of each reservation call. Client/server technology is going to be a key to Avis maintaining a competitive edge and being a leader in the car rental industry."

Stewart Schuster, Sybase's vice president of marketing, said, "Sybase recognizes that more and more companies are moving to client/server environments. By choosing Sybase's SQL Server product and an enterprise, client/server architecture, Avis enhances Sybase's position in the RDBMS market, and strengthens AVIS' standing in the competitive car rental market, giving customers the service they expect."

The TAFT system runs on Apple Computer Macintosh LC III personal computers running SYBASE Client/Server Interfaces. A Sun Microsystems, Inc. SPARCserver 10 is used to route reservation information from Sybase's SQL Server product to Avis' Wizard IBM mainframe in Garden City, which contains customer and rate information.

Added Bell, "What's nice about the SYBASE software and the client/server environment, is that our reservations agents have much more flexibility and control on their desktops. And with the reduced training time, agents can spend more quality time with our customers."

Sybase, Inc.

Sybase, Inc. (NASDAQ: SYBS) develops and markets a leading family of client/server-based software products and services for on-line, enterprise-wide applications. Sybase's integrated family of software includes servers, tools, connectivity, and administration/control products that provide complete desktop to mainframe solutions. Headquartered in Emeryville, CA, Sybase markets its products worldwide through its direct sales force, telesales, distributors, OEMs, VARs, and systems integrators.

Avis Rent A Car System, Inc.

Avis is the largest employee-owned company in the travel industry, operating since 1987 under an Employee Stock Ownership Plan. Worldwide, Avis car rental activities are conducted at about 4,800 locations in 139 countries.

Sybase Inc, 6475 Christie Ave, Emeryville, CA 04608

510-596-3500;  Fax: 510-658-9441


ASPEC Portfolio Family of HDA Design Tools
ASPEC TECHNOLOGY PROMISES PC COST, POWER AND SIZE REDUCTION, INCREASED FEATURES AND FUNCTIONALITY

Portfolio Family Of Design Tools Using Proprietary HDA Architecture Also Enables Faster Time to Market

Santa Clara, CA -- September 13, 1993 -- Aspec Technology, Inc., a new Silicon Valley startup company, said today that its innovative ASIC (application-specific integrated circuits) design tool technology and business model promises a revolution in the way ASICs are designed, manufactured and marketed.

Based on higher device densities and performance, as well as quick turnaround, Aspec predicts lower design and manufacturing costs, and faster time-to-market. All of which will significantly impact the cost, features and functional performance of computer systems, peripherals and other electronic products for business and home use in the coming decade.

Conrad Dell'Oca, co-founder, president and CEO of Aspec, as well as the architect of the company's advanced technology, stated, "The dominant thrust of the computer industry has always been greater functionality in smaller sizes at lower costs. Our HDA technology enables systems and peripherals OEMs to affect not only those intrinsic factors, but additionally demanding market factors --such as time-to-market -- which influences not only cost, but market share and product life cycle. It is here that we will have the most impact, accelerating the revolution."

Dell'Oca continued, "There is no area of electronics - business or home -- that will not benefit. For example, it is expected that on the design and manufacturing end, there is predicted a 20-30% die cost reduction using Aspec's technology. For the user/consumer, this can translate into a 10% cost reduction in the finished product."

Dell'Oca said that Aspec is already supplying logic IC technology for nearly a dozen companies for applications including voice recognition, multimedia and virtual reality and other digital signal processing usage.

ASPEC'S TECHNOLOGY AND BUSINESS STRATEGIES

Aspec's Portfolio product line and services are built upon its breakthrough HDA (high-density array) technology. HDA architecture is inherently low-cost for design creation and device fabrication, and features densities up to 500,000 available gates, or two million transistors, using 0.8 micron processes.

HDA high-reliability, low-risk designs run on standard CAD tools. This enables logic ICs to be designed and manufactured more quickly, with more performance and features, at lower cost., all of which benefits can be passed to users. Aspec's business model incorporates the licensing of its Portfolio library to ASIC users, enabling their design independence from high-overhead old-line suppliers. In addition, the technology is licensed to semiconductor manufacturers to allow multiple sourcing of the ICs.

HDA BRINGS LOGIC IC PARITY WITH MICROPROCESSORS

Microprocessors (MPUs) are the high-profile devices of the PC world -- everyone knows the microprocessor and its clock frequency in their PC. However, for every MPU on a PC motherboard there are 3-6 logic integrated circuits. They control the graphics, keyboard, peripherals, power management (for small PCs), interface bus and the system bus. The promise of Aspec's technology lies not only in greater functional integration, reducing the number and increasing the density of devices, but also printed circuit board size, and thus product size, weight and the cost of every computer manufactured. Only by the use of solidly architected and sophisticated designs can users maximize electronic and PC/peripheral designs while decreasing size, cost and turnaround. Now, with the new developments from Aspec Technology, ASICs can achieve relative parity in functionality and density with MPUs.

ASPEC TECHNOLOGY BENEFITS

Aspec's innovative technology and business model provides its customers and strategic manufacturing partners the following benefits:

* Aspec's HDA architecture provides chip size reductions averaging 27%. This translates into lower costs and lower power dissipation

* Aspec's business model of licensing PC manufacturers with its technology means that these OEMs are not tied to a single supplier, and can deal directly with low-cost Pacific Rim semiconductor suppliers

* Aspec's partners and licensees, Samsung in Korea and Sanyo in Japan, are two of the most cost-efficient silicon manufacturers in the world

* Multiple sourcing is built into Aspec's business and technology models. Multisourcing is finally practical using the HDA process-independent architecture, which eases supply pressures and reduces costs. Also, other sources can also be brought up with Aspec's design methodology in weeks rather than months in the traditional approach.

* Aspec's lean organization, engineering and business know-how, is more efficient and cost effective than old-line silicon suppliers.

Aspec Technology, Inc. provides enabling technology and services to ASIC users and semiconductor manufacturers. As a full ASIC supplier, Aspec has consummated technology licensing relationships with large semiconductor and system companies. The company has introduced its Portfolio family of electronic design tools to the commercial application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) market.

Founded by four industry veterans in late 1991, Aspec has been successful in creating ASIC designs for a variety of clients and has emerged a major player in the ASIC market upon offering its technology commercially. With over 20 employees, the company is privately held and has been profitable since founding. The company has entered into licensing agreements with two major semiconductor firms to produce ASICs using Aspec technology. In addition, the company has introduced a full ASIC product line to OEMs utilizing Aspec's proprietary HDA Sea of Gates Technology.

Founders include Conrad Dell'Oca, president and CEO, architect of the Sea of Gates technology; Jai Shin, vice president of business development and CFO, Patrick Yin, vice president of engineering, and Y. C. Chang, director of engineering. All are alumni of LSI Logic and other major Silicon Valley companies, including Hewlett-Packard, Synertek, Gould SEL, Amdahl, Fairchild, and Rolm.

Aspec headquarters is located at 3901 Burton Drive, Santa Clara, CA, telephone 408/988-4411, fax 408/988-4767.


Visual Basic 3 for Windows Handbook
Get The Answers to The Top 20 Questions on Visual Basic Direct From Microsoft

The Visual Basic 3 for Windows Handbook assumes no prior programming knowledge before launching the reader toward mastery of a language Stewart Alsop was quoted in the New York Times as saying is, "the perfect programming environment for the 1990s."

This comprehensive, hands-on tutorial to all the ins and outs of Visual Basic 3 for Windows programming includes many important topics left out of most other introductory books. Cornell includes an entire chapter on recursion, along with methods of keeping file information secret and adding protection to programs distributed to others. Readers will benefit from Cornell's extensive discussion of sorting and searching techniques, as well as his many tips and tricks. By the last chapter, programmers will understand all the concepts involved in Cornell's creation of a checkbook management program that demonstrates the full power of Visual Basic for Windows. As an added bonus, readers will save hours of online time waiting for Microsoft technical support by taking advantage of over 50 pages of answers to the most frequently asked questions about Visual Basic -- direct from Microsoft.

Written for anyone getting started with Visual Basic, Cornell's book at $29.95 (ISBN: 0-07-881986-5, 885 pages) is a sure-fire way of maximizing the reader's investment in this outstanding program.

Gary Cornell, who holds a Ph.D. in mathematics from Brown University, is a computer programmer and professor of mathematics at the University of Connecticut. He has written or co-authored several acclaimed books on BASIC, including Visual Basic for DOS Inside & Out and two previous editions of Visual Basic for Windows Inside & Out.

Osborne/McGraw-Hill, 2600 Tenth St, Berkeley, CA 94710

510-549-6600,  Fax: 510-549-6603,   orders: 800-227-0900


Total Recall: Ultimate Guide to Memory Mgmt
Leading Experts on Memory Management Reveal Secret Techniques

For anyone who wants to become a smart memory consumer, Total Recall: The Ultimate Guide to Memory Management ($19.95, ISBN: 0-07-881835-4, 221 pages) is the book to read.

Written by Gary Saxer, one of the industry's leading experts and lecturers on the subject of memory management, Saxer is Vice President of Quarterdeck Office Systems, makers of QEMM. Co-author Ellen Sander, is Senior Technical Writer at Quarterdeck, and author of several books on database management as well as numerous articles. Saxer and Sander are uniquely qualified to provide computer users with this ultimate memory management guide.

Since memory problems are complex, solving them requires a clear understanding of how memory works. This book specifically addresses the most key topics to mastering memory management including the types and the evolution of computer memory, differences between expanded and extended memory, how applications find memory and how to provide more memory to them, how to tell how much memory a computer is using, and how to optimally configure a computer's memory.

Total Recall also explains how memory managers work, and the differences between DOS 6, Windows, and third-party memory managers. Readers will also find specific answers to some typical memory problems, including how to respond to memory error messages and how to solve hardware conflicts that can cause a system to not boot or crash.

After learning how memory management works, Total Recall: The Ultimate Memory Management Guide will put readers in control making sure that they get the most from every byte of memory.

Osborne/McGraw-Hill, 2600 Tenth St, Berkeley, CA 94710

510-549-6600,  Fax: 510-549-6603,   orders: 800-227-0900


Quantum Leap Offers Customized EDI Systems
"The Quantum Leap Offers CUSTOMIZED EDI Systems"

August 30, 1993 -- Businesses that want to be successful in today's economy must excel at maintaining a broad network of intricate relationships-with overseas offices, distributors, key suppliers, and other important players in the business cycle. EDI, or Electronic Data Interchange, is the computer-to-computer exchange of business documents such as product designs, purchase orders, shipping notices, and electronic payment instructions. EDI is fast becoming an essential solution to an array of information management problems facing any organization. From streamlining order-processing to improving customer service, to forging efficient trading partnerships with key suppliers for controlling inventory levels, and even communicating between business and the government through automated tax filings, EDI provides a strategic foundation for a profitable position. EDI transforms the business process by reducing waste, speeding up transactions, and improving relationships between suppliers and customers.

PROBLEMS IN THE INDUSTRY: Many companies use custom accounting, production, or inventory software that does not integrate with off-the-shelf EDI programs.

SOLUTIONS FOR THE INDUSTRY: The Quantum Leap is now offering HIGHLY CUSTOMIZED EDI solutions that fit into virtually ANY accounting or production environment. Further, we can now give most accounting or payroll applications a direct connection to the Internal Revenue Service for electronic forms filing.

Please call with any questions or inquiries about EDI for your business.

The Quantum Leap

A Division of the Rosen-Strassler Group

8388 Vickers St, Suite 105, San Diego, CA 92111-2119

PO Box 17736, San Diego, CA 92177-7736

619-292-0406,  fax/modem 619-292-1028


Accel-a-Writer 8100 Oversized Paper & More
XANTE ANNOUNCES OVERSIZED PAPER AND FULL BLEED SUPPORT FOR THE ACCEL-A-WRITER 8100

SEPTEMBER 14, 1993, MOBILE, AL -- XANTEX Corporation announces oversized paper capabilities to support full bleed on the Accel-a-Writer 8100 high resolution laser printer. This will allow users to print a full 11"x17" image on a page without the margin restrictions typically found in laser printers.

"The oversized paper capability is a major breakthrough and has given the Accel-a-Writer 8100 even more flexibility for desktop publishing users", said XANTE's Vice President of Marketing, Martin Kennedy. "This new feature will especially benefit those customers creating 11"x17" size newsletters, brochures and other documents where edge to edge printing is so important. And as always, XANTE has also provided a way for its current customers to upgrade their Accel-a-Writer 8100 to support this oversized paper".

XANTE's new technology supports oversized paper measuring 11.7"x17.5" and a printable region of 11.4"x17". ThisoversizedpaperwillbeavailablefromXANTEandwillbesupportedfrom the Accel-a-Writer 8100's fold down tray, which can hold up to 100 sheets.

The Accel-a-Writer 8100 is based on Canon's 8 page per minute LBP-BX print engine. This printer will support true 600 x 600 dpi as well as upgrades to 800 x 800, 960 x 960 and 1200 x 1200 dpi. It provides Advanced Gray Scale Technology, an AMD 29000 RISC processor, Advanced Memory Management, Dual Page Processing and 12 MB RAM, upgradable to 64 MB.

The Accel-a-Writer 8100 has a U.S. list price of $3,995 for 600x600 dpi and 12MB RAM, $4,595 for 800x800 dpi and 20MB RAM, $5,495 for 960x960 dpi and 32MB RAM, and $6,695 for 1200x1200 dpi and 48MB RAM.

XANTE Corp

2559 Emogene St, Mobile, AL 36606

205-476-8189


MultiFAX WEFAX Demodulator & Swr
MultiFAX has announced that it has begun shipping it's newest product, an external WEFAX demodulator.

The new demodulator can be used anywhere with an IBM Compatible Laptop, Notebook, or Desktop computer. The MultiFAX external demodulator interfaces directly through the parallel (printer) port of a portable or desktop computer. It does not require an internal slot - perfect for crowded computers or IBM Microchannel PS/2s.

The external unit operates with the same software and retains the same powerful capabilities as the popular MultiFAX Version 2.2 plug-in card.

The demodulator can be used anywhere that 12 volts is available-boats, cars, or traveling (perfect for eclipse chasers!). The external unit maintains all the high resolution (2-3 miles for NOAA satellites) and ease of use that MultiFAX is known for - no lost image data trying to use the computer serial port. Accepts ground based HF WEFAX transmissions, NOAA and Meteor polar orbiting satellites, GOES and METEOSAT geostationary satellites. The unit is FCC class B certified.

SPECIFICATIONS - Size: 5.5" wide, 1.6" high, 7.7" deep. Case is rugged extruded aluminum and vinyl clad steel. Weighs just 24 oz (0.67 kg). Color is light beige. Controls/Inputs/Outputs: Front - On/Off Switch, Input Level Control. Rear - 12 VDC Input, 25 Pin D-Plug Connector (female), Two Phono (RCA) Jacks (HF Fax Input, Satellite Input). Six foot shielded computer interface cable included. Power: External 12 volts DC. 120 volt AC adapter included. Cigarette lighter adapter cord available. Price: $389.00 plus $8.00 shipping & handling in US.

MultiFAX also announced the latest version of the MFMAP software, version 5. The following is a brief summary of the software features:

Receives NOAA, Meteor, GOES, Meteosat, HF Fax * Store Image Directly to Disk or Memory (Extended or Expanded Memory Not Required for direct write to disk) * PLL Sampling-No Complicated Timing Settings (Pictures Have Straight Edges-Even from NOAA, Meteosat, and GOES Audio Tape Recordings) * 256 Colors/64 Shades of Gray with SVGA * Zoom to 800% (64x Area) * 1024x768 Pixel Resolution with Supported SVGA Cards * VESA Compatible * GIF or Binary Image Output Files * Powerful Image Enhancement * User Definable "Instant" Image Enhancement Keys * Easy to Use False Colorization * Multiple Unattended Timer Recordings * NOAA Visible and IR pictures Recorded Simultaneously * Calibrated IR Temperature Readout and Calibrated IR Colorization (Linear Receiver not Required-Works with Scanners) * User Definable Image Storage Subdirectory * Dot Matrix and Laser Printer Output * Same High Resolution with Both Internal and External Demodulators: 3-4 Kilometers with NOAA * Stores 3.5 Million 8 Bit Pixels for One 12 Minute NOAA SVGA Recording * Optional 50% Smaller File Size for VGA Recordings * On-Screen "Level Meter" Provides Perfect Exposure Every Time * Latitude/Longitude and Map Overlays (USA included) * Optimized Record-Only Software for Slower Computers * Command Line Driven Record Software * MFMAP5 Supports both the Internal and External Demodulators * Clear, Complete, Illustrated User's Manual (over 65 pages).

Minimum requirements: IBM Compatible Computer with 640 KB Memory * VGA Card and Monitor * Hard Drive or RAM Disk with 4MB Available Space * Works with MultiFAX version 1.2, 2.0, and 2.2 Internal Cards as well as the MultiFAX Version 3.1 External Demodulator.

MultiFAX

143 Rollin Irish Road, Milton, VT 05468

802-893-7006, fax: 802-893-6859


ASK ME Multimedia Center Backgrounder
ASK ME MULTIMEDIA CENTER EDITORIAL BACKGROUNDER

September, 1993......Ask Me Multimedia Center is devoted to developing and marketing new multimedia authoring and presentation software for both DOS and Windows platforms, as well as related multimedia products and services. The company is a pioneer in the rapidly growing multimedia industry.

Ask Me Multimedia Center was founded in 1985 at the University of North Dakota (UND) by Michael O'Donnell. As a technology transfer project of UND, the company, with Mike's guidance, developed some of the first multimedia systems for commercial use. Interactive multimedia systems were built and tested in hotels, shopping malls, hospitals and other public locations.

The company' s main competitive advantages are based on products that are easy-to-use and priced right. Future plans involve producing CD-ROM titles, the licensing/publishing of third-party products and the creation of multimedia centers.

In 1991, Ask Me Multimedia Center was selected by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Nation' s Business Magazine as one of the most innovative companies in the country. For its technical and business accomplishments as a small business, Ask Me Multimedia Center was awarded the "Blue Chip Enterprise" award.

LATEST PRODUCT

SST (SUPER Show & Tell)

Ask Me Multimedia Center previewed SST (SUPER Show & Tell), its latest multimedia software product for Windows 3.1, at Spring Comdex this year. SST allows the user to create interactive multimedia presentations in a free-form environment. It supports all popular graphics, animation, sound and digital video formats. It is amazingly intuitive and easy to use. Presentations developed with SST use a slide carousel as a metaphor and include sound and motion without the use of complex authoring languages.

SST is perfectly suited to the business and home office market. For example, business people can choose to present pertinent information by utilizing colorful charts, still-frame pictures and text with the addition of sound and motion to make presentations more exciting and effective. Additional major users include: sales and marketing people who want to make a custom interactive multimedia presentation, the home PC hobbyist who enjoys the latest technology has to offer and teachers who want to produce their own interactive educational tools, as well as students who prefer to dazzle their classmates rather than put them to sleep.

SST's distinguishing features include:

Modeless Importing & Editing of Media

* All creation is done on the same screen in an editing window

* No overlapping dialogue boxes or multiple modules in which

  to work

Dynamic Slides & Media Objects

* Each slide in an SST carousel is a mini movie

* All objects on a slide can be easily given motion

* Text can scroll on and off or move anywhere on the slide

* Images can grow from a small icon to a full screen picture

* Fonts and colors can change on the fly

* Sound and movie clips can be added to each slide

Time-Based Synchronization of Events

* SST automatically generates a simple "playlist" for each slide,

  as opposed to the object-oriented programming or time-line

  layout

Supported Formats

* Graphics: .BMP, .DIB, .PCX, .GIF, .TIF and .TGA

* Audio: .WAV and MIDI

* Animation: Autodesk .FLI and .FLC Note: Macromedia .MMM

  and Golddisk .AWI planned for V 1.1

* Video: Video for Windows .AVI

OTHER PRODUCTS

Ask Me 2000 and Ask Me Professional

The Ask Me 2000 and Ask Me Professional products are DOS based authoring programs that come complete with a comprehensive, easy-to-use scripting language. The scripting language allows users to create complex applications that use data variables and multimedia database features. Typically, a person with even a limited amount of programming experience can excel with these products.

The Ask Me Professional product is essentially the same as the Ask Me 2000 product except that the Professional version has live-motion video and database management capabilities. These additional features allow for sophisticated applications, but also require some experience or training in video and/or database development.

THE MARKET

Multimedia has been compared to desktop publishing because of the diversity of applications it can be used for. The major markets and applications for multimedia authoring software currently include business presentations and promotional videos, interactive training and educational courses, point-of-purchase and product demonstration terminals, electronic building directories and information kiosks and electronic books and games.

Desktop Presentation, Inc., a market research firm in Mountain View, California, predicts a $17 billion U.S. market for multimedia products and services by 1994, while Frost & Sullivan of New York predicts a $25 billion market by 1995. This represents a 47 percent annual growth rate for the multimedia products and services industry. Dataquest, a PC industry analyst, predicts a $614 million market by 1995 for authoring and presentation software of the type made by Ask Me Multimedia Center.

DISTRIBUTION CHANNELS (US & FOREIGN)

Distribution is through Software Resource, domestically. Additional American distributors will soon be added. Canadian distribution is handled by Merisel Canada. Distribution abroad is through a growing worldwide network of international distributors.

TECHNICAL SUPPORT

Although the products are easy-to-use and not much help is expected to be required, unlimited free technical support is available for registered users.


Fuzzy Logic Designer CASE Tool for Windows
Spokane, Wa. -- Byte Dynamics, Inc. has released the Fuzzy Logic Designer for Microsoft Windows. This innovative CASE tool generates portable C source code for applications requiring sophisticated rule-based analysis or control. Plus, it offers a simulation mode to graphically depict the response of a fuzzy logic design to a multitude of input parameters. Potential uses for the Fuzzy Logic Designer can be found in the fields of process control to bio-medical or financial applications. No royalties or license fees are required for the generated output. Runs under Microsoft Windows. Priced at $395.00

Byte Dynamics Inc

14608 E. Olympic Ave, Spokane, WA 99216

800-233-2983,  509-926-6011,  fax 509-926-6130


Portable Computers & Wireless Comm. Report
Study Says High Speed Wireless Networks Needed To Ignite Mobile Data Market

September 7, 1993 - Wilmette, Illinois -  The  mobile data industry will grow slowly but steadily  from $595 million in 1993 to just under $4 billion by  2002, with growth accelerating well into the 2000s.   That is one of the main conclusions of the recently- released 1993 edition of Datacomm Research  Company's Portable Computers & Wireless  Communications,  a comprehensive report on mobile  data technologies, applications, markets, and  vendors.

"Mobile data will set new business standards for  timely access to people and information," said Ira  Brodsky, President of Datacomm Research  Company.  But he cautions that the market will not  take-off as quickly as many expect, "ARDIS, RAM  Mobile Data, and Cellular Digital Packet Data are  busily constructing what could be called 'Wireless  Telex' networks--they operate at speeds long ago  considered obsolete at the desktop."  Nevertheless,  Brodsky is optimistic about long term prospects.  "The  Personal Communications revolution has begun.   For the first time in history, ordinary citizens will have  cheap, plentiful access to the radio spectrum for  personalized use.  High speed, low cost,  microcellular networks will emerge to serve the new  generation of portable computers, PDAs, and  personal communicators," Brodsky concluded.

The 219 page (single-spaced text) report contains in -depth profiles of over 120 vendors including:  McCaw Cellular Communications, ARDIS, RAM  Mobile Data, MTEL (the parent company of SkyTel),  Motorola, IBM, Apple Computer, Ericsson-GE Mobile  Communications, AT&T, RadioMail, EO, and General  Magic.  An Executive Summary details the current  market size and segmentation, and presents a ten  year forecast.  There is also a 69 page overview of  the technologies, applications, business  opportunities, and regulatory issues.

Datacomm Research Company is the world's  recognized leader in tracking and analyzing  emerging wireless data communication technologies  and markets.  Other Datacomm Research Company  publications include Wireless Local Area Networks  (Q4, 1992; 198 pages) and a quarterly journal, The  Wireless Industry Prospectus (approximately 60  pages per quarter).  Ira Brodsky is Chairman of "The  Wireless Data Conference and Exposition" (to be  held October 27 - 29 in Santa Clara, California), a  member of the PenExpo Advisory Board, a  Contributing Editor to Pen Magazine, and past  member of the COMDEX Advisory Board.

Portable Computers & Wireless Communications is  available for immediate shipment.  Orders may be  faxed to (708) 256-4224, phoned to (708) 256-1763,  or mailed to Datacomm Research Company, 920  Harvard Street, Wilmette, Illinois 60091.   VISA/MASTER CHARGE accepted.


Nintendo Gateway Interactive Multimedia Systems
Nintendo Gateway System Takes Off

NEW YROK -- Nintendo of America Inc. announce the introduction and initial installation of the first interactive multimedia system delivering a broad range of entertainment services to travelers on airplanes, cruise ships, and in hotel rooms around the world.

The Nintendo Gateway System is an interactive interface designed to offer video games, movies, CD audio, telphone, shopping, and other informational services to consumers. The system combines the latest in digital communications technology with a special version of the 16-bit Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). The engineering of the system took place over the last 18 months at Nintendo's research labs in Redmond, WA and the system is also being manufactured in the United States.

"The Nintendo Gateway System will make traveling more entertaining and informative in a thousand different ways, and there's nothing technologically that limits its use exclusively to these venues," said Peter Main, Nintendo's vice president, marketing.

According to the company, passengers will be able to choose from 10 different Super NES games, a range of 4 to 6 movie selections, audio CD play, and phone, shopping and informational services that may include baggage, transportation and weather data for their destination city.

Hughes-Avicom International currently has contracts with Northwest, Virgin Atlantic, and China Airlines to install the system.


KIDS CD-ROM SCIENCE PROGRAMS ANNOUNCED

Lewisville, NC, September 7, 1993 -- Science for Kids announced the availability of their second interactive CD-ROM school science program titled FORCES & MOTION.

This new nine-lesson physical sciences program for children ages 8-13 is now available for Macintosh color computers and comes complete with a Student Science Journal, a Teacher's Guide, an Science Kit including a spring scale and three magnets, a CD-ROM disc with interactive lessons delivered in English and Spanish, and school licensing rights. The CD-ROM is programmed with MacroMind Director software and includes video, voice, graphics, photographs, text, music and animation. The complete program is priced at $289.

FORCES & MOTION follows their August 1992 release of "CELL"EBRATION--a life science CD-ROM cell biology program for children ages 5-8 -- now in elementary schools in the U.S., Canada and Australia. "CELL"EBRATION is available for Macintosh color computers and includes English and Spanish translations on one CD-ROM disc, a Teacher's Manual, Student Journal, prepared microscope slides, a 50x microscope, a magnifying glass and school licensing of the program. It also sells for $289.

"We are pleased with the endorsements given to "CELL"EBRATION by teachers, media specialists, curriculum coordinators, principals and educational publications. Most gratifying of all are the candid expressions of many young children learning to enjoy science with our program" said Dr. Carolyn F. Moyer, President of Science for Kids. "Our new physical science program -- FORCES & MOTION -- is very elegant and we are excited by the interest it is receiving. Our next program -- SIMPLES MACHINES -- will be out next January and promises to be equally remarkable!"

Science for Kids is a collaboration of scientists, educators, psychologists, artists, programmers and children who are developing and publishing multimedia CD-ROM learning programs to deliver science concepts to children ages 5-14. Their mission is to make science engaging, meaningful, and fun for children.

Science for Kids

9950 Concord Church Rd, Lewisville, NC 27023

919-945-9000,  fax 919-945-2500

CD-ROM PROGRAM SYNOPSES

The CELL (ages 5-8)                            Now Available

The focus of this program is the Cell, the fundamental construct of all living organisms. To introduce the children to this concept, children first discuss the differences between living and non-living things. Emphasis is placed on the characteristics and processes of living organisms. Magnifying glasses and microscopes are used as tools to further investigate living organisms through the power of magnification. This concept is reinforced by a narrative with scientists Anton van Leeuwenhoek and Robert Hooke who share their discoveries of microscopic life and cell structure with the children. Differences and commonalities between cellular life processes are explored as well as the organization of cells into tissues, organs, and systems. The program concludes with the children constructing their own cell from a manu of organelles based on their understanding of how living things and cells function. Through this approach relationships between the student's natural world of experience and the scientific concepts of cellular biology are connected.

FORCES & MOTION (ages 8-13)                   Now Available

This program begins with a discussion of what the students think is meant by the concept of force and examples of forces are depicted. The students then investigate different types of forces and ways that forces can act on matter; moving, stopping, or changing the speed of matter. Then there is an introduction to the ways forces are measured. Spring scales calibrated in units called newtons and magnets are introduced and used in hands-on activities. The students then proceed to learn about gravity and byoyancy through visits with Galileo and Archimedes, friction with Elijah McCoy, and the three Laws of Motion with Sir Isaac Newton. Learning about motion helps the student understand how forces are necessary to cause motion and in turn how motion can accomplish work. The student learns about the definition of work, formulates an equation for calculating work, and undertakes activities to reinforce the definition of work while measuring the amount of work being accomplished. Throughout this program there are many opportunities to use mathematical and problem solving skills.

SIMPLE MACHINES (ages 9-14)                     Available 1/94

This program is designed for students to explore the natural world of forces and the way in which forces help us to do work. Allowing children to discover and experience some common forces in their environment sets the stage for the more quantitative concept of work. Work is discussed, defined, and measured so that the children may use their problem solving skills to determine the advantage of using simple machines. All six classes of simple machines, their structure, and the way they function are part of this program. Students learn to identify these simple machines through their association with these simple machines in their daily lives. Playgrounds, schools and homes provide perfect examples of many simple machines in action. Children will also discover how combinations of simple machines can be used to make compound machines.


ReVerb Voice Prompt Editor for Windows
Voice Prompt Editor for Windows

[ This info was just received along with newer press releases ]

[ from the company and has been included for informational    ]

[ purposes -- ed.                                             ]

Kanata, Ontario, Canada -- Pika Technologies Inc. previously announced the release of ReVerb, a Microsoft Windows-based voice editor designed specifically for creation of prompts for voice response systems.

"PIKA's ReVerb Voice Prompt Editor offers systems integrators an excellent tool for developing professional sounding voice prompts for use with voice mail and IVR system" sayd Peter Karneef, President - Operation at Pika Technologies.

General Features

With a user friendly Microsoft Windows graphical user interface, ReVerb supports the creation of both individual voice files, and indexed phrase files containing several voice prompts. For editing multiple phrases, ReVerb allows many phrase files and voide editor windows open at the same time. It also provides 'zoom buttons' to alter the amount of the voice sample displayed in the window.

For easy manipulation of voice prompts, ReVerb makes phrase lists for the current project file available on the desktop. Editing or listening to a phrase is as simple as one mouse click away. ReVerb also supports unlimited length phrase names and complete phrase text to be used as the phrase name.

As a true MS Windows application, the package supports drag-drop operations from file manager and between windows. It also supports cut/paste operations from phrase file to phrase file, and from phrase file to voice editor and vice versa. Automatic sampling rate conversion and anti-alias filtering on cut and paste operations are also available.

With its unique 'bulk processing capability' ReVerb allows users to select 'all prompts' in their workspace with a couple of mouse clicks. By simply selecting the desired function command, ReVerb will operate on all the selected prompts automatically.

With its phrase concatenation testing capability, ReVerb allows the testing of phrase concatenation using a drag-drop onto a phrase window prior to permanently modifying the phrase. Often in voice response systems, phrases are built at run-time by concatenation saay numbers and phrases together -

     e.g. <"you have"> <"two"> <"new messages">

Voice & Sound Card Support

ReVerb works with PIKA and DIALOGIC voice cards, plus all Windows MPS compatible sound cards, both 8 bit and 16 bit. Other industry standard voice cards will also be supported in the future.

Digital Signal Processing Sound Effects

ReVerb offers a full set of signal processing sound effects. All effects have a test button so the user can hear the results before saving changes. These effects can be performed either on the selected part or the whole phrase. Sound effects include: echo, frequency filter, silence clean, silence pad, insert silence, insert DTMF tone, merge (mix) voice files, envelope adjustment, gain control, fast/slow speed adjust and sampling rate change.

Recording

ReVerb supports audio recording using any sampling rate and sample size supported by the user's voice hardware.

Management of prompt recording is made easy by selection of a text file containing the names of the prompts the user wishes to record. The system will prompt for each new recording. It allows the user to re-record a prompt if required, and store the recordings as they go.

Using a Windows sound card, high quality recordings can be made at high resolution (i.e. 22kHz, 16 bit) for high quality voice prompts. These prompts can be archived as masters, and ReVerb will perform conversion to most popular coding formats such as ADPCM or PCM.

With its time saving Automatic recording mode, ReVerb can save hours or laborious voice prompt editing by automatically processing bulk recordings from a tape, using silence detection to determine the start of each prompt. This feature allows recordings to be made off-site onto tape using a professional announcer. The system can then process the audio in real-time, creating a set of individual prompt files without human intervention.

File Formats & Phrase File Operations

Supports for multiple voice file formats with ReVerb includes: Compressed ADPCM (PIKA or DIALOGIC), u-law and A-law PCM, Windows WAV files, VBASE40 indexed file format, unformatted 16-bit linear files, and ReVerb native format.

In addition, ReVerb also allows sampling rate conversion and the automatic splitting of large voice files into individual prompts for editing using silence detection.

Pika Technologies Inc

155 Terrence Matthews Cres, Kanata, Ontario K2M 2A8 CANADA

613-591-1555,  fax 613-591-1488


PIKA V-12 Voice Card Family
Gentlemen... Start Your (MVIP) Engines

Kanata, Ontario, Canada -- PIKA Technologies Inc. announced the introduction of its new MVIP based PIKA V-12 voice card family. This high density voice card family represent leading edge design in PC based voice processing platforms. Designed to meet real-world needs, the V-12 can be used to support applications that require Analog lines as well as Digital lines (ISDN, T1, E1). The V-12 can also function as a FAX server, Text to Speech engine, Speech Recognition engine, as well as a standalone DUMB PBX on a PC. All this can be done simultaneously and on the same card.

Designed using scalable DSP Architecture, the PIKA V-12 is a true digital design that includes a scalable DSP engine module, as well as an embedded DSP for each and every analog line interface. The PIKA V-12's DSP voice processing engine module is scalable in processing power, depending on the application, from 20MIPs up to a whopping 120MIPs per card.

Since the V-12 incorporates a universal Line Interface, users can quickly field configure their voice processing systems with any combination of Loop Start, Ground Start, Telephone Set, E/M type 1 and 5, and Recorded Announcement (RAM) Trunk interfaces. This universal on-site configurabilty eliminates stocking problems and guesswork at ordering time for analog line type.

The core of each analog line interface is an embedded DSP chip that provides full software control over audio record and playback volume, input/output impedance, echo return loss, trans-hybrid loss, PCM encoding (A or u law) and compress rate. This unique per-channel processing power allows the PIKA V-12 to easily adapt to any line type or local PTT standards without hardware modification.

Providing true 12 line per PC/AT bus slot density ( 8 or 16 bits), the PIKA V-12 allows you to build a complete 12 line voice server with a single card and without using any extra slots in your PC for other support cards. This geometry allows you to configure cost effective voice processing systems which will easily grow in a linear fashion, maintaining true and predictable 12 circuit per slot density, regardless of system size. Typically an 8 bus slot PC/AT can be configured to support 96 analog lines.

The PIKA V-12 family of products conforms to the industry standard MVP (Multi-Vendor Interface Protocol), providing voice system integrators with a one card solution for all standard analog line interface types.

MVIP is a digital audio interconnection bus for PC based voice processing hardware. The PIKA design supports up to 512 channels of digital audio per PC. MVIP based voice systems can be built in combination with PIKA's or other manufacturer's resource cards type (FAX, T1/E1, ISDN).

With the PIKA V-12's unique Universal Line Interface, digital circuit switching and MVIP bus compatibility, a fully functional PC based key system or PBX can be easily realized. The universal line interfaces can power and ring single line phones, interface to most trunk types and allow unlimited audio and signaling connections between phones, external trunk lines, external interface units or converters. In addition, the V-12's own voice processing capabilities allows a PC based telephone switching system to provide totally integrated voice processing.

With the PIKA V-12 MVIP capability, PC based PBX or Key system applications will have integrated access to T1/E1, ISDN, FAX and Data services.

Other V-12 features include: Embedded vendor ID, and hardware based field programmable feature access. API compatibility with all existing PIKA AVA DOS and Windows applications. DSP based Caller ID, FAX and Modem functions.

The V-Engine Open Architecture

The core of the PIKA V-12 design is a scalable DSP Engine daughterboard module based on the new Motorola 56156-60 DSP. Each V-Engine module includes support for an MVIP compatible interface with up to 64 voice channels. The V-Engine Module is available on an OEM basis in two configurations:

1. Model VE/2 - A basic configuration that is powered by two DSP56156-60 Digital Signal Processors (60 MIPS of voice processing power).

2. Model VE/4 - A high performance configuration that is powered by four DSP56165-60 Digital Signal Processors (120 MIPS of voice processing power).

All V-Engine Modules incorporate the PIKA VP/OS (Voice Processing Operating System). VP/OS is a distributed processing and multitasking operating system that resides on the DSP. VP/OS supports conventional voice processing tasks such as DTMF detection, Tone Detection and Generation, plus advanced applications such as Conferencing, Speech Recognition, Dial Pulse Recognition, Text to Speech Conversion, FAX, Data Modem and Caller Identification (CLASS).

VP/OS is an open architecture with an Application Program Interface (API) for software developers. Also, V-Engine Modules can be used with third party hardware such as T1/E1, FAX, Voice Recognition and other DSP intensive digital telephony applications.

A V-12 For Every Application

The PIKA V-12 voice card family consist of three models, differing only in power and application. Each model of the PIKA V-12 card supports 12 user configurable DSP based Universal Line Interface Circuits (ULICs), an MVIP compatible interface, with circuit switching for up to 128 full duplex channels. The following models are available:

1. Model L - MVIP + Analog Line Interface: Supports PBX/Key system functionality, including circuit switching, DTMF detection/generation, and Dial Tone detection/generation. Provides input for an optional 24/48VDC talk battery, and 20/30Hz AC ringing. This model is ideal for line card applications such as small & medium PBX/Key systems and auto dialers and includes the MVIP bus interface.

2. Model DL - Voice Processor: Includes full functionality of the Model L card (see above) with the addition of a single DSP56156 Digital Signal Processor module. This module supports voice processing functions such as Audio Record/Playback, speech compression, DTMF transceiver, Call Progress Tone detection, and Generation. Model DL is well suited for Voice Mail, Automated Attendant, Interactive Voice Response, Predictive Dialers.

3. Model DLX - Super Voice Processor: Includes full functionality of the Model L card (see above), with the addition of either a Model VE/2 or VE/4 V-Engine Modules on the card (up to 120 MIPS of voice processing power). This model supports standard voice applications plus advanced applications such as Conferencing, Speech Recognition, Dial Pulse Recognition, Text to Speech Conversion, FAX, Data Modem and Caller Identification (CLASS).

PIKA Technologies Inc

155 Terrence Matthews Cres.

Kanata, Ontario K2M 2A8 CANADA

613-591-1555,  fax 613-591-1488


AST Research to Open China Headquarters
AST RESEARCH TO ENHANCE No. 1 POSITION IN CHINA WITH NEW TIANJIN HEADQUARTERS

Also Announces China's Biggest PC Contract

IRVINE, Calif., Sept. 9, 1993 -- To extend its leading market share position within the world's fastest-growing economy, AST Research Inc. today announced plans for AST China, a joint venture with the People's Republic of China government that will be headquartered in Tianjin, incorporating full-service marketing, sales, service and manufacturing operations.

The announcement was made at a contract signing ceremony held in Beijing involving more than 500 guests, including Safi Qureshey, AST president and chief executive officer, senior Chinese government officials and AST resellers and customers.

In addition to AST China, the company also announced it has opened new sales offices in Shanghai and Chengdu, and has completed the largest PC contract ever negotiated by any PC company in China--an $80 million deal with Legend Technology Ltd. involving an estimated 40,000 386- and 486-based PCs over the next 11 months. As one of AST China's largest resellers, Legend has bolstered its Beijing sales operations by appointing sub-dealers in Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Xian and other key cities in order to prepare itself for the anticipated rise in demand for AST products.

"China represents the world's most promising market for PCs and other high technology products," said Qureshey. "Economic reform has been very successful and the recent promotion of the country's public-oriented economic system will result in higher demand for PC systems."

AST began selling products in China in 1985 and was one of the first companies to recognize the vast market potential within the region. Since then, the company's products have continually grown in popularity, vaulting AST to its premier market share leader position. According to International Data Corp., AST held 27 percent of the $439 million Chinese PC market in calendar year 1992, with growth forecasted for the PC market at a 22 percent average annual rate between now and the year 2000.

"Our new joint venture marks a leap forward in the evolution of the company's long-term commitment to the Chinese market," said Qureshey. "Our goal is to become China's most-valued partner for PC systems. We are in a unique position to better serve the Chinese market by offering a broad selection of high-quality products, backed by a superior service and support network that will be based entirely within the country.

"Our partnership with the Chinese government will play a key role in AST's strategy to capture additional worldwide market share. It will not only strengthen the company's No. 1 position in China, it also will serve to enhance our presence throughout the entire Asia/Pacific region. "

In addition to manufacturing PCs, AST China will work with the Chinese government and local resellers to develop the market for PC-based products to private businesses and home users through marketing, training and educational programs. Presently, more than 90 percent of PC sales in China are to government agencies. Over the next year, AST plans to establish a nationwide sales and service network for resellers and end users, consisting of eight sales offices and more than 10 service centers. In addition, the company will begin to address the home computer market through department stores and other consumer channel outlets.

"Manufacturing is only one element of the equation," said Phillip Wong, AST vice president, Asia-Pacific, who oversees the AST China operations. "Through the efforts of our partnership, we intend to help establish a thriving local market for high-tech products that will help revolutionize the way the Chinese people work and live. Local full-service operations will not only enable AST to supply Chinese government agencies with computers, it will also provide the necessary infrastructure to help business and home users take maximum advantage of new technologies.

State-of-the-Art Tianjin Facility

Located in Tianjin, approximately 60 miles southeast of Beijing, AST China is scheduled to begin operation in September, 1994. The project is a result of a joint venture, majority owned by AST, with the Tianjin Economic-Technological Area Business Development Co., a government agency established by the Tianjin Electronic and Instrumental Industry Authority and governed by China's Ministry of Electronic Industry. Under terms of the joint venture agreement, AST will retain 90 percent ownership, with total investment not to exceed $16 million.

AST China will operate from a 260,000 square-foot facility located in the Tianjin Economic-Technologic Development Area, an economic zone established by the Chinese government in 1984 especially for foreign joint ventures and/or wholly-owned foreign enterprises. Construction of the building, which is located next to Motorola's China headquarters, will begin in November.

Once operational, AST China will manufacture, distribute and repair PC systems, while providing post-sale technical support to the company's customers and end users. Employment during the first year of operation is expected to number more than 400, consisting of manufacturing, marketing, sales, administration and technical support personnel.

AST China represents the company's eighth manufacturing facility worldwide, and the third in the Asia/Pacific region. It joins world-class facilities in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Scotland and the United States to provide worldwide supplies in each of AST's major markets. Production efforts--which will initially consist of final assembly, with printed circuit board assembly phased-in at a later date--will be led by Billie Lui, who was recently named vice president of AST's Asia manufacturing operations.

"We expect that the increased demand and manufacturing capacity created by AST China will further enhance the company's volume purchasing leverage, which will enable AST to deliver products, worldwide, that are even more competitive than they are today," said Qureshey.

AST selected Tianjin as the site for its China headquarters because of its proximity to Beijing, in addition to the region's conveniently-located air, sea and ground transportation infrastructures, which will enable quick and efficient product deliveries to customers.

Unique Marketing Position

With its broad selection of products, AST is in a unique position to supply innovative PC-based solutions to Chinese government agencies, private businesses and home users.

In addition to traditional keyboard-based PCs, AST will leverage its market leading position in pen-enabled technologies, recently acquired in the Tandy/GRiD acquisition, to develop PCs and applications software that are well-suited for the Chinese stroke-based written language. Products such as the GRiD Convertible and PalmPad will be marketed--in combination with applications software developed by AST's PenRight! software operations--as quicker and more-efficient solutions to information capture, processing and communications functions which are now performed only with keyboard-based systems.

Company Background

AST Research Inc., is ranked No. 367 on the 1992 Fortune 500 list of America's largest industrial companies. In July 1993 AST acquired Tandy Corp. 's PC manufacturing business. The acquisition makes AST the No. 4 U.S. and No. 6 worldwide personal computer company, according to International Data Corp.'s calendar year 1992 unit volume shipment data. These figures includes AST, Tandy, GRiD and Victor brands manufactured by AST.

AST's award-winning product lines include desktop, file server, notebook and pen-enabled computers marketed under the Advantage!, Bravo, Premmia, Manhattan SMP, PowerExec, GRiD and Victor brands. PenRight! is a DOS-based graphical-user interface and handwriting recognition system.

AST reported overall record year-end revenues of $1.412 billion for fiscal year 1993. The company is represented in 100 countries and operates 41 international subsidiaries and sales offices.

AST's corporate headquarters is located at 16215 Alton Parkway, Irvine, CA 92718. Telephone (714) 727-4141, (800) 876-4278. Fax: (714) 727-9355


AST Donates 400 PCs to Schools
AST RESEARCH DONATES $400,000 IN PCs TO HELP STUDENTS GET JOBS

IRVINE, Calif., September 7, 1993--As students start the new school year, AST Research Inc. announced the donation of 400 powerful computers to a national educational program, Vital Link, which prepares non-college-bound high school students for the workplace. This significant donation, valued at $400,000, comes at a time when many schools have been hit by tightened budgets.

Vital Link is a four-year-old program that unites the business and educational communities in developing more highly skilled entry-level workers. Established in 1989 by the American Business Conference, a group of 100 CEOs from fast-growing, mid-size companies across the nation, Vital Link has pilot programs in Orange County, Calif.; Fort Worth, Texas; and New Jersey.

"With this gift, AST has provided schools and businesses with the true link that is the cornerstone of the Vital Link program," said KaWeen Jones, chair of the Vital Link Orange County Steering Committee and vice chancellor of university advancement at the University of California, Irvine. "AST has been a leader in Vital Link planning since it began in Orange County, and this generous gift shows both how far we have come and the extent of the business community's support for this important program."

A bill recently introduced to Congress, the School-to-Work Opportunities Act of 1993 (S 1361, HR 2884), incorporates many of the principles upon which Vital Link was founded:

* A link between business and education leaders

* A definition of the skills needed in the workplace

* Workplace mentoring

* A certificate or transcript that recognizes mastery of

  specific job-related skills

In addition, President Clinton's Goals 2000: Educate America Act (HR 1804) would establish a National Standards Board to oversee the creation of industry-based standards, assessments and certifications.

"Our philosophy has always been to give back to the community," said Safi Qureshey, AST president and chief executive officer. "We've maintained a long-standing commitment to education in Orange County, and now, with our acquisition of Tandy manufacturing in Fort Worth, we're extending that same commitment to Fort Worth schools. "

Qureshey is a member of the Vital Link Orange County Steering Committee and has been active in Vital Link since its inception in 1989 by ABC, of which he is also a member.

Half of the 400 Intel 386-based systems donated by AST were given to Vital Link Orange County, with the remaining 200 given Vital Link Fort Worth.

In Orange County where Vital Link is sponsored by the University of California, Irvine and the Orange County Chamber of Commerce & Industry, the AST systems will be distributed among the school district's 37 high schools and continuation schools. The computers will be used to record employability transcripts and for instructional purposes.

Vital Link's employability transcripts are similar to academic transcripts used by colleges and universities. The difference is they are used to quantify a student's employment potential, rather than acceptance into an institute of higher education.

Students seeking employment can ask prospective employers to access their employability transcripts to verify and reference information that includes academic records, extracurricular activities, job experience, attendance and the ability to work in groups. Also included are samples of career-specific work performed by the student while in school.

"We all benefit from programs like Vital Link, " said Qureshey. "Businesses get a better selection of employees and schools have more highly motivated students who see a direct relationship between what they learn in the classroom and what they'll need to know to get a job.

Deborah Boyer, Vital Link coordinator at Savanna High School in Anaheim, is anxious to receive the five AST computers designated for her school. "It will be wonderful. We've been keeping track of our Vital Link students' progress manually. Now we can do that on the computer," said Boyer.

Vital Link Orange County plans to eventually install a hot-line number at the Orange County Department of Education for businesses to receive a faxed copy of employability transcripts.

The AST computers will also be used to run software that teaches students how to fill out job applications, write a resume and other work-related skills. In addition, students can use the computers to acquire competency in software programs used in the workplace, such as word processing, desktop publishing, spread sheets and data bases.

In Fort Worth, the Vital Link program is targeted at middle school students, but emphasizes school-to-work skills at all levels of education. The school district is soliciting proposals for use of up to six computers per location. Proposals will be prepared as a collaborative effort by students, teachers and the community. Distribution of the computers to any of the district's 104 schools will be based on the merit of those proposals.

Through its corporate contribution program, AST Research strongly supports education, particularly grades Kindergarten through 12. Sharing its financial success with the community, the company has donated more than $2 million in equipment to educational organizations during the last three years.

Corporate Background

AST Research Inc., ranked 367 on the 1992 Fortune 500 list of America's largest industrial companies, develops personal computer products with technologies ranging from hand-held portable computers to superservers.

In July 1993, AST acquired Tandy Corp.'s PC manufacturing business. The acquisition makes AST the No. 4 U.S. and No. 6 worldwide personal computer company, according to the calendar year 1992 unit volume shipped data from International Data Corp. These figures include AST, Tandy and GRiD brands manufactured by AST.

AST's award-winning product lines include desktop, file server, notebook and pen-enabled computers, marketed under the Advantage!, Bravo, Premmia, Manhattan SMP, PowerExec, PenRight!, GRiD and Victor product names.

AST reported record year-end revenues of $1.412 billion for fiscal year 1993, ended July 3, 1993, compared to revenues of $944.1 million for the prior year.

The company is represented in 100 countries and operates 41 international subsidiaries and sales offices. AST's corporate headquarters is located at 16215 Alton Parhvay, P.O. Box 57005, Irvine, Calif. 92619-7005. Telephone: (714) 727-4141, (800) 876-4278. Fax: (714) 727-9355.


New Additions for SoundMan Product Family
Logitech Increases Sound Product Offering with New Additions to SoundMan Product Family

Input Device Leader Now Offers Full Range of Sound Products Including 8-bit, 16-bit, and Parallel Port Options

Fremont, Calif. -- September 15, 1993 -- Logitech Inc., international market leader in computer input technology, today announced two new additions to the company's sound product line, SoundMan Games and SoundMan 16 Superpack, as well as a newly upgraded version of SoundMan 16.

SOUNDMAN GAMES: NEW STEREO SOUND BOARD FOR GAMES

Logitech is introducing SoundMan Games, an 8-bit stereo sound card specifically developed for newcomers to the game market. The product provides high-quality sound and is guaranteed to be fully Sound Blaster Pro and AdLib compatible. SoundMan Games carries a suggested retail price of $139.

SoundMan Games card has a CD-quality sampling frequency of 44.1 KHz and is equipped with a a six-watt stereo amplifier and an OPL-3 Yamaha synthesizer chip. The chip offers four-operator sound and 20-voice stereo support for the best possible sound quality. SoundMan Games includes a built-in Sony CD-ROM interface allowing the user to install both single and multi-session CD-ROM drives, and is MPC and MPU-401 compatible, ensuring it will work with all multimedia and music applications.

Positioned for PC game players, SoundMan Games includes a "smart" installation program (which identifies the user's system setup and helps configure the board), DOS software, and a new game. Also included is MCS MusicRack from Animotion featuring sound recording and editing software for Windows. SoundMan Games offers an interface for one or two joysticks, a microphone or CD-audio line-in for recording, an output jack for stereo speakers or headphones, and Windows and DOS software for easy sound recording and playback sound. It is backed by a full two-year guarantee and unlimited product support.

SoundMan Games will begin shipping in Europe in late October, and will be available in November in North America at selected retail outlets and direct from Logitech.

IMPROVED VERSION OF LOGITEC'S SOUNDMAN 16

Logitech is now shipping an upgraded version of SoundMan 16, the 1 6-bit stereo sound card for the IBM PC. SoundMan 16 incorporates all the features consumers expect from high-end sound today: A Yamaha OPL-3 synthesizer chip with 20-voice stereo support, up to 44.1 KHz sampling and playback, a four-watt stereo amplifier, a joystick port and MIDI interface, and guaranteed Sound Blaster, AdLib, MPC (I and 2), and MPU-401 compatibility. SoundMan 16 carries a suggested retail price of $199.

Logitech improved the user installation of SoundMan 16 by adding sound and graphics, making it even easier for users to add sound cards to their systems. SoundMan 16 has no jumpers; users can install the product without having to set on-board options first. The installation software automatically selects the correct settings for the system.

For software, SoundMan 16 supports both Windows 3.1 and DOS, with separate controls and drivers for each. Both drivers set and retain board settings and "talk" with each other, so the settings in one environment are the same as the other. New software applications added to SoundMan 16 include:

* MCS MusicRack from Animotion features a convenient window that looks and works like a home stereo system. Some key features of the software package include a mixing console, CD software player for CD-ROM drives with audio playback capabilities, digital recorder for recording and editing WAV files, and a MIDI player.

* Icon Hear-It Lite from Moon Valley personalizes your Windows desktop by adding sound effects and replacing regular icons with clever icons.

* ScreenCraze II from Gold Disk helps users create and display animated Windows wallpapers and screen savers.

* AddImpact! Player from Gold Disk allows users to add pre-created animated graphics to their Windows documents.

SOUNDMAN SUPERPACK: A COMPLETE SOUND SOLUTION

SoundMan 16 Superpack is designed to offer a complete sound solution for games and multimedia to the end-user. The product ships with the high-quality SoundMan 16 sound board, Labtec speakers and microphone, and several software packages. The same software titles included in the SoundMan 16 upgrade is included in the SoundMan 16 Superpack, plus Soft Karaoke for Windows from Tune 1000. Available in mid-October in all major retail stores, SoundMan 16 Superpack will carry a suggested retail price of $229.

Logitech offers seven-day-a-week support for all of the SoundMan products as well as a 1 00-percent Sound Blaster and AdLib compatibility guarantee. SoundMan 16 and SoundMan 16 Superpack offer a full three-year warranty.

In addition to the SoundMan product line for entertainment and multimedia, Logitech also markets AudioMan, the complete sound solution for Windows. AudioMan is an external sound device, which incorporates a speaker and microphone and connects by cable to the parallel port. AudioMan is targeted at and optimized for Windows applications when using sound in presentations, voice annotation in spreadsheets, word processing, and E-mail.

"Logitech is offering the customer an exceptional sound solution to fit their various entertainment and multimedia needs," says George Skaff, director of sound business development. "Both the SoundMan product line and AudioMan are high-quality sound products that are easy to install and come packaged with extra software titles."

Logitech designs, manufactures and markets "Senseware" -- products designed to give human-like "senses" such as sight, sound, and touch to the computer, making human-to-computer communications more intuitive and natural. Retail and OEM products of the company and its affiliates include pointing devices (such as mice and trackballs), hand-held scanners, digital cameras, pen digitizers, joysticks, sound products, and related software applications for IBM, Macintosh, and other platforms. Logitech International, the financial holding company for the Logitech Group, is traded publicly in Switzerland on the Zurich and Geneva exchanges. With operational headquarters in Fremont, Calif., the group maintains manufacturing facilities in Fremont, California; Hsinchu, Taiwan; and Cork, Ireland; Shanghai, China; and offices in major cities in the U.S., Europe, and the Far East.

Logitech Inc, 6505 Kaiser Dr, Fremont, CA 94555

510-795-8500;  fax: 510-792-8901


The Way Computers & MS-DOS Work

The Ultimate All-Color Beginner's Guide

The Way Computers & MS-DOS Work

by Simon Collin

128 pages, $18.95

ISBN: 1-55615-568-9

Pub. Date: September 23, 1993

The first book to actually show beginners the ins and outs of computers and software is here with THE WAY COMPUTERS & MS-DOS WORK from Microsoft Press.

Vivid photography, art, and design tell the story in this exciting new guide. Photos and easy-to-understand illustrations lead readers step by step through the basics and beyond. Bite-sized pieces of text deliver information fast and painlessly. There's no second guessing, no false starts. It puts the fun back into learning to use a computer! And while the book is aimed at beginners, the highly visual approach is designed so that computer users at all levels can quickly turn to the information they need.

"To many first-time computer users, 'seeing is believing, says Jim Brown, Associate Publisher at Microsoft Press. "When real-world pictures show computer users exactly how to do things much as a video would, it takes the uncertainty out of the learning process. It's a real confidence booster for people who might have been intimidated by computers in the past."

THE WAY COMPUTERS & MS-DOS WORK is the first book in the highly visual WYSIWYG Guide series from Microsoft Press. WYSIWYG (pronounced Wizzy-Wig) stands for "What You See Is What You Get," an acronym that describes the on-screen style of personal computing made popular by both the Microsoft Windows operating system and the Apple Macintosh In the world of computers, WYSIWYG means "What You See" on the computer screen is exactly "What You Get" on the printed page. With the WYSIWYG Guides, what you see on the page is what you'll experience -on the computer screen.

Forthcoming books in the WYSIWYG Guide series include The Way Microsoft Excel Works and The Way Word for Windows Works.

The WYSIWYG Guides are published in collaboration with Dorling Kindersley, a world leader in the creation of quality illustrated reference books. DK books combine high quality design with imaginative and sophisticated use of text and full-color imagery. Recent DK bestsellers include Stephen Biesty's Incredible Cross Sections and David Macaulay's The Way Things Work.

Microsoft Press is the book division of Redmond, Washington based Microsoft Corporation and the leading publisher of quality computer books about Microsoft products. More than 10 million users at all skill levels rely on a complete line of Microsoft Press books to make learning and using software easier. Titles ranging from streamlined tutorials for first-time computer users to technical references for professional programmers are distributed to book and software retailers worldwide. Consumers in the United States can also order directly from the publisher at 1-800-MSPRESS.

Microsoft Press, One Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA 98052-6399

206-882-8080


WinFast Plus v1.2 Windows Program Launcher
WinFast Plus is 1.2 a Button/Bar style program launcher. It was reviewed in Windows Sources Magazine, and PC Computing. WinFast Plus has several very useful features, including:

1. Alphabetical display. Groups and Applications are always displayed alphabetically so they are easy to find.

2. Program Manager Groups can be Iconized on the Windows Desktop. Users can assign an Icon to a Group and then minimize it on the desktop. Groups can be added to Windows Startup, so that they will appear as Icons on the Desktop every time Windows is started.

3. Minimal Space usage. WinFast Plus is designed to take up as little space as possible on the Windows Desktop.

4. Keyboard interface. WinFast has an excellent keyboard interface. Once a Group Button Bar is expanded, the user can type any letter and WinFast will jump to the first application that starts with this letter. The user can then use up, or down arrows, or hit enter to execute.

5. Arrange Desktop Icons option.

The Iconize Group Icon option allows users to minimize a Group Icon on the desktop. It defaults to the standard group icon. Users can set up Icons for Groups, so that when they launch an Icon it will use whatever Icon they specify. WinFast can extract Icons from the following files types: EXE, DLL and ICO.

WinFast Plus does not modify or disable Program Manager. It requires either Windows 3.1 or Windows NT. It also requires Program Manager (which is the default SHELL that comes with Windows.)

Superior Software Tools

P.O. Box 17474, Ft. Worth, TX. 76102-0474

817-265-9338


OptiView, New Multimedia Consultin Co. Formed
September 16, 1993 -- John Hartigan, an internationally known developer of interactive multimedia products, has established OptiView, a Multimedia Consulting Company. OptiView has established offices in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Headed by marketing executive John Hartigan, (formerly with Sony, Pioneer and Philips) OptiView provides consultation services in interactive multimedia product development for information products delivered on optical media, such as CD-ROM, Laserdisc, CD-I and recordable CD systems.

Mr. Hartigan, who introduced the Sony Laserdisc and CD-ROM products into the U.S. market, was responsible for the introduction of the Philips Recordable CD system into the U.S. market. He has designed and produced interactive multimedia information products in all the optical media formats, Laserdisc, CD-ROM, CD-I, and Photo CD.

OptiView also provides market research and analysis of the optical and interactive media markets, conducts focus group study and analysis of interactive multimedia products, and provides interactive multimedia project management.

A subsidiary company, The Great Smoky Mountain Electronic Publishing Company, publishes background photography and clip art materials on CD-ROM.

OptiView

7725 Martin Mill Pike, Knoxville, TN 37920

615-579-6109,   Fax 615-577-6687


Executive Producer for Abekas A34 Solo Editor
IMAGINE PRODUCTS RELEASES SOFTWARE FOR ABEKAS A34 SOLO EDITOR

CARMEL, INDIANA, SEPTEMBER 13, 1993-- Imagine Products, Inc. today announced an upgrade of The Executive Producer productivity software for integrated use with the Abekas Video Systems, Inc. A34 SOLO editor.

The Executive Producer has been enhanced to read and directly produce Solo A34 Edit Decision Lists thereby giving users powerful list management and EDL conversion capabilities. Key features for Solo customers are the added support of mixed (Drop Frame and Non-Drop Frame) NTSC source material and multiple EDL formats.

PRODUCT DESCRIPTIONS

The Executive Producer emphasizes a user-definable approach to data management for Logging, Offline "Paper Cut" Editing, and EDL transfers. The customizable Logger allows simple (e.g. timecode in plus notes) to complex (e.g. Scene/Take format with up to 30 fields) database structures. Deck shuttle controls, time code marking, Default Values, and Quick Select menus speed data entry. Once logged, records may be imported as Events into the Offline Editor and manipulated as needed--or the Offline Editor may be used independently. Supports SMPTE/EBU time code formats and conversions. Generate, import, and convert EDLs into any format (CMX, Sony, Grass Valley Group, Paltex, Convergence, Panasonic AG-A800, Abekas Solo, etc.). Features on-line help, complete documentation, find and sort functions, Take grading, calculator pad, ripple listing, and prints custom reports or labels (for tape libraries).

Imagine offers a complete line of inexpensive, PC compatible interfaces for RS422 deck control and timecode capture including a miniature LTC reader for 'off the camera' logging applications.

The Abekas A34 SOLO is a post production system that incorporates time base correction, audio and video switching and mixing, two channels of digital effects, and computer editing in a compact, cost-effective, completely integrated machine.

Imagine Products Inc

581 S. Rangeline Rd, Ste B-3, Carmel, IN 46032-2149

317-843-0706,  fax 317-843-0807


Executive Producer for Logging & Cut Lists
D/VISION ENDORSES THE EXECUTIVE PRODUCER FOR LOGGING & CUT LISTS

CARMEL, INDIANA, JULY 27, 1993 -- Imagine Products, Inc. today jointly announced with TouchVision Systems, Inc. of Chicago, IL the endorsement of The Executive Producer productivity software for integrated use with D/Vision, The Digital Video Editor.

The two products provide a complimentary method of cataloging and cuts list generation for batch digitizing. Excelling in portable logging, the Executive Producer is customized by users and supports a variety of deck control and timecode interfaces common to D/Vision as well. Cut lists may be created for best Takes, or any combination of search criteria matching, then imported to D/Vision directly from the Logger avoiding EDL manipulations. Tape library and data conversion features allow quick location of archives and imported materials for editing use.

PRODUCT DESCRIPTIONS

The Executive Producer emphasizes a user-definable approach to data management. Configure it simply as Timecode IN plus Notes or create an elaborate multi-camera Scene/Take format with up to 30 fields of data. Player deck shuttle controls, time code marking, Default Values, and Quick Select menus speed data entry. Once logged, records may be imported as Events into the Offline Editor and manipulated as needed--or the Offline Editor may be used independently. Supports SMPTE/EBU time code formats and conversions. Generate, import, and convert EDLs in any format (CMX, Sony, Grass Valley Group, Paltex, Convergence, Panasonic AG-A800, Abekas Solo, etc.). Features on-line help, complete documentation, find and sort functions, Take grading, calculator pad, ripple listing, and prints custom reports or labels (for tape libraries).

Imagine offers a complete line of inexpensive, PC compatible interfaces for deck control and timecode capture including a miniature LTC reader for 'off the camera' logging applications.

D/Vision software turns a personal computer into a complete video production studio providing bon-linear, digital video editing, audio editing/mixing, special video effects, and graphical overlay all in one package. It uses only standard, "off-the-shelf" hardware, including Intel/lBM's i750 ActionMedia board for digitizing and compression. Since video and audio are stored digitally, D/Vision eliminates the need to wait for videotape to cue and record. D/Vision 2.11 outputs cleaned EDLs (Edit Decision Lists), Microsoft "Video for Windows", Apple Quicktime, and Indeo digital video files, and SupeRTV full-screen digital video with true videotape image quality.

Imagine Products Inc

581 S. Rangeline Rd, Ste B-3, Carmel, IN 46032-2149

317-843-0706,  fax 317-843-0807


Sybase Supports MS SQL Server for Windows NT
SYBASE SUPPORTS MICROSOFT SQL SERVER FOR WINDOWS NT

EMERYVILLE, CA, September 14, 1993 -- Sybase, Inc., The Enterprise Client/Server Company, today announced that Sybase will resell and support the Microsoft SQL Server for Windows NT. The Microsoft SQL Server is the SYBASE SQL Server, version 4.2, for Microsoft operating systems. Sybase, widely recognized as a client/server database leader, is dedicated to providing Microsoft SQL Server for Windows NT as a part of a total enterprise solution.

The Microsoft SQL Server product for Windows NT is a relational database management system that enables customers to build departmental and workgroup client/server applications on Windows NT, making it easier to deploy line-of-business solutions within a client/server architecture. Sybase supplements this offering by providing SYBASE SQL Server to enterprise customers who have heterogeneous computing environments. Sybase's Open Client/Server Interfaces allow customers to seamlessly connect from clients and the Microsoft SQL Server running on Windows NT to SYBASE SQL Server running on UNIX, VMS, OS/2, or Novell NetWare. Sybase enterprise customers also benefit from the ability to access SYBASE System 10 components such as Replication Server, Navigation Server, and OmniSQL Gateway.

Stewart Schuster, Sybase vice president of marketing commented, "We are excited that our long-time partner Microsoft is releasing SQL Server for Windows NT. This fits in well with Sybase's overall strategy to address both the enterprise and departmental/workgroup markets. Customers have a need for different kind of products, prices, and levels of support depending upon whether they are workgroup, departmental or enterprise users. Sybase will continue to directly service the enterprise Client/Server market by providing products and services for on-line distributed and mission critical applications. Microsoft complements the enterprise level direct sales and support from Sybase by providing Microsoft SQL Server on Microsoft operating systems through its well established distributor and Microsoft Solutions Provider channels."

Sybase, Inc.

Sybase, Inc. (NASDAQ: SYBS) develops and markets a leading family of client/server-based software products and services for on-line, enterprise-wide applications. Sybase's integrated family of software includes servers, tools, connectivity, and systems management products that provide complete desktop mainframe solutions. Headquartered in Emeryville, CA, Sybase markets its products worldwide through its direct sales force, telesales, distributors, OEMs, VARS, and system integrators.

Sybase Inc, 6475 Christie Ave, Emeryville, CA 04608

510-596-3500;  Fax: 510-658-9441


Aldus Offers PressWise 2.0 Imposition Swr
Aldus to offer PressWise 2.0 imposition software for large-format presses

BIRMINGHAM, U.K, September 7, 1993--Aldus Corporation today unveiled an enhanced version of Aldus PressWise, the company's advanced electronic page imposition software for prepress businesses that rely on electronic page-layout software and large-format output devices. The announcement was made at the IPEX '93 conference.

Designed to increase productivity for prepress professionals, PressWise 2.0 will enable users to quickly prepare accurate, plate-ready signature forms of multipage documents for large-format printing presses, such as web-fed and 40-inch, sheet-fed machines. Earlier versions of PressWise focused on medium-sized, 25-inch presses.

"PressWise 1.0 has enjoyed wide acceptance in the commercial printing industry because we listened to our customers and produced a product that met their needs," said Michael Reiher, Aldus prepress product manager. "PressWise 2.0 will be no different. We continue to work with existing customers and other trade professionals to enhance PressWise with a full range of advanced controls that will further empower the trade professional."

Although the software runs on Apple Macintosh computers, PressWise is an open-architecture solution for electronic imposition. It can correctly impose most PostScript files generated in Macintosh, Windows, or Unix page-layout applications. Typical documents include those created in Aldus PageMaker, QuarkXPress, Ventura Publisher, and FrameMaker.

New features for larger output and greater productivity

New features designed for large-format usage will include larger imposition layout templates (64 pages per form, 128 pages per signature), combination layout templates, bottling controls (to compensate for folding distortion), and extensive page-positioning controls. It will have complete support for sheet-fed and web-fed imposition arrangements, with automatic configurations for perfect-bound, saddle-stitched, stacked-web, and loose-leaf binding methods.

Productivity enhancements will include positioning controls for pin-register imagesetter systems, customizable marks with an on-screen layout preview, links to color separation programs such as Aldus PrePrint 1.6, and UserLand Frontier scripts that will automate repetitive tasks. It will have no limits on the dimensions of the output it produces, nor on the type of PostScript output devices it supports.

PressWise operators can open multiple PostScript files at once and impose more than 5,000 pages per job--useful, for example, when merging several chapter files of a long publication. This option also lets users organize and manage their electronic files in whatever way suits their working style.

Other standard PressWise features

PressWise has always offered many printing options to enable users to control vital aspects of imposition forms. Users can set bleeds, scale the output for proofing on small-format devices, select a range of signatures or print just one, and distort a form either horizontally or vertically to compensate for plate distortion in flexographic printing, in which a rubber printing plate is wrapped around a drum.

Depending on the output required, PressWise can produce plate-ready film, press-ready plates, or a PostScript file of the imposed signatures for use in other post-processing operations.

A print error log lets users know the status of printing at all times and aids with troubleshooting any printing problems. PressWise can also perform background and batch printing, and can output to multiple printers simultaneously.

Pricing and availability

Aldus PressWise 2.0 will be available worldwide in the fourth quarter of 1993 for a suggested retail price of $2,595 (U.S.). Customers will be able to purchase it from select graphic arts resellers, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) of high resolution output devices, and directly from Aldus. Upgrades from PressWise 1.0 to 2.0 will be available directly from Aldus for $495 (U.S.).

System configuration

The recommended system configuration for Aldus PressWise 2.0 will be any Apple Macintosh II or Quadra series computer with System 7 or later, at least 4MB of RAM, a 120MB hard drive, and a 13-inch or larger monitor. The minimum configuration will be a Macintosh with a 68030 processor, 2MB of memory, an 80MB hard drive, System 7 or later, and a 13-inch monitor.

Aldus Corporation (NASDAQ:ALDC) creates computer software solutions that help people throughout the world effectively communicate information and ideas. The company focuses on three lines of business: applications for the professional publishing and prepress markets; applications for the general consumer market; and service and support programs for professional end-users. Aldus has subsidiaries in Europe, Asia, and the Pacific Rim serving a worldwide network of dealers and distributors.

Aldus Corp, 411 First Ave South, Seattle, WA 98104-2871

206-622-5500


Aldus TrapWise 2.0 for Macintosh
Aldus announces a version of TrapWise for the Macintosh

BIRMINGHAM, U.K., September 7, 1993 -- Aldus Corporation today introduced Aldus TrapWise 2.0 for the Apple Macintosh, a new version of its electronic trapping software that will build upon and extend the technology of TrapWise 1.0 for Windows. The announcement was made at the IPEX '93 show.

TrapWise 2.0 for the Macintosh will have several new prepress controls, including image trapping, color-separation capabilities, batch processing, and the ability to trap up to 16 colors at once. It will trap not only single-page EPS files that conform to Adobe's color conventions, but also multipage PostScript files that conform to the Adobe Document Structuring Convention (DSC) 3.0. Users will also be able to launch Aldus PressWise 2.0 directly from TrapWise to automate the imposition phase of the prepress process.

"The development of TrapWise for the Macintosh continues our commitment to the electronic prepress market, which is strategically important to the industry and to Aldus' future as a leader in publishing software," said Eric Bean, Aldus prepress program manager. "This version will have the same popular features as its Windows counterpart, plus significant new features suggested by customers."

The case for TrapWise

In multicolor printing, two or more layers of ink must be laid onto a sheet of paper and precisely aligned so that the colors abut properly. Often, however, slight misregistration occurs on the press, and small gaps can appear between objects. Prepress operators compensate for these potential gaps by trapping adjacent object that is, by adjusting their edges until they overlap slightly.

Quality trapping has always been achievable on traditionally produced jobs. Electronically produced files, however, are particularly difficult to trap with traditional methods, for they often contain very thin elements, many graduated fills, and hundreds of PostScript objects. Software such as Aldus TrapWise helps professionals produce the precise traps required for these electronically generated pages.

What's new in TrapWise 2.0

TrapWise 2.0 for the Macintosh will offer many new features to improve operators' productivity. Users will be able to both trap and output color separations directly from TrapWise, thereby speeding up their prepress cycle. New batch-processing tools will allow them to group multiple jobs (with or without similar trapping parameters), and process them unattended. The program's ability to trap up to 16 colors at once (four process-color inks plus twelve spot) will help prepress operators make their documents press-perfect in minutes rather than hours. And operators will be able to smoothly trap the perimeter of continuous-tone images, as well as objects within images.

Like the Windows version, Aldus TrapWise for the Macintosh will accept conforming files from any platform, such as Macintosh, Windows, or UNIX. It will extend this support, however, to include both single-page and multipage files that conform to the appropriate PostScript conventions. Applications that can produce these files include Aldus PageMaker 4.x and 5.0, Aldus FreeHand, QuarkXPress, and Adobe Illustrator. Once a file is processed, users will be able to output the resulting PostScript pages to any PostScript-compatible imagesetter, platesetter, printing press, or other device.

Other standard features

In addition to the new features mentioned above, the Macintosh version of TrapWise will have all the features of its Windows counterpart. It will, for example, produce precise traps for process- and spotcolor jobs, and handle complex trapping situations easily, including graduated fills, small text, and multicolor intersections.

TrapWise's controls let operators apply their professional knowledge to the traps. Users can define "keep away" rules so that black support layers are properly hidden; define unlimited, rectangular "trap zones" to refine and control variables in a particular area; apply ink-by-ink controls for spot colors and overprinting; and treat spotcolor inks as their process-color equivalents for trapping purposes. In addition, they can define a minimum color contrast to control when TrapWise will create a trap; specify the percentage of black ink that TrapWise will consider to be true "black"; and reduce a trap's color based on percentages of component inks.

Pricing and availability

Aldus TrapWise 2.0 for the Macintosh will be available worldwide in the fourth quarter of 1993 for a suggested retail price of $4,995 (U.S.). Customers will be able to purchase it from graphic arts resellers, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) of high-resolution output devices, and directly from Aldus. Registered owners of Aldus TrapWise 1.0 for Windows will be able to buy TrapWise 2.0 for the Macintosh for $1,000 (U.S.) in the United States and Canada.

System requirements

The recommended configuration for TrapWise 2.0 will be a Macintosh Quadra series computer, 16MB of RAM, a 200MB hard drive, an 8-bit color monitor, and System 7 or later. A PostScript-compatible output device is required.

Aldus Corporation (NASDAQ:ALDC) creates computer software solutions that help people throughout the world effectively communicate information and ideas. The company focuses on three lines of business: applications for the professional publishing and prepress markets; applications for the general consumer market; and service and support programs for professional end-users. Aldus has subsidiaries in Europe, Asia, and the Pacific Rim serving a worldwide network of dealers and distributors.

Aldus Corp, 411 First Ave South, Seattle, WA 98104-2871

206-622-5500


Proxim/Raytheon Chip for Wireless Networking
PROXIM/RAYTHEON PARTNERSHIP YIELDS SUPERIOR GALLIUM ARSENIDE INTEGRATED CIRCUIT FOR WIRELESS PCMCIA-BASED NETWORKING PRODUCTS

Low Power, Small Form Factor Proxim PX240 GaAs Chip Enhances Products Designed For Mobile Wireless Computing Market

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif, Sept. 20, 1993 -- Proxim, Inc., the leading supplier of spread spectrum wireless networking products, and Raytheon Company, a global technology leader, announced today the completion of a joint development effort that began in early 1992 and has resulted in the production by Raytheon of a highly integrated, low power gallium arsenide (GaAs) chip for use in Proxim's existing and future wireless PCMCIA(Personal Computer Memory Card International) based networking products.

The Proxim PX240 is a single GaAs chip measuring 2mm x 2mm which provides all the microwave front end functions for wireless local area networking products. The GaAs chip was designed specifically for applications requiring small size, low power consumption, cost-effective wireless networking solutions. The chip will initially be used in Proxim's RangeLAN2/PCMCIA wireless LAN adapters designed for the mobile computing market.

"The result of our work with Raytheon is a new chip that will allow Proxim's products for the wireless mobile computing market to set new standards in power requirements, size and wireless network transmission range," said David King, president and CEO of Proxim. "The announcement of this new IC is yet another example of Proxim's long-term commitment to advancing the state-of-the-art in PCMCIA-based wireless networking and maintaining market leadership through cost-effective technical innovation."

"The joint Raytheon/Proxim gallium arsenide engineering effort represents a significant milestone in the personal computer industry," said Doug Maki, manager of wireless products at Raytheon. "Our goals from the onset were set very high; extremely low battery current in a very small package. By working closely with Proxim we were able to-focus in system architecture and IC performance and limitation issues to obtain a cost-effective, high-performance RF frond-end. The result is a GaAs IC that will set the standard for all wireless LAN products."

Power consumption of peripheral devices designed for mobile computers are of critical importance to system vendors and users. The PX240 has a total current drain in the receive mode of 12mA, less than any existing or proposed processor designed for similar purposes.

Raytheon's extensive experience in integrated GaAs transmitters and receivers uniquely positioned the company to work with Proxim in the development of a complete transceiver solution. Raytheon utilized its Enhancement/Depletion (E/D) Field Effect Transistor (FET) process, developed at Raytheon's Advanced Device Center (ADC) in Andover, Mass., to achieve the PX240 small size and low power consumption specifications.

Proxim Wireless Networking Product Family

In June 1993, Proxim introduced RangeLAN2, a family of high performance wireless systems designed for the LAN market. Based on frequency hopping spread spectrum technology in the 2.4-2.483 GHz band, RangeLAN2 offers the longest range and lowest power consumption of any wireless LAN product in its class. RangeLAN2 delivers an uncompressed data rate of 1.6 Mbps per channel up to 10 independent channels. RangeLAN2's data rate exceeds the performance requirements of most standard PC applications, making it an ideal wireless system for high speed LAN environments. The RangeLAN2 family includes RangeLAN2/PCMCIA for mobile computers, RangeLAN2/ISA for desktop PCs and servers, and RangeLAN2/Bridge for plug-and-play network access to standard wired LAN environments.

Proxim's original award-winning RangeLAN family of products, which began shipping in early 1992, is designed for less data-intensive LAN applications such as E-mail, printer-sharing and file transfer, as well as many industry-specific mobile computing applications. Operating at a data rate of 242 Kbps per channel across three independent channels, the original RangeLAN family has a range of 300-500 feet in normal office environments and 800-1000 feet in outdoor or open space environments. The RangeLAN family includes RangeLAN/PCMCIA for portable computers, RangeLAN/ISA for desktop PCs and servers, RangeLAN/LT for Compaq Computer's Contura and LTE notebook computers, RangeLAN/Parallel for connection to the parallel port of any PC, and RangeLAN/Roaming, which allows mobile computer users to automatically switch from access point to access point within a Novell network.

Raytheon, headquartered in Lexington, Mass., is a nine billion dollar, international technological company with sales in four business segments: electronics, aircraft products, energy and environmental products, and major appliances. Drawing on its military microwave radio and semiconductor/IC strengths, Raytheon has targeted commercial communication products as a major focus area for the company. As part of this thrust, the company is developing and producing GaAs and Si BiCMOS integrated circuits for a range of advanced communications products. Prominent among these are the GaAs Direct Broadcast Satellite receivers, manufactured at ADC. Raytheon is currently shipping these advanced products in quantities of 50,000 per month.

Founded in 1 984, Proxim, Inc., headquartered in Mountain View, Calif, is the world's leading supplier of spread spectrum wireless networking products for end users, systems integrators, VARs and OEMs. The company designs, manufactures and markets an industry leading family of off-the-shelf wireless LAN adapters for desktop and portable systems, as well as spread spectrum radio modules and wireless RF modems for custom applications. To date, Proxim has shipped over 50;000 spread spectrum radio products.

Proxim, Inc. 295 North Bernardo Ave, Mountain View, CA 94043

(415) 960-1630,   Fax: (415) 964-5181


New LANtastic Interchange Bridging/Routing Swr
ARTISOFT ANNOUNCES NEW LANTASTIC INTERCHANGE SOFTWARE

(TUCSON, AZ - September 14, 1993) - Artisoft, Inc. announced today that it has developed a new software product that provides bridging and routing capabilities for LANtastic Local Area Network v5.0 users. The LANtastic Interchange software will link LANtastic networks that are running over dissimilar hardware, cabling and topologies - including Ethernet, Arcnet and Token Ring. This new software, scheduled to begin shipping in fall 1993, will be priced at $199 per segment.

"This new software will offer an extended level of connectivity for our LANtastic network users. Not only can they segment their existing networks to reduce traffic and improve performance, but they can also link two separate networks into a single network to share information, peripherals and resources," commented Dave Hallmen, Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Artisoft. Bridges Networks

The LANtastic Interchange software will enable network interconnectivity between dissimilar hardware and cable types, as well as all supported LANtastic network topologies including 2Mbps, Ethernet, Arcnet, Token Ring and the LANtastic Z network. For example, this connectivity can provide a growth path for users of Artisoft's original 2Mbps LANtastic network by allowing them to expand their existing network with Ethernet nodes. To achieve this bridging capability, users simply install the LANtastic Interchange software, a 2Mbps network adapter and an Ethernet network adapter on a designated network PC, which can be either a workstation or a server. This will enable the two dissimilar topologies to communicate on a single network.

The LANtastic Interchange software also extends the LANtastic Z network from a two-user network to a fully functional node on the network either locally or remotely. Once connected, this node will have full access to all resources on the network. When used in conjunction with the LANtastic Interchange software, the dial-up capabilities of the LANtastic Z network will also allow users to achieve simple wide area networking between remote sites.

Routes Packets

Using source and destination addresses to differentiate between networks, the LANtastic Interchange software will route data packets between networks, sending each packet to the appropriate network segment along the fastest and most efficient path, thus reducing network traffic and improving performance.

A Learning mode will add flexibility to network administration by allowing addresses to be grouped into different tables that can be edited. Administrators can add or remove node addresses from a table, save the table after edits, or remove all addresses in order to build a new table. Administrators can also assign a password to the table to provide a level of security and isolate nodes on the network to prevent them from forwarding packets. A Statistics feature will allow administrators to monitor network traffic by showing the number of packets sent, received and discarded.

Artisoft develops and manufactures a full line of innovative, cost-effective network communication solutions including the award-winning LANtastic Local Area Network. Recognized as the leader in peer-to-peer networking for DOS and Windows environments, the LANtastic network also offers multiplatform connectivity solutions for NetWare, TCP/IP and Macintosh systems. It allows up to 500 users on one network to connect and share information and peripheral devices such as printers, hard drives and CD-ROMs. Artisoft maintains nine international offices and distributes the LANtastic network and its other connectivity products in over 70 countries worldwide.

For more information about Artisoft or its product line, contact Artisoft, Inc. at 2202 N. Forbes Blvd., Tucson, AZ 85745. Sales 800/233-5564. Corporate 602/670-7100. Fax 602/670-7101


Artisoft & Schoof Settlement Agreement
ARTISOFT AND SCHOOF ANNOUNCE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND PURCHASE BY ARTISOFT OF SCHOOF STOCK

TUCSON, AZ - September 13, 1993 - Artisoft, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASFT). Artisoft, Inc. and C. John Schoof II, the founder and former Chief Executive Officer of the Company, announced today that they have reached an agreement for settlement of the previously announced arbitration relating to Schoof's termination as Artisoft's Chief Executive Officer. As part of the settlement, Artisoft will purchase from Schoof 3,487,500 shares of Artisoft stock, representing approximately 20.4% of the outstanding stock, as well as all outstanding Artisoft stock options held by Schoof, for $255 million. All claims asserted by Schoof and Artisoft in the arbitration proceeding will be dismissed, and Schoof will resign from Artisoft's Board of Directors. Subject to certain conditions, the closing of the transaction is expected on or about September 20,1993.

William Keiper, Chief Executive Officer of Artisoft, stated: "We are pleased to have been able to resolve this situation in a manner mutually acceptable to Jack and Artisoft. We believe that the purchase of Jack's stock, with the resulting effect on Artisoft's earnings per share, represents a good investment for Artisoft's shareholders. At the same time, the Company avoids the potential for disruption which could be created by a protracted dispute. Jack's entrepreneurial talents were instrumental in Artisoft's success, and we wish him well in his future pursuits." Schoof stated: "The settlement with Artisoft allows me to move on to the next chapter in my career, and I look forward to the challenges and excitement of starting a new venture. I will remember with fondness my time at Artisoft and wish Artisoft continued success in the years to come."

Artisoft develops and manufactures a full line of innovative, cost-effective network communication solutions including the award-winning LANtastic Local Area Network. Recognized as the leader in peer-to-peer networking for DOS and Windows environments, the LANtastic network also offers multiplatform connectivity solutions for NetWare, TCP/IP and Macintosh systems. It allows up to 500 users on one network to connect and share information and peripheral devices such as printers, hard drives and CD-ROMs. Artisoft maintains nine international offices and distributes the LANtastic network and its other connectivity products in over 70 countries worldwide.

ARTISOFT, 691 East River Rd, Tucson, AZ 85704

Headquarters 602-293 4000,  Sales/Customer Service 1-800-TINY RAM

Fax 602-293-8065


Data Entry Sys MiniWriter Pen-Based Computer
PEN-BASED COMPUTER HAS FORM AND FUNCTION

HUNTSVILLE, AL--With its new MiniWriter, Data Entry Systems. Inc. is offering a solution that allows handheld pen computers to use an ordinary writing utensil as a stylus.

With a piece of paper as the input surface, the 3.2 Ib., MiniWriter is specially targeted toward forms-taking. The paper is a version of an electronic form and is placed over the computer's 8.5 x 5.5-inch display, although the entire unit measures 11 x 11.875 x 1.125 inches. Therefore, users input with a ballpoint pen or pencil, will receive both a hard copy and an electronic copy.

Users can also choose to use an inkless pen with a laminated form if generation of original forms is not necessary, said John Coyne, president and CEO.

The company has also introduced the ScriptWriter XL, an enhanced version of the company's ScriptWriter ll which works with 8.5 x 11-inch forms. The 11.5 x 17 x 1.2 inches, 3.8-lb., XL has more memory that its ancestor: 1 MB of memory, compared to the ScriptWriter II's 128 KB. Both the MiniWriter and the XL also have a larger LCD display than the ScriptWriter ll: eight lines by 40 characters compared to two lines by 40 characters.

Both products use the company's proprietary DOS-compatible pen operating system with intelligent character recognition of upper-case letters.

Up to 100 different forms can be stored on either device. Utilities are included for the design of nearly any kind of form, Coyne said. Functions found on a desktop machine, such as a keyboard and calculating features. can be included in the form. Other features include signature capture and an optional bar-code option.

An included utility allows files to be transferred into PC databases. Both devices have an RS-232 serial port, as well as an option for an internal modem.

The devices are appropriate for a variety of applications, such as fire-safety inspection, emergency medical systems, consumer surveys and sales.

Support for VARs includes toll-free technical support, lead referrals and co-op advertising.

Data Entry Systems

1035 Putman Dr, Huntsville, AL 35816


Commando Windows Programming
COMMANDO WINDOWS PROGRAMMING PROVIDES QUICK-STRIKE SOLUTIONS FOR WINDOWS PROGRAMMERS

September 13, 1993 -- Reading, MA-Developers are regularly bombarded by Windows programming books filled with the intricacies of Windows programming, but not containing readily available information that they can use in their day to day programming tasks. Commando Windows Programming, by Al Williams and recently published by Addison-Wesley, solves this problem by providing fast, easy, real-world programming solutions in C.

Commando Windows Programming is written for "commando" programmers who want to get started writing practical and short Windows programs right away with the least amount of expense and hassle. It covers a variety of quick and dirty programming methods for writing dialog-only programs, emulating text-based programs with edit controls, application generators, and portability tools.

Commando Windows Programming focuses on inexpensive, readily available C tools, such as Visual C++, Microsoft Foundation Classes, and Borland's OWL to provide programmers with ready-to-run solutions to their most common problems. The book also includes two original libraries-TWIN and VWIN-that simplify many standard programming tasks.

Commando Windows Programming offers a quick return on your reading investment. Using the tools and techniques found in the book, programmers can start writing practical Windows programs right away.

Al Williams is a professional software developer, a regular contributor to Dr. Dobb's Journal, and author of DOS and Windows Protected Mode (Addison-Wesley, 1993) and DOS 6 Developer's Guide.

Addison-Wesley is a worldwide publishing company based in Reading, Massachusetts, and is a recognized leader in the fields of computer science, engineering, mathematics, and physics.

Commando Windows Programming has a suggested retail price of $27.95, is 377 pages long, paperback, and is available wherever computer books are sold.

Addison Wesley Publishing Company

1 Jacob Way, Reading, Massachusetts 01867

(617) 944-3700


Apartment Manager V1.0
ANNOUNCING APARTMENT MANAGER V1.0

September 18, 1992 -- This software package for IBM PC's and compatibles is designed to assist small to medium investors in controlling their rental properties with a minimal effort and with a nominal investment in software. It can be used on any property management situation that is lease oriented; that is, tenants are expected to pay on a monthly basis and should be sent a delinquency notice if they are not in compliance. There is also a facility for you to manage rentals for clients who own properties and provide monthly settlement statements on these activities.

The package handles a maximum of 98 apartment groups with up to 999 units per apartment group. Numerous rental houses may be processed as one group; if desired, so that hundreds of dwellings may be managed. It prints checks on up to 98 different banks, with up to 5 invoices per check. Checks may be with or without a stub. The main files control the units, tenants, income, expenses, checks, and the general ledger. There are 25 management reports available either on screen or on the printer. Labels are also available. Help screens and sample records are included. The package is fully menu oriented.

The package is written in Foxbase 2.1 with a runtime module supplied. Any IBM PC or compatible with a hard disk may be used and requires 640K RAM, and DOS 2.1 or higher. It runs as a DOS (non-Windows) application. Monochrome or color monitors are supported. Laser printers may be used for reports, but presently checks are pin feed type on a dot matrix printer. The files are compatible with Dbase III+ and data may be imported into other software that can read these file types.

A demo disk and flyer is available at no charge by contacting Safer Software at P.O. Box 2551 Birmingham, Al. 35202 or calling (205) 956-0636. The demo is available in either a 5.25" or 3.5" H.D. floppy. To order Apartment Manager V1.0, send $149.00 + $7.50 shipping and handling via check or money order to the above address. Provision can also be made for MasterCard or Visa. C.O.D.'s are not accepted.


XYSee 4.0 Mathematics Visualization Pgm
XYSee 4.0 is Ready for School...

XYSee 4.0 from Insight Advantage, is the Premier Mathematics Visualization program for high school and early college level studies in Algebra, Geometry, and Trigonometry. XYSee covers Points, Lines, Conic Sections, Trigonometrics, Parametrics, Composites, and Artistic Mathematics. XYSee's intuitive menu structure, comprehensive tutorial, and context-sensitive help, make it suitable for home use without professional supervision.

Version 4.0 features include:

* A sensational NEW 3-D interface with colorful icons, button

  bars, and in-cell editing

* HP-Laser printer support .:. Fully interactive, high-resolution

  Color Graphics .. Frustration free "Smart Mouse" menu selection

* Unique, multi-level model expansion as in

  Y=sin(X)...Y=Asin(BX+C)+D

* Asymptote, vector, foci, and axis translation Visualization

  Aids

* Custom-resolution, real-time cursor

* Expanded on-line " how to" help .. Illustrated, step-by-step

  User's Manual for rapid program familiarization

With XYSee 4.0, your customers will:

* Conduct interactive, "what if" analysis on a broad array

  of Functions and Forms

* Cover material found on the SAT, ACT, and Math Placement Tests

* Challenge problem-solving skills with ho-hum to horrifically

  complex Puzzles

* Run powerful, yet easy-to-use Macros, saving keystrokes

  and automating tests

* Add their own custom macros and puzzles using the "smart"

  Program Editor

* Track progress with printable Performance Reports

CANCELATION: Prior VGA versions of XYSee are superseded by version 4.0, and their distribution should be discontinued. XYSee 3.x for EGA remains effective, and its distribution should be continued.

Insight Advantage

4509 Yellowleaf Dr, Fort Worth, TX 76133

CIS: 73627,3532


NS/3270 for Windows to AS/400 Connectivity
NS/3270 for Windows Defines Brand New Category for Powerful, yet Easy-to-Use 3270 Communications at Only 25% the Cost of Other Emulators.

LAGUNA HILLS, CA, September 20, 1993 -- Today NetSoft announced NS/3270, a high-performance, third-generation, PC-to-mainframe communications product for PCs running Microsoft Windows or Windows NT. Totally redefining the market's concept of 3270 emulators, NS/3270 is a compact, fast, easy-to-use emulator costing only 25% as much as competitive software.

"Why pay for more than you need?", asked Russ Hertzberg, NetSoft's director of product marketing. "NS/3270 has just the right complement of features for a large segment of the market. By applying advanced technology and compact design, we've created a high-speed emulator at a new price point."

NS/3270 is priced at only $95, compared to other 3270 emulators for Windows which range from $395 to $495. The software emulates IBM 3278 terminals (models 2 through 5) and 3287 printers (DSC or SCS). Features include two host sessions, file transfer, Multiple Document Interface (MDI), graphical toolbar, keyboard remapping, TrueType, automatic font sizing, NetWare for SAA connectivity, and comprehensive HLLAPI support. With a network optimized set-up program and object oriented configuration, NS/3270 was designed with ease of installation and use as primary objectives.

NS/3270 is ideal for customers who want to roll out 3270 emulation to additional users on their network, but do not want to pay high prices for software and training. It offers a basic set of 3270 features with a user interface so straightforward that training and support costs are minimized as well. NS/3270 is also perfect for customers implementing graphical front-ends to their 3270 host applications. Such customers often require a basic "3270 Windows engine" only, and are reluctant to pay for a full set of features that the end users will never see.

The new emulator is fully compatible with third-party front-end applications. It is the first 3270 software to support Microsoft's new Windows Open Services Architecture (WOSA) standard for the HighLevel Language Application Programming Interface (HLLAPI). It also supports IBM's OS/2 HLLAPI specification. NetSoft's optional EHLLAPI Toolkit for Windows is a complete software development package that allows easy development of front-ends via either the Visual Basic or C language.

NS/3270 is the second new product developed via NetSoft's exclusive New Systems (NS/) technology. This third-generation connectivity technology is based on NetSoft's extensive SNA experience spanning more than a decade. In July, the company announced its first NS/ technology product, the NS/Router, the world's first APPC client/server engine for seamless Window-to-AS/400 connectivity.

NS/3270 can communicate over all major Local Area Network (LAN) and Wide Area Network (WAN) connections. It supports NetSoft's entire library of time-tested link drivers, including NetWare IPX/SPX, NetBIOS, 802.2, TCP/IP, Coax/DFT and SDLC.

NS/3270 can be used in client/server applications via several LAN gateways, including NetSoft's AdaptSNA LAN Gateway, Microsoft's SNA Server for Windows NT, Novell's NetWare for SAA and NetWare SNA Gateway, and IBM's PC/3270 Gateway and OS/2 Communications Manager.

NS/3270 comes in two versions, a 1 6-bit version for Windows users available October 15, and a 32-bit version for Windows NT users available November 15.

Founded in 1980, NetSoft is an industry veteran and strategic business partner of Microsoft, IBM, Novell and NCR/AT&T. The company was selected by Microsoft to develop the 3270 accessory program, or applet, currently supplied as a built-in feature of the SNA Server for Windows NT. NetSoft was the first to develop an asynchronous connectivity solution for Windows-to-mainframe access, and the first to develop a Windows-to-AS/400 solution that eliminates the need for IBM's PC Support/400 software.

Formerly known as Network Software Associates, NetSoft offers a full line of PC-to-host products, including 3270, 5250, APPC and RJE solutions for MS-DOS, Windows, Windows NT and OS/2. NetSoft is headquartered at 39 Argonaut, Laguna Hills, CA 92656. Phone: (714) 768-4013 or (800) 352-3270.


Baker's Newsbits (9/23)
Verbatim Corp (1200 W.T. Harris Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28262; 800-892-6567) introduces a guide to optical storage. The free guide explains the technology, applications and how optical storage can work for a company. Other topics covered include: optical disk library units, comparison of optical disks and other storage alternatives and product specifications. A glossary of terms is also included.

G-VOX enables electric and acoustic guitar players to record music on a computer while playing. The unit captures sound from the guitar strings and sends it to a belt pack, which converts it into data for the computer. G-VOX software contains learning games, music notation and play-along modules. Retails for $79 from Lyrrus, 35 N. 3rd St, Philadelphia, PA 19106

Executive Education & Management (800-568-8923) has released Show Business Quantum Exhibit Management Software for trade show exhibitors. The software is available for both PCs and Macs.

A new Win/TV Programmer's Toolkit upgrade adds support for Asymetrix Toolbook and AuthorWare Professional, so full motion video can fit in more custom multimedia apps. Hauppauge Computer Works (Hauppauge, NY; 516-434-1600).

Zunds software enables you to run customized background sounds on your Macintosh while you work. Choose from ten audio libraries then adjust frequency and volume. Price is $60 from Digital Eclipse, 5515 Doyle St, Ste 1, Emeryville, CA 94608

Earth Time is two dozen Windows clocks in one, with a database of cities that includes more than just time information. Automatically figures Daylight Savings time or off-standard local times. Calculates time differences and indicates day changes. Shipping in late October at $39.95 retail from Datech Network Systems (Clark, NJ; 908-381-7911).

Software Publishing free-of-fees support services... Auto Expert (608-274-7284) is a voice system with advice on the most frequent technical questions. Ready Reference (408-988-6126) is a fax-on-demand system for troubleshooting info and how-to tips. Ask for document #1300 to see a list of what's available. SPC (Santa Clara, CA; 408-450-7316).

2nd Annual Conference & Exposition: Wireless Data - the premier end-user event spotlighting wireless data technologies, applications and business opportunities. The show takes place October 27-29, 1993 at The Westin Hotel in Santa Clara, CA and includes exhibits, demonstrations, tutorials and special VAR displays. Exhibits are open from 4:30pm to 7:30pm Oct 27th, 5:30pm to 8:00pm Oct 28th. Sponsored by WIRELESS Magazine, the voice of the wireless user community. Registration fees range from $295 to $995. Call 201-285-1500, fax 201-285-1519 for registration or more details.

MicroComputer Accessories Inc (Box 17032, Inglewood, CA 90308-7032) introduced the ComfortTread Plus footrest and the EAsyVue Copy Light. The footrest is height adjustable and provides support for lower limgs while seated at a work station. Adjusts manually to one of three heights and retails for $39.95. The Copy Light helps reduce eye strain by illuminating reference documents. Mounts to desktop copy holder or PC monitor and pivots up, down or side-to-side. Retails for $29.95 with fluorescent bulb.

MicroFormat Inc (830-3 Seton Ct, Wheeling, IL 60090;  800-333-0549) introduces the Super Color inkjet paper, formulated on one side to capture the colored ink and prevent it from being absorbed into the paper grain. You get brightly colored images with less ink. Cost is $18.95 per 150 sheet pack and $11.95 per 50 sheet pack.

Fountain Hills Systems (15022 N. 75th St, Scottsdale, AZ 85260-2476; 602-596-8633) announced the FH101 ergonomic keyboard that's arranged in a V-shape which allows the user's wrists to lie in a straight, stress-free position. Cost is $349.

Husco Engineering Company (17 Calvin Rd, Wilton, CT 06987; 203-762-3181) debuts the F-1 tabbed, flipover reference pad for organization and fast retrieval of information by computer users. Interchangeable left/right side mounting on a computer monitor. Reinforced, tabbed separators and pages allow storing frequently used information in indexed form at one's fingertips. Snap-ring binder permits fast updating and page replacement. Retail si $19.95

Mannesmann Tally Cor (Box 97018, Kent, WA 98064-9718; 206-251-5500) introduced the Mobilewriter portable 6-page/minute Laserjet compatible printer and the MobileWriterPS portable PostScript compatible printer (with 35 PostScript fonts). Both use a thermal transfer page imaging engine designed for plain papers and transparencies. The AC adapter/charger allows printing while charging or unlimited printing on AC power.

Ficus Systems Inc (460 Wildwood Ave, Woburn, MA 01801; 800-342-8799) introduces the LEOscan 1210 image scanner as the first in a series of document image scanning products. This model offers twice the performance of lower end desktop scanners with 12 pages/min at 300 dpi resolution. Designed to meet the demand for higher performance document scanning in low and mid-range PC-based applications. Equipped with a DMA interface for PCs that allows the scanner to run at full rated speed without placing demands on the PCs CPU. Comes with an automatic document feeder that can hold up to 50 sheets and can also be used as a flatbed scanner for scanning books and other bound materials. Supports 8-bit gray scale for photos and other continuous tone images as well as binary scanning operations.

Compression Labs Inc (2860 Junction Ave, San Jose, CA 95134; 408-922-5432) announced the Cameo 2.1 software release, an upgrade to its Cameo personal video system. The full-color videoconferencing system for Macintosh now offers increased network connectivity options. In addition to running over ISDN, video system now supports Switched 56 Kbps (SW/56) digital transmission and Ethernet LAN transmission. Release supports Macintosh Quadra 840 AV and Centris 660 AV (LAN version), NTSC, PAL, SECAM input of still frame graphics. Price is $2095 to $4195.

Mitek Systems Inc (6225 Nancy Ridge Dr, San Diego, CA 92121; 619-587-9157) announced ClearView Extension to QuickStrokes-IFPS (a Windows application) for enhanced OCR and ICR performance. Serves as an automatic front end to hand print character recognition technology embedded in Quickstrokes and preprocesses scanned images to improve their readability for increased throughput. Designed for processing forms, it can correct for rotated input, scaled faxes and fax header noise.


Geek of the Week Audiotapes
                "Geek of the Week" Audiotapes

We are pleased to announce the inaugural release of our audiotape coverage of Internet Talk Radio's interview series "Geek of the Week." Single tapes are $9.95; two for $17.95, and all three for $24.95 (plus shipping).

                    "European Networking"

      Carl Malamud Interviews Glenn Kowack and Rob Blokzijl

               ISBN 1-56592-999-3; 1 hour; $9.95

Glenn Kowack is chief executive of EUnet, the network that's bringing the Internet to the ordinary people of Europe. Glenn talks about EUnet's populist business model and the politics of European networking. The highlight of the interview is Glenn's humorous tale of trying to set up links in Eastern Europe, where the telecommunications infrastructure isn't always what you expect.

Rob Blokzijl is the network manager for NIKHEF, the Dutch Insitute of High Energy Physics. NIKHEF has been one of the key sites for networking in Europe, and Rob has been the force behind that presence. In this interview, Rob talks about the nuts and bolts of European network coordination, covering such topics as RIPE, the IP users group for Europe, why Amsterdam seems to be the center of so much European networking, and what it was like to try to put networks together in an era of massive centrally planned information policies and functionally obese networking protocols.

           "Networked Information and Online Libraries"

       Carl Malamud Interviews Peter Deutsch and Cliff Lynch

                ISBN 1-56592-999-5; 1 hour; $9.95

Peter Deutsch, President of Bunyip Information Services, was one of the co-developers of Archie, a service that scans anonymous FTP sites and maintains distributed databases that allow users on the Internet to locate copies of files they are looking for. Since then, he has been instrumental in the IETF working group seeking to deploy a white pages service called whois++. Peter talks about his philosophy for services and compares Archie to X.500. He also talks about what kind of standards we need for networked information retrieval.

Cliff Lynch is one of the most thoughtful participants in the race to move libraries and publishers onto electronic publishing platforms. Cliff is currently the Director of Library Automation for the University of California. He discusses online publishing, looking at the issue of SGML as a markup language and examining the question of presentation integrity versus the desire for revisable form documents. He also discusses the Z39.50 protocol, the scaling of very large databases, the democratization of publishing, and the need to develop new standards for Internet publishing.

                     "Security and Networks"

       Carl Malamud Interviews Jeff Schiller and John Romkey

                ISBN 1-56592-999-7; 1 hour; $9.95

Jeff Schiller is one of the Internet's leading security experts and the manager of MIT's campus network. Jeff talks about the deployment of PEM (Privacy Enhanced Mail) and a public key infrastructure and explains his philosophy of "very good security or no security." Jeff also talks about the difficulty of policing the Internet and discusses whether horses or computers are more useful to criminals.

John Romkey has been a long-time TCP/IP developer and was recently named to the Internet Architecture Board. In this wide-ranging interview, John talks about the role of security in the Internet and export control policies that leave RSA algorithms patented in the US but available for anonymous FTP in Finland. John also discusses the role of SNMP in ToasterNet, and we learn why his garage is full of burnt Eggos and how he incurred the wrath of the Waffle Union.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

These and other O'Reilly products are available in the Americas and Japan through bookstores, or directly from the publisher. Access our gopher catalog through "telnet gopher.ora.com" (log in as "gopher"). To contact us: telephone 707-829-0515 (800-998-9938 in US & Canada); FAX 707-829-0104; email order@ora.com; or write O'Reilly & Associates, 103A Morris St., Sebastopol, CA, 95472, USA.  GSA # GS-02F-6095A.

The audiotapes are available through our international distributors:

*  Europe (except German-speaking countries), Middle East, and Africa through International Thomson Publishing, Berkshire House, 168-173 High Holborn, London WC1V 7AA, UK.  Telephone 44-71-497-1422; FAX 44-71-497-1426; or email samantha.jones@itpuk.co.uk

*  German-speaking countries through International Thomson Publishing, Konigswinterer Strabe 418, 53227 Bonn, Germany. Telephone 49-228-445171; FAX 49-228-441342; or email 100272.2422@compuserve.com

*  Asia through International Thomson Publishing, 221 Henderson Rd., #05-10 Henderson Building, Singapore 0315. Telephone 65-272-6496; FAX 65-272-6498

* Australia and New Zealand through WoodsLane, Unit 8, 101 Darley Street, Mona Vale, NSW 2103, Australia.  Telephone 61-2-979-5944; FAX 61-2-997-3348; or email woods@tmx.mhs.oz.au

O'Reilly & Associates

103A Morris Street, Sebastopol CA 95472

707-829-0515, Fax 707-829-0104


PageMaker Conference Schedule for 1994
Thunder Lizard Productions announces PageMaker Conference schedule for 1994

SEATTLE, WA - September 15th, 1993 - Following up on the overwhelming response to this year's PageMaker conferences in Boston and Seattle, and upcoming conference in Chicago, Thunder Lizard Productions announces the following schedule of PageMaker conferences for 1994.

March 28-29th, Boston Marriott Long Wharf

PageMaker Conference/Boston

The Marriott Long Wharf will be the site for a two-day conference that is scheduled to provide two dozen sessions in two tracks, with emphasis on the essential tools, tips, and techniques for using PageMaker effectively.

April 25-26th, Sheraton Colony Square

PageMaker Conference/Atlanta

The Sheraton Colony Square, Atlanta will be the site for a two-day conference that is scheduled to provide two dozen sessions in two tracks, with emphasis on the essential tools, tips, and techniques for using PageMaker effectively.

June 7-9th, 1993, Seattle Sheraton

PageMaker Conference & Exhibition

The Seattle Sheraton will again be the site for a three-day conference and Desktop Publishing Exhibition. After the overwhelming response to the 1992 and 1993 conferences and exhibitions, expected exhibitors at the exhibition should top 60. The conference's emphasis will be on essential tools, tips, and techniques for using PageMaker effectively.

October 17-18,1994, Westin Hotel Chicago PageMaker Conference/Chicago

The Westin Hotel Chicago will be the site for a two-day conference that is scheduled to provide two dozen sessions in two tracks, with emphasis on the essential tools, tips, and techniques for using PageMaker effectively.

Thunder Lizard Productions

1619 8th Ave North, Seattle, WA 98109

206-285-0305,  fax 206-285-0308


Wilson Software Casino Video Poker
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CA -- WILSON SOFTWARE has just released Casino Video Poker, the most realistic Video Poker software available. The game is fun to play, challenging and has excellent graphics. Thirty two different payoff scales are built in, most with progressive jackpots.

Casino Video Poker is more than a game, it's a learning tool. For every hand dealt, the correct play is exactly calculated and can be viewed instantly. As the game is played, errors are tracked in detail. The replay mode tells the total cost of those errors and then allows the replay of each hand played in error, progressive jackpot amounts are reset exactly and the cards held in error are highlighted.

In the world of gaming, slot machines, which include Video Poker machines, are big business. In 1992, over $30 billion was bet in these machines in the state of Nevada. (Source: Nevada Gaming Control Board). In Atlantic City, another $20 billion was bet on slots. (Source: New Jersey Casino Control Commission). In both states, Video Poker machines account for a substantial and growing portion of the amounts wagered.

Two reasons for Video Poker's growing popularity:

1. It's easy to play yet it offers a challenge. Unlike conventional slot machines, the player has decisions to make and can affect the outcome.

2. At times, machines with progressive jackpots have payback rates which can exceed 100% if played correctly.

For serious game enthusiasts and for those who want to tune up for a visit to either Atlantic City or Las Vegas, Casino Video Poker is a bargain at just $24.95

Casino Video Poker runs on IBM PC compatible computers and requires EGA/VGA color graphics. It works with or without a mouse.

Wilson Software specializes in gambling related software.

Wilson Software

PO Box 612674, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96152

916-542-4854


Wilson Software Football Stat-Master
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CA -- WILSON SOFTWARE has just released Pro Football Stat-Master, the fastest, easiest to use football handicapping program available.

* ten years of history in a memory resident database

* thousands of instant full color graphs and reports

  - Team data for every team for every year

    plus multi-year averages

    . Pointspread margins and lines

    . Over/Under margins, lines and actuals

    . Straight-Up score margins and actuals

  - Multi-Year anallysis for every team

    . Record vs different pointspreads

    . Record vs different over/unders

  - Team match-ups - up to last 16 games per match-up

    . Pointspread margins and lines

    . Over/Under margins, lines and actuals

    . Straight-up socre margins and actuals

  - Monday night analysis by team or by year

  - Playoff analysis by team or by year

  - Team rankings

    . Team rankings vs the pointspread

    . Team rankings vs over/under

    . Team rankings by points scored & points allowed

  - Home field point advantage per team

* Instantly modify your analysis criteria while viewing data

  - Home/Away

  - Favorite/Underdog

  - Won last 1 or 2 games

  - Lost last 1 or 2 games

  - Grass/Artificial

  - Division/NFC/AFC

Pro Football Stat-Master runs on IBM-PC compatible computers and requires a color monitor. The price is $79.95

Wilson Software specializes in gambling related software. The customer base ranges from the professional to the player just looking for an edge.

Wilson Software

PO Box 612674, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96152

916-542-4854


Turbo Omaha High-Low Split Poker
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CA -- WILSON SOFTWARE has just released Turbo Omaha High-Low Split Poker, the most powerful poker simulation program on the market. The game is fun to play, challenging and has excellent graphics.

Turbo Omaha High-Low Split Poker is more than a game, it's a learning tool. Three programs are included:

1. Lineup - you put players of your choice into the game. You can make it a loose game, a tight game or a mix.

2. Profile - you can modify the playing style of players and even create your own players. You have complete control of starting hand requirements and how to bet each stage of the game. You can easily create a playing style which models your own and then test its effectiveness.

3. Omaha - you can play interactively with 2 to 10 players or you can run powerful simulations. All game settings (limits, number of raises, etc.) are adjustable. Extensive statistics are captured to help you analyze and improve your playing style.

Omaha High-Low Split is the fastest growing poker game in the nation. For serious poker players and for those who want to tune up for a visit to either Atlantic City or Las Vegas, Turbo Omaha High-Low Split Poker is a bargain at just $89.95

Turbo Omaha High-Low Split Poker runs on IBM-PC compatible computers and requires a color monitor. It works with or without a mouse.

Also available from Wilson Software: Turbo Texas Hold'em and Turbo 7-Card Stud. Both packages include features similar to those in Turbo Omaha High-Low Split Poker. Hold'em is priced at $69.95 and Stud at $79.95

Wilson Software specializes in gambling related software. The customer base ranges from the professional card player to the home player looking to improve his or her play.

Wilson Software

PO Box 612674, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96152

916-542-4854


NEC Bundles PFS:WindowWorks with Ready 486es
NEC Bundles Spinnaker's PFS:WindowWorks with New Ready 486es Series PCs for Small Business, Home Office Environments

BOXBOROUGH and CAMBRIDGE, Mass., September 20, 1993 -- NEC Technologies, Inc. is the first major personal computer manufacturer to bundle the new multimedia version of Spinnaker Software's PFS:WindowWorks v.2 integrated applications software. PFS:WindowWorks v.2 will be bundled with NEC's new Ready 486es Series personal computers announced today. The Ready Series are "plug and work" systems designed for the small business/home office market.

PFS:WindowWorks features a complete set of business applications that does the work of eight stand-alone programs and a multimedia tutorial. PFS:WindowWorks includes: a WYSIWYG word processor with improved spell-checker, frames and fonts; a full-featured Lotus 1-2-3 file-compatible spreadsheet; a chart maker that creates charts directly from the spreadsheet; a label maker; address book; a fax/communications utility; a database that can read dBASE and PFS:First Choice files; and Quickbuttons that allow users to shortcut through commonly used commands.

"We're pleased that NEC has again chosen PFS:WindowWorks for its new line of personal computers," said Lynne Weiss, executive vice president and chief operating officer at Spinnaker. "As the number of PFS:WindowWorks packages sold to date approaches the two million mark, we're pleased that NEC is helping to make PFS:WindowWorks the Windows-based integrated package of choice for individuals, home offices and small business."

Besides PFS:WindowWorks, NEC's new PCs feature Local Bus Graphics, NEC's OptiBus technology, an online service membership, an anti-virus utility, fax software and NEC's remote support software. The new systems are designed to deliver corporate PC power and performance at home PC prices.

In addition to the new NEC Ready 486es Systems, PFS:WindowWorks is also bundled with PCs from IBM, Compaq, Dell, Tandy and Fountain Technologies.

NEC Technologies, Inc. is a leading supplier of computers and peripherals and presentation products for North America. NEC Technologies is a subsidiary of NEC Corporation.

Spinnaker Software (NASDAQ:SPKR) is a leading supplier of personal productivity solutions for individuals, home offices and small business.

SPINNAKER SOFTWARE CORP, 201 Broadway, Cambridge, MA  02139

617/494-1200  617/494-1219 (FAX)


PC-Sky Sky Simulation Program
PC-Sky, the first true sky simulation program for the IBM PC, is for anyone with an interest in exploring the night sky, from the casual backyard observer to the serious amateur. While other programs simulate a planetarium, cluttering and congesting the screen with lines and symbols, PC-Sly accurately displays the sky in all of it's beauty, including colorful sunsets and stars that twinkle.

PC-Sky has three natural viewing modes. The naked-eye view displays a 90 x 60 degree portion of the sky. This view can be panned either up, down, left, or right by moving the cursor and clicking once--no pull down menus to hassle with. The binocular view can be brought up at any place in the sky simply by positioning the cursor on an object and clicking. The simulated binocular view can be panned in any direction in a flash. Moving into the telescope view is just as easy. Telescope views include accurate simulations of planets and their satellites; galaxies, clusters, nebulae, double stars, and variable stars.

John Mosley, software reviewer, Sky & Telescope June 1993:

"PC-Sky is a truly amazing program. It's not only easy to use, it's fun. I heartily recommend it to armchair astronomers as well as to observers."

Dave Bruning, software reviewer, Astronomy August 1993:

"Double and variable star observers will find this is the first commercial program to provide both textual and graphical information about thousands of their favorite objects. PC-Sly will help beginning observers better understand what they'll see through their binoculars and telescopes and help them plan star-hopping paths. And many experienced observers may find they prefer this display format to the atlas-like appearance of many planetarium programs."

PC-Sky Characteristics:

All stars visible in binoculars (nearly 27,000 stars) are simulated for at least 4000 years into the past and future. Stars can be found by: common names, Bayer, Flamsteed, HD, SAO, or variable-star identification.

Information like RA, Dec, altitude, azimuth, spectral type, rising, setting, and transit times, as well as cross referenced identifications can easily be displayed for any object.

Over 200 selected star fields containing simulated galaxies, nebulae, clusters, and stars down to 16th magnitude in telescopes from 6 to 24 inches. Object descriptions and observing notes are provided.

All planets (except Pluto) and all of their satellites which are visible in a 24" telescope are simulated.

Over 6500 double-star systems are depicted, including over 400 long-period binaries. Orbit diagrams are provided.

Over 1000 Variable stars, complete with typical light curves, estimated current magnitude, time to next minimum or maximum, and a description/explanation of the cause of variability.

Time-step animations of eclipses, conjunctions, planet phases, planetary satellites, and long-period binary stars.

Up to 800 star-like objects can be displayed from an external file.

System Requirements: PC-286/386/486, 640K RAM, VGA/SVGA graphics, HD floppy drive, and a hard drive. Mouse and math coprocessor recommended, but not required.

CapellaSoft

PO Box 3964, La Mesa, CA 91944

619-460-8265


NEC Intros Next Generation Ready Series
NEC INTRODUCES NEXT GENERATION OF READY SERIES PCs FOR SMALL OFFICE AND HOME OFFICE USERS

Ready 486es Series of New EPA Energy Star-Compliant Systems Provide High Performance Computing Power at Entry Level PC Prices

(Boxborough, Mass., September 20, 1993)--NEC Technologies, Inc. today introduced the latest additions to its popular Ready series of personal computers aimed at the growing number of "SOHO users"--people using computers in small offices and home offices. Designed to provide advanced functionality at affordable prices, the Ready 486es systems offer local bus graphics, which NEC invented in 1991, compliance with the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Energy Star program, pre-installed business applications, ReadyRemote technical support, and NEC's OptiBus technology.

To meet EPA Energy Star standards, the new Ready 425es, Ready 433es and Ready 466es systems are designed to consume less energy, resulting in significant reductions in electricity costs and carbon dioxide emissions. New Ready 486es systems have integrated power management capabilities, including a "sleep" feature that powers the PC down to less than 30 watts after a user-defined period of inactivity.

Easy Upgrades/Installation

With the NEC Ready systems, everything necessary to begin working is pre-installed, allowing most users to get their system up and running in less than a half hour after taking it out-of-the box.

To further speed up installation, NEC has pre-installed key small business software applications onto the Ready systems, including an anti-virus utility, Windows 3.1 and PFS:WindowWorks 2.0. The Ready 433es and 466es models also come equipped with 9600-baud FAX modems, online service memberships with CompuServe and America Online, Delrina WinFax LITE and the NEC Ready Remote Support Software. To protect the user's investment in costly hardware, the Ready 486es systems feature a 238-pin zero insertion force socket that allows easy insertion of an Intel OverDrive chip based on the Pentium processor core.

"The new Ready systems are the first computers in their category to offer high performance technologies such as accelerated Local Bus Video and hard drives as well as Energy Star compliance at such affordable prices," explained Denny Lane, director of desktop marketing at NEC Technologies. "In addition to providing the best graphics performance in its price category, the Ready 486es systems are also some of the easiest computers on the market to set-up, making them the ideal choice for small and home business users."

NEC's Outstanding Graphics Performance:

Local Bus Video and 24-Bit True Color Capability

Local Bus Video technology, which NEC invented in 1991, allows video signals to pass from the CPU directly to the video controller and then out to the monitor. The result is fast and smooth video that until now had been reserved for more expensive PC models. Combined with NEC's Graphics Accelerator, Local Bus Video provides dramatically improved graphics performance. The Ready 486es series brings an unprecedented level of video performance to the home and small office user.

NEC's new OptiBus technology empowers users with the fastest I/O throughput possible for IDE drives through local bus technology.

To display photo-realistic images, the Ready 486es series support 24-bit True Color applications in 640 x 480 resolution with 16.8 colors--as many as the human eye can detect. Meeting the new Level 2 specification for true Multimedia PC (MPC) compliance, the NEC Ready es systems provide 24-bit True Color quality that few other low cost systems can offer.

Service and Support: NEC's Ready Remote Service

All Ready systems come with a one-year, on-site limited warranty and unlimited use of a toll-free Ready support telephone hotline. In addition, all Ready 433es and 466es systems include NEC's ReadyRemote service, a unique remote assistance program in which NEC support technicians can solve user's computing problems directly through the modem included in Ready 433es and 466es systems.

With ReadyRemote, if a user's question can't be answered quickly via a phone call, the Ready user simply inserts the "Remote Support" disk and re-starts the system. An NEC Customer Support technician can then dial into the user's system, view the user's screen, take control of the system and solve the problem directly.

"Our customers told us that even though they needed to purchase a computer for their businesses, they were fearful of the complexity of many of the systems," explained Lane. "With ReadyRemote, we have eliminated that fear because our customers know that we can fix their problems directly. When customers hear about the Ready systems' easy installation and Ready Remote, you can almost hear them sigh with relief."

Additional Hardware Features of the Ready 425es, 433es and 466es

Designed with three ISA expansion slots and three drive bays, all Ready systems are a wise investment well into the future. All Pentium-upgradable Ready 486es PCs include a 3.5" 1.44MB diskette drive with an additional CD-ROM- ready drive bay. All three models come with 4MB of RAM (expandable to 36MB). The 425es comes with a 170MB hard drive, the 433es comes with a 210MB hard drive and the 466es comes with a 250MB hard drive. In addition, the 433es and 466es come with a pre-installed 9600 fax/2400 Data Modem.

Pricing and Distribution Information

Ready systems are available immediately from mass merchandisers, which include Ballards, Fry's, Sun TV, Lechmere and BrandsMart, as well as NEC's extensive nationwide network of authorized resellers, and are expected to sell at the following prices:

  Ready 425es     $  999

  Ready 433es     $1,299

  Ready 466es     $1,899

NEC Technologies. Inc.

NEC Technologies, Inc. is a leading supplier of computers and peripherals and presentation products for the North American market. Product lines include PowerMate Image, Express and Ready systems, award-winning MultiSync monitors and presentation products, ProSpeed laptop and UtraLite notebook computers, Silentwriter and Colormate printers, and MultiSpin CD-ROM hardware. NEC Technologies is a subsidiary of NEC Corporation.

NEC Technologies

1414 Massachusetts Ave, Boxborough, MA 01719-2298

508-264-8000


LinkRight File Transfer Utility for OS/2
FILE TRANSFER FOR OS/2

LinkRight by Rightware Inc. is a parallel port and serial port file transfer utility made especially for OS/2. The package includes a PM version, an OS/2 command line version, and a DOS version. The OS/2 versions are 32 bit, multi-threaded tasks.

LinkRight gives you the ability to copy files to/from OS/2 and to/from DOS systems and retain EAs and long filenames on each transfer. This product features compression for faster transfers, uses CRC checking to insure accurate transfers, and provides full support for long file names and HPFS.

This utility is a full multi-threaded application. The user interface portion is a separate thread from the file send and receive threads. Therefore, you can queue files while files are being sent. Subdirectories, hidden, system files, and newer files can be selectively copied.

LinkRight provides extensive logging of significant events. The Event log contains a list of all successful and unsuccessful transfers. The Event logging facility can optionally be disabled. Event log can be viewed while transfers are in progress. An Error log, similar to the Event log, is also provided.

Batch file generation allows you to mark and immediately send files, or mark files and save them to a list of files for later transfer.

LinkRight is compatible with LapLink cables and can be purchased with cables or as a competitive upgrade without cables. You can purchase LinkRight today through Indelible Blue, (919) 834-7005, and The Corner Store, (800) I BUY OS2.

Rightware Inc.

15505 Villisca Terrace, Rockville, MD 20855

(301) 762-1151,   FAX (301) 762-1185.


NEC Intros PowerMate 486es Series
NEC TECHNOLOGIES, INC. INTRODUCES THE POWERMATE 486es SERIES OF VALUE LINE PCs

EPA ENERGY STAR-COMPLIANT SYSTEMS BRING HIGH-END FUNCTIONALITY TO ENTRY-LEVEL PCs

BOXBOROUGH. Mass. September 20, 1993--Acknowleddng the increasing performance requirements demanded by users of entry-level computer systems, NEC Technologies, Inc. today introduced the PowerMate 486es Series, the company's second generation of economical PowerMate PCs for the general business user.

With the PowerMate 486es Series, NEC has incorporated a roster of advanced features heretofore unavailable in entry-level PCs, including compliance with the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Energy Star initiative, accelerated local bus video technology, second level cache, and a scalable architecture.

Designed as the ideal office automation platform for stand-alone and networked computing environments, the PowerMate 486es Series is comprised of three models--PowerMate 425es, PowerMate 433es, and PowerMate 466es-- based on the Intel i486SX, i486DX, and i486Dx/2 microprocessors, respectively. All PowerMate 486es systems support a built-in CD-ROM drive and ship with 1MB video memory, 4MB RAM (expandable, via SIMMs, to 36MB), three expansion slots, three device bays, a 1.44MB diskette drive, pre-installed MS-DOS 6.0 and Microsoft Windows 3.1, an NEC keyboard and mouse, and high capacity IDE hard drive options in an attractive compact chassis.

"Since we successfully introduced our initial PowerMate Series in late 1992, we've learned that users no longer buy PCs solely on price, but performance, upgradability, and investment protection are also important factors in the purchase decision," said Denny Lane, NEC's director of desktop marketing. "As a result we've integrated many of the features found in our award-winning Image Series of fast graphics PCs for the advanced business user into the PowerMate 486es Series. With the addition of these features, the PowerMate 486es Series provides the best price/performance available in comparison to other products, namely the AST Bravo, Compaq ProLinea, Dell Dimension, Hewlett-Packard Vectra, and IBM ValuePoint."

Outstanding PowerMate Features Provide NEC With An Advantage Over Competing Products

Continuing the tradition it established when it invented the industry's first local bus video technology in 1991, NEC has implemented an accelerated local bus on the entire PowerMate 486es Series, setting a new precedent in video speed and graphics performance for economical, entry-level systems. In addition, all PowerMate 486es are fully compliant with the Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star initiative, while still maintaining a low price.

NEC's objective in developing the PowerMate 486es Series to be Energy Star-compliant was to eliminate the unnecessary consumption of excess energy, resulting in significant reductions in electricity costs and carbon dioxide emissions. To meet this goal, NEC has integrated power management capabilities into the PowerMate 486es Series, including a "sleep" feature that powers the PC down to less than 30 watts after a user-defined period of inactivity.

Additional advances features found in the PowerMate 486es Series include:

o   Optional Second Level Cache to reduce access time between CPU and main memory.

o   OptiBus Technology, developed by NEC, empowers users with the fastest I/O throughput possible for IDE drives.

o   ImageSync Technology, also exclusive to NEC, senses when a PowerMate 486es is used with an NEC MultiSync monitor and automatically adjust to the highest refresh rate possible for clear, flicker-free images.

o   Compact Chassis Design allows users to easily expand their systems to include devices such as internal CD-ROM and tape back-up drives.

o   24-bit True Color displays nearly 16.8 million colors for truly photo-realistic images.

NEC PC Products

With today's introduction, the PowerMate 486es Series becomes the latest NEC PC product family, each positioned to meet the need of different types of users. They include the Ready family of desktop systems for the small office/home office (SOHO) user, the Image Series of professional Windows workstations for advanced corporate users, and the Express/II line of powerful, 486 and Pentium-based desktop and tower client/server systems for mission critical application. All NEC PC products are designed and manufactured in the United States.

Pricing, Distribution and Warranty Information

The NEC PowerMate 486es Series are available immediately from NEC's extensive nationwide network of authorized resellers. Although actual prices may vary, it is estimated that the PowerMate Series will sell at or near the following prices:

  PowerMate 425es   $  879

  PowerMate 433es   $1,199

  PowerMate 466es   $1,619

All PowerMate 486es Series PCs include a limited three-year warranty, with one-year on-site service.

NEC Technologies. Inc.

NEC Technologies, Inc. is a leading supplier of computers and peripherals and presentation products for the North American market. Product lines include PowerMate Image, Express and Ready systems, award-winning MultiSync monitors and presentation products, ProSpeed laptop and UtraLite notebook computers, Silentwriter and Colormate printers, and MultiSpin CD-ROM hardware. NEC Technologies is a subsidiary of NEC Corporation.

NEC Technologies

1414 Massachusetts Ave, Boxborough, MA 01719-2298

508-264-8000


NEC Users Cirrus Logic Graphics Accelerator
NEC USES CIRRUS LOGIC GRAPHICS ACCELERATOR IN TWO NEW PC FAMILIES

FREMONT, Calif. -- Sept. 20, 1993 -- Cirrus Logic, Inc., (NASDAQ: CRUS), today revealed that its CL-GD5428 True Color VGA GUI Accelerator has been selected by NEC Technologies, Inc. for the second generation of their PowerMate 486es and Ready 486es series of personal computers. The PowerMate 486es series is designed to address the increasing performance requirements of the general business user. The new models of the Ready 486es series offer cost-effective, highly-featured "plug and work" solutions for the small and home business markets.

Designed to provide a highly integrated and high performance graphics solution, the CLGD5428 is gaining widespread OEM acceptance. In addition to offering the industry's most cost-effective solution, the CL-GD5428 ensures efficient energy use by providing comprehensive power-saving features that support compliance with the Energy Star and the European "Nutek" standards, as well as the VESA Display Power Management Signaling (DPMS) proposal.

"NEC has designed a series of PCs that address the wide variety of user computing needs," said Douglas J. Bartek, senior vice president and general manager of Cirrus Logic's User Interface Division. "The CL-GD5428 is the ideal solution for their systems because it provides a winning combination of high performance, reliability, and compatibility in an efficient single-chip design."

"NEC continues to use Cirrus Logic's accelerators because they allow us to meet our customers' requirements for new features and higher graphical performance at affordable prices," said Denny Lane, NEC's director of desktop marketing. "We think our customers will appreciate the true-color capability, fast graphics response, and the roster of optional features of the new PowerMate 486es and Ready 486es models."

The CL-GD5428 and its accompanying software drivers have been optimized for use in the Windows 3.1, Windows NT, and OS/2 2.x environments. In addition, it uses mixed-signal technology to integrate a "true color" (16.8 million-color) palette DAC, memory- and video-clock synthesizers and digital VGA controller into a single CMOS integrated circuit. Because of the high level of integration achieved with the CL-GD5428, components such as external timers, RAMDACs, and other devices are eliminated, significantly decreasing the cost of creating a high-performance graphics subsystem.

Cirrus Logic, Inc.

Headquartered in Fremont, Calif, Cirrus Logic develops innovative architectures for analog and digital system functions and implements those architectures in very-large-scale-integration (VLSI) silicon for applications that include user interface (graphics, audio, and video), mass storage, communications, and data acquisition. Key markets for Cirrus Logic's products include desktop and portable computing, workstations, telecommunications, and consumer electronics.

Cirrus Logic Inc

3100 West Warren Ave, Fremont, CA 94538

510-623-8300,  fax 510-226-2240


Bitstream Typeface Lib in TrueType for Windows
Bitstream First To Offer An Entire Typeface Library In TrueType Format For Windows 3.1

Cambridge, Mass. (September 14, 1993) -- Bitstream Inc. announced today that it is offering its entire typeface library of nearly 1,100 faces in TrueType format for the Microsoft Windows 3.1 operating environment. Available immediately, the TrueType version of the Bitstream Typeface Library (BTL) makes Bitstream the first and, at present, only major digital type foundry to offer its complete type library in this format.

The BTL in TrueType format for the Microsoft Windows 3.1 environment is available directly from Bitstream at 1-800-522-FONT, as well as through authorized resellers. Pricing per BTL font in this format begins at $32.25.

"We are proud to be providing the award-winning Bitstream Library in TrueType format," said Ray Boelig, chief operating officer at Bitstream. "TrueType has dearly become the typographic standard in the Microsoft Windows 3.1 environment. The availability of a high-quality type library in the TrueType format will make it possible for Windows users to finally take advantage of the quality and performance of TrueType faces, while gaining access to a wealth of typeface designs only available to PostScript users until now.

"The BTL is one of the world's largest sources of high-quality digital type," Boelig said. "By adding the TrueType version of the library--it is already available in PostScript Type 1 format for the IBM PC and Macintosh--Bitstream has achieved a big step in its stated strategy of providing its library in all formats for all platforms. Moreover, we believe that the BTL, as the first TrueType version of a standard-setting typeface library for Windows 3.1, is going to become the preferred type library in the format of choice."

Larry Oppenberg, vice president of Type Operations, said he expects the BTL in TrueType format for the Microsoft Windows 3.1 environment to appeal equally to a range of users, from individuals to businesses, such as desktop publishers, designers, graphic artists, and corporate marketing communications departments. General target markets are small office and home office desktop publishing, graphics, business publishing, and graphic artists.

Oppenberg also said he believes the TrueType BTL version's key benefit for customers of these businesses and individuals is Bitstream's demonstrated commitment to maintaining the highest level of typographic standards, and to providing top-quality text and decorative typefaces in the important technical formats for all platforms.

Headquartered in Cambridge, Mass., Bitstream Inc. is an industry leader in typographic quality and innovative printing technology. Bitstream licenses type and related software to more than 500 OEMs worldwide. The company's line of end user products for the Macintosh and PC platforms is distributed in the United States and in 18 nations around the world.

Bitstream, 215 First St, Cambridge, MA 02142-1270

617-497-6222,  fax 617-868-4732


Hyper-Backgammon for PC CD-ROM
A NEW ADDICTION: HYPER-BACKGAMMON FOR PC CD-ROM

Imagine playing a game similar to backgammon against a computer that knows the right move for over 32,176,875 different checker and doubling cube combinations. ROMTIME, a California based CD-ROM publisher, has released just such a game. HYPER-BACKGAMMON, played with three checkers and a doubling cube, uses the same principles as the original game of backgammon, only is much faster and in many ways more exciting.

HYPER-BACKGAMMON was developed by Hugh Sconyers, a two-time world team backgammon champion. To provide the data, Mr. Sconyers programmed a computer to calculate all the equities for every possible combination of men and doubling cube when playing HYPER-BACKGAMMON. Two years later, the computer had determined the best play for over 32 million scenarios and is accurate to within plus or minus 1%.

HYPER-BACKGAMMON is for players aged 7 to 107. Since fewer playing pieces are used, the basic offensive and defensive strategies of the game can be easily grasped. Within a short period of time, a player can learn how to set traps and barriers, take calculated risks, and test his gambling instincts with the doubling cube. For more experienced players, HYPER-BACKGAMMON is an excellent way to improve skills and perfect the game.

System requirements are a CD-ROM drive that supports the ISO-9660 standard, interface card, cable and software, a minimum of 640K RAM with 400K available, DOS 3.1 or later, VGA card and VGA color monitor. The suggested retail price is $39.00

ROMTIME, 8601 Wilshire Blvd, 8th Floor, Beverly Hills, CA 90211

(310) 659-6703,   Fax:(310) 652-5249


Desktop Engineering Mich. Technical Center
DESKTOP ENGINEERING OPENS TECHNICAL CENTER IN SOUTHFIELD, MICHIGAN TO PROMOTE COMPANY'S ENGINEERING SOFTWARE AND ENGINEERING CONSULTING SERVICES.

(Mahwah, New Jersey -- September 14, 1993) Desktop Engineering today announced that it has opened a technical center in Southfield, Michigan. Desktop Engineering will use the new office as the focal point in actively marketing a wide range of engineering services including computer-aided software development, computer-aided engineering analysis, engineering testing programs and structural/mechanical engineering consulting. The technical center will also be the hub for servicing the many users of the company's packaged software products including the DE/CAASE computerized engineering handbook.

Desktop Engineering is one of the leaders in the field of computer-aided engineering software development having pioneered the concept of the computerized engineering handbook. A computerized engineering handbook puts at the engineer's fingertips information that was once buried in a cumbersome hardcopy manual or handbook. This tool has dramatically reduced the time required to perform most everyday engineering functions by guiding the engineering through the necessary equations and performing all of the required calculations.

Desktop Engineering is also a leader in the field of computer aided engineering analysis having used these techniques to provide accurate analytical results and optimum designs to companies such as John Deere, Purolator, American Iron and Steel Institute, General Electric, DuPont, Spar Aerospace and Energy Research Corporation and others. Desktop Engineering's expertise covers structural mechanical analysis including finite element analysis, stress evaluation, investigation of structural failures, fatigue and fracture analysis, strength of materials testing and development of computer-aided engineering software.

Desktop Engineering is associated with Columbia University's renowned testing laboratory. This 25,000 square foot laboratory provides nearly unmatched structural and materials testing capabilities including universal testing machines, fatigue testing and strain gauging facilities, data acquisition systems, machine shop equipment, vibration and acoustics laboratory and photoelasticity capabilities. Desktop Engineering's capabilities also include dent resistance testing to determine denting energy and local buckling effects in automotive applications. The company's investigative engineering services take advantage of both the testing laboratory and unique computer-aided engineering capabilities to analyze structural mechanical failures.

The new office will directly support all of the company's packaged software products including AISI/CARS which largely automates the process of designing steel body sections. The CARS program was developed by Desktop Engineering in an unprecedented example of cooperation between the automobile industry and its North American steel suppliers. Chrysler, Ford and General Motors teamed up with the American Iron and Steel Institute's Automotive Applications Committee (AAC) to sponsor this product. According to an AISI spokesperson, "CARS will be used as a competitive tool to maximize the use of steel in the automotive industry." The program's application mode provides numerical and graphical solutions to over 215 equations and 35 design procedures. The reference mode quickly and selectively accesses over 500 pages of text, design procedures, tables, equations, figures and other information.

DE/CAASE, Desktop Engineering's most popular product, greatly reduces the time required to solve structural/mechanical engineering problems by helping the user select the proper equation, prompting for required inputs, automatically solving the equation and providing graphical illustrations. The program incorporates solutions to over 5000 structural/mechanical engineering applications found in over 100 reference books. It includes 41 modules grouped into categories including Geometric and Material Properties; Beams and Columns; Rings, Arches and Frames; Plates, Shells and Pressure Vessels; Natural Frequencies and Dynamics, Stresses, Cables and Springs; and more. The release of Version 4.0 provides a completely new graphics user interface that operates in a Windows-like environment on UNIX and MS-DOS operating systems.

Desktop Engineering is a software developer and distributor specializing in engineering applications with headquarters in Mahwah, New Jersey. The company's other products include DE/Mec and DE/Cartes. DE/Mec allows complex mechanisms to be designed, analyzed, optimized and animated with virtually zero learning time for anyone used to laying out mechanisms on a traditional drawing board. DE/Cartes is a "virtual office" which provides a revolutionary method of document, file and application management on a personal computer or network. Desktop Engineering has Desktop Engineering Technical Centers in the United States, England and Canada and representatives throughout Eastern Asia and Europe. All Desktop Engineering products are available from authorized dealers located throughout the world.

Desktop Engineering International Inc

1200 MacArthur Blvd, Mahwah, NJ 07430

201-818-9700,  fax 201-818-9707


Transparent Language V2.0 for DOS & Mac
Transparent Language Version 2.0 Released for DOS and Macintosh with major new interactive learning capabilities

Early users enthusiastic about enhancements including CheckWords, the Vocabulous! game and Personal Notes

Hollis, NH -- September 20, 1993 -- Transparent Language, Inc. today announced the release and immediate availability of version 2.0 of its Transparent Language software for DOS and Macintosh.

Version 2.0 builds on the innovative Transparent Language approach to foreign language learning by adding new interactive learning capabilities including CheckWords, the Vocabulous! game, and Personal Notes. Transparent Language lets users immediately read and enjoy authentic foreign language material in Spanish, French, German, Italian and Latin. As users read, they also learn the language.

"Transparent Language version 2.0 is a result of direct feedback from our 20,000 users." said Michael Quinlan, Founder and President "We listened to our users needs and delivered. The early reaction has been outstanding." added Quinlan

Early Users

"All the new Transparent Language features are very helpful. I really like using my personal vocabulary list in the new word game, Vocabulous!" said Dennis Rayl. Another early user, Susan Lee, said "I love all the new features! They make Transparent Language even more useful and enjoyable to use." And Jeff Murray said "Transparent Language Version 2.0 looks like a winner to me!"

New Features:

CheckWords

Create Personal Review Lists for Each Title. The new "Check Words" features lets users add words to a personal vocabulary review list by just "checking" a word in a Title while reading. Review the list at any time, go directly to any word on the list, print the list, or spend some time in an interactive on-screen spelling/context exercise session.

Vocabulous!

The Vocabulous! game. Vocabulous! is a context game that lets the user recreationally practice spelling and word meaning in context. There is a practice mode that lets the user keep trying each word until it is correct, and a game mode where the goal is to correctly guess 20 words in context. Vocabulous! can be played on all words in a Title, or just on the user's personal CheckWords. In keeping with the Transparent Language philosophy, all games and practice sessions are based on authentic texts and true contest.

Personal Notes

Post Personal Notes Anywhere in the Title. With Version 2.0 users can now post their own comments on any word in the Title. Alternatively, in a teacher/student situation, the teacher can add his or her comments to those of the linguist who created the Title, so that students see both sets of comments at any location in the story. Also, an undocumented procedure is available to teachers that allows them to "lock" Personal Notes so that students cannot subsequently change them.

Printing

Print out the Original Language Text. With version 2.0, the story, article or CheckWord list can be exported to any common word processor for editing or printing which enables users to read or study when they are not at their computer.

Linguist's Preface

Integrated Linguist's Preface. Titles are now created with an integrated preface written by the linguist who created the Title. The preface usually describes the history of the piece, the author and cultural background. Version 2 of the Transparent Language Presentation Program displays this preface on-line when available.

Protects Users Investment

All previously purchased Titles run with Version 2.0. Not only will users find that all previously purchased Titles run under 2.0, but also that all the new 2.0 features work on the previously purchased Titles.

System Requirements

System requirements for DOS (IBM-compatible! version -- MS-DOS or PC-DOS version 2.1 or higher, minimum 300K RAM, any monitor, any drive type. (This means that even an early PC with a monochrome monitor, single floppy drive, and no hard drive will successfully run Transparent Language.)

System requirements for Macintosh version -- Fully compatible with System 6 or System 7 system software. Almost any Macintosh computer (Exceptions are some early models with 400K-capacity drives.)

Limited Time Upgrade Offer

Until November 15,1993, current Transparent Language users can upgrade for $19.95 or purchase $29 worth of new Titles to receive a free version 2.0 upgrade. After November 15, 1993, the upgrade price will be $34.95.

Product Summary

Transparent Language, Inc. offers the Transparent Language Master Program with three Titles in a chosen language, plus one sampler Title in each of four additional languages, and audio tapes for all the Titles for $139. The master program runs all the Transparent Language Titles in the five currently available languages. Education and Corporate volume pricing is available.

In addition, Transparent Language, Inc. now offers over 75 Titles including literature, non-fiction, and travel content to Spanish, French, German, Italian and Latin language learners. The Titles selection is constantly expanding. Titles typically cost $14.95, $19.95 or $24.95. Accompanying audio cassettes cost $8.95 to $11.95. Title Collections and Libraries are also available at a discount. All Titles are available for both DOS and Macintosh.

Company Summary

Transparent Language, Inc. develops and markets computer-aided language learning (CALL) products for the consumer, education, government and corporate markets. As of September 1993, there were over 20,000 Transparent Language users worldwide. Transparent Language, Inc. is privately held and located in Hollis, NH.

Transparent Language

22 Proctor Hill Rd, PO Box 575, Hollis, NH 03049

603-465-2230 (voice), 603-465-2779 (fax),

or 70541,3626 (CompuServe.)


Moldflow Director Technical Paper Judged Best
MOLDFLOW MANAGING DIRECTOR COLIN AUSTIN'S TECHNICAL PAPER JUDGED BEST AT ANTEC 1993

(Shelton, Connecticut -- September 14, 1993) A technical paper written by Moldflow, Inc. Managing Director Colin Austin was selected as the best technical paper at Antec 93. The award was presented by Elliot Grossman, Technical Program Chairman. A review board judged each paper for originality, technical content, quality and value to the industry using a numerical scale. The results of each judge's ratings were averaged with the high mark receiving the award. It is important to note that all papers were generalized by eliminating the names and author affiliation before papers were delivered to the review committee members .

The title of the Austin's paper is "Industrial Metamorphosis". The paper explains that companies who design and manufacture plastics components using the injection molding process are changing from a craft-based "over the wall engineering" approach to an approach using teamwork based on scientific understanding of plastics. CAE plastics flow analysis technology supplies this understanding. The goal of this industrial metamorphosis is lean production. Lean production welds the activities of everyone from top management to line workers as well as suppliers into a tightly integrated whole that can respond rapidly to marketing demands from consumers. Lean production can often double productivity and quality while keeping costs down.

Moldflow, Inc. has pioneered computerized analysis of plastic injection molding, which improves product performance, reduces scrap, shortens design leadtimes and lowers design and manufacturing costs. Independent studies have shown that the company has a dominant market share in its area of specialty throughout the world. Products include: MOLDFLOW/FLOW -- which predicts flow patterns and characteristics within the mold; MOLDFLOW/COOL --- which analyzes the vital role of heat exchange and temperature control in the mold; MOLDFLOW/WARP which analyzes the net distortion of the actual molded part and helps determine its mechanical properties; MOLDFLOW/SHRINK -- finite element analysis tool that meets mold designer needs by predicting an optimum shrinkage value to meet critical molding dimensions; MOLDFLOW/GAS -- designed to simulate and analyze the emerging technology of Gas Injection Molding (GIM); and MOLDFLOW/STRESS -- a structural analysis tool for fiber reinforced plastics.

Moldflow Inc

2 Corporate Dr, Suite 232, Shelton, CT 06484

203-925-0552,   fax 203-925-1175


Complete House Multimedia Exploration
COMPLETE HOUSE

Create your dream living space

COMPLETE HOUSE is a multimedia exploration of American residential architecture, designed for people who may be building, remodeling or just interested in house design. Hundreds of photos, plans, drawings, text entries and audio segments explain and illustrate the major points of house design.

COMPLETE HOUSE includes CAD/FP Floor Planner, a powerful software that lets you create customized floor plans. Doors and doorswings, walls of different widths, stoves, sinks, beds and more are all there to help you design and envision your new house.

COMPLETE HOUSE leads you through a design approach that integrates the specific needs of the homeowner with ecology, history and technology. It is divided into three major segments:

House Design: The first major segment provides thorough background knowledge in current and historical North American architecture. You'll find ways to analyze your particular needs and define your house. For instance, when was the last time you un-named a room?

You'll engage in a design process that takes into account the needs of your site and the needs of the larger environment. What does it mean to anchor a house? Have you considered the micro-climate you may be creating?

You'll survey houses from the colonial days to the 20th century to understand design traditions. You can see and hear about the richness of American architecture, from platform framing to adobe construction, from the dogtrot to the extended farmhouse plans and from Federal to Art Deco styles.

Kitchen and Bath Design: The second major segment provides strategies for efficient, attractive layouts of the kitchen and bath, the most permanently arranged rooms in the house. Numerous photos and sample layouts demonstrate good planning in a wide variety of styles.

Magazine of Designs: The third section takes you on a tour of dozens of recent houses. Leading architects and building companies show you plans and photos of their best in residential design. Audio comments add depth and a fresh perspective on these designs.

CAD/FP Floor Planner: Finally, CAD/FP Floor Planner lets you use state-of-the-art tools to create your own designs. With CAD/FP you can:

*Draw walls, windows, doors and door swings automatically.

*Lay out your kitchen, bathrooms and living areas.

*Place stairs, fixtures, appliances and furniture.

*Layer your plan as desired.

*Zoom in and out.

*Add, delete and adjust elements.

*Use the large library of sample floor plans and house design

 objects, or draw your own.

*Save your designs for future use.

*Print out detailed plans to scale (1'=1/4", 1'=1/8", or custom)

 in single or multiple page formats.

Complete House, with a list price of $39.95 is one of three multimedia CD-ROMs published by Deep River Publishing of Portland, Maine. The other titles include Adventures, a complete multimedia resource for worldwide adventure travel experiences, and Fractal Ecstasy, a dazzling collection of incredible designs, and original, never-before-seen fractal images. More CD-ROM titles are planned for release in the coming months.

System requirements: IBM, MPC or equivalent Multimedia PC, 2MB RAM required (4 MB RAM recommended), DOS 3.1 or later, Microsoft Windows 3.1, 30 MB Hard Drive, MPC-compatible CD-ROM drive, SVGA display, Audio board and mouse, Microsoft CD-ROM Extensions 2.2 or later

Deep River Publishing

PO Box 9715-975, Portland, ME 04104

207-871-1684,  800-643-5630,  fax 207-871-1683


Codar Cheetah Ruggedized Portable SPARCstation
CODAR INTRODUCES CHEETAH RUGGEDIZED PORTABLE WORKSTATION

Longmont, CO. -- September 13, 1993 -- Codar Technology, Inc. introduces the Cheetah Ruggedized Portable SPARCstation, a powerful, high-performance, VME-based, lightweight workstation that features a unique modular design especially well suited for on-the-move operation in military vehicles. The ruggedized Cheetah is 9.5" high, 14.0" deep and 17.0" wide, operates at temperatures from 0 degrees C to 50 degrees C, altitudes up to 15,000 feet, humidity from 5% to 95%, and is designed to meet EMI requirements of MIL-STD-461.

The Cheetah features a Force SPARCengine 2CE CPU, 32 Mbytes RAM, one 1.24 Gbyte hard drive, a 10.4" color active matrix (TFT) display, a sealed keyboard and integral trackball, graphics adapters for both internal and external displays, and a custom audio intercom system which allows direct headset connection with full EMI compliance.

The Cheetah also offers a flexible design that allows users to detach the keyboard/display and utilize a 13 pound "laptop" system up to six feet away from the actual workstation. This is ideal for any application that requires mobility, but is especially well suited for use in military vehicles where the workstation fits securely between the front seats while the laptop system is in use. It has been successfully evaluated in High Mobility Multi-Mission Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWV) by personnel from the U.S. Army's XVIII Airborne Corps.

According to Jim Sewell, Business Development Manager for Codar, "The Cheetah is ideally suited for use in U.S. Army Tactical programs. The unique design gives users the computing capabilities of a high-powered workstation along with the ease of use and flexibility of a truly portable laptop system. Historically, it has been extremely difficult to operate computer systems in military vehicles, and the Cheetah provides an innovative and cost-effective solution."

Codar Technology, Inc. pioneered the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) ruggedized computer industry in 1981, and in January 1991, was awarded the industry's first patent for ruggedized design techniques. Codar is a financially secure, mature company that leads the industry in designing, manufacturing, integrating, and supporting ruggedized and TEMPEST computer systems and subsystems for the Department of Defense and its subcontractors and allies. Codar has participated in more than 150 DoD programs worldwide.

Codar Technology, Inc.

2405 Trade Centre Ave, Longmont, CO 80503

303-776-0472,    FAX: 303-776-1806


Understanding Japanese Information Processing

By Ken Lunde

470 pages, ISBN: 1-56592-043-0, $29.95 (US)

We have just published the first book for anyone interested in  using Japanese on computers.  It is written for programmers, users,  and academics wanting to understand the many complex issues surrounding  the use of the Japanese language in computing. It may also be of value  to both English- and Japanese-speaking companies wishing to increase  trans-Pacific communications.

Unlike English, which has 26 letters in a single alphabet, Japanese  has thousands of characters in three scripts. The issues around handling  such an unwieldy collection of data are formidable and complex. Up to now,  researching and understanding the relevant issues has been a difficult, if  not unattainable task, especially to a person who doesn't read or speak  Japanese.  This book opens with a succinct description of origins of  modern-day Japanese that leads to an explanation of Japanese character  set standards and encoding methods.

Topics covered in this book include:

 - The Japanese writing system.

 - Japanese character set standards.

 - Japanese encoding methods.

 - Japanese input and output.

 - Japanese code conversion technique.

 - Japanese code and text processing tools.

 - Sending and receiving Japanese email.

In addition, there are 15 appendixes which provide additional  reference material, such as a code conversion table, character set  tables, mapping tables, an extensive list of software sources, and a  glossary.

Author Ken R. Lunde joined Adobe Systems Incorporated in 1991  and is currently the project manager for Japanese Font Production.  He  has Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in linguistics from the  University of Wisconsin-Madison.  He is a Ph.D candidate at the university with an area of specialization in Japanese linguistics.  He maintains the online document entitled "JAPAN.INF" on the Internet.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

This and other O'Reilly products are available in the Americas and Japan through bookstores, or directly from the publisher. Access our gopher catalog by "telnet gopher.ora.com" (log in as "gopher"). To contact us: telephone 707-829-0515 (800-998-9938 in US & Canada); FAX 707-829-0104; email order@ora.com; or write O'Reilly & Associates, 103A Morris St., Sebastopol, CA, 95472, USA.  GSA # GS-02F-6095A.

Our international distributors are:

*  Europe (except German-speaking countries), Middle East, and Africa through International Thomson Publishing, Berkshire House, 168-173 High Holborn, London WC1V 7AA, UK.  Telephone 44-71-497-1422; FAX 44-71-497-1426; or email samantha.jones@itpuk.co.uk

*  German-speaking countries through International Thomson Publishing, Konigswinterer Strasse 418, 53227 Bonn, Germany. Telephone 49-228-445171; FAX 49-228-441342; or email 100272.2422@compuserve.com

*  Asia through International Thomson Publishing, 221 Henderson Rd., #05-10 Henderson Building, Singapore 0315. Telephone 65-272-6496; FAX 65-272-6498

* Australia and New Zealand through WoodsLane, Unit 8, 101 Darley Street, Mona Vale, NSW 2103, Australia.  Telephone 61-2-979-5944; FAX 61-2-997-3348; or email woods@tmx.mhs.oz.au

O'Reilly & Associates

103A Morris Street, Sebastopol CA 95472

707-829-0515, Fax 707-829-0104


Bit Jugglers Ships UnderWare Mac Screen Saver
BIT JUGGLERS SHIPS UNDERWARE

The fun of a screen saver while you work.

Mountain View, California, September 17, 1993 - Bit Jugglers, Inc. today announced the first shipments of UnderWare, a new Macintosh software product that combines traditional screen-saving capabilities with desktop animation and desktop pattern customization.

"And I thought I'd seen everything that could be done to make a Macintosh more fun. Once again Macintosh is the computer to smile for," said Guy Kawasaki, Macintosh pundit and Bit Jugglers board member.

UnderWare provides three modes:

1) Dynamic Desktop. This mode runs UnderWare's animated modules and After Dark modules on the Macintosh desktop. The difference between UnderWare's Dynamic Desktop and traditional screen savers is that UnderWare runs while the computer is being used-under your windows and icons-while products like After Dark only run when a computer is asleep. Thus, with UnderWare it is possible for users to see Flying Toasters running on their desktop.

2) Screen Saver. This mode runs UnderWare and After Dark modules as conventional screen savers. Screen saver modules run on top of the screen, blanking out layers underneath and preventing screen burn in. UnderWare adds more to the conventional screen saver: animation that interacts with your Macintosh environment. UnderWare knows the location of icons and windows on the desktop, so animation can include scenes like a fire-breathing dragon melting your trash can, footballs bouncing off your icons, and folders standing up and walking off your screen.

3) Desktop Pattern. Marble, oak paneling, water drops and barn siding are just a few of the custom desktop patterns users can choose from with UnderWare. Users can choose from a wide assortment of included patterns, or add their own patterns to UnderWare.

UnderWare includes over twenty five professionally designed animation modules including:

-Dinosaurs walking through a prehistoric landscape

-Files, folders, and icons sprouting legs and running off

 the screen

-A robber burrowing into your Macintosh and stealing microchips

-Butterflies flying across your desktop

-A congenial fire breathing dragon melting your trash can

-A San Francisco cityscape with moving trolley cars and people

-A Yosemite Valley scene with flowing waterfalls and floating

 clouds

-Footballs, basketballs and more bouncing in three dimensional

 space

-Icons rocketing into orbit

-Rubber chickens flying in formation

UnderWare provides a user-configurable System Activity Monitor that checks to see if your Macintosh is busy with background activities such as network access or print jobs. This prevents module animation from interfering with your work. UnderWare is a control panel device. It requires at least a 68020 Macintosh, 4 MB of RAM and System 7.

The suggested retail price of UnderWare is $59.95.

Bit Jugglers, Inc. is headquartered at 785 Castro St, Suite C, Mountain View, CA 94041. The phone number is 415-968-3908 and the fax number is 415-968-5358.


All Thumbs Guide to Home Computers
Do-It-Yourselfers Can Keep Their Home Computers Running Trouble-Free

"... aimed directly at fumble-fingered do-it-yourselfers .... straightforward and nontechnical, with large, blown-up drawings . . ."       --U.S. News & World Report, on the All Thumbs series

BLUE RIDGE SUMMIT, PA--Due to the price and relative novelty of home computers, most computer users are afraid to go poking around under the hoods of their PCs. Truth is, because it's made up mostly of preassembled parts, a computer is really one of the easiest pieces of electronic equipment to service and repair.

In the All Thumbs Guide to Home Computers, Gene B. Williams unlocks the secrets of the personal computer for home users with little or no technical experience. Williams reveals the surprising simplicity of today's PCs, first by describing their basic design and operation, then by giving readers the initial nudge they need to remove their computer's case and look inside.

With this money-saving handbook at your side, you CAN:

Safely remove the cabinet of your computer Master basic troubleshooting and repair techniques Clean your equipment Use a VOM to test cables and connectors Optimize the performance of your disk drive Fix simple problems with your monitor Change printer ribbons or ink cartridges

Features a convenient lay-flat binding About the Author:

Gene B. Williams is the bestselling author of more than 20 popular how-to books for the home handyman.

All Thumbs Guide to Home Computers

Williams

Order No. 4417

Available: August 1993

Paper $9.95 ISBN 0-8306-4436-9

144 pp., 199 illus., 7 x 10

TAB Books, Blue Ridge Summit, PA 17294-0850

1-800-233-1128,  FAX 717-794-2103


Kodak Script Lang for Photo CD Portfolio Discs
KODAK WILL PUBLISH SCRIPT LANGUAGE FOR CREATING PHOTO CD PORTFOLIO DISCS

WIESBADEN, Germany, Sept. 22--Eastman Kodak Company plans to publish the Kodak Photo CD Portfolio description language, allowing developers to incorporate Photo CD Portfolio authoring capability in their applications at no charge.

Kodak described the announcement as a first step in its comprehensive strategy to enable users to author Photo CD Portfolio discs. The company said it expects to provide more details about the strategy next month at the Seybold San Francisco conference.

Visitors to the Kodak exhibit here at Intermedia Europe (booth 9209) will see technology demonstrations of two software applications that output the script for authoring Kodak Photo CD Portfolio discs, a format designed for interactive CD-ROM publishing. Once the Kodak software is developed as a product, the company said, it will make the Photo CD Portfolio script language available to software developers free of charge.

Strategy Overview

Kodak's strategy is designed to allow the broadest possible range of users to author Photo CD Portfolio discs--just as almost any computer user with a compatible CD-ROM drive now can read and display Photo CD images, using Kodak software or Photo CD-enabled products from other companies.

The Photo CD Portfolio authoring strategy parallels the way in which Kodak enabled authoring of the original Kodak Photo CD Master disc format. It recognizes the distinction between the creation of disc content, and the production of discs themselves.

Anyone can create the content for Photo CD Master discs, using standard 35 mm film and cameras. To enable production of discs, the company developed the Kodak Photo CD imaging workstations (PIWs). Once This authoring technology was fully developed, Kodak worked to provide it to the broadest possible range of customers. The company has offered licenses to other photographic companies, and a number of those companies--including Fuji, Agfa, Konica, and Polaroid--have endorsed Photo CD as a digital imaging standard.

The Kodak Photo CD Portfolio disc, designed to serve as a CD-ROM publishing medium, broadens the applications for the Photo CD format. Users will create custom Photo CD Portfolio discs that combine images with text, graphics and sound. A programmed access or "branching" capability built into the format enables users to create discs that are interactive. Photo CD Portfolio discs can be played back on TV using Photo CD or CD-I players, or on computers with compatible CD-ROM drives and software.

Portfolio Disc Creation

For creating Portfolio discs, Kodak plans to introduce two software packages. One product offers a broad range of options for designing individual frames, with simple disc-layout capabilities. This product would be targeted at desktop computer users who want to create their own presentations; it could be used to output slides, transparencies, or other presentation formats in addition to the script language needed to produce Portfolio discs.

The second software product would provide limited frame design options, and very sophisticated disc layout options. It would be targeted at multimedia publishers, service bureaus and others who specialize in producing disc presentations; its output would be the Kodak Photo CD Portfolio description language.

Once these products are fully developed, Kodak plans to publish the Photo CD Portfolio description language. Kodak will not charge for the description language. As a result, any developer would be able to incorporate Photo CD Portfolio authoring capability--the ability to output Photo CD Portfolio script-- into their applications. Kodak anticipates that a wide range of software makers will take advantage of this opportunity.

Portfolio Disc Production

After the Photo CD Portfolio script language has been written, additional software will be needed to write the discs themselves. Kodak first will perfect the technology with its own software product, to ensure quality and consistency. Kodak plans to license this software for producing Photo CD Portfolio discs.

Kodak's strategy for authoring Photo CD Portfolio discs is in line with the goals of the Photo CD program as a whole: To provide Photo CD technology to the broadest possible range of customers.

Eastman Kodak Company, 343 State St, Rochester, NY 14650


E Ware Ships eNote V2.0 Messaging Software
E Ware Ships eNote Version 2.0

New York, New York, August 15, 1993 - E Ware, a division of Visual Cybernetics Corporation, announced shipment of eNote Version 2.0. eNote is an instantaneous messaging software product for Windows 3.1. The software delivers messages directly to the screen instead of the mailbox, where electronic mail messages typically go unnoticed.

New features of eNote Version 2.0 include groupware functionality, drag and drop operations, folders, a spell checker, context searching, DDE support and a remote version. With new support for Novell's MHS, users are able to talk directly to many MHS packages, such as DaVinci Systems Corp.'s eMAlL, cc:Mail, and Microsoft Mail. eNote's MHS support lets users send messages directly to any Compuserve, Internet, MCI Mail, SprintMail, AT&T Easylink or X.400 address. eNote also supports multimedia sound by allowing users to add wave file recordings to their written notes.

"eNote Version 2.0 is a greatly improved version of the original product that was first introduced a year ago," said Joseph T. DiMauro, President and CEO. "The product has maintained its intuitive ease of use and stick-on-note look and feel, while adding essential features."

Unlike other E-mail products, eNote delivers mail directly to the screen in a true "pop-up" fashion, instead of the mailbox. Users no longer have to leave their Windows applications in which they are working to begin the E-mail session. Work and communications functions are one and the same with eNote versus standard E-mail products where these are separate functions.

eNote performs all functions from a slim floating control panel with simple drag and drop actions. It becomes a natural part of the desktop work environment because the control panel can be dragged and positioned unobtrusively on top of any active Windows application, The user simply writes an eNote message, then drags the eNote over the icon representing the recipient(s) and clicks the mouse button. eNote sends the message, which pops up directly on the recipients screen. eNotes can be received and saved in folders and searched for as needed by the user. eNote takes only minutes to install on any personal computer on the network and does not require a dedicated file server, native MHS support is built-in, allowing eNote to interface with any E-mail standard.

eNote enhances workgroup performance by simplifying communications. Customers like Ken Loveall, Director of Information Services for Clark County, British Columbia found people more willing to use eNote, Ult has the most intuitive interface of any E-mail product that I've seen," said Loveall, who is running approximately 150 users on eNote. "Our employees refused to use the previous E-mail products we had purchased."

eNote Version 2.0 is available for $399.00 for the 5 user package, $999.00 for the 20 user package, $1,999.00 for the so user package, and $3,199.00 for the 100 user package. A Single user Remote Version package cost $169.00 each. Site licenses are also available. All prices are U.S. retail.

eNote is developed and supported through the E Ware division of Visual Cybernetics. The E Ware division develops and markets products in the emerging workgroup computing and multimedia marketplaces. The parent company, Visual Cybernetics, produces sophisticated technology products for advanced medical imaging and laboratory applications. Visual Cybernetics has been publicly held since 1992.

E Ware

145 West 28th St, 12th Floor, New York, NY 10001-6114

212-564-7791,  800-743-8645,  fax 212-564-7499


European Software Sales Reach $413 Million
European Software Sales Reach $413 million in Second Quarter 1993

Windows Applications Account for 72% of Reported Sales

September 22, 1993 (Washington, DC) - The Software Publishers Association (SPA) announced today that North American software firms' revenues in Western Europe were $413 million in the second quarter of 1993, a 10% increase in revenues with a 55% growth in units compared with the second quarter 1992. Total sales for the first half were $896 million, up 15% from the first half of 1992.

Forty-one primarily US-based software firms participated in the SPA's data program by submitting confidential data to the accounting firm of Arthur Andersen, which prepared the report for the SPA. Among the participants are: Aldus, Borland, Claris, Lotus, Microsoft, Software Publishing, Symantec, and WordPerfect. The data was collected in 22 software categories (including word processors, spreadsheets, presentation graphics, and others) and in six software formats (including DOS, Macintosh, and Windows).

The participating companies reported total sales in Western Europe of $413.1 million in the second quarter of 1993. Sales of Windows-based products grew 47% compared with the second quarter of 1992, reaching $297.0 million in the '93 quarter. Windows products now account for 72% of participating publishers' sales in Europe. Sales of DOS-based applications declined 43% compared with the second quarter of 1992, with sales of $75.2 million in the second quarter 1993. Sales of Macintosh-based applications declined 1% to $34.3 million.

Growth rates varied widely among the regions in which the SPA collects data (See table below). The Germany/Austria region remained the largest, with sales of $117.0 million. Sales growth slowed considerably in the region in the second quarter, rising only 3% compared with the 56% growth rate of the first quarter. The United Kingdom/Ireland region next largest, with sales of $98.7 million (up 8%), while France was third, on sales of $70.4 million (up 9%).

Software Sales In US Dollars

                    2Q93 Sales of

                    Participating      Growth 2Q92

                  Firms (Millions)       to 2Q93

Benelux                $ 30.2              (8%)

France                   70.4               9%

Germany/Austria         117.0               3%

Italy                    36.6             169%

Nordic                   14.9             (30%)

Spain/Portugal           13.0              39%

Sweden                   15.9              33%

Switzerland              16.3              (5%)

UK/Ireland               98.7               8%

Total 2Q93 Sales of    $413.1              10%

* Nordic region includes Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Norway

"The figure that stands out in contrast from all the others is the sales growth in the Italian market," said Gerard Gabella, Managing Director of SPA Europe. "In the second quarter, the industry started to see the fruits of the Italian government's actions against VAT avoiders, including software pirates. Italy has historically had one the highest rates of piracy among Western countries. We hope that the Italian government's actions will continue to reduce the acceptance and pervasiveness of piracy in Italy, to the benefit of the software industry and software users."

Word processing was once again the largest category of software sold, with sales of $119 million for the quarter, a 1% increase over the 1992 quarter. Spreadsheets was the next largest category, with sales of $114 million, up 6%. Relational database sales remained very strong for the quarter, with sales up 71% to $36 million.

Established in 1984, the Software Publishers Association is the principal trade association of the PC software industry. Its over 1,000 members represent the leading publishers in the business, consumer, and education markets. The SPA has offices in Washington, DC, and Paris, France.

Software Publishers Association

1730 M St, Northwest, Suite 700, Washington, D.C. 20036

202-452-1600,  Fax: 202-223-8756


New PCMCIA IEEE-488 GPIB Interface for Laptops
New PCMCIA Interface Kit Connects Laptop PCs to GPIB Instruments

September 16, 1993 -- Austin, TX - National Instruments announced today a low-cost, high-performance IEEE 488 interface for the PCMCIA bus. The PCMCIA-GPIB interface kit includes a PCMCIA-GPIB plug-in board, the company's NI-488.2 for DOS and Windows software, and a 2 m custom cable terminated with a standard GPIB connector. A laptop PC equipped with the PCMCIA-GPIB interface kit is a completely portable, high-performance IEEE 488 Controller used for numerous applications in laboratory automation and automated testing.

About the PCMCIA-GPIB Board

The PCMCIA-GPIB, a Type II PCMCIA board compliant with PCMCIA Version 2.01, is compatible with Card Services 2.0 and Socket Services 2.0. You can use the PCMCIA-GPIB with I/O-mapped and memory-mapped addressing and 8 or 16-bit data transfers to the PCMCIA bus. The NI-488.2 driver autoconfigures the base address and interrupt level upon "hot insertion" of the board into the PC, so users do not have to configure jumpers or dip-switches.

The PCMCIA-GPIB uses the company's TNT4882C Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) for maximum performance specified by IEEE 488.2. The TNT4882C chip performs the basic IEEE 488 Talker, Listener, and Controller functions and those functions required by IEEE 488.2.

About NI-488.2

The PCMCIA-GPIB includes the National Instruments NI-488.2 software for MS-DOS and Windows. NI-488.2 is an enhanced version of the company's NI-488X GPIB driver software that is completely IEEE 488.2 compatible. NI-488.2 has high-level functions that transparently handle GPIB protocol and buffered DMA transfers as well as low-level functions for maximum flexibility and configurability. NI-488.2 software is compatible with existing NI-488 application programs and automatically handles GPIB protocols. The NI-488.2 software is portable across many computer platforms and operating systems.

Pricing and Availability

The PCMCIA-GPIB kit is available now for $595. For more information, contact National Instruments, 6504 Bridge Point Parkway, Austin, TX 78730-5039, (512) 794-0100. Or call toll free in the U.S. and Canada at (800) 433-3488. Fax: (512) 794-8411.


External Parallel-to-IEEE 488.2 Controller
New External Controller Links Laptop PCs to GPIB Instruments

September 16,1993 -- Austin, TX - National Instruments announced today a bidirectional parallel-to-IEEE 488.2 controller that can monitor and control up to 14 GPIB devices from the parallel port of computers with few or no plug-in slots, such as notebook computers. Engineers and scientists can combine the National Instruments GPIB-1284CT with PCs in numerous instrumentation applications requiring high data transfer rates, including laboratory and production testing.

The GPIB-1284CT requires virtually no desktop space, and uses the company's recently announced TNT4882C GPIB chip to perform the basic Talker, Listener, and Controller functions required by the most recent GPIB standard (IEEE 488.2) with data transfer rates up to 1 Mbytes/s for both read and write operations. The GPIB-1284CT connects to the standard ISA unidirectional parallel port, IBM PS/2 type bidirectional parallel port, Intel Enhanced Parallel Port (EPP), or Enhanced Capabilities Port (ECP) on a PC. The EPP is a feature of the Intel 386SL chipset that is designed and used primarily in laptop and notebook computers, and can achieve data transfer rates up to 1.5 Mbytes/s. The ECP is a bidirectional parallel port specification developed by Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard that can achieve data transfers up to 2 Mbytes/s using DMA.

The GPIB-1284CT parallel port is completely compatible with IEEE P1284, Standard Signaling Method for a Bi-directional Parallel Peripheral Interface for Personal Computers, which also defines EPP and ECP. The GPIB-1284CT uses an internal switching power supply or optional DC power input.

The GPIB-1284CT has an additional parallel port for transparent data transfers to a printer. In this mode, all parallel port activity from the computer transmits directly to the printer parallel port. The GPIB-1284CT powers up in unidirectional parallel mode and all computer parallel port activity transparently transfers to the printer parallel port. Users can select all hardware options in software instead of using physical configuration switches.

Driver Software

The GPIB-1284CT includes the National Instruments NI-488.2 software for DOS and Windows. NI-488.2 is an enhanced version of the company's NI-488.2 GPIB driver software that is completely IEEE 488.2 compatible. NI-488.2 has high-level functions that transparently handle GPIB protocol and buffered DMA transfers as well as low-level functions for maximum flexibility and configurability. The NI-488.2 software is portable across many computer platforms and operating systems.

Pricing and Availability

The GPIB-1284CT will be available in September for $595. For more information, contact National Instruments, 6504 Bridge Point Parkway, Austin, TX 78730-5039, (512) 794-0100. Or call toll free in the U.S. and Canada at (800) 433-3488. Fax: (512) 794-8411.


Instrument Drivers for Wiltron Microwave Prods
New Instrument Drivers for Wiltron Company's Microwave Product Line Now Available for LabWindows

August 23,1993 -- Morgan Hill, CA - Wiltron Company and National Instruments (Austin, TX) today announced a series of microwave instrument drivers for the National Instruments DOS-based LabWindows software development system. Wiltron is a member of the National Instruments Instrument Library Developer Program (ILDP).

The LabWindows instrument Drivers provide function panel interfaces that automatically generate correct instrument command codes and syntax into C or BASIC source code for the following microwave instruments from Wiltron:

- 360B Vector Network Analyzer

- 6700B Series Swept Frequency Synthesizers

- 68100A Series Synthesized Sweep Generators

- 5400A Series Scalar Network Analyzer

- 562 Scalar Network Analyzer

The instrument Drivers accelerate ATE system development through the open system approach, reduced learning curves, and built-in driver debugging tools of LabWindows. Each instrument driver incorporates all major instrument features and is accompanied by complete documentation.

About Wiltron Company

Wiltron Company designs, manufactures, and markets test and measurement systems and digital transmission devices for the communications industry. Founded in 1960, Wiltron has manufacturing facilities in Morgan Hill, CA and Stevenage, UK.

About National Instruments

National Instruments manufactures software and hardware that scientists and engineers use with PCs and workstations to build custom instrumentation systems. Research and industrial applications of its LabVIEW and LabWindows software and data acquisition and instrument interface hardware include automated testing, laboratory automation, process monitoring and control, manufacturing/factory automation, and physiological monitoring.

Pricing, Availability, and for More Information

The LabWindows series of microwave instrument drivers is available now from Wiltron Company. Pricing for the drivers ranges from $700-$1,795. For more information about the drivers, please contact Wiltron Company at 490 Jarvis Dr., Morgan Hill, CA 95037, (408) 778-2000, fax: (408) 778-0239.

LabWindows for DOS is available now from National Instruments for $1,495. For more information about LabWindows, please contact National Instruments at 6504 Bridge Point Parkway, Austin, TX 78730-5039, (512) 794-0100, fax: (512) 794-8411. Call toll free in the U.S. and Canada at (800) 433-3488.


Fractal Sideshow Screensaver
Spectacular Fractal Screensaver

Deep River Publishing Releases Fractal Sideshow

PORTLAND, Maine -- September 20, 1993 -- Fractal Sideshow now gives computer users their best excuse to take a breather, break out the nachos, and let their Windows screensaver take center stage as the main event. Loaded with dazzling and colorful fractal images, Deep River's latest release Fractal Sideshow provides an idle computer with constantly changing colors and images that flow across the screen. With over a thousand images in all, Fractal Sideshow can entertain for weeks and still display new patterns.

Fractal Sideshow comes with a wide array of original fractal images, and a variety of color palettes which, displayed on a 256-color PC, produce spectacular scenes with continuously unfolding variety. Brilliant rainbows, exotic metallic hues and soft pastels swirl before you.

Registered Fractal Sideshow users may also purchase Fractal Sideshow Add-on Images and double their selection of images. In addition, Fractal Sideshow works with Deep River's new multimedia CD-ROM, Fractal Ecstasy, to produce over one hundred thousand full-screen designs

Easy to install and Windows based, Fractal Sideshow is as simple to use as "ready, set, go" and does not require a CD-ROM drive. Once installed, Sideshow is activated in exactly the same manner as stock Windows screensavers, through the 'Control Panel' and 'Desktop' windows in Program Manager. But the similarity stops there, Fractal Sideshow's fractal images have been compared to swirling galaxies, flowing tie-dyed patterns and exotic electronic Salvador Dali-esque images.

What are fractals?

The term 'fractal' refers to a graphical image produced by running a set of mathematical equations over and over again. The result is a complex, beautiful pattern which maintains its complexity even when magnified millions of times. The grand-daddy of them all is the Mandelbrot set (named after IBM scientist Benoit Mandelbrot), a fractal pattern which produces endless exotic designs. Fractal Sideshow includes Mandelbrot images as well as many other original fractal designs

Deep River Titles

Floppy titles

Fractal Sideshow: (two 3. 5" diskettes) ................ $24.95

Fractal Sideshow Add-on Images: (two 3.5" diskettes) ...  $9.95

System requirements: IBM or compatible PC, Microsoft Windows 3.1, 256-color display recommended. Generous helping of nachos.

CD-ROM titles

Fractal Ecstasy: .......................................  $49.95

Adventures: ............................................  $49.95

Complete House: ........................................  $39.95

System Requirements: IBM or compatible PC with Windows 3.1, 12 MHz 80386 or better, 2MB RAM required (4 MB RAM recommended), DOS 3.1 or later, 30 MB Hard Drive, SVGA display, MPC-compatible CD-ROM drive, audio board and mouse, Microsoft CD-ROM Extensions 2.2 or later.

Deep River Publishing is a multimedia publishing company located in Portland, Maine. The company was established to develop multimedia software products on CD-ROM optical disks. The firm will publish CD-ROM titles with a focus on education/entertainment topics that have strong consumer appeal and are useful, educational and fun at the same time.

Deep River Publishing

PO Box 9715-975, Portland, ME 04104

207-871-1684,  800-643-5630,  fax 207-871-1683


Adventures: Multimedia Worldwide Travel
ADVENTURES

A complete multimedia resource for worldwide adventure travel experiences

From sea kayaking in Hawaii to eco-tours of the Amazon to cooking school in Thailand, Deep River Publishing's newest CD-ROM, Adventures, has it all. Adventures is a colorful and complete exploration of adventure vacations and unusual travel experience throughout the world. Adventures is filled with video, full color photographs, audio and text covering a wide range of interesting opportunities to explore, learn and experience all kinds of adventures.

Adventures offers more than a thousand tours, treks, schools, cultural programs and unusual events. Hike in the Himalayas, bicycle through France, watch polar bears in Manitoba, raft in New Zealand or work for Habitat for Humanity in South America.

As an interactive travel resource, Adventures is much more than a book, videotape or slide show. You can search Adventures by type of activity, such as whitewater rafting, camel treks or music festivals. You can search by country or state to find adventure opportunities in places like Madagascar, Costa Rica, Maine or Alaska. You can search by time of year, tour organizer, level of difficulty, appropriateness for children, or any combination of these categories. For example, where can I go horseback riding in April with my children?

Each search generates a list of travel selections. Simply choose the specific activities you wish to review in-depth or browse through the list in sequence. Clicks of the mouse let you view full color photos or motion video segments. Click again for an indepth written description or to bring up tour information, costs and discounts, degree of difficulty, suitability for children, phone numbers and how to make arrangements.

Adventures focuses on more than just rugged sports like ice climbing in the Alps or hang-gliding in California. There are numerous listings and illustrations of garden and gourmet tours, language lessons, archaeological digs, cultural programs that study local populations, and children's programs ranging from a magic camp in California to study programs in Yellowstone National Park.

There are leisurely walking tours and courses for senior citizens, rafting journeys and kayak lessons just for women and volunteer vacations where one can build housing for the poor in South America or clear paths for the Sierra Club in the Rockies. There are eco-tours in South America sponsored by Audubon societies and Earthwatch and animal observation tours on almost every continent.

In addition to finding travel tips and descriptions, Adventures gives you a chance to learn about the countries, states or provinces where the adventures take place. You'll find helpful, illustrated writeups of all 50 states, the Canadian provinces and nearly all countries. These entries include the addresses and phone numbers of each country's or state's tourism office, a calendar of its special events and holidays and other travel information.

Adventures, with a list price of $49.95 is one of three multimedia CD-ROMs published by Deep River Publishing of Portland, Maine. The other titles include Complete House, an interactive guide to creating your ideal living space, and Fractal Ecstasy, a dazzling collection of incredible designs, and original, never-before-seen fractal images..

System requirements: IBM, MPC or equivalent Multimedia PC, 2MB RAM required (4 MB RAM recommended), DOS 3.1 or later, Microsoft Windows 3.1, 30 MB Hard Drive, MPC-compatible CD-ROM drive, SVGA display, Audio board and mouse, Microsoft CD-ROM Extensions 2.2 or later

Deep River Publishing

PO Box 9715-975, Portland, ME 04104

207-871-1684,  800-643-5630,  fax 207-871-1683


Fractal Ecstasy Multimedia CD-ROM
FRACTAL ECSTASY

Fractal fly-throughs, incredible designs, original patterns and more

Fractals !

They're amazing. They're beautiful. They're mind-boggling. And now, they're coming alive as never before with FRACTAL ECSTASY, Deep River Publishing's newest multimedia CD-ROM.

FRACTAL ECSTASY contains thousands of astounding, original, never-before-seen fractal images, Video for Windows 'fly-throughs', and a unique fractal creation program, Fractal Creator. FRACTAL ECSTASY is like no graphics product you've ever seen.

What Are Fractals?

The term 'fractal' refers to a graphical image produced by running a set of mathematical equations over and over again. The result is a complex, beautiful pattern which maintains its complexity even when magnified millions of times. The grand-daddy of them all is the Mandelbrot set (named after IBM scientist Benoit Mandelbrot), a fractal pattern that produces endless exotic and colorful designs.

Fractal Movies

FRACTAL ECSTASY has a dazzling variety of fractal fly-throughs using the Microsoft Video for Windows format. These journeys take the viewer through fractal lands that have never been seen before. Yes, we have a generous portion of Mandelbrot set images, but you will also meet the Fiddlehead Curtains, Forever Cauliflower, Spokes-in-Spokes, Strings, Snakes and much more--all in digital motion video. You can stop the movie at any point, store the image parameters, and re-create the image or begin your own exploration with the Fractal Creator.

Fractal Creator

Fractal Creator is a Windows-based fractal generator including the Mandelbrot set, plus many original fractal types, allowing the intrepid explorer to venture where no one has gone before in search of new images. In all, FRACTAL ECSTASY includes more than 30 original fractal generating formulas in addition to Mandelbrot. Each of these offers an unlimited new fractal world to explore. A variety of color tables and palette animations provide endless hours of diversion along the way. You can save images to Windows bitmap files, or output the image parameters for easy revisiting at a later time.

Incredible Stills

FRACTAL ECSTASY has hundreds of fullscreen, full-color stills that will make a stunning addition to your documents, publications or next quarterly report. As with the movies and fractal generator, these include Mandelbrot images and dozens of original fractal creations. These stills can be imported into most Windows-based graphics and presentation packages, or printed out for office wallpaper.

FRACTAL ECSTASY, with a list price of $49.95 is one of three multimedia CD-ROMs published by Deep River Publishing of Portland, Maine. The other titles include Complete House, an interactive guide to creating your ideal living space, and Adventures, a complete multimedia resource for worldwide adventure travel experiences. More CDROM titles are planned for release in the coming months.

System requirements: IBM, MPC or equivalent Multimedia PC, 2MB RAM required (4 MB RAM recommended), DOS 3.1 or later, Microsoft Windows 3.1, 30 MB Hard Drive, MPC-compatible CD-ROM drive, SVGA display, Audio board and mouse, Microsoft CD-ROM Extensions 2.2 or later

Deep River Publishing

PO Box 9715-975, Portland, ME 04104

207-871-1684,  800-643-5630,  fax 207-871-1683


BANCO Catering Software

Banco Catering Software brings all of the advantages of an electronic information system to caterers. Banco was designed from the ground up to meet the demands placed on caterers. It provides an unparalleled degree of flexibility in a straight forward and easy to use package.

Banco relieves caterers of most of the paperwork involved in selling and delivering quality events. At the front-end, the software provides a simple mechanism for preparing quotes and recording all event details. Quotes, cover letters, and contracts are easily printed. With our Banco/ FAX option, quotes and contracts can be in a customer's hands within minutes. Changes are easily made. The software instantly re-calculates the price per person, taxes, gratuities, total, and cost.

Every detail concerning an event can be recorded in Banco, right down to the quantity and types of flatware. With this information stored in the computer, it can be quickly called up at any time. There is no need to go searching for a particular piece of paper. When a customer calls with a question or change, all information concerning their event is at your fingertips.

Producing work orders, set-up notes, and event calendars is simply a matter of telling Banco to print the reports. You can even have Banco produce work orders tailored to specific departments, i.e. a work order for the set-up crew will only show their set up instructions.

Recording deposits and issuing invoices is also a snap, its all handled by Banco. And, since the software handles the tax and gratuity calculations, you don't have to worry about math errors.

Sales and profitability reports are available any time, for any period. If you want a projection of your booked sales next month, just ask Banco. If you need to compare last months sales with a year earlier, just ask Banco. With Banco in place, you no longer have to spend hours tallying sales and cost figures, the computer does the work.

SALES

Capitalize On Sales Opportunities

o Sending Christmas party and other reminder letters keeps your name in front of prospects. Banco can print customized letters and mailing labels for any group of clients.

o Event calendars and projected sales reports can be used to identify slow periods well in advance. These are prime opportunities to increase marketing efforts.

Concentrate On Salesmanship

o Banco does the clerical work involved in developing quotes, so that you can spend more time on the sales effort. And, with on-screen displays of profitability, you can work out the benefits of different options in less time than it currently takes you to prepare a single scenario.

O If you promise to call a customer next week, just put a note on their quote or contract. Banco will remind you to call them on the date you promised.

React Quickly To Market Demands

o Lost Business Graphs show you how much business has been quoted but not booked. This type of information lets you identify and quantify the reasons why prospects didn't book with you.

o Responding to the competition is facilitated by Banco's flexibility. If you decide to offer discounts, Banco can handle it. If you need to adjust pricing, Banco makes it a simple job. If you want to include complimentary items, Banco lets you do so easily.

CONTROL

Costs

o Tracking costs related to an event is a simple matter in Banco. The software keeps track of all costs, including out-side services. You can even assign theoretical costs to such items as equipment and rooms.

o The on-screen display of event profitability helps to insure that no event falls outside of your desired margins. It also means that you can be more exact when quoting in highly competitive situations.

O Since Banco can keep full event details on file for as long as you want, you can monitor profitability over any period of time. This monitoring can be done on an event by event basis or summarized by day.

Increase Awareness Of Your Operation

o Banco has an extensive selection of reports which let you examine various aspects of your operation in detail or summary. If you just need the big picture, Banco's sales graphs and lost business graphs can give it to you. If you need to know the profitability of sales generated by different people, Banco can also give you that information. If you want to know how many waiters to schedule next Saturday, Banco can help out.

Access To Information

o With all this information in a central and convenient repository, you have to be able to control who has access to it. Banco provides a comprehensive security system which allows you to control each user's access to various parts of the system. For example, you can allow some people to view contracts but not change them.

TIME

Improve Staff Productivity

o Clerical work is virtually eliminated since the software prints cover letters, quotes, contracts, invoices, etc. With Banco doing the paperwork, people can concentrate on more productive endeavors.

o Questions concerning particular events can be handled immediately. When someone needs to know if table numbers have to be placed on the tables, they can use Banco to find out. If you need to know if a deposit has been received, ask Banco.

Improve Management Productivity

o The 'personal desktop' feature in Banco provides everyone with an instantly available appointment calendar and phone book. It also lets people send messages to each other electronically. This feature is available everywhere in Banco, at the touch of a key.

o Banco's Sales & Cost Report Writer lets you quickly extract relevant information from Banco. When you want to know the percentage of your sales which were weddings, Banco can provide that information. If you need a list of all the functions booked by a particular client in the last year, Banco can give it to you in seconds. All this adds up to less time spent gathering data and more time making use of it.

PROFESSIONALISM

Project A Thoughtful And Caring Attitude

o Banco can automatically generate thank you and wedding anniversary letters. These little touches which take a lot of time when done manually, show your customers that you care about their business.

o Customers can have written quotations in their hands within minutes. Not only is this less work for you, it also gets you in ahead of the competition. When a change is requested, you can immediately deliver a neatly printed revised quote.

Look After Every Detail

o Check lists insure that no event detail is forgotten. Banco lets you develop as many different check lists as you need.

o Recording every event detail in Banco insures that they are never forgotten. Banco's detailed work orders make sure that each department has a complete list of the items for which they are responsible.

Be Pro-Active Rather Than Reactive

o Calendars and event summaries keep you informed of all pending events. Production reports assist with purchasing and production planning. Historical and projected profitability reports enable closer monitoring of performance. With all this information at your fingertips, you can effortlessly stay informed about all aspects of your operation. Potential problems can be identified and dealt with ahead of time.

Avoid Misunderstandings

o Clearly printed, detailed contracts help to avoid misunderstandings. Your clients can be given a contract with the level of detail that you deem appropriate. Its your choice. Event details can be selectively included in customer copies of quotes and contracts.

o Clearly printed work orders assist staff in preparing for each event. And, since all relevant details are neatly printed on each work order, there is less chance of details being overlooked.

VALUE

Automate Mundane, Repetitive Tasks

o Printing quotes, contracts, cover letters, and invoices; calculating extensions, taxes, and gratuities; tracking deposits and accounts receivables; are all handled by Banco.

Provide Potential For Growth

o The productivity enhancements offered by Banco allow you to handle more business without significant increases in staff.

o Customer and event 'type' tracking can be used to identify profitable market segments. Customer 'source' tracking helps to quantify the effectiveness of your advertising expenditures.

o Banco is able to handle all sizes of caterers, with equal ease. As your operation grows, Banco will be able to handle the additional work. And, since the software is available for a large variety of computer types, you can easily move your Banco system to more powerful computer equipment.

Dependability

o Banco is a mature, dependable package which is being used daily by many different types of caterers. If you are a restaurant, hotel, university, banquet hall, club, or social caterer, you can control Banco to do its job.

o Banco is backed up by knowledgeable support staff, Qualified Installers, and Qualified Trainers. In addition to the support and training offered by your Authorized Banco Reseller, our annual maintenance option provides for unlimited telephone and modem support direct from Roberts Browne Limited.

o The software's 'audit trails' and 'time stamps' assist in tracking all activity in the system. If Banco's data becomes corrupted because of an equipment malfunction, the software's built in integrity checking and repair facilities can often correct the problem without resorting to a backup.

Peace of Mind

o With Banco 'to do' lists keeping track of the important things that must be done each day, with Banco remembering every detail of all booked events, and with Banco providing quantitative measures of your operations performance, you can concentrate on other aspects of your business.

Required Hardware

Banco operates on a variety of popular computers. The software is available for a number of different operating systems, including MS-DOS, Windows, and UNIX. Multi-user versions are available for most popular local area networks, including: NOVELL, LANtastic, and other NETBIOS compatible LANs.

Most printers can be used with the software. A laser printer is recommended for generating high quality letters, quotes, contracts and invoices.

Specific equipment requirements are available from your Authorized Banco Reseller or direct from Roberts Browne Limited.

Roberts Browne Limited

1552 Bayview Ave, Toronto, Ontario M4G 3B6 CANADA

416-481-5388,  fax 416-486-0047


Fall Products from Legend Entertainment
Fall Products from Legend Entertainment....

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Companions of Xanth

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Release Date     November 1993

MSRP             $59.95

UPC Code/SKU's   High Density 3.5"

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Stay tuned for a powerful combination: a strong license, compelling storyline, and technical Innovation!

* Based on Demons Don't Dream by Piers Anthony - the latest book in the phenomenally successful series of Xanth novels. Over 65,000 copies shipped in hard cover!

* Featured on the July cover of Computer Gaming World

* FREE paperback edition of Demons Don't Dream included.

* A state-of-the art graphic adventure featuring an all-new point-and-click interface, no hassle command input and other unique features. Computer Entertainment News says, "the best of the old style with a more graphically active environment giving gamers the best of everything."

Critical acclaim for Companions of Xanth...

"A spanking new Interface that preserves the rich, Interactive quality of Legend adventures while being faster, easier, and more Intuitive to use." --PC Entertainment

"A graphic adventure in the true sense of the word, however this doesn't begin to tell the story." -Computer Gaming World

"Legend in-packs Xanth novel as unique value-added premium...the book is otherwise unavailable." --Computer Entertainment News

Explore Piers Anthony's magical world of mythic wonders and become a player in a game where the stakes are the existence of magic itself. Interact with Eives, Ogres, Demons, Centaurs a serpentine Naga princess, and the deadly Gap Dragon. The first Xanth computergame! Escape the confines of the printed page and experience all the magic, puns and humor that have made Xanth a worldwide favorite.

Technical Information:

Platform : MS-DOS

Required : Hard disk, 640K RAM

Graphics : 256 color VGA, VESA compatible Super VGA

Sound : Roland MT-32 with MPU-401 compatible interface,

        Sound Blaster, AdLib, Realsound

Mouse : Microsoft compatible mouse required

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Spellcasting Party Pak

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Release Date        November 1993

SKU/MSRP/UPC        High Density 3.50"  $59.95

                    CD-ROM              $49.95

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The Ultimate Holiday Gift! The Complete Spellcasting series In one box!

* Each game in the Spellcasting series has been a best-seller. Computer Gaming World says, "You are in the hands of a master"

* Attractive price point makes this purchase an excellent "impulse buy" for the holiday season

* Three great games, all in one box

Quest Busters says... "Certainly Steve Meretzky's finest set of games"

From the scandalous imagination of Steve Meretzky, these tales of high education and low morals have delighted legions of fans. All three hit games feature the academic adventures of our favorite nerd, Ernie Eaglebeak as he struggles to win the affections of his one true love, Lola Tigerbelly and along the way experience the (ahem) educational opportunities of college life. To pass this course you'll need to cast ridiculous spells, solve ribald puzzles and interact with gorgeous women.

Any questions?

   We didn't think so.

      Class dismissed.

Spellcasting 101: Sorcerers Get All the Girls - Ernie's escapes a life of dragontending and enrolls in Sorcerer University. A Freshman year filled with frat parties and scantily clad co-eds soon turns into a wild surfboard ride through the magical realm of Peloria.

Spellcasting 201: The Sorcerer's Appliance - Ernie is back and wants to pin a fraternity (will it be Tappa Kegga Bru?) Using the mysterious Sorcerer's Appliance, Ernie creates the "Ideal" helpmate and the twosome embark on a hilarious romp through the bedrooms, turrets and tunnels of Sorcerer University and nearby Barmaid U (where grading on a curve takes on a whole new meaning).

Spellcasting 301: SPRING BREAK - Follow the sun and the scent of coconut oil straight to Fort Naughtytail where Ernie parties hardy with his fraternity buddies in this high energy seaside romp. Ernie hopes to find sand in all the wrong places but ends up battling a rival fraternity in a series of zany beach contests.

Technical Information:

Platform : MS-DOS/CD-ROM

Required : Hard disk, 640K RAM

Graphics : 256 color VGA, VESA compatible Super VGA*

Sound : Roland MT-32 with MPU-401 compatible interface,

        Sound Blaster, AdLib, Realsound

Mouse : Microsoft compatible mouse optional

* Spellcasting 101 and 201 display hi res 16- color EGA!

Note: All Spellcasting games can be played in either Naughty or Nice mode.

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Gateway II: HOMEWORLD -- CD-ROM Version

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Release Date    November 1993

MSRP            $59.95 CD ROM

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CD-ROM version features more than 20 minutes of new animation and graphic special effects!

* Enhancements include new extended animation sequences filled with detailed, 3-D modeled and rendered images.

* Gateway II has more of what your customers want: special effects, deep space adventure --even a hint book!

* Recommended by Newsweek in their August 16th summer games review.

* Players will meet the Heechee face to face and hold conversations via new intelligent dialogue system, survive murderous robots, carnivorous dinosaurs and spear-carrying humanoids, escape from a frozen planet where crystalline beings metabolize electricity!

Strategy Plus says... "A heart-pounding race for survival, Gateway II keeps the player in a state of near terror ...A compelling and skillfully crafted science fiction story"

Gateway II, a new graphic adventure based on Frederik Pohl's Hugo and Nebula award-winning Heechee saga, brings you more deep space adventure, more alien encounters, more exotic new worlds and more special effects! Battle a fanatic cult of terrorists and cross the event horizon of a black hole to discover mankind's last remaining hope for survival - the Heechee Homeworld.

Technical Information:

Platform : CD-ROM MS-DOS

Required : Hard disk, 640K RAM

Graphics : 256 color VGA, VESA compatible Super VGA

Sound : Roland MT-32 with MPU-401 compatible interface,

        Sound Blaster, AdLib, Realsound

Mouse : Microsoft compatible mouse recommended

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Products distributed by:

Accolade Inc

5300 Stevens Creek Blvd, San Jose, CA 95129

800-245-7744


PC Packet Station
PKT Electronics would like to introduce you to a new Ham Radio Product, as well as the company that developed it....

The product is a packet radio product that we believe is unique. The company is PKT Electronics, Inc. and we are calling our new product the "PC Packet Station". It is a complete packet radio station containing the software, modem and a 5 watt, 2 channel, vhf, Motorola transceiver on a IBM PC half card. As the entire product is on a IBM half card, it is "plug and play packet" for the IBM PC or compatible. The PC Packet Station is especially for the non technical ham who wants to get on packet radio, but does not want to deal with a soldering iron or cables.

The unique part is that it is all on a IBM PC half card. The PC Packet Station has the vhf antenna connector, earphone jack, squelch adjust and receive level adjust on it's IBM PC bracket. As the radio is on the card and everything is pre-adjusted, you just plug the card in, load the customized BayCom software, enter your Amateur Radio Call into the configuration file and add a vhf antenna (not provided). The PC Packet Station can also be used in any IBM PC (or compatible) portable that has a standard half slot available.

As you know, packet radio has been plagued with problems with the rf emission of the PCs interfering with the radio and the radios interfering with the PCs. Therefore one of the first questions usually is "You can't be serious about putting a radio in a PC?" Well, yes we are, and we have been successful at doing it. Our engineers have many years of experience solving FCC and international compliance problems for large corporations. They have used a number of good rf design techniques, while designing this product. These techniques are very effective for controlling rf problems.

We have set a suggested retail price of $459 for the PC Packet Station. A small number of production units were ready about the first week of February, with production quantities available for the Dayton Hamvention in April. Both the Motorola radio and our board are built in the USA.

PKT Electronics, Inc. will not be selling the PC Packet Station directly to the hams. We will let the ham radio stores do that. (Note: The use of this product requires a No Code Technician class Amateur radio license, or above.)

We are also selling the Motorola radio modules and the Motorola telemetry radios by themselves to those who want to build higher speed packet radio stations, or BBS stations, or use it instead of their ht. The radios are available in vhf or uhf versions. The user will have to handle the tx/rx switching and audio filtering if they want to use the one of the modules. (The units are direct fm.)

PKT Electronics, Inc.

2668 Haverstraw Ave. Dayton, OH 45414

Voice & Fax 513-454-0242

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The PC Packet Station is one of the fastest and easiest ways to get on packet radio for the IBM PC or compatible owner. This is because the "PC Packet Station" has the Motorola radio transceiver module on the card and is pre-adjusted at our factory. You just plug the PC Packet Station into a slot in your PC, load the software and plug your VHF antenna into the bnc connector on the PC Packet Station and you are on the air. It even helps keep your computer area neater, as there are no external boxes to be placed around your computer. Compare the "PC Packet Station" to what you need with other TNCs to have a complete packet station: 1. Radio transceiver; 2. Special cabling; 3. Power supply; 4. Software; 5. Experimentation and a lot of plain hassle to hook up and adjust. And to top off the fast and easy installation, look at how our PC Packet Station compares price wise with the competition's idea of a complete packet station:

Competitions version:

Competitors TNC                  $139.95

New Japanese radio               $409.00

Power supply                     $ 59.95

Software                         $ 44.95

Cables                           $ 24.95

Hassle                             ??.??

           Total                 $678.80

Our Version:

PC Packet Station                $419.00

New Motorola Radio/Included      $000.00

Power Supply - Not needed

Software- Supplied

Cables - Not needed

No Hassle

           Total                 $419.00

A savings of $259.80 and it works better! Both the Motorola transceiver module and our board are built in the USA and have a one year warranty! The suggested retail price of the PC Packet Station is: $419 for a single channel unit and $459 for a dual channel unit. You may purchase your PC Packet Station directly from us or from one of the following fine Amateur Radio dealers:

Universal Radio Inc.         1-800-431-3939

Burqhardt Amateur Center     1-800-927-HAM1

PacComm                      1-800-223-3511

Westlink International       1-800-426-7303

If you have any additional questions please call us and we will answer your questions. We will accept orders direct, if you would prefer to deal direct with us. If you order direct, please send your order by mail with a check attached for the price of the units ordered plus $10 for shipping (USA destinations) and handling. We accept credit cards and credit card checks.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

PC PACKET STATION

The following are answers to some of the questions people are asking about our new product.....

1. Will the increased power demand on the PC's power supply caused by the PC Packet Station hurt my PC?

The PC Packet Station's peak power draw is about the same amount as a tape backup unit. However, when you start looking at the average power, due to the low duty cycle of the transmitter, it is actually a lot less than the tape back up (about 300ma on the 12 volt line when a connect is in process). Therefore power drain is not a problem. Note: that this may be too much for some portables, so check your portables specs before installing.

2. Will the power traces in the PC hold the current that the PC Packet Station draws?

As the power traces heat based on average current, once again there is not a problem.

3. How can the PC Packet Station work in a PC with all the rf noise a PC generates, when my HT will not work when near a PC?

We have placed a rf shield around the Motorola rf module. We are using a material called Flexlam (tm of Acme) made by the Acme Div. of Allied Products. We have also used ferrites and rf bypass capacitors. The Flexlam is rated at approximately 140db of isolation. The ferrites have better than 40db of isolation and we have added additional rf bypass capacitors to increase the filtering. The placement of the filters and capacitors is also very important. The radio when installed on our card is totally shielded and isolated from the computers rf, where a typical HT is unshielded. So even if the antenna is far away from the computer, the HT will still hear the computer through it's unshielded plastic case when it is near a computer.

4. Why is the PC Packet Station better than a standard TNC and radio?

We have optimized the interface between the modem and the radio. The receive filters are packet grade not voice grade. The Motorola radio transceiver was designed for use in data applications, not for voice. The modulation is direct FM rather than phase modulated. The radio has a switch time from xmit to receive of less than 20ms, rather than over 200ms typical of a synthesized radio.

5. Why not more channels?

Most packet users have one favorite BBS that they use and most BBS carry the same Email. So most new users can get by with only one channel. With the high speed backbones you can connect to multiple BBS without changing frequencies. The crystal controlled radios perform better in data / packet radio applications than the current synthesized radios. Note: We no longer require the one channel to be 145.01, we now only suggest it.

6. What is the Warranty period?

One year for both our board and the Motorola transceiver module (return the complete unit to us for service).

7. How do you handle multiple hams in one household on one TNC?

The software can change calls on the command line, for one connection without changing any files. It is perfect for the multiple ham household.

8. Can you change channels from the keyboard?

Yes, you can change channels from the keyboard with our software, but you can only have multiple connections on one channel at a time. There is also a channel switch on the bracket so you can manually change channels in case you want to use other third party software.

9. Is it compatible with other software packages?

It is based on the Baycom software and modem, therefore it should be compatible with other TNC software packages based on the Baycom modem. Once again our hardware will out perform other TNC and radio combinations when using the other software.

10. Can you have connections to multiple stations at the same time?

Yes, and you can even download a file while you are holding a conversation with 6 different stations, all at the same time, but must be on the same channel.

11. Is it compatible with Microsoft Windows?

Yes, but only in Windows Standard mode (win /s). We supply the PIF for you to use.

Other items:

1. The software monitors the channel while you are connected, so you can see what is going on the channel by looking at the monitor window. This is a feature not found on all TNCs.

2. The Motorola modules are capable of higher speed packet, but the PC Packet Station currently only supports 1200 baud. We do carry the Motorola telemetry models for higher speed applications.

3. We are offering a single channel version of the unit, as a lower cost entry station for the new no code technician ham.

4. We will change the crystals on a unit for the cost of the crystals + $10 labor and $10 shipping.

5. We had 6 prototypes on test for over 9 months with no problems reported.

6. We installed NOS with a Baycom driver on a 286 class machine (the laptop in the photo) in less than an hour, and used it with our PC Packet Station. No problems were encountered. We had a local BBS operator install it and he said it was the fastest and easiest he has ever installed.

7. Both the Motorola transceiver board and our product are mostly surface mount components and are built in the USA.

8. The Motorola Radio module plugs into our board so it is easy to replace.

Note: We did not run any ads or send out any news releases to magazines until we had received our FCC Certification (Granted January of 1993). Our FCC id is: KIFPCPKTST. We have been in business for over a year and have been working on this product for over 1 and a half years.

Price comparison on the cover letter is based on list price of the following products: PK-88, PC Pakratt 88 terminal Program, Astron RS-4A, Yeasu FT-415, and custom cables.


New Selection of Quatech I/O Cards
Quatech Introduces the Ultra-100

A Truly High-Performance Multi I/O Card

Features:

** Supports 360, 720KB and 1.2, 1.44, and 2.88MB floppy

   disk controller

** Multi-mode parallel port supports Centronics, ECP and EPP

** Two high speed serial ports with 16550 compatible UARTs

** All ports and controllers are address selectable

** Complete IDE interface

Also Available...

PXB-721

72 Digital Input/Output

** Three 8255 PPIU chips, each providing 24 digital I/O lines

** switch selectable address

** Accommodates up to three QUATECH enhancement modules

** Optional 24 line buffer module

The PXB-721 is a 72 channel digital I/O expansion card. It incorporates three 8255 prorammable peripheral interface (PPI) chips, each providing 24 digital I/O lines. Each 8255 consists of eight (8) bit ports, designated Port A, Port B, and Port C. Port C may be divided into two individual four (4) bit ports. In addition to the three ports, a control word is utilized to program the various modes of operation.

PXB-160

16-Bit Parallel Digital Input/Output

** 16-bit digital I/O

** Latched input/output

** DMA and I/O modes

** Handshake signals available

** Programmable timer for interrupt or DMA transfer

The PXB-160 Parallel Expansion Board provides 16-bit programmable digital input/output. The PXB-160 is intended for use with an IBM AT computer or compatible. The digital input/output lines are latched and data transfers from the computer to the board can be accomplished through either program I/O or DMA transfer. DMA transfer can be either 8-bit or 16-bit. Data can be latched into the PXB-160 by an external strobe or periodically by an internal clock.

For further versatility, the PXB-160 may also be configured as two individual 8-bit ports. Each 8-bit port can be programmed for either input or output mode.

PXB-241

24 Digital Input/Output

** 24 buffered Digital I/O signals

** Switch selectable address

** External interrupt input

Available Software - drivers for BASIC, C, Turbo Pascal and FORTRAN

The PXB-241 allows parallel communication between the personal computer and external devices. Each of the 24 digital signals is buffered to enhance the drive capability of the card. The 24 signals are divided into three 8-bit ports, designated Ports A, B and C. Port C is further divided into two 4-bit sections. Each port can be configured for either input or output. The ports are controlled by an 8255 operating in Mode 0.

Reseller and OEM programs available. 30 day evaluation with approved credit. For a free catalor or for more information, call: 10800-553-1170

Quatech

662 Wolf Ledges Parkway, Akron, OH 44311

fax 216-434-1409,  bbs 216-434-2481


One-Nil League Soccer Mgmt Simulation
One-Nil - The most advanced league soccer management simulation available.

ONE NIL is the latest and greatest football game from the authors of THE SOCCER GAME and GOAL. Developed painstakingly over several years by football devotees, ONE-NIL creates an absorbing football fantasy world within the PC which is far more detailed and realistic than any other available game.

ONE NIL takes you right to the heart of football team management: buying and selling players, hiring and firing staff, developing youth players, selecting your squad, and choosing team and player tactics. You watch every game your team plays and can adjust your players' position and tactics as the game unfolds, in an effort to outwit your opponents. You will have to cope with injuries, suspensions, fluctuating player fitness and confidence.

You have access to a compreshensive database of results, fixture lists and detailed information on each team and on each player. You choose from any one of 80 teams, from 4 domestic divisions and a European super league. The better the team you select at the start of the game, the easier the task you have to achieve league and cup honours. Every team has its own quirks and will present its own challenges.

ONE-NIL is supplied with alternative Scottish and English team databases with up-to-date squads for each team. You can customise all player names, team names, ratings and strips to create your own personal database.

Each match is presented visually, showing every move by each player, and even the referee and linesman. There is also a detailed text commentary and match statistics. Just like the real thing, no two games are ever the same. If you are impatient, or pressed for time, a quick results facility is available. You can also watch any other match you wish.

You must cope with club financies and your chairman will interfere if you overspend. Should you enlarge your stadium or buy a new striker? There is a transfer market, and you can poach players (and staff) from other teams. You have to negotiate detailed terms with each player, and renew contracts when they are running out.

ONE-NIL is designed to be very easy to use, with online help. You can save a game at any point in any season, and return to it later. You can play for unlimited seasons and can apply to join other teams at any time.

Shareware registered is $30.

Wizard Games of Scotland Ltd.

PO Box 498, Wilmington, MA 01887-0498

508-658-2209


GOAL International Soccer Management Game
GOAL -- The Ultimate Game of International Soccer Management

Your big opportunity to manage a national football team and compete for the WORLD CUP. GOAL is THE game of international soccer team management, from the writers of THE SOCCER GAME and 1-0, much acclaimed by football followers from all over the world.

Choose to manage any of 128 countries, from all corners of the Earth, incorporating most of the membership of FIFA. Your challenge is to select your squad and team for each match and, by careful selection of overall team tactics and individual player tactics, take your team on to win the continental championship and ultimately the World Cup. Easier said than done...

GOAL takes you right into the heart of soccer team management: selection of the squad and choice of tactical options, in considerable detail. You can watch every game your team plays and adjust your players' positioning and tactics from minute to minute in response to every threat from your opponents. You will have to cope with injuries, suspensions, fluctuating player fitness and confidence.

Newspapers keep you in touch with what is happening and you have access to a comprehensive database of results, fixture lists and detailed information on each team and on each player. Do well and you will find better players coming through the ranks. Do very badly and you may be sacked.

Each match is presented visually, showing every move by each player, and even the referee and linesmen. There are action replays, a detailed text commentary and match statistics. Just like the real thing no two games are ever the same. If you are impatient, or pressed for time, a quick results facility is available. You can also watch any other match you wish.

Each of the 128 countries in GOAL has its own quirks, so essentially you have 128 different games to choose from, offering varying degrees of challenge, from what we consider to be too easy (eg Germany) to virtually impossible (eg Nepal). What is more, not one of these games will ever be the same twice.

GOAL comes with an up-to-date database of squads for each team, and all team names, player names, ratings and strips can be customized.

GOAL is designed to be very easy to use, with online help. You can save a game and return to it later. You can also save action replays to rewatch and match summaries to analyse at your leisure. You can play on forever, if you have the time and the skill to avoid being sacked!

Shareware registration is $20 for GOAL, $30 for GOAL 2 or $40 for both.

Wizard Games of Scotland Ltd.

PO Box 498, Wilmington, MA 01887-0498

508-658-2209


Capitali$t Business Management Game
Capitali$t is a game of business management. Can you survive in a world of cut-throat competition and get yourself on top? You have just inherited a business called "Useless Limited" from a sadistic uncle of yours. Useless Ltd. makes silly little devices called "Incomprehensible Gadgets" which the general public seem to think are essential aids to modern living. You have five competitors making similar gadgets, and up until now they have all been run identically to Useless ltd., under an illegal cartel agreement with your uncle. The Government has called a stop to all this and from now on you will be in vicious cut-throat competition with each other.

So the aim of the game is to destroy the competition an get yourself a complete monopoly of the market for "Incomprehensive Gadgets".

Handle the workforce, know your competition. You need equipment and buildings to house them all along with your raw materials and stocks of finished products. Spend heavy on marketing and/or design? So the aim of the game is to destroy the competition and get yourself a complete monopoly on the market for "Incomprehensible Gadgets."

A game of skill and chance for gamblers, would-be millionaires, and all Punters anywhere. You start with 50,000 and try to make a million, by one or more of the following:

-- Betting on the daily horse races -

   couldn't be that hard, right?

-- Weekly soccer pools - fill your coupon out any day of the

   week. Games on Saturday.

-- Play Bob (your friendly? computer) at Pontoon or Poker.

   Ante-up, Bob can't be that good!

-- Hack into the bank's computer. You have five minutes only to

   get into Fetish Smelecom's computer by guessing the four

   letter password. Clues are given. The five more minutes to

   guess a five-letter password to get into their data: what to

   do then is up to you to work out.

-- 1,000,000 jackpot bandit - everybody knows how to beat

   a bandit. Right!

-- Buy and sell shares on the Wizard stockmarket. Trade your

   way to the top (just don't jump)

Shareware registration is $20

Wizard Games of Scotland Ltd.

PO Box 498, Wilmington, MA 01887-0498

508-658-2209


Mac Invoicing Swr for Graphic Arts Industry
Graphic design studio creates invoicing software for the graphic arts industry.

September 10, 1993 -- Los Angeles -- Desktop Graphic Services (DGS), a Macintosh-based design studio serving the advertising and corporate communities in Los Angeles, CA, has found a new way to branch out in business: writing their own software and selling it to other designers.

Begun in 1988 as the Macintosh computer became popular with art and design professionals, DGS has for the last two years worked with major advertising agencies such as Saatchi & Saatchi, Torrance, Larsen Colby (now the Colby Agency), Los Angeles and Lintas: Cambell Ewald, Los Angeles; project work has been for clients such as Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., 20th Century Fox Television and Outrigger Hotels Hawaii.

Owner Eric Jon Oxenberg attributes the company's success to positioning: "We specialize in an area of production and design that many other artists claim expertise in but don't really have a fine knowledge of Macintosh graphics software coupled with extensive experience in Mac hardware and operating systems."

Needing to estimate and invoice DGS's clients posed a problem, and when Eric tired of creating invoices anew every time he bid on a new job, he finally stopped using PageMaker and reproduced his forms with Claris FileMaker Pro, a well-known database program. The application, dubbed MacDesign Billing, worked so well that he has begun marketing it by direct mail and trade magazine advertising.

MacDesign Billing is a complete system for estimating, invoicing and billing clients. Included are estimate layouts, invoice layouts, an automatic statement generator, and accounts receivable and YTD business summary reports. The greatest benefit for designers is that MacDesign Billing is written in their language costs are entered into familiar categories such as mechanicals, type, stats, photography and printing.

The software was written on DGS, in-house computer system: a Macintosh IIcx with a 50Mhz 68030 DiiMo accelerator, 80MB internal hard drive, 105MB external hard drive, Mass Micro DataPak 44MB removable drive, 14" color and 19" monochrome Apple displays and an Apple LaserWriter IINTX printer.

MacDesign Billing has a list price of $99.00. It  is available by mail directly from Desktop Graphic Services.

DGS is available for design, computer-generated art production and consulting. For more information, please call (310) 391-5275 or fax (310) 391-9865.


Servus Volunteer Database Software
MicroAssist Servus Volunteer Database -- Software for Community Service Programs

At a recent conference for coordinators of community  service programs, one workshop focused on the benefits  volunteers received from participating in community service  projects.  Among benefits cited were: a greater sense of  pride in the community; increased feelings of self-worth, and  reduced levels of stress.

At the mention of reduced stress, several of the  volunteer coordinators spoke up, stating that reduced stress  must obviously only apply to the volunteers, not to the  coordinators.  Coordinators, they agreed, are constantly  faced with enormous amounts of paperwork, tight schedules,  and often a small staff.  As a  result of these problems,  volunteer coordinators often lack the time to communicate  effectively with their volunteers, find appropriate matches  between volunteer skills and community needs, and effectively  plan for the future.

Recently, however, hundreds of volunteer coordinators  have found a solution to all of these volunteer management  problems.  The solution they have found is  Servus Volunteer  Database Software.

Servus software, produced by MicroAssist, Inc., was  designed to be a complete volunteer management system,  according to MicroAssist President Keith Lauver.  It tracks  information for all of the people and projects associated  with any volunteer organization.  From basic biographical and  demographic information, to specific volunteer skills and  project needs, Servus tracks all information important to  your organization.

But Servus does more than store this information.  It  also helps volunteer coordinators put the information to use.   Its matching capabilities provide a simple and quick  method  of matching volunteers with projects that need them.

Servus' sophisticated reporting capabilities allow  coordinators to print detailed reports with just a few  keystrokes.  Numerous built-in reports include listings of  available projects and volunteers, as well as statistical  calculations about the people and projects.  These reports  enable coordinators to analyze their programs, plan a course  for future development, and quickly and easily compile yearly  or quarterly reports or write grant proposals.

Another of Servus' convenient features is its built-in  form letter capability.  Any communication with volunteers  can be handled directly within Servus. Servus automatically  mail-merges documents for easy personalization, and prints  mailing labels, eliminating the need for other word  processing programs.

Although Servus boasts many powerful and flexible  features, and is easily tailored to any volunteer  organization, the software is remarkably user-friendly.   According to Lauver, "We designed the software to be easy to  learn and easy to use.  According to a recent survey  conducted by MicroAssist, most users report spending from two  to five hours to learn Servus.  Even people with no computer  experience have had no problem learning and using the  software.  And if anyone ever does have questions, our 24- hour technical support line is always available, and we're  happy to answer any questions."

Servus is available for use with Macintosh, DOS and MS- Windows platforms.  Minimum system requirements for a  Macintosh computer include: 1.5 Mb available memory, hard  disk, 800K floppy drive, System 4.2 or greater and Finder 6.0  or greater.  Minimum system requirements for a DOS computer  include: 640K RAM (4 Mb RAM and 80386xs or higher processor  for the Windows version), hard disk, 3.5" or 5.25" floppy  drive, and MS-DOS 3.3 or greater.

MicroAssist, Inc.

1920 Roosevelt Drive, Suite 43, Northfield, MN  55057

(800) 735-3457


MacDesign Billing Templates for FileMaker Pro
Desktop Graphic Services introduces invoicing software specifically for professionals in the graphic arts industry.

September 1, 1993 -- Los Angeles -- Noting a lack of affordable billing software for graphic designers and artists, Desktop Graphic Services is introducing a new product: MacDesign Billing, a series of template for FileMaker Pro 2.0 owners. MacDesign Billing lets artists and designers create estimates and invoices for their clients easily and quickly.

MacDesign Billing is a complete system for estimating, invoicing and billing clients. Included are three estimate layouts, three invoice layouts, an automatic statement generator, and accounts receivable and YTD business summary reports.

Also included is MacDesign Rolodex, a database for client contact which assigns 'client codes' to new customers. MacDesign Billing automatically updates its client information from MacDesign Rolodex when client codes are entered.

The greatest benefit for designers is that MacDesign Billing is written in their language. Costs are entered into familiar categories such as mechanicals, type, stats, photography and printing. Recognized industry terms are used but can be customized by the user. And tax regulations specific to the graphic arts industry are addressed by MacDesign Billing, a benefit found only in products costing hundreds more.

Features and benefits:

* Operations are icon-driven; users need not be familiar with

  FileMaker Pro to use MacDesign Billing.

* Forms include categories for most costs and fees used in the

  graphic arts industry.

* Make estimates taxable or non-taxable based on the tax status of

  the art buyer.

* Sort and search by client, invoice or date.

* Flexible and sophisticated password protection.

* Make fully detailed estimates or simple ones.

* Statements are generated and printed with point-and-click

  simplicity; statements show only invoices with balances due.

* Print mailing labels and envelopes for special mailings to the

  user's client base.

* Invoices and statements are formatted for mailing in #10 window

  envelopes.

MacDesign Billing has a retail price of $99.00. A demo disk which has all working features but cannot be modified and does not come with a printed manual is available for only $9.00. Both carry a 30-day money-back guarantee. MacDesign Billing is available by mail directly from Desktop Graphic Services.

For ordering information, call (310) 391-5275 or fax (310) 391-9865.


New Product Info Now on Delphi
NEW PRODUCT INFORMATION SERVICE NOW AVAILABLE ON DELPHI!

September 29, 1993 -- Baker Enterprises announces the expansion of their online electronic news service with the debut of their area on the DELPHI service. Now Delphi subscribers have access to the same full text press releases from throughout the PC and Macintosh markets that are also posted via our America Online, PC-Link and Promenade services. Typical volume averages between 200 to 300 releases every month, with additional special coverage of selected trade shows and other major events whenever possible. For quick access on Delphi, use the command "GO NEW PROD". On AOL, use the keyword "NEW PRODUCTS".

News archive files are available for downloading from a download library within the news area on each service, as well as via our MSDOS:BAKERNEWS directory on the Internet SIMTEL20 archive site and all worldwide mirror sites. The library areas on the online services also provide various industry reports and reference material, product backgrounder and white papers from assorted developers, PC industry Email and support BBS phone lists that we generate, plus additional general informational files.

Plus, as of this spring, news archive files are available via mail subscriptions direct from Baker Enterprises for only $5 per month (USA). Files are available in either ASCII zip archives or in our special WinNews (tm) hypertext format for use with the Windows 3.1 WinHelp utility.

Special to America Online is a PC industry reference database that includes listings for over 17,00 companies/authors and their 47,000+ products -- with company addresses, telephone numbers, Email addresses and brief product information. This same information is also distributed monthly on diskette under special licensing to EMS Professional Software (301-924-3594 for information) as their PC Products Database.

Our news distribution services are provided at NO COST to participating companies or shareware authors. Any company/author wishing to have their press releases distributed, or their company and product information included in the database are welcome to mail, fax or Email (preferred) their information directly to Baker Enterprises for immediate processing. We cover all products and services within the PC and Macintosh markets, as well as occasional video game and related product news.

For more information on any of the above mentioned products or services, contact:

BAKER ENTERPRISES              609/582-9203  Phone  (evenings)

20 Ferro Drive                 609/582-9204  Fax    (24 hours)

Sewell, NJ 08080 USA        Email via Internet:  rbakerpc@aol.com

                             or via AOL/Delphi:  RbakerPC

For information on ordering copies of the PC Products Database on disk or CD-ROM, contact:

EMS Professional Software      301/924-3594  Phone

4505 Buckhurst Cr.             301/963-2708  Fax

Olney, MD 20832 USA         Email via Internet:

                                         eengelmann@worldbank.org


Personal Investing Online Services
15,000 Smart Investors Find FREE Financial Information

(August 16, 1993, Amityville, NY) - The Small Investor's Software Company (SISCO) has had 15,000 users access its Personal Investing Online Services before displaying it to PC EXPO attendees in New York City. 15,000 individuals have found a new way to access financial information. SISCO provides individuals with financial news and analysis each and every night for FREE.

Not only do these savvy computer users get 15 reports, but they also gain access to SISCO's historical database. Users can search the database by either date or by entering a phrase. This ability coupled with the extraordinary benefit of having access to current objective analysis on 7,300+ Stocks, 2,100+ Mutual Funds, and Futures makes these unique and innovative reports simple and easy to use.

There are several unique aspects to these reports. First, the time that they are reported is 6:00PM. This is only one hour after the market closes. Second, nowhere else can the average investor get updated technical rankings for FREE on over 9,400+ issues. Third, Stocks and Mutual Funds are classified by numerous criterion. Just select the ranking of your choice and view the list off-line. Fourth, these reports help you to find new opportunities by accessing professional research.

SISCO's services can be equated to having a FREE subscription to Value Line's "Investment Survey" publication which gives Stocks a five-point rating scale. The exception is that you don't have to wait three months for the next review of that Stock and you get three different analytical reports. Each report analyses a different modality: volume, performance, and volatility. You can have instant and updated analysis whenever you want it and without any fees. SISCO's service also expands the investors universe to over 9,300 investments as compared to Value Line's 1,700.

SISCO has eliminated the "hunt" required by most online services and has created easy to use reports. Each and every night there are freshly updated reports containing news and analysis that is ready for you to use by 6 PM EST. SISCO's new Personal Investing Online Services, is ready for you to try.

Instructions for SISCO's Support Services & FREE Demo:

We have a number of reports and services that are available to you on our BBS. You are free to access our system, so please try everything including our Free DEMO program. Everything is currently FREE: the reports, news, searches, historical information, DEMO, and Electronic mail.

Please follow these steps:

1. Set your Telecommunications software: a. Preset file protocol if necessary b. Dial 212-752-8660 (any speed using N,8,1)

2. Once you connect at the User ID prompt, type in NEW <ENTER> (NEW is only for first time users. If you have a User ID, use it. NEW users need to answer a few questions)

3. At the next system prompt type /GO SISCO (You may see a prompt that asks you to continue, press C then the system prompt will appear)

You have now reached our BBS. Select any item you wish. It is here that you will find the reports, news, earnings, ranking files, and historical information. Please note that text files can be viewed online while ZIPPED EXE files are compressed files and these cannot be viewed on screen. In either case you can download these files so that you can read them more thoroughly offline or after you hangup the phone.

For a listing of all available files choose item #5 FILE LIBRARY. You must then type in 5 to show the files on your screen. If you would like to narrow your search, just type F keyword. You will now see files listed that contain the phrase that you are seeking. After the list stops scrolling by, a line appears with letters on it. Select D to download a file, or F to see the list again, or X to return to the previous menu or SISCO's menu; the choice is yours.

Enjoy and Stay PointsAHEAD!

Customer Service

The Small Investor's Software Company

138 Ocean Ave, Amityville, NY 11701

516-789-9368


Silicon Graphics Bundles Multimedia Email
SILICON GRAPHICS BUNDLES Z-CODE'S MULTIMEDIA ELECTRONIC MAIL

San Rafael, California, September 27, 1993 -- Z-Code Software today announced a licensing agreement with Silicon Graphics, Inc. that enables Silicon Graphics to bundle Z-Code Software's Z-Mail with IRIX, Silicon Graphics' enhanced version of the UNIX operating system. The agreement allows Silicon Graphics to be the first computer vendor to provide a full-featured multimedia-based electronic mail system from Z-Code for its customers.

All Silicon Graphics' computer systems will include a single-user license of Z-Mail under the brand name MediaMail. The package will be available in four languages: English, Japanese, French and German.

The agreement coincides with two other recent announcements: Z-Mail 3.0 from Z-Code, and Silicon Graphics's release of the Indy desktop system. The Indy is available at prices starting under $5,000 and includes a host of digital media capabilities, such as digital color video camera and built-in DAT-quality audio, integrated with the new Indigo Magic iconic digital media user environment.

MediaMail will be rolled out in two phases. The first release will be Z-Code's newly announced 3.0 version of Z-Mail packaged under the name "MediaMail". This will be the first commercial incarnation of Z-Mail 3.0 from Z-Code, which will be available on all other UNIX platforms, as well as the Macintosh and PCs using Microsoft Windows throughout 1993 and 1994. The second phase of MediaMail will be fully integrated with the Indigo Magic user environment, which enables all types of users to easily manipulate speech, music, video and graphics. MediaMail will enhance the desktop environment by allowing users to exchange multimedia documents with other computers on the network.

"Giving users true digital media capabilities requires not only integrated hardware features such as audio and video but also software applications that can take advantage of those features," said Way Ting, Vice President and general manager of Silicon Graphics' Visual Magic Division. "Bundled tools such as MediaMail enable our users to immediately and easily tap into the full power of our workstations."

Dan Heller, President of Z-Code Software adds, "This is the first open systems environment to make practical use of digital media technology. Business, education, and other industries now have the ability to make productive use of multimedia, not just have fun with it. You can't have networks of computers without following standards. An open systems approach is the only feasible choice when it comes to enterprise-wide messaging, especially when more than one type of computer is involved."

One of the most significant technical aspects of Z-Mail 3.0 is that it is using the Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (MIME) standard to provide all of its multimedia and document attachment capabilities to the network. "This is a major statement in the e-mail technology world, because there has been a large movement towards MIME and other Internet standards, including SMTP and TCP/IP," says Paul Rarey, Manager of Planning and Global Telecommunications at DHL.

MediaMail provides all of the same features on which Z-Code has built its reputation, including a highly intuitive, fully configurable user interface, the most powerful rule-based e-mail engine available, a completely open directory service access method, and a fully extensible scripting language called Z-Script. The language allows end-users to mail-enable applications by writing scripts that communicate with other applications. Users can also create filters, functions, macros or other user-defined commands. By using speech recognition and synthesis also on Silicon Graphics workstations in early 1994, users will be able to enhance their e-mail productivity by incorporating voice commands directly into MediaMail. "With the right hardware configuration, users could even call computers and browse their e-mail," comments Hartford Field of Scott Instruments, technology providers for the speech recognition software for Silicon Graphics.

Z-Code Software is a leading cross-platform mail provider for the open-systems environment. Software designed by Z-Code is portable and conforms with industry standards. The open solutions approach permits Z-Code's products to integrate cleanly with most non-proprietary environments and with other third-party applications. Z-Code, founded in 1990, is located in San Rafael, California.

Silicon Graphics, Inc. is the leading manufacturer of high-performance visual computing systems. The company delivers interactive three-dimensional graphics, digital media and multiprocessing supercomputing technologies to technical, scientific and creative professionals. Its subsidiary, MIPS Technologies, Inc., designs and licenses the industry's leading RISC processor technology for the computer systems and embedded control markets. Silicon Graphics has offices worldwide and headquarters in Mountain View, California.

Z-Code Software Corp

4340 Redwood Hwy, Ste B-50

San Rafael, CA 94903

415-499-8649,  fax 415-479-0448

Internet Email:  info@z-code.com


FastLynx 3.0 PC-to-PC File Transfer Utility
RUPP TECHNOLOGY UNVEILS FASTLYNX 3.0 TRANSFER UTILITY WITH FULL WINDOWS, NETWORK-COMPATIBILITY

September 10, 1003 -- PHOENIX, Ariz. -- Rupp Technology Corporation has introduced FastLynx 3.0, a new generation of PC-to-PC file transfer utility equipped with full Windows graphical interface, background file transfers and the first of several new Expanding Connectivity Technology (ECT) features planned for Rupp products.

ECT enhancements to the new FastLynx version include MagicLynx -- an advanced resource sharing feature that allows greater access to peripheral devices connected to linked computer systems -- as well as mouse support for both DOS and Windows. Also key to the new FastLynx program are added file and disk management capabilities such as FX Sync -- a file and drive "synchronizing" feature -- and cross-directory tagging.

The latest version of Rupp Technology's award-winning PC-to-PC file transfer software represents the company's most pronounced upgrade since the introduction of its pace-setting Fastwire product in 1986.

As with past FastLynx versions, FastLynx 3.0 incorporates the same key ease-of-use features that have made the Rupp utility the industry's most critically acclaimed file transfer program, while actually increasing -- not sacrificing -- performance.

"FastLynx has long been known as the most user-friendly product in its class. Now we've taken it a step further by inventing a new class of software utilities equipped with full Windows and DOS installation and unsurpassed file transfer speeds -- of which FastLynx is the only qualified member," explained Rupp Technology Vice-President Shelly Lipkin.

"Rupp Technology has always watched the marketplace in order to meet users' needs with our own technological advancements. Now, with the market for connectivity products growing rapidly, we expect to continue growing right with it thanks to ECT enhancements to FastLynx and other new data communications products," said Lipkin.

For version 3.0, Rupp also streamlined the operation of it's flagship program by converting its device driver into MagicLynx, a TSR, (Terminate and Stay Resident), program that allows such improved resource sharing features as the ability to access any and all connected disk drives, file servers, CD-ROM drives and printers -- multidirectionally -- from any station via a Novell IPX network driver or similar local area network (LAN) arrangement. This is achieved without tying up any access point. Operating in the background allows unrestricted use of all connected systems.

In addition, FastLynx 3.0 has added several new file and disk management capabilities allowing for cross directory "tagging" (ie. selection of files for transfer). retagging, reverse tagging, search and tag by selected attributes (name, date, time, etc.), and the complete "synchronizing" of drives through the FXSync feature so that two connected computers will end up with identical files in the end without the user having to make visual comparisons.

Other new features and capabilities boosting FastLynx performance in both DOS and Windows environments include:

* a simplified, fully-automated installation process;

* increased report-generating or "scripting" functions,

  including the ability to create editable, re-usable lists

  of transfer operations for storage or print-out;

* "drag and drop" data transfers using a mouse to click on

  files or file groups;

* background file transfers, allowing ongoing work in another

  application;

a "move-files" feature that allows files and directories to be

  sent to a second computer, while being simultaneously deleted

  from the sending system;

* users can now rename both local and remote computers with

  on-screen IDs for easier identification, and flip sides of

  the split screens used during transfers so as to correspond

  with the physical location of sending and receiving computers;

* in FastLynx's Windows interface, a mouse click on an

  application-generated file will launch the application itself.

Standard features still part of the new FastLynx include file compression, automatic upload via "cloning," an online diagnostic program, auto port and auto speed select functions, and error correction support.

Far and away the industry's fastest file transfer option for PCs, FastLynx has been clocked at speeds up to 1300K baud when transferring files via parallel mode between 486-based PCs, making it up to 100 percent faster than the best transfer speeds specified by its nearest competitors.

Version 3.0 comes equipped with both 3 1/2- and 5 1/4-inch floppy disks and two cables -- a four-headed 7-wire serial cable equipped with both 9 and 25 pin connectors on each end, and a proprietary 18-wire parallel cable. System software requirements for running FastLynx 3.0 include DOS version 3.0 or later.

FastLynx 3.0 -- with complete file transfer, MagicLynx resource sharing and drive mapping capabilities for DOS and Windows -- is scheduled for release in the U.S. and Canada in October, 1993, at a suggested retail price of $169.95.

In the U.S., FastLynx and other Rupp products are distributed to computer product outlets nationwide through Ingram Micro, Merisel and Kenfil Distribution. In Canada, distribution is handled by Canadian Computer Wholesale and Gentek.

Founded in 1985, Rupp Technology Corporation is based in Phoenix and maintains sales and marketing offices in Los Angeles and New York. A pioneer in a variety of file management technologies, Rupp was the first to offer both serial and parallel cable transfer in a software utility.

In 1989, Rupp again led the industry as the first company able to equip its file transfer software with a "cloning" technique whereby a copy of one system's transfer program could to be cloned on to a remote system. Last year, Rupp introduced still more "firsts," including, a high-speed 18-wire parallel cable which nearly doubled transfer speeds and the capacity for station-to-station transfers across Novell networks.

Such consistent innovations recently led industry giants such as Microsoft and Sharp Electronics to select versions of Rupp file transfer programs over competing utilities for inclusion in their current product offerings. FastLynx device drivers are now the basis for the Microsoft operating system Interlink utility in DOS 6.0.

Likewise Sharp's Organizer Link products for communication between microcomputers and the Wizard electronic organizer line feature a FastLynx interface designed by Rupp Technology.

For further product information, or to place an order, contact Rupp Technology at (800) 844-7775.

Rupp Technology

3228 E. INDIAN SCHOOL RD, PHOENIX, AZ 85018

602 224 9922 / FAX 602 224 0898

7285 FRANKLIN AVE, LOS ANGELES, CA 90046

213 850 5394 / FAX 213 874 5646

835 MADISON AVE, NEW YORK, NY 10021

212 517 7775 / FAX 212 249 8243


VPI - Vibration Pattern Imager (NASA)
VIBRATION PATTERN IMAGER

The Vibration Pattern Imager (VPI) system was designed to control and acquire data from laser vibrometer sensors. The PC computer based system uses a digital signal processing (DSP) board and an analog I/O board to control the sensor and to process the data. The VPI system was originally developed for use with the Ometron VPI Sensor (Ometron Limited, Kelvin House, Worsley Bridge Road, London, SE26 5BX, England), but can be readily adapted to any commercially available sensor which provides an analog output signal and requires analog inputs for control of mirror positioning. VPI's graphical user interface allows the operation of the program to be controlled interactively through keyboard and mouse-selected menu options.

VPI is written in C language and Texas Instruments' TMS320C30 assembly language for IBM PC series and compatible computers running MS-DOS. The program requires a Four Channel analog I/O board (Spectrum Signal Processing, Inc.; Westborough, MA), a break-out box and a Spirit-30 board (Sonitech International, Inc.; Wellesley, MA) which includes a TMS320C30 DSP processor, 256Kb zero wait state SRAM, and a daughter board with 8Mb one wait state DRAM. Please contact COSMIC for additional information on required hardware and software. A sample MS-DOS executable is provided on the distribution medium. The standard distribution medium for this program is one 5.25 inch 360K MS-DOS format diskette.

NASA's Software Technology Transfer Center

COSMIC, The University of Georgia

382 East Broad St, Athens, GA 30602-4272

(706) 542-3265;  Fax: (706) 542-4807

Internet Email: service@cossack.cosmic.uga.edu


TPA - Nuclear Thermal Propulsion Simulation
SIMULATION OF NUCLEAR THERMAL PROPULSION SYSTEMS

Accurate simulation of nuclear thermal propulsion systems using computational methods will permit reductions in testing and, thus, the time and cost of achieving a flight ready status for systems utilizing this advanced technology. An accurate simulation must maintain a "balance-of-plant" where the required pump work equals the supplied turbine work. This turbopump assembly balancing must be integrated into the overall system analysis models. TPA was developed to balance turbine and pump work using performance maps. It requires the inlet properties, performance maps, and shaft speed. TPA then computes the exit conditions and work terms. The work terms can then be balanced by varying the input shaft speed.

TPA is written in FORTRAN 77 to be machine independent. TPA has been successfully implemented on a DEC VAX series computer running VMS, a Sun4 series computer running SunOS, and an IBM PC compatible computer running MS-DOS. Lahey F77L3 EM/32 v. 5.01 or higher is required for compilation on an IBM PC compatible computer; however, a PC executable is included on the distribution diskette. The standard distribution medium for this program is one 5.25 inch 360K MS-DOS format diskette. Alternate distribution media and formats are available upon request. TPA was developed in 1993.

NASA's Software Technology Transfer Center

COSMIC, The University of Georgia

382 East Broad St, Athens, GA 30602-4272

(706) 542-3265;  Fax: (706) 542-4807

Internet Email: service@cossack.cosmic.uga.edu


TARGET - Task Analysis Report Generation Tool
PROJECT MANAGEMENT TOOL

The Task Analysis Report Generation Tool, TARGET, is a graphical interface tool used to capture procedural knowledge and translate that knowledge into a hierarchical report. TARGET is based on VISTA, a knowledge acquisition tool developed by the Naval Systems Training Center. TARGET assists a programmer and/or task expert organize and understand the steps involved in accomplishing a task. The user can label individual steps in the task through a dialogue-box and get immediate graphical feedback for analysis.

TARGET is written in C-language for IBM PC series and compatible computers running MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows version 3.0 or 3.1. No source code is supplied. The executable also requires 2Mb of RAM, a Microsoft compatible mouse, a VGA display and an 80286, 386 or 486 processor machine. The standard distribution medium for TARGET is one 5.25 inch 360K MS-DOS format diskette. TARGET was developed in 1991.

NASA's Software Technology Transfer Center

COSMIC, The University of Georgia

382 East Broad St, Athens, GA 30602-4272

(706) 542-3265;  Fax: (706) 542-4807

Internet Email: service@cossack.cosmic.uga.edu


Rectangular/Circular Waveguide Fct Scattering
RECTANGULAR AND CIRCULAR WAVEGUIDE FUNCTION SCATTERING PACKAGE

Accurate computer modeling of passive circular or rectangular waveguide components is often required during the design phase for optimizing frequency response and/or determining the tolerance required on components in order to meet radio frequency specifications. RWGSCAT/CWGSCAT is capable of modeling both types of waveguide components. The Scattering Matrix Program for Circular Waveguide Junctions, CWGSCAT, computes the scattering matrix for a circular waveguide. This includes a dual mode horn and certain types of corrugated horns. RWGSCAT, Rectangular WaveGuide junction SCATtering program, solves for the scattering properties of a rectangular waveguide device, such as a smooth or corrugated rectangular horn, step transformer, or filter. RWGSCAT and CWGSCAT are also available separately.

RWGSCAT and CWGSCAT are written in FORTRAN 77 for IBM PC series and compatible computers running MS-DOS. Sample MS-DOS executables and sample input data files are provided on the distribution media. The standard distribution medium for this program is a set of two 5.25 inch 360K MS-DOS format diskettes. An electronic copy of the documentation is included on the distribution medium in LaTEX format. RWGSCAT was developed in 1993. CWGSCAT was developed in 1987, and this version was released in 1991. RWGSCAT and CWGSCAT are copyrighted works with all copyrights vested in NASA.

NASA's Software Technology Transfer Center

COSMIC, The University of Georgia

382 East Broad St, Athens, GA 30602-4272

(706) 542-3265;  Fax: (706) 542-4807

Internet Email: service@cossack.cosmic.uga.edu


Nuclear Thermal Propulsion Design Analysis
NUCLEAR THERMAL PROPULSION DESIGN ANALYSIS TOOL

An accurate, stand alone, preliminary Nuclear Thermal Propulsion (NTP) engine system design analysis tool is required to support current and future Space Exploration Initiative (SEI) propulsion and vehicle design studies. Currently available NTP engine design models were developed during the NERVA program in the 1960s and early 1970s and are highly unique to that design or are modifications of current liquid propulsion system models. Present NTP engine-based liquid design models lack the integrated design of key NTP engine design features in areas such as reactor, shielding, multi-propellant capability, and multi-redundant pump feed fuel systems.

NESS is written in FORTRAN 77 for DEC VAX series computers running VMS and IBM PC series computers running MS-DOS using the Lahey FORTRAN compiler F77L/EM-32 v5.01 or later. It requires a minimum of 1.4Mb of virtual RAM under VMS and 1.5Mb of RAM under MS-DOS. Under both platforms, NESS requires 4Mb of disk space for compilation and linking. Sample input and output data are included. The standard distribution medium for NESS is a set of two 5.25 inch 1.2Mb MS-DOS format diskettes. NESS is also available on a 1600 BPI 9-track magnetic tape in DEC VAX BACKUP format or on a TK50 tape cartridge in DEC VAX BACKUP format.

NASA's Software Technology Transfer Center

COSMIC, The University of Georgia

382 East Broad St, Athens, GA 30602-4272

(706) 542-3265;  Fax: (706) 542-4807

Internet Email: service@cossack.cosmic.uga.edu


NMSB Movie, Tool to Display Large 3D Data Sets
NMSB MOVIE

NMSB Movie was developed as a tool for displaying large three-dimensional data sets in an easily assimilatable manner. The program, originally written to present ultrasonic scan data from damaged aerospace composite materials, has also been used to illustrate heating and cooling rate data acquired by thermal analysis systems and X-ray tomography images. NMSB Movie displays sequential time "frames" in a "movie" window. In this way, areas of non-uniform density (or temperature or stress) appear as color differences in the data image. As successive frames appear, a comprehensible view of changing features throughout the data set may be observed.

The programs included in NMSB Movie are all written in C-language for Macintosh II series (or better) computers running System 6.0.5 through 7.1 with 2Mb RAM and an 8-bit color display adapter. While the programs will execute on a monochrome system, a color display is necessary for meaningful presentation of data. A floating-point processor and 32-bit Color QuickDraw are required. Apple's QuickTime system extension must be installed to enable the creation of QuickTime movie files. The distribution medium includes an electronic copy of the documentation in MicroSoft Word 5.0 for the Macintosh format as well as project files for Symantec Corporation's Think C v5.0 and executables for NMSB Movie, NewView, NewSize and Label Movie. NMSB Movie was developed in 1990 and was updated in 1991 and 1992.

NASA's Software Technology Transfer Center

COSMIC, The University of Georgia

382 East Broad St, Athens, GA 30602-4272

(706) 542-3265;  Fax: (706) 542-4807

Internet Email: service@cossack.cosmic.uga.edu


MOM3D - Electromagnetic Analysis Algorithm
ELECTROMAGNETIC ANALYSIS ALGORITHM

MOM3D is a FORTRAN method-of-moments electromagnetic analysis algorithm for open or closed 3-D perfectly conducting or resistive surfaces. Radar cross section with plane wave illumination is the prime analysis emphasis; however, provision is also included for local port excitation for computing antenna gain patterns and input impedances. The Electric Field Integral Equation form of Maxwell's equations is solved using local triangle couple basis and testing functions with a resultant system impedance matrix. The analysis emphasis is not only for routine RCS pattern predictions, but also for phenomenological diagnostics: bistatic imaging, currents, and near scattered/total electric fields. The images, currents, and near fields are output in form suitable for animation. MOM3D computes the full backscatter and bistatic radar cross section polarization scattering matrix (amplitude and phase), body currents and near scattered and total fields for plane wave illumination. MOM3D also incorporates a new bistatic k space imaging algorithm for computing down range and down/cross range diagnostic images using only one matrix inversion. MOM3D has been made memory and cpu time efficient by using symmetric matrices, symmetric geometry, and partitioned fixed and variable geometries suitable for design iteration studies. Geometries are described using a triangular mesh input in the form of a list of spatial vertex points and a triangle join connection list.

MOM3D is written in FORTRAN 77. Two machine versions are available from COSMIC: the UNIX version is designed to run on SGI series computers running IRIX, and, with modifications that are described in the documentation, has been successfully implemented on a Sun4 series computer running SunOS; the IBM PC version has been successfully implemented on an IBM PC compatible running MS-DOS and Lahey FORTRAN v5.1-EM32.

NASA's Software Technology Transfer Center

COSMIC, The University of Georgia

382 East Broad St, Athens, GA 30602-4272

(706) 542-3265;  Fax: (706) 542-4807

Internet Email: service@cossack.cosmic.uga.edu


LERCHP - NASA Lewis Research Center Heat Pipe
HEAT PIPE CODE

The NASA Lewis Research Center Heat Pipe (LERCHP) code was developed to predict the performance of heat pipes in the steady state. LERCHP can be used as a design tool on a personal computer or, with a suitable calling routine, as a subroutine for a mainframe radiator code. For accurate heat pipe modeling, a variety of wick structures are available to the user, including a user wick input option. Several working fluids can be chosen as well, including potassium, sodium, and lithium, for which the monomer-dimer equilibrium is considered. A vapor flow algorithm is incorporated that treats compressibility and axially varying heat input. LERCHP also facilitates the determination of heat pipe operating temperatures and heat pipe limits that may be encountered at the specified heat input and environment temperature.

Heat pipes with multiple evaporators, condensers, and adiabatic sections in series and with wick structures that differ among sections can be modeled by LERCHP. The heat pipe can be subdivided into as many as 20 sections which can be heat input or evaporator sections, adiabatic sections, and heat removal or condenser sections, mixed in any manner provided that the first section is a heat input section. Output, such as liquid and vapor pressures and temperatures, is printed at equally spaced axial positions along the pipe as determined by the user.

LERCHP is written in FORTRAN 77 for IBM PC series and compatible computers running MS-DOS.

NASA's Software Technology Transfer Center

COSMIC, The University of Georgia

382 East Broad St, Athens, GA 30602-4272

(706) 542-3265;  Fax: (706) 542-4807

Internet Email: service@cossack.cosmic.uga.edu


Easy PC Graphics (GFI) for Data Plotting
EASY PC GRAPHICS

Easy PC Graphics (GFI) is a graphical plot program that permits data to be easily and flexibly plotted. Data is input in a standard format which allows easy data entry and evaluation. Multiple dependent axes are also supported. The program may either be run in a stand alone mode or be embedded in the user's own software.

Automatic scaling is built in for several logarithmic and decibel scales. New scales are easily incorporated into the code through the use of object-oriented programming techniques. For the autoscale routines and the actual plotting code, data is not retrieved directly from a file, but a "method" delivers the data, performing scaling as appropriate. Each object (variable) has state information which selects its own scaling.

GFI is written in Turbo Pascal version 6.0 for IBM PC compatible computers running MS-DOS. The source code will only compile properly with the Turbo Pascal v. 6.0 or v. 7.0 compilers; however, an executable is provided on the distribution disk. This executable requires at least 64K of RAM and DOS 3.1 or higher, as well as an HP LaserJet printer to print output plots. The standard distribution medium for this program is one 5.25 inch 360K MS-DOS format diskette. The contents of the diskette are compressed using the PKWARE archiving tools. The utility to unarchive the files, PKUNZIP.EXE, is included. An electronic copy of the documentation is provided on the distribution medium in ASCII format.

NASA's Software Technology Transfer Center

COSMIC, The University of Georgia

382 East Broad St, Athens, GA 30602-4272

(706) 542-3265;  Fax: (706) 542-4807

Internet Email: service@cossack.cosmic.uga.edu


EXADS - Expert Sys for Auto Design Synthesis
AID FOR AUTOMATED DESIGN SYNTHESIS

The expert system called EXADS was developed to aid users of the Automated Design Synthesis (ADS) general purpose optimization program. Because of the general purpose nature of ADS, it is difficult for a nonexpert to select the best choice of strategy, optimizer, and one-dimensional search options from the one hundred or so combinations that are available. EXADS aids engineers in determining the best combination based on their knowledge of the problem and the expert knowledge previously stored by experts who developed ADS. EXADS is a customized application of the AESOP artificial intelligence program (the general version of AESOP is available separately from COSMIC. The ADS program is also available from COSMIC.)

The IBM PC version of EXADS is written in IQ-LISP for execution under DOS 2.0 or higher with a central memory requirement of approximately 512K of 8 bit bytes. This program was developed in 1986.

NASA's Software Technology Transfer Center

COSMIC, The University of Georgia

382 East Broad St, Athens, GA 30602-4272

(706) 542-3265;  Fax: (706) 542-4807

Internet Email: service@cossack.cosmic.uga.edu


ACARA - Project Management Tool
PROJECT MANAGEMENT TOOL

ACARA is a program for analyzing availability, lifecycle cost, and resource scheduling. It uses a statistical Monte Carlo method to simulate a system's capacity states as well as component failure and repair. Component failures are modelled using a combination of exponential and Weibull probability distributions. ACARA schedules component replacement to achieve optimum system performance. The scheduling will comply with any constraints on component production, resupply vehicle capacity, on-site spares, or crew manpower and equipment.

ACARA is written in APL2 using the APL2 interpreter for IBM PC compatible systems running MS-DOS. Hardware requirements for the APL2 system include 640K of RAM, 2Mb of extended memory, and an 80386 or 80486 processor with an 80x87 math co-processor. A dot matrix printer is required if the user wishes to print a graph from a results table. A sample MS-DOS executable is provided on the distribution medium. The standard distribution medium for this program is a set of three 5.25 inch 360K MS-DOS format diskettes. ACARA was developed in 1992.

NASA's Software Technology Transfer Center

COSMIC, The University of Georgia

382 East Broad St, Athens, GA 30602-4272

(706) 542-3265;  Fax: (706) 542-4807

Internet Email: service@cossack.cosmic.uga.edu


PASCO - Panel Analysis & Sizing Code
PANEL ANALYSIS AND SIZING CODE

The Panel Analysis and Sizing Code (PASCO) was developed for the buckling and vibration analysis and sizing of prismatic structures having an arbitrary cross section. PASCO is primarily intended for analyzing and sizing stiffened panels made of laminated orthotropic materials and is of particular value in analyzing and sizing filamentary composite structures. When used in the analysis mode, PASCO calculates laminate stiffnesses, lamina stress and strains (including the effects of temperature and panel bending), buckling loads, vibration frequencies, and overall panel stiffness. When used in the sizing mode, PASCO adjusts sizing variables to provide a low-mass panel design that carries a set of specified loadings without exceeding buckling or material strength allowables and that meets other design requirements such as upper and lower bounds on sizing variables, upper and lower bounds on overall bending, extensional and shear stiffnesses, and lower bounds on vibration frequencies.

The DEC VAX version of PASCO is written in FORTRAN IV for batch execution and has been implemented on a DEC VAX series computer. The Macintosh version of PASCO was developed for Macintosh II series computers with at least 2Mb of RAM running MPW Pascal 3.0 and Language Systems FORTRAN 2.0 under the MPW programming environment. It includes MPW compatible makefiles for compiling the source code.

NASA's Software Technology Transfer Center

COSMIC, The University of Georgia

382 East Broad St, Athens, GA 30602-4272

(706) 542-3265;  Fax: (706) 542-4807

Internet Email: service@cossack.cosmic.uga.edu


NASADIG - NASA Device Independent Graphics Lib
GRAPHICS LIBRARY

The NASA Device Independent Graphics Library, NASADIG, can be used with many computer-based engineering and management applications. The library gives the user the opportunity to translate data into effective graphic displays for presentation. The software offers many features which allow the user flexibility in creating graphics. These include two-dimensional plots, subplot projections in 3D-space, surface contour line plots, and surface contour color-shaded plots. Routines for three-dimensional plotting, wireframe surface plots, surface plots with hidden line removal, and surface contour line plots are provided. Other features include polar and spherical coordinate plotting, world map plotting utilizing either cylindrical equidistant or Lambert equal area projection, plot translation, plot rotation, plot blowup, splines and polynomial interpolation, area blanking control, multiple log/linear axes, legends and text control, curve thickness control, and multiple text fonts (18 regular, 4 bold).

NASADIG is written in FORTRAN and is available for several platforms. NASADIG 5.7 is available for DEC VAX series computers running VMS 5.0 or later, Cray X-MP and Y-MP series computers running UNICOS, and Amdahl 5990 mainframe computers running UTS. NASADIG 5.1 is available for UNIX-based operating systems. The UNIX version has been successfully implemented on Sun4 series computers running SunOS, SGI IRIS computers running IRIX, Hewlett Packard 9000 computers running HP-UX, and Convex computers running Convex OS. With minor modification, the UNIX source code can be ported to other platforms including IBM PC/AT series computers and compatibles. NASADIG is also available bundled with TRASYS, the Thermal Radiation Analysis System.

NASA's Software Technology Transfer Center

COSMIC, The University of Georgia

382 East Broad St, Athens, GA 30602-4272

(706) 542-3265;  Fax: (706) 542-4807

Internet Email: service@cossack.cosmic.uga.edu


ETARA - Electrical Power System Performance
ELECTRICAL POWER SYSTEM PERFORMANCE

The ETARA system was written to evaluate the performance of the Space Station Freedom Electrical Power System, but the methodology and software can be modified to simulate any system that can be represented by a block diagram. ETARA is an interactive, menu-driven reliability, availability, and maintainability (RAM) simulation program. Given a Reliability Block Diagram representation of a system, the program simulates the behavior of the system over a specified period of time using Monte Carlo methods to generate block failure and repair times as a function of exponential and/or Weibull distributions.

ETARA 3.3 is written in APL2 for IBM PC series computers or compatibles running MS-DOS and the APL2 interpreter. Hardware requirements for the APL2 system include 640K of RAM, 2Mb of extended memory, and an 80386 or 80486 processor with an 80x87 math co-processor. The standard distribution medium for this package is a set of two 5.25 inch 360K MS-DOS format diskettes. A sample executable is included. ETARA was developed in 1990 and last updated in 1991.

NASA's Software Technology Transfer Center

COSMIC, The University of Georgia

382 East Broad St, Athens, GA 30602-4272

(706) 542-3265;  Fax: (706) 542-4807

Internet Email: service@cossack.cosmic.uga.edu


CLIPS 6.0 C Language Integration Production Sys
CLIPS 6.0

CLIPS, the C Language Integrated Production System, is a complete environment for developing expert systems -- programs which are specifically intended to model human expertise or knowledge. It is designed to allow artificial intelligence research, development, and delivery on conventional computers. CLIPS 6.0 provides a cohesive tool for handling a wide variety of knowledge with support for three different programming paradigms: rule-based, object-oriented, and procedural. Rule-based programming allows knowledge to be represented as heuristics, or "rules-of-thumb" which specify a set of actions to be performed for a given situation. Object-oriented programming allows complex systems to be modeled as modular components (which can be easily reused to model other systems or create new components). The procedural programming capabilities provided by CLIPS 6.0 allow CLIPS to represent knowledge in ways similar to those allowed in languages such as C, Pascal, Ada, and LISP. Using CLIPS 6.0, one can develop expert system software using only rule-based programming, only object-oriented programming, only procedural programming, or combinations of the three.

COSMIC offers four distribution versions of CLIPS 6.0: UNIX, VMS, MACINTOSH, and IBM PC. Executable files, source code, utilities, documentation, and examples are included on the program media.

CLIPS was developed in 1986 and Version 6.0 was released in 1993.

NASA's Software Technology Transfer Center

COSMIC, The University of Georgia

382 East Broad St, Athens, GA 30602-4272

(706) 542-3265;  Fax: (706) 542-4807

Internet Email: service@cossack.cosmic.uga.edu


Artisoft Supports Calif Clean Air Program
ARTISOFT SUPPORTS CALIFORNIA CLEAN AIR PROGRAM WITH LANTASTIC LOCAL AREA NETWORK

Innovative Telecommunications Pilot Project Designed To Reduce Air Pollution, Traffic Through Technology

(TUCSON, AZ - September 21, 1993) - Artisoft, Inc. announced today that the City of Diamond Bar will recognize Artisoft with an award of appreciation for its contribution of a 25-node LANtastic network to the South Coast Air Quality Management Program. The City of Diamond Bar has pioneered the use of telecommunications to reduce traffic and air pollution in the city with this pilot project, which will be demonstrated at a public ceremony at 6 p.m., Tuesday, September 21,1993, at the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) headquarters in Diamond Bar. The pilot project, known as "City Online," implements the use of software applications and electronic services to redefine the way consumers do business with government.

"We hope to reduce the number of vehicle trips necessary to conduct business with the city by providing easy electronic access through the PC-based telecommunications system," stated Troy Butzlaff, assistant to the city manager.

"Artisoft wanted to be a part of this innovative program to improve air quality throughout Southern California," stated William Keiper, Artisoft's President and Chief Executive Officer. "We're pleased that Artisoft's LANtastic has been selected as the network operating system for this pilot program.

The City Online project, made possible through contributions in excess of $700,000, combines a 25-node LANtastic network, an electronic bulletin board, optical imaging technology, geographic information services, electronic and voice mail, and fax, into an integrated package designed to demonstrate the uses of a PC-based telecommunications system as an alternative means of conducting business with city government. This system allows users to dial-in via modem to the bulletin board system or send an electronic fax through a computer or fax machine to send and receive information and conduct business with city government.

"The City Online telecommunications project will serve as a model for other cities interested in enhancing public communications and improving air quality through the application of similar technological solutions," added Troy.

Artisoft has provided a total hardware and software network solution, which includes the LANtastic v5.0 DOS and Windows network software, NodeRunner 2000/T Ethernet adapters, T-Runner 800/TC 10BASE-T concentrator, Peer Hub internal concentrator, and the Central Station connectivity processor.

In response to growing criticism over air quality issues, the South Coast AQMD, which encompasses four counties and 456 cities, has adopted a comprehensive 20-year air pollution control plan designed to bring Southern California into compliance with federal air quality standards. This program known as the Air Quality Management Man (which is the basis for the City Online project), implements an aggressive integrated control strategy to reduce the total amount of automobile emissions while promoting the use of cleaner fuels, low-emission consumer products and technological solutions.

The South Coast AQMD will unveil this pilot project at a public ceremony, which will be broadcast on cable television and include a live on-line demonstration of the system. Dr. Jerry Pournelle, noted science fiction writer and computer columnist, will serve as master of ceremonies. Representatives from the offices of Governor Pete Wilson, Senator Barbara Boxer, Senator Dianne Feinstein, Congressman Jay Kim and numerous state and local officials will attend the ceremony. In addition, chief executive officers and representatives from the more than 75 participating vendors will also be in attendance.

Artisoft develops and manufactures a full line of innovative, cost-effective network communication solutions including the award-winning LANtastic Local Area Network. Recognized as the leader in peer-to-peer networking for DOS and Windows environments, the LANtastic network also offers multiplatform connectivity solutions for NetWare, TCP/IP and Macintosh systems. It allows up to 500 users on one network to connect and share information and peripheral devices such as printers, hard drives and CD-ROMs. Artisoft maintains nine international offices and distributes the LANtastic network and its other connectivity products in over 70 countries worldwide.

For more information about Artisoft or its product line, contact Artisoft, Inc. at 2202 N. Forbes Blvd., Tucson, AZ 85745. Sales 800/233-5564. Corporate 602/670-7100. Fax 602/670-7101


Shapeware Unveils Visio 2.0 Drawing Program
Shapeware Unveils Visio 2.0

The Emerging Corporate Standard for Business Drawing and Diagramming

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--Sept. 16, 1993--Shapeware Corporation today announced Visio 2.0, the latest version of its award-winning drag and drop drawing program. Designed specifically for business professionals who need to create drawings and diagrams but are not graphics specialists, Visio 2.0 makes it easy to incorporate job-specific drawings into everyday activities.

"In our first year, the need for a drawing and diagramming solution tailored specifically to business users fueled our success," said Jeremy Jaech, president of Shapeware. "Positive user feedback and the introduction of competing products validates our initial belief in this market. With this new version, Visio continues to lead."

Visio 2.0 includes significant enhancements to the product's usability and extensibility as well as its integration with other programs. "The improvements in Visio 2.0 are designed to address the needs of Visio's target market--the business user," said Morgan Brown, Visio product manager. "Because Visio is readily accessible to both first-time and infrequent users, meets multiple business drawing needs and is customizable, it is rapidly gaining acceptance as the corporate standard for business drawing. Visio 1.0 is already being used in corporate environments such as Hewlett-Packard, EASTMAN KODAK, Tandem, EXXON and many others."

Improved Usability--New SmartShapes and Features

Visio 2.0 includes a variety of new features that make the product more flexible and easier to use, including a new toolbar, double-click actions, dynamic distribute, context-sensitive pop-up menus, and optional stencil views (including icons-only view). In addition, Visio 2.0 includes new and improved SmartShapes' stencils that are designed specifically for business and technical professionals.

The most significant new usability feature is control handles, which are built into Visio SmartShapes and make the shapes more intuitive and useful in version 2.0. Control handles are used, for example, to drag out smart connectors from shapes and to directly control the parameters and behavior of Visio's SmartShapes, previously accessible only through the ShapeSheet window.

"Innovative enhancements to Visio's SmartShapes, like control handles, provide business users with even more flexibility," said Ted Johnson, Shapeware vice president of product development. "With Visio 2.0, it's not how much clip art you have, but how few SmartShapes you need."

Improved Integration--Working Seamlessly With Other Windows-based Programs

Visio 2.0 provides extensive support for Microsoft's Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) version 2.0, including in-place visual editing, drag and drop across applications, and OLE Automation. As one of the first OLE 2.0-compliant applications available, Visio 2.0 enables users to work seamlessly with other Windows operating system-based applications to easily integrate Visio drawings and diagrams into their reports, memos, letters, presentations, spreadsheets and newsletters.

"Visio 2.0 is an excellent example of what can be done with OLE 2.0," said Jonathan Lazarus, vice president of systems strategy at Microsoft. "Through OLE 2.0, a wide variety of Windows-based applications can take advantage of Visio's powerful drag and drop drawing capabilities as if Visio were a native part of the application."

Shapeware's early commitment to OLE technology has made Visio 2.0 a leading-edge OLE 2.0 application. With OLE 2.0's visual editing, Visio users can change embedded drawings in-place by simply double clicking on the embedded Visio object. Visio will replace the toolbar and menu of the container application with those of its own, allowing the user to update the Visio drawing directly where it is positioned in the document.

Visio 2.0 also supports a new feature of OLE 2.0 that allows users to drag and drop objects across applications. Users can drag shapes, portions of drawings or entire drawings from an open Visio window into a window of another program and automatically embed or link the object. This feature also enables users working on an embedded Visio drawing, to simply open a new Visio stencil and drag additional shapes across applications into the embedded drawing.

Improved Extensibility Through OLE Automation

New to Visio 2.0, OLE Automation provides corporate users and system integrators with the ability to further customize Visio 2.0 to meet specialized drawing and diagramming needs. With OLE Automation, users can take advantage of high-level programming languages like Microsoft Visual Basic 3.0 to write code that accesses Visio 2.0 through a standard scripting interface. This innovative feature greatly simplifies the process of writing Visio add-ons and integrating Visio into specific system solutions.

Special Introductory Pricing Through December 1993

Visio 2.0 will be available in the United States in October 1993 through leading national distributors, corporate resellers, retail channels and direct marketers. For an introductory period through December 1993, Visio 2.0 will be available at a special suggested retail price (SRP) of $129 (U.S.), including 90 days of free technical support and a 60-day money-back guarantee. The SRP will return to $299 (U.S.) beginning January 1, 1994.

Registered users of Visio 1.0 can upgrade to Visio 2.0 for $79. Users who purchased Visio 1.0 after July 31, 1993, can upgrade to Visio 2.0 at no charge. Both upgrade options are available direct from Shapeware. To place an upgrade order or obtain more information on Visio, customers can contact Shapeware at (800) 446-3335.

International versions of Visio 2.0 will be available in October 1993 with the release of an international English version. German and French language versions will soon follow and are expected to be released before the end of the year. Specific pricing and upgrade options can be obtained from Shapeware International Customer Service at (303) 743-9533.

System Requirements

Visio 2.0 requires Microsoft Windows 3.1 or higher; a 386SX, 386, 486SX, 486 or Pentium processor running at 20 MHz or faster; and 4MB of RAM. It also requires a VGA, Super VGA, XGA or 8514/A graphics card and monitor, plus a Microsoft Mouse or other Windows 3.1-compatible pointing device. Visio takes advantage of a math coprocessor if one is present, but a coprocessor is not required.

Visio supports all Windows 3.1-compatible printers, including the HP LaserJet family, HP DeskJet family and PostScript printers.

Visio 2.0 transparently opens all drawing files and stencils created with Visio 1.0, Visio Home, and Visio Sampler. No separate conversion utility is required.

About Shapeware

Shapeware was founded as Axon Corporation in October 1990 to develop and market mainstream business graphics software products for personal computers. The Seattle-based company's co-founders include Jeremy Jaech and Dave Walter, two of the founders of Aldus Corporation, and Ted Johnson, the lead developer of Aldus PageMaker for Windows. Prior to the release of Visio 1.0, Shapeware received venture financing from Technology Venture Investors (TVI) and Neiner Perkins Caufield & Byers.

Shapeware Corp

1601 Fifth Ave, Suite 800, Seattle, WA 98101-1625

206-467-6723,  fax 206-467-7227


Time Off - Employee Attendance Mgmt Swr
AFFORDABLE AND EASY WAY TO MANAGE VITAL EMPLOYEE ATTENDANCE RECORDS

Manhasset, New York -- Sandy Beaches Software announces the introduction of an affordable new attendance program, TIME OFF.

TIME OFF gives you instant access to vital information about your employees' attendance records. The program keeps track of employee absences by reason and date and calculates how much time is available to be taken at any time. Time taken and time remaining for vacation, illness and personal time are calculated as each transaction is entered. Year-end carryover of unused time is automatically calculated according to the rules you define.

TIME OFF can help you make better decisions about your employees and save you money. There are over 20 reports built into the program like Vacation Schedules, Ranked Hours Absent, Employee YTD Absences, Days Out by Day/Dept/Reason and Accrued Vacation Taken. The reports allow you to quickly spot and monitor absentee abuse by employees and problem departments. You can use the powerful report designer to create your own reports. Multilevel password protection keeps data secure and private. It also imports and exports to other software. Free technical support is provided.

The program costs $139. and is available for IBM or compatible computers, requires 512K and is network aware.

For more information write to Sandy Beaches Software, 619 Hunt Lane, Manhasset, NY 11030, call (516) 365-0536 or fax your name and address to (516) 569-5951.


SkillTesters Job Applicant Evaluations
SkillTesters -- 15 Computer and Typing Tests to Help You Hire the Best!

Manhasset, New York -- Sandy Beaches Software announces the introduction of SkillTesters, a new low cost program that provides employers with an easy, accurate way to evaluate a job applicant's skills on the computer. Priced at only $119.00 SkillTesters consists of 15 unbiased computer and typing tests that determine if a prospective employee has the skills needed to operate popular software programs like WordPerfect, dBase and Lotus 1-2-3. Included on the program are tests on typing a letter, statistical data, word processing functions, setting up and using a spreadsheet, setting up and using a database, and modifying a relational database.

All tests are administered, timed, and scored by the program. Just turn on the computer, choose the tests and the program does the rest. Results can be viewed and printed in a variety of formats. You can administer an unlimited number of tests. The tests emulate features of the most popular word processing, spread sheet, and database programs without duplicating any one specific program.

The program is available for IBM and compatibles, requires 512K and is network aware.

For more information write to Sandy Beaches Software, 619 Hunt Lane, Manhasset, NY 11030, call (516) 365-0536 or fax your name and address to (516) 569-5951.


Employee Record-Keeping System
AFFORDABLE AND EASY WAY TO MANAGE VITAL EMPLOYEE RECORDS

Manhasset, New York ...... Sandy Beaches Software announces the introduction of an affordable new personnel management system. The Employee Record-Keeping System has all the features of similar packages selling for hundreds of dollars. This amazingly easy-to-use program costs only $149.

You'll have instant access to information on past, present and even potential employees. There are more than 60 fields that cover personal data, job description, salary status and history, insurance, pension and union information and attendance and vacation. Multilevel password protection keeps data secure and private. The powerful report writer produces both custom and standard reports: attendance records, vacation schedules, performance appraisals, salary reviews, department lists and much more! The most frequently used standard reports are already built into the program. It also imports and exports to other software. Free technical support is provided.

The program is available for IBM or compatible computers, requires 512K and is network aware.

For more information write to Sandy Beaches Software, 619 Hunt Lane, Manhasset, NY 11030, call (516) 365-0536 or fax your name and address to (516) 569-5951.


Proxim & Fluke Wireless Data Collection System
PROXIM AND FLUKE PARTNERSHIP BRINGS WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS TO REAL-TIME DATA COLLECTION

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif, Sept. 27, 1993 -- Proxim, Inc., the leading supplier of spread spectrum wireless networking products, today announced an agreement with the Fluke Corporation, a leading supplier of professional electronic tools, that has resulted in a new Fluke real-time mobile data acquisition and transmission system for monitoring multiple remote sites.

Called the Fluke Wireless Logger, the system integrates a Proxim's ProxLink Radio Module enabling quick and immediate data collection and transmission from as many as 20 locations once considered too remote, inaccessible, or environmentally hostile for a real time monitoring system. The system transmits data up to 800 feet to a PC for analysis, and measures a range of input types (including thermocouples, DCV, ACV, RTDs, resistance, flow, pressure, etc.) without an external signal conditioners or danger of damage from ground loops, common mode voltage, or voltage spikes.

"Proxim's partnership with Fluke represents our continuing efforts to develop close working relationships with market leading system solution providers," said David King, Proxim's president and CEO. "Fluke's approach to integrating wireless technology could serve as a model for system vendors looking to extend the reach of their existing products. The company's innovative approach to providing real time data collection underscores the value of wireless communication technology."

"Providing an integrated wireless system has enabled us to increase the customers' productivity by providing real-time data collection to areas that were previously too difficult or expensive to install a hard wired solution in," said Dave Postetter, Fluke's marketing manager, Data Acquisition Tools. "Proxim's receptivity to working closely with our engineers in the early product development stages was one element in our ability to quickly and successfully bring the Fluke Wireless Logger to market."

Fluke's decision to integrate the Proxim spread spectrum technology was based on its requirement for reliability in industrial environments and the need for immunity to electrical interference. In addition, since no FCC radio license is required for operation, the Fluke Wireless Logger can be set-up anywhere, anytime.

Fluke's business focus is on new and growing markets for compact, professional electronic test tools. Fluke products are used in service, manufacturing test and quality functions in a variety of industries throughout the world. Fluke, headquarted in Everett, Wash., was founded in 1948, has over 2,700 employees worldwide. About Proxim

Proxim is the leading supplier of wireless spread spectrum radio networking products for local area environments. The company's unmatched spread spectrum radio design expertise, combined with its extensive experience serving the data networking needs of the mobile computing user, have positioned the company at the forefront of the emerging wireless LAN market. Proxim develops, manufactures and markets four distinct families of wireless networking products.

Proxim's RangeLAN2 is a family of high performance wireless systems designed for the corporate LAN market. Based on frequency hopping spread spectrum technology in the 2.4-2.483 GHz band, RangeLAN2 offers the longest range and lowest power consumption of any wireless LAN product in its class. It delivers an uncompressed data rate of 1.6 Mbps per channel over 10 independent channels. RangeLAN2's data rate exceeds the performance requirements of most standard PC applications, making it an ideal wireless system for high speed LAN environments. The RangeLAN2 family includes RangeLAN2/PCMCIA for notebook and handheld computers, RangeLAN2/ISA for desktop PCs and servers, and RangeLAN2/Bridge for plug-and-play network access to standard wired LAN environments. All RangeLAN2 systems come bundled with Proxim's advanced RangeLAN2/Roaming software, a capability developed for Proxim's original RangeLAN family of adapters. RangeLAN2/Roaming allows mobile computer users the unprecedented ability to move seamlessly from one LAN access point to another without ever losing connection to the network, effectively creating "microcellular" in-building wireless networks.

Proxim's original award-winning RangeLAN family of products, shipping since 1992, is designed for less data-intensive LAN applications such as E-mail, printer-sharing and file transfer, as well as many industry-specific mobile computing applications. Operating at a data rate of 242 Kbps per channel across three independent channels, the original RangeLAN family has a range of 300-500 feet in normal office environments and 800-1000 feet in outdoor or open space environments. The RangeLAN family includes RangeLAN/PCMCIA for portable computers, RangeLAN/ISA for desktop PCs and servers, RangeLAN/LT for Compaq Computer's Contura and LTE notebook computers, RangeLAN/Parallel for connection to the parallel port of any PC, and RangeLAN/Roaming, which allows mobile computer users to automatically switch from access point to access point within a Novell network.

ProxLink, introduced in 1991, is a self-contained, plug-ant-play wireless network device with a user-configurable serial port. ProxLink is designed for lower speed, longer range wireless networking applications. Offered to end users and VARs, ProxLink offers instant RS-232 connectivity for applications where it is difficult or impractical to run wires.

In addition to offering end user products, Proxim has offered wireless networking solutions to OEMs since 1989. The company's numerous OEM partners have designed Proxim's spread spectrum networking modules into many mobile computers and terminals. These OEM partners have deployed Proxim's wireless networking technology in a broad range of industry-specific applications, including retail, manufacturing, distribution and health care.

Founded in 1984, Proxim, Inc., headquartered in Mountain View, Calif., is the world's leading supplier of spread spectrum wireless networking products for end users, systems integrators, VARs and OEMs. The company designs, manufactures and markets an industry leading family of off the-shelf wireless LAN adapters for desktop and portable systems, as well as spread spectrum radio modules and wireless RF modems for custom applications. To date, Proxim has shipped over 50,000 spread spectrum radio products.

Proxim, Inc.

295 North Bernardo Ave, Mountain View, CA 94043

(415) 960-1630,    Fax: (415) 964-5181


Now PSpice Quality at Affordable Price
Now--PSpice Quality at an Affordable Price!

September 20, 1993 -- (Irvine, CA) For those small-circuit analog designers who want the technical sophistication of PSpice, MicroSim Corporation now has a low cost solution for you!

Small-circuit PSpice is now available at an unprecedented price of $1,4195.

The PSpice circuit simulator comes complete with:

* Analog library of over 5,300 devices.

* Analog Behavioral Modeling.

* Monte Carlo & sensitivity/worst-case analyses.

* Enhanced graphical waveform analyzer.

* Device characterization.

* Stimulus generation.

For more information about PSpice or other Design Center products, please call us at (714) 770-3022, or toll free at (800) 245-3022.

MicroSim Corp

20 Fairbanks, Irvine, CA 92718

714-770-3022,  800-245-3022,  fax 714-455-0554


Chem-X Now Available for Windows
Chem-X... Now Available for Windows

September 1993 -- Chemical Design is pleased to announce that its Chem-X software is now available for use with Microsoft Windows. The implementation of Chem-X running under MS-DOS on the desktop PC was first introduced over two years ago. The exciting new MS-Windows implementation means added value by combining Chem-X power on the PC with the flexibility of working in a Windows environment.

This new MS-Windows version extends even further the variety of platforms on which Chem-X is now available. No other software provides the same extensive range of functionality for small molecules, proteins, polymers and inorganic structures on all platforms. The range of computational capabilities in Chem-X is unrivaled. The MS-Windows interface to Quantum Chemistry programs means easy access to GAUSSIAN, GAMESS and MOPAC. For protein specialists, links to DGEOM and AMBER are also available.

The use of Windows makes preparing documents and reports incorporating Chem-X results even easier. Desired pictures and results tables are simply cut from the Chem-X window and pasted into a document opened in another window.

Chemical Design is the leading supplier of Molecular Modeling and Chemical Information systems with over 500 installations of Chem-X worldwide. Customers include divisions of most major chemical and pharmaceutical companies. The recommended configuration for running Chem-X under MS-Windows is a PC486 with 8Mb of memory and Microsoft Windows version 3.1 For further information, contact Chemical Design at the above address.


ANSOFT SHIPS MAXWELL SPICELINK 1.2

NEW RELEASE SPEEDS HIGH-SPEED INTERCONNECT ANALYSIS BY FACTOR OF 10 OR MORE

Pittsburgh, Pa. September 20, 1993 - Ansoft Corporation announced today that it is shipping Version 1.2 of Maxwell Spicelink, a signal integrity design software product for high-speed electronic design applications.

The most important enhancements in this release are new field solvers that can increase the speed of electrical characterization by a factor of ten or more over previous versions. Power and ground plane characterization is simplified by the addition of automatic SPICE model generation for structures with multiple sources and sinks. Maxwell Spicelink 1.2 includes all previous capabilities for simulation of 3D structures, including non-ideal grounds and ground bounce, for the design of electronic packaging, connectors, and MCMs and PCBs.

Maxwell Spicelink addresses high-speed digital design issues including signal integrity and crosstalk, parasitic parameters, power and ground plane placement, and electromigration. The product's primary strength is its sophisticated capabilities for electromagnetic analysis of interconnect structures, including 3D modeling of package and die interconnects, PCB connector and bus structures, and semiconductor metallization. Circuit level signal integrity modeling can be performed at the SPICE-level to study crosstalk, ringing, and reflections with SPICE-level accuracy.

"Now, design engineers can use the same signal integrity tool for modeling different classes of interconnect problems without taking a substantial performance hit," commented Dr. Zoltan Cendes, Founder of Ansoft Corporation. "Previously, engineers needing electrical characterization often had to choose between an accurate, general finite-element field solver, as in previous versions of Maxwell Spicelink, or specialized fast solvers that had limitations in terms of accuracy, problem size, material types, or geometry."

"With Maxwell Spicelink Version 1.2, certain classes of interconnect, including both single and multilayer packaging structures and RC-dominated interconnects can be characterized using the new fast field solvers. When more general capabilities are needed, such as in many packaging or MCM structures involving ground bounce, the designer can still use the finite-element modeling technology proven in years of use by Ansoft customers."

The 10X or greater speed improvement in C matrix extraction comes from a new algorithm for capacitance computation called multipole acceleration. Other integral-equation techniques such as BEM suffer a substantial performance penalty with large models because the full-matrices used in these methods require order n**3 solution times. Multipole techniques, however, offer linear (order n) performance, and solve geometrically complex structures in MCM and semiconductor packaging applications very efficiently. Maxwell Spicelink Version 1.2 is the first commercial product to incorporate multipole acceleration (MPA).

The 10X to 100X speed-up in R and L calculations for 3D structures results from enhanced proprietary fast FEA algorithms for computing current distributions, combined with a modified Neumann integration technique for accurate L matrix calculation. Other implementations of Neumann integration use a filament method to model current flow in an interconnect, severely limiting its accuracy. The new approach implemented in Maxwell Spicelink eliminates this problem by using true 3D conduction solutions to determine the actual current distribution in the interconnects.

In addition to fast L, C, R computation in 3D, other new capabilities included in Maxwell Spicelink Version 1.2 are:

* 3D AC analysis including skin effect and induced eddy currents

* A fast planar solver that can import DXF files of single layer

  planar structures to compute resistance and capacitance of

  these structures automatically

* SPICE output compatible with HSPICE, PSpice, and ContecSPICE

  is produced automatically

* Network licensing is available.

Maxwell Spicelink 1.2 runs on popular UNIX-based workstations and the purchase price is $49,500 (US).

A October 27 seminar at Techmart (San Jose, CA) will show-case Maxwell Spicelink Version 1.2. Ansoft will present solutions for several types of ground plane problems.

Based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Ansoft Corporation has over 600 customers worldwide in the electronics, automotive, aerospace, and manufacturing sectors. The company's products are sold through distributors in Europe and Asia. Ansoft developed the microwave CAE tool, the High-Frequency Structure Simulator (HFSS), sold worldwide by the Hewlett-Packard Company. Ansoft headquarters are located at Four Station Square, Suite 660, Pittsburgh, PA 15219-1119 USA. Phone 412-261-3200. Fax 412-4719427. Internet info@ansoft.com.


Baker's Newsbits (9/30)
This week's quickie newsbits from various sources.....

NEC Technologies is recalling the main battery unit in its original notebook computer, models PC-17-01 and PC-17-02, after reports of the portables short circuiting after the battery was overcharged. The event can include smoke and fire, and damage is irreparable! About 13,000 units were sold between 1988 and 1990. Owners of the models should contact NEC at 800-237-2913 to receive a new battery.

JCS Marketing Inc is starting a new shareware distribution mechanism for shareware authors. They plan to produce and distribute a "Vendor Update" CD-ROM eight times per year that will be available to shareware vendors for a very nominal fee. If interested, contact JCS Marketing, PO Box 1216, Lakeville, MN 55044; 612-469-5898

The first annual Windows Solutions show was such a success that the event will triple in size next year when it moves to San Francisco's Moscone Center. As the West Coast's only major Windows show - and the only Windows exposition other than Windows World with Microsoft's express endorsement - expect the combined conference and exposition to become a major event for vendors and end users alike.

PEM Software Inc. of Atlanta, GA has signed on with Baker and Taylor Software to distribute its popular title - The Party Manager - Special Event Organizer. This program saves hours producing invitation lists, tracking guest responses and gifts for unlimited events. Marketable to both the home and business markets, this product carries a retail price of $49.95 from PEM Software, 6675 Peachtree Industrial Blvd, Ste 107, Atlanta, GA 30360 - 404-449-6900, fax 404-447-5366

NEMA's industrial automation division has published a 100-page Programmable Motion Control Handbook which represents, according to NEMA, a broad base of motion control component and system vendors. The handbook also includes a listing of more than 50 manufacturers subdivided into areas of specialty. NEMA intends the book to be a reference guide for new and prospective users of programmable motion control. Copies of the book are $9 and can be ordered by phone by calling 202-457-8474. For more information you can contact NEMA at 202-457-8411.

The CD-ROM version of Dr. Schueler's Home Medical Advisor is scheduled for release in mid to early November with a suggested retail price of $99.95 from Pixel Perfect Inc. Their Medical Records software will be offered to all registered users of HMA for a special price of $16.00 with $4 for shipping and handling. BOMICO, the second largest publisher in Germany is in the process of translating HMA into German. Digi-Lab, from Switzerland, is translating HMA into French. Pixel Perfect (Merritt Island, FL) 407-777-5353

SPC will soon be shipping a CD-ROM version of Harvard Graphics for Windows 2.0 at the same $395 MSRP as the floppy product. Software Publishing Corp (Santa Clara, CA) 408-450-7316

A newly formed industry consortium, the Association of Thermal Transfer Technology (ACT), will help supply more advanced color-printer-based products while promoting the technology's application-specific advantages. The color thermal transfer printers are based on ink-jet technology, which is responsible for the high quality output. The ACT consortium consists of printer manufacturers and suppliers, including Armor Nantes, Calcomp, Diafoil, Fujicopian, International Imaging Materials, Mitsui Plastics, and Tektronix. Headquartered in Buffalo, NY the group can be reached at 716-691-6333

Polytechnic University, Brooklyn, NY offers free software for planning part-time studies at the institute in the areas of electrical engineering, computer science, management, materials and processing, as well as mechanical and related engineering. For a free disk, contact Polytechnic University, 6 Metrotech Center, Brooklyn, NY 11201; 800-765-9832

Application notes are available on Dialogic Corp's bulletin board system, including Dialogic ADPCM algorithm, fax/120 load tests under Unix, how to implement an alphanumeric voice-recognition application, among others. Users can access the BBS at 201-334-2619. App notes are placed on the BBS in PostScript format in the file section of the main menu. Dialogic (Parsippany, NY) 201-334-8450

UniView from Unisoft Corp is free public domain software that brings a graphical picture of any pc board from any CAD system to an IBM PC or compatible. It automatically displays the PC-board assembly, components, network nodal and pin information, geometrics, traces and so forth. Requires a database generated by Unisoft's CAD connection system. UniSoft Corp, 1 Corporate Dr, MS319, Shelton, CT 06484; 203-925-2980

Net Server Watch 3.0 in versions for Windows and DOS is a server monitor for VINES. It works in console mode, sends mail messages, pops up a warning or pages you if something on the servers goes wrong. Also captures network statistics for off-line analysis or review. Datech Network Systems (Clark, NJ) 908-381-7911

Responsive Time Logger for Windows is still getting some last minute feature additions before the October release... System menu now shows current time, billable hours so far today, billable hours to date in any specified period, and more. For non-billable distractions, you can pause or pause one task while you restart billing on a completed task. For logging and reporting, you can store the interruption as a pause, or add to the task start time or subtract from the end time. Should be available in November from Responsive Software Inc (Berkeley, CA) 510-843-1034


Scissors N Stones Adult Interactive CDROM Game
PIXIS Interactive Releases "Scissors N Stones", an Interactive CD-ROM Game

Irvine, California -- September 30, 1993 -- PIXIS Interactive introduced an interactive CD-ROM game, Scissors N Stones. The CD-ROM utilize state-of-the-art multimedia technology by merging live-video with 3D rendered backgrounds, 3D generated animation sequences, and interactive game-play.

Scissors N Stones is a high-tech adaptation of the ancient game of rock-paper-scissors, where the user is transported into a 3D generated arena and individually plays against three attractive opponents named Stephanie, Lisa, and Nicole for articles of clothing.

According to Anthony Gomez, PIXIS' Multimedia Projects Manager, "This game is quite unique because it is the first adult game to have live actresses combined with 3D backgrounds and 3D rendered walk-through sequences that add to the overall realism of the game."

The IBM version operates on any CD-ROM equipped 486 or better MPC compatible PC. The Macintosh version operates on any CD-ROM equipped color Macintosh using a 68030 or better processor. The game utilizes QuickTime Compact Video technology with ultra high-quality video with 3D generated graphics.

Scissors N Stones retails for $99.95 and is available immediately. The CD-ROM includes the latest version of QuickTime (version 1.0 for the Apple Version; Version 1.1 for IBM MPC), a preview clip of PIXIS' previous releases, product documentation, and the CD-ROM game.

PIXIS Interactive is software developer and distributor of digital erotica and interactive entertainment software.

PIXIS Interactive

PO Box 50325, Irvine, CA 92619

714-753-9709,  800-697-4947


Free Motorola Parameter-Plotting Disk
FREE PARAMETER-PLOTTING DISK

Performs plotting tasks without CAD/CAE

Motorola has developed a plotting utility program disk for RF linear amplifier circuit design engineers. QSPLOT, the Quick S-Parameter PLOTting program, performs a variety of RF and mincrowave-specific tasks, without the need for CAE/CAD software. The program lets the user view S11 and S22 on a Smith chart plot, and S12 and S21 on a scaled polar plot. The user may also view input and output stability circles, ft vs. log frequency, and Gmax (in dB) vs. log frequency. The free 5.25" disk runs on IBM-compatible machines, and requires a math co-processor and VGA display. Contact Motorola Inc, Literature Distribution Center, PO Box 20924, Phoenix, AZ 85063, 800-441-2447


Wireless Data Conference & Expo, Oct 27-29
"Wireless Data Conference & Exposition"

October 27-29, 1993

The Westin Hotel, Santa Clara, California

Sponsored by Wireless Magazine

 Information: (708) 256-1763

 Registration: (201) 285-1500

Conference Chairman:

Ira Brodsky, President, Datacomm Research Company

Keynote Speakers:

 Craig McCaw, Chairman, McCaw Cellular

 Robert Growney, VP & General Manager, Motorola

 Marc Porat, CEO, General Magic

 Geoff Goodfellow, Chairman, RadioMail

 Brian McAuley, CEO, Nextel

DAY 1 - Wednesday, October 27th:

Tutorials:

"Introduction to Wireless Technologies & Buzzwords" - Ira Brodsky

"Mobile Data Networks" - Ira Brodsky

"ABCs of Mobile Data Project Management" - Greg Stack, TSC

"Spread Spectrum Radio" - Randy Roberts, Spread Spectrum Scene

DAY 2 - Thursday, October 28th:

Keynote: Craig McCaw

Sessions:

"Cellular: New Era In Mobile Data"

The cellular telephone industry promises to become the  leading provider of mobile data solutions.  Is Cellular Digital  Packet Data (CDPD) on track?  Should users wait for CDPD  or digital cellular--or should they jump in like United Parcel  Service?  Are cellular carriers prepared to sell and service  turnkey mobile data systems?

 - Rob Mechaley, VP & Gen. Mgr., McCaw Wireless Data

 - Greg Oslan, Dir. of Wireless Data, Ameritech Mobile

 - Klein Gilhousen, Sr. VP Technology, Qualcomm

 - Douglas Shute, CEO, Steinbrecher, Inc.

"Personal Communicators: Mobile Data's Mass Market?"

The first personal communicators are here now--and more  are on the way.  How crucial is wireless communications to  their success?  What are the compelling business  applications? Why are firms like Motorola and AT&T   investing so much money and resources in this bold new  product category? What requirements must be met to make  PDAs and personal communicators common business  tools?

 - Pat Richardson, VP, Motorola

 - Alan Yong, President, Dauphin Technology

 - Harriet Donnelly, Manager, AT&T Consumer Products

 - Brian Dougherty, President, Geoworks

 - Tom Bunch, VP, Compaq Computer

Lunch Speaker: Marc Porat, General Magic

Special Presentation: Brian McAuley, Nextel, Inc.

Sessions:

"Wireless & Field Sales Automation"

How can mobile computers improve customer service and  empower field sales personnel? What specific capabilities  are required to entice sales organizations to automate their  operations? What are some examples of how end users  have employed wireless data to better interface with their  customers?  And who should drive the implementation of a  mobile data solution: the field sales organization or MIS?

 - Tim Titus, VP, F.D. Titus & Son

 - Leslie Berkshire, Manager Market Development, ARDIS

 - Ann Marie McGee, Dir. Strategic Marketing, Fujitsu

 - Speaker from PenUltimate

"Mobile Data Technologies - Radio On A Chip?"

The anticipated growth of mobile computing demands  cheap, reliable, high performance networks and mobile  computers.  How close are we to realizing these goals?   What new products are chip manufacturers offering?  How  will advances in display technology, batteries, and other  hardware pieces help create a mass market for mobile  computing?

 - Michael Lubin, VP, PCSI

 - Bob Kresek, VP of Marketing, Wireless Access

 - Bruce Swail, Dir. Advanced Products, Motorola

"Mobile Information Services"

New mobile data services are being linked to newswires,  electronic mail networks, and online databases.   What  kinds of timely information do users need most, and what is  the best way to deliver it to them in the field?  Will mobile  data networks provide a new impetus for electronic  publishing?

 - Yosi Amram, Individual, Inc.

 - Gary Green, COO, Metricom

 - Chris Hrut, Navigation Technologies

 - Chris Jennewein, San Jose Mercury News

"Mobile Middleware Magic"

Software has emerged that enables existing applications to  work over wireless networks.   A new breed of software  promises to enable machines to communicate on our  behalf.  What are the software challenges for mobile  computing and who is confronting them?  What  developments will make mobile computing transparent to  end users?

 - Isaac Schpancer, VP of R & D, Racotek

 - Michael Goldberger, Chairman, MODA Systems

 - EO, Mike Homer, Dir. of OEM sales

 - Gary Slagel, VP Marketing, 21 CenNet

Day 3 - Friday, October 29th:

Keynote: Robert Growney, Motorola

Sessions:

"Wireless & Health Care: RX for Efficiency?"

How is wireless data technology being employed to  revolutionize point-of-care?  What are the benefits of  wireless point-of-care systems in improving productivity and  the overall integrity of health care services?  What are the  key communications requirements in the hospital  environment and which wireless technologies are best  suited to meet them?

 - David King, VP Marketing, Proxim

 - Gregg Fraley, VP Marketing, Physicians Online

 - Bill Council, President, PenKnowledge, Inc.

"Paging & Specialized Mobile Radio"

Paging and Specialized Mobile Radio (two-way business  radio) are proven and reliable methods for communicating  with personnel in the field.  Is mobile data a threat to these  services?  How are leading Paging and SMR players  addressing the needs of mobile computing? What is the  Advanced Paging Service and why could it be a surprise  winner in the mobile data business?

 - David Ackerman, VP, MTEL

 - Ralph Tomeoni, President, TekNow

 - George Calhoun, President, PowerSpectrum

 - Stu Froelich, Engg. Manager, II Morrow, Inc.

"Wireless & Multimedia"

Multimedia is likely to play a bigger role in wireless  networks than many expect.  The traditional keyboard and  text display are good for the office, but not necessarily good  for the field.  How will handwriting and speech recognition,  graphics, and video be used in the field?  What wireless  networks are preparing to serve the high bandwidth  requirements of multimedia communications?

 - Doug Smith, Pres., Omnipoint Corp.

 - Jeffrey Dao, CEO, Comm Intelligence Corp.

 - Scott Schelle, VP, American Personal Communications

"Wireless Business Opportunities"

The  burgeoning wireless data industry provides business  opportunities for both users and vendors alike.  What  technologies and companies are investors betting their  money on?  How will FCC initiatives and rulings impact the  business? What changes might wireless computing bring to  the computer and communications industries?

 - Larry Movshin, Wilkinson, Barker, Knauer and Quinn

 - Kevin Fong, General Partner, Mayfield Fund

 - Eric Zimits, Analyst, Volpe, Welty, & Company

 - Paul Heller, Heller & Associates

Lunch: Geoffrey Goodfellow, RadioMail Corp.

"The Virtual Office: White Collar Nomads"

Field sales reps, consultants, and auditors are having their  offices and desks taken away from them to make certain  they spend their time where they belong: in the field.  Many  of them have come to rely on office resources to get their  jobs done.  What developments are enabling mobile  workers to access office resources remotely?  What network  advances are making remote access as good as "being  there"?

 - Nicole Kelly, NCR

 - Imre Soos, Mgr., Wireless Comm Programs, Andersen Consulting

 - Daniel Kranzler, President, AccessLine

 - Tom Jacksom, Marketing Mgr., Intel Corp.

 - Howard Case, VP Wireless Messaging, RAM Mobile Data

"Wireless Data Conference & Exposition

October 27-29, 1993

The Westin Hotel, Santa Clara, California

Sponsored by Wireless Magazine

 1 day:  $295

 2 days: $795

 3 days: $995

End user and team discounts available

 Information:  (708) 256-1763

 Registration: (201) 285-1500


Quick Restart for Windows and DOS
A NEW SOLUTION FOR WINDOWS USERS

Quick Restart for Windows and DOS

Santa Clara, Calif. -- September 16th, 1993 -- At Windows Solutions, PowerPro Software, Inc., is demonstrating a new solution for automatically resuming work in Windows. Quick Restart for Windows and Dos is a time, work, and power saving utility. Which provides a very useful auto resume function for the current desktop, laptop and portable/notebook computer users in the IBM PC compatible marketplace. Quick Restart provides a very low cost alternative to attain auto resume function on existing computer systems without requiring a special SL processor or hardware changes.

Quick Restart is a system utility intended for use with Windows and Dos based systems. Using Quick Restart, you can start working in Windows instantly, instead of launching Windows and opening your applications and files one by one every time you power on the system. You can save your entire work with a single mouse click or by pressing a hotkey just before you are ready to power off the system. The next time you power on the system, Quick Restart restores the complete state of the system and brings you right back to where you were before. With DOS applications, Quick Restart provides the same instant recall capability between system power off and power on operations.

Quick Restart increases the Windows productivity of the user and significantly reduces the startup time of Windows thus allowing the user to spend more time working in Windows rather than waiting for Windows to Load and Unload. On 386, 486 systems, it is possible to do a complete save of a system with 8MB RAM in about 12 seconds and resume back to the same place after powering on in just about 12 seconds. This is a great saving in time when compared to waiting for Dos and Windows to load themselves and load each application one by one every time the system is powered on. Moreover who would like to carry a bookmark in their heads thean leave it in their computers where it belongs!

Recognizing the need for good compatibility with Windows applications and major super VGA video systems. Quick Restart is customized to work with most Windows accelerator cards and super VGA cards in the market and also provides device independent save/restore function under Windows. Quick Restart provides inbuilt support for installation and configuration under the popular compression packages: Double Space, Stacker, SuperStor and XtraDrive.

Quick Restart is available for purchase direct from PowerPro Software or from software distributors and dealers. The suggested retail price is $39.95 each.

PowerPro Software is an up-and-coming startup venture, focussing on the System Utility and Power Management software arena. PowerPro intends to serve the needs of the PC compatible marketplace with innovative and value oriented software. The company sells its products through software distributors/dealers and also through OEM licensing/bundling. PowerPro Software also does OEM customization and licensing of Quick Restart to meet the unique needs of various computer makers, computer accessory developers, system integrators and custom application developers.

PowerPro Software

PO Box 4611, Foster City, CA 94404

415-345-9278,  fax 415-345-5128


Video CD Standard Data-Format Defined
Four major consumer-electronics companies have joined together on a data-format standard for recording video on 12-cm compact discs. Matsushita, Philips, Sony, and Victor Company of Japan Ltd (JVC) will push the format in such applications as movies, music and karaoke. The Video CD standard, which includes MPEG-1 coding, is fully based on the karaoke CD format announced by JVC and Philips earlier this year. The format can store up to 74 minutes of digitized audio and motion pictures on a CD. It has the ability to use existing video-source software and is compatible with all major broadcasting standards, including NTSC, PAL, and Secan. The four companies agreed to cooperate on creating future standards that take advantage of advances in technology, such as the impending release of the MPEG-2 algorithm from the Motion Picture Experts Group of the International Standards Organization. Specific features on the horizon include two levels of still pictures for normal and high-resolution imaging, and additional playback control with recorded control codes on the CD.


Home Medical Advisor & Your Medical Records
September 8, 1993 -- Merritt Island, Florida -- Ingram Micro, the nation's largest distributor of computer software, has chosen the highly acclaimed Dr. Schueler's Home Medical Advisor for nationwide distribution. The Home Medical Advisor is published by Pixel Perfect, Inc. and is available in MS-DOS and Windows versions. Both versions carry a suggested retail price of $87.50

Pixel Perfect Inc. recently announced the release of a new home health software package Your Medical Records. This product allows you to database 14 different types of medical histories that can be printed in a physician-style format or as a wallet-sized report. "We have had a tremendous interest in a package that allows consumers to keep their own medical records in a more organized and easily retrievable format," says Stephen J. Schueler, M.D., president of Pixel Perfect Inc.

Your Medical Records (for Windows) has a totally menu driven interface that eliminates cumbersome key punch data entry. A complete detailed medical history can be generated in only a few minutes with this special physician-designed system. In addition, Your Medical Records can generate custom medical-legal documents like "the living will" and "durable power of attorney." Housed within YMR is InteRact, the first consumer-friendly drug interaction analyzer. InteRact can report over 250,000 drug interactions including interactions with alcohol, caffeine, tobacco, foods and vitamins.

Franklin Electronic Publishers Inc has entered into an agreement with Pixel Perfect Inc. to bring the Home Medical Advisor and Your Medical Records to their very popular hand-held Digital Book System. Schueler says, "they (Franklin) took one look at our software and they had to have it."

This winter, Pixel Perfect will release a professional version of the ever popular Home Medical Advisor software on CD-ROM (Home Medical Advisor Pro). "The CD version will contain the largest color atlas of medicine ever assembled on disk," says Schueler, M.D. Other features planned include full motion digitized video showing current operative procedures and state-of-the-art diagnostic tests. Your Medical Records and InteRact will also be incorporated into the new "super-charged" version of the Home Medical Advisor for CD-ROM. Projected retail price is $99.95

Pixel Perfect Inc

10460 S. Tropical Trail, Merritt Island, FL 32952

407-777-5353,  fax 407-777-0323


MicroSim Corp Opens New Office in Japan
MicroSim Corporation Opens New Office in Japan!

October 1, 1993 -- (Irvine, CA) A tremendous growth in our market share has encouraged us to open a sales office in Tokyo, Japan. The office will handle direct orders and provide technical support to the Japanese market. The doors are scheduled to open October 1, 1993.

MicroSim Corporation

5-55-6 Yoyogi #201

Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 151

Japan

3-5453-2621 (voice)

3-5453-2620 (fax)

For more information about MicroSim Corporation or our Design Center products, please call us at (714) 770-3022, or toll free at (800) 245-3022. If it's more convenient, just contact our Tokyo office.

MicroSim Corp

20 Fairbanks, Irvine, CA 92718

714-770-3022,  800-245-3022,  fax 714-455-0554


Inuit QuickBooks for Windows & V2.0 for DOS
INTUIT ROLLS OUT WINDOWS VERSION OF BEST-SELLING BOOKKEEPING SOFTWARE

QuickBooks for DOS drove unprecedented growth in accounting category in 1992

MENLO PARK, Calif.--August 27, 1993--Intuit Inc. (NASDAQ: INTU) today announced QuickBooks for Windows and QuickBooks Version 2.0 for DOS, two new versions of the leading software for small business bookkeeping. These new versions bring exceptional speed to bookkeeping tasks, and provide new, extensive business-management tools such as automatic tracking and billing of reimbursable expenses, comparative reports for analyzing results across multiple time periods, and more preset reports. In addition, the Windows version provides instant context-sensitive QuickReports, as well as QuickInsight Graphs for instant graphical views of financial results.

Intuit introduced QuickBooks in April 1992. QuickBooks currently maintains a 63 percent share of the accounting market. Representing a breakthrough in ease-of-use, QuickBooks DOS drove unprecedented growth in the accounting category in 1992. According to Software Publishers Association, the ease-of-use accounting category grew over 50 percent in 1992 and QuickBooks provided about 80 percent of that growth.

"With QuickBooks we've awakened a sleepy software category," said Intuit President Scott Cook. "How? QuickBooks was the first software package to bring complete and powerful bookkeeping to the millions of small businesses that have no knowledge of accounting. Our research shows that two-thirds of small businesses do not understand debit/credit accounting. QuickBooks has satisfied a huge untapped market need. Our new Windows version of QuickBooks, and Version 2.0 for DOS, broaden the market further and offer small-business people dramatic new benefits," Cook said.

Faster, Easier Data Entry

The new versions of QuickBooks save users time and provide significantly faster, easier data entry. Reimbursable expense tracking allows users to automatically bill customers for expenses incurred on their behalf. With this innovative feature, users can invoice expenses to customers without entering information twice, saving data entry time and eliminating mistakes and forgotten reimbursable expenses. QuickFill eliminates repetitive data entry by automatically filling in information from users' business lists (such as customer and vendor lists), and by recalling previous transactions. With as little as two keystrokes, users can enter an entire check or complete the top portion of an invoice. Automatic sales tax calculation easily computes sales tax for taxable items on an invoice.

More Business Insight

Businesses can make more informed business decisions with new reporting features in QuickBooks. QuickZoom for reports lets users zero in and see the information behind the numbers on reports. For example, if users see an amount on a report that they wish to better understand, they can double click on the amount and "zoom in" to see a detailed list of the transactions that comprise that amount. They can then select any transaction from the list and "zoom in" again to see even more detail for that transaction (e.g., an original check or invoice).

New comparative reports in QuickBooks let users easily analyze changes from one period to the next, including this year-to-date period vs. the corresponding period last year, actual vs. budget and more. Profit and loss statements now provide the option for a "percent of income" column, to show a more complete view of expenses and how they compare to income. And with more preset reports--over 50 in the Windows version and more than 20 in the DOS version--users can access information about any part of their business in seconds. For example, users can instantly produce a cash-flow forecast report, which automatically projects how much cash they will have on hand week by week.

In QuickBooks for Windows, new QuickReports allow users to create instant context-sensitive reports throughout the program with the click of a mouse. While in the customer list, for example, double clicking on a customer's name generates a report showing all the activity that makes up that customer's account balance. With this innovative feature, users can immediately access information about any customer, vendor, account, item and more.

Graphics and Formatting Innovations

The Windows version of QuickBooks offers significant advances in graphics and formatting. The product takes full advantage of the Windows environment to make learning and usage even easier. New QuickInsight Graphs give an instant graphical view of the results and financial status of the business. QuickZoom for graphs allows users to see the details behind the pictures. The program provides more control over the appearance of reports, including onscreen column sizing, font control and more. QuickBooks for Windows also includes innovative onscreen learning tools. Qcards provide learn-as-you-go instruction on all the features of the product by giving users the information needed to complete a task just when it is needed. And QuickTour, graphical on-screen tutorials-familiarize users with the features of QuickBooks to make learning even faster.

Beta testers gave the new versions high marks. "QuickBooks is dramatically faster, easier and simpler to use", said Robert B. Jones, Educational Marketing. "The new reimbursable expense feature keeps our billing simple and clear. And reports are even easier to get and more useful than previously."

Pricing and Availability

QuickBooks for Windows will be available immediately at all major chain and independent software retailers. QuickBooks Version 2.0 for DOS is expected to be available in October. Each retails for $159.95 suggested retail price (SRP). QuickBooks upgraders and Quicken users will be offered rebates of $45 and $25, respectively. A QuickBooks/QuickPay payroll software bundle will also be available for both Windows and DOS platforms for $199.95 (SRP) each.

Requirements and Compatibility

QuickBooks for DOS requires 640K of RAM, a hard disk with 3.5MB free, and DOS 3.0 or higher. QuickBooks for Windows requires an IBM compatible 386 (or higher) PC, 2MB of RAM (4MB recommended), a hard drive with 9MB free, and Windows 3.1.

Users of Quicken and users of QuickBooks Version 1.0 for DOS can import their files directly into either the new DOS or Windows version of QuickBooks during start-up.

Intuit develops and markets software products that enable households and small businesses to automate commonly performed financial tasks. Quicken, the Company's original product, allows users to automate their personal finances. In April 1992, the Company introduced QuickBooks, its first small-business accounting product. To complement Quicken, QuickBooks and its other software products, the Company offers a broad range of supplies, including checks, invoices and forms. In addition, the Company has a number of service offerings, such as the Quicken VISA card with IntelliCharge, that work with its software products to further automate financial tasks.

Intuit Inc

155 Linfield Dr, PO Box 3014

Menlo Park, CA 94026

415-322-0573


EnviroMac Environmental Monitoring & Control
EnviroMac Enables the Macintosh to Monitor and Control its Environment

Environmental Monitoring for All Mac Users

September 22, 1993 -- Seattle, WA -- Remote Measurement Systems, Inc. officially announced the release of EnviroMac, an environmental monitoring and control system for the Macintosh. The EnviroMac package makes data acquisition and control so easy and cost effective that every Macintosh owner can now take advantage of the benefits of automating monitoring and control activities. EnviroMac can be used with any Mac- older Pluses and SEs, Classics, Performas, the Mac II and Centris lines, Quadras and PowerBooks.

Who Benefits

EnviroMac is ideally suited for applications such as:

* Energy management and indoor climate control in offices,

  greenhouses, labs, small businesses and homes.

* Industrial and university research.

* Environmental monitoring and data collection.

* Product testing and small scale process control in

  manufacturing.

Turns Mac into a Green Machine

The EnviroMac package turns an existing Macintosh computer into a "green machine", providing it with the capability to monitor such factors as temperature, air quality and energy use. With advanced control capabilities, EnviroMac continuously evaluates external conditions and automatically issues commands to control electrical devices (e.g. appliances, machinery, or electronic equipment). Not only does EnviroMac provide precise measurements and reliable control, but in many situations it can save money by reducing energy consumption.

Bundled Package Gets Users Started

The EnviroMac package includes all the pieces that are needed to begin collecting environmental measurements using a Macintosh -hardware, software, two sensors, an X-10 control module, cables for connecting to the Mac, and complete documentation. The EnviroMac package price is $899.

EnviroMac Hardware

The EnviroMac hardware serves as the interface between the Macintosh and sensors or instruments. Easy to set up and install, the sensor interface is a hardware peripheral that plugs into the modem port of any Mac via a serial port cable. The interface includes 16 analog inputs for connection of sensors, and 4 digital inputs. A controller for the X-10 system of power line control modules, plus 6 digital outputs enable the Macintosh to control up to 38 separate external devices. Built using low power CMOS technology, EnviroMac is ideal for field applications in conjunction with a PowerBook.

EnviroMac Software

The software offers the point and click ease of a standard Macintosh application. The EnviroMac software allows users to collect, display, record and graph data obtained from sensors, and to store measurements at periodic intervals for future analysis by graphing or spreadsheet programs. The software operates in background under System 7 or MultiFinder so the Macintosh may be used for other tasks while monitoring continues.

No Programming Required to Implement Control

Absolutely no knowledge of programming is required for users to get started controlling their environments. EnviroMac has an innovative rule interpreter that allows for as many as 40 IF... THEN... ELSE... conditions, all with the ease of pointing and clicking on buttons and menu choices. Users can easily begin controlling their environments with simple rules such as: "IF the temperature is greater than 82 THEN turn on the cooling system".

Sensors

EnviroMac includes a temperature and a light level sensor. Sensors are used to convert physical changes in the environment into electrical signals. Additional sensors beyond those included in the EnviroMac package can also be used effectively with the EnviroMac hardware. Remote Measurement Systems offers sensors for temperature, electrical energy consumption, rainfall, wind speed, wind direction, soil moisture, relative humidity and CO2 levels.

Cost Effective Desktop Measurements'

"Our goal is to provide people with cost effective and time saving solutions to their data acquisition and control needs, whatever they are", says Remote Measurement Systems' president Keith Ronnholm. "One of the most exciting aspects of this business is the wide variety of applications possible for the EnviroMac package. I am constantly amazed at the new, creative uses for Desktop Measurements."

Data Acquisition Made Accessible

By combining standard personal computers with affordable and easy-to-use hardware and software, Remote Measurement Systems brings data acquisition and control to the desktop pioneering the concept of 'Desktop Measurements'. Desktop Measurements makes data acquisition and control (a term much more familiar to researchers and engineers than to building managers and home owners) accessible to average computer users. With powerful yet simple software, and versatile data collection/control hardware, users can gather the information they need easily, accurately, and inexpensively, then make informed decisions about their environment, process, or product.

More Users Can Benefit

With EnviroMac and the concept of desktop measurements, Remote Measurement Systems has done for data acquisition, what Aldus and Pagemaker did for typesetting - made it accessible and usable for a broad spectrum of tasks, projects and users.

New Uses for Old Macs

EnviroMac occupies only 800K of disk space and uses 900K of RAM. These small memory requirements enable older model Macintosh computers (Plus, SE) to fulfill a productive role controlling a greenhouse, or managing energy usage in a business, well after the end of their effective life as the primary business computer. Since the EnviroMac hardware connects to the Mac via the serial port, it can easily be moved from one location or workstation to another. One can imagine EnviroMac as a tool - to be used for project after project in various locations by multiple people.

Remote Access

The EnviroMac system can also be used for remote data collection. With the aid of a remote access software, one can gain access to recorded measurements of environmental conditions, and even take control of the remote system in order to change control parameters. In this manner, an operations manager with multiple buildings to monitor, or a researcher with experiments running in several locations, can "be" in more than one place at a time.

Remote Measurement Systems, Inc. is a privately held company that manufactures moderately priced hardware, software, and sensors for low-speed, environmental monitoring applications. It was founded in 1983, and is based in Seattle, Washington.

Remote Measurement Systems Inc

2633 Eastlake Ave East, Suite 200, Seattle, WA 98102-3231

206-328-2255,  fax 206-328-1787


ScriptWriter II Digitized Writing Tablet
FROM CIRCUIT COURT TO TRAFFIC COURT SCRIPTWRITER II IS BREAKING NEW GROUND

HUNTSVILLE, AL--Data Entry Systems' ScriptWriter II (SWII) pressure-sensitive digitized writing tablet is making dramatic inroads in the courtroom, helping to expedite one of the nation's most challenging problems: child support.

Among the first to use the innovative SWII is the Expedited Child Support program of the Cook County Circuit Court in Chicago, Illinois. Administrative Hearing Officers and their clerks are using Data Entry's SWII and a PC-based custom software application designed by the Court Services Division of Eagle Computer Systems, Inc. (ECS) to generate orders in the hearing room.

Using specially designed worksheets placed on the SWII, the Hearing Officers are recording their findings and making their recommendations during the child support hearing. Via ECS' Order Generation System, the Clerk uploads the information from the SWII and generates appropriate orders for support, genetic testing, income withholding, etc.

The Court Services Division of ECS, a custom software development company of Teton Valley, Idaho is also currently implementing a SWII pilot program with law enforcement in Laramie County, Wyoming. The goal of this pilot is to eliminate the redundant data of citations among the State's courts, law enforcement, motor vehicle, and driver's license agencies. The Wyoming Highway Patrol and the Laramie County Sheriff's Department are using the SWII to electronically capture citation data on a specially designed multi-part citation. At the end of their shift, officers upload the electronic citation data for use by the automated systems of the court, local law enforcement, and other State agencies. Results of the pilot study will be available in early December.

Data Entry Systems

1035 Putman Dr, Huntsville, AL 35816


MathWorks Symbolic Math Toolbox Introduced
THE MATHWORKS, INC. INTRODUCES THE SYMBOLIC MATH TOOLBOX

Comprehensive Environment for Integrated Numeric and Symbolic Computation offers speed, accuracy, and reliability

Natick, Mass., September 6, 1993 - The MathWorks, Inc., developers of MATLAB, today introduced the Symbolic Math Toolbox and the Extended Symbolic Math Toolbox, two extensions to MATLAB that integrate powerful symbolic computing with high performance numeric computation. Both products, which begin shipping next month, are based on embedded versions of Maple V, developed by Waterloo Maple Software. These are the first products resulting from The MathWorks' strategic alliance with Waterloo Maple Software.

"Until now, users who need both numeric and symbolic computation have had to make tradeoffs between speed and symbolic functionality with their current packages," said Cleve Moler, chief scientist at The MathWorks. "With the Symbolic Math Toolboxes, scientists, engineers, and other technical professionals can easily combine the speed, numeric robustness, and vertical application tools of MATLAB with the symbolic computational power and specialized mathematical tools of Maple V.

"In a typical engineering task such as dynamic system modeling, the engineer initially uses calculus to develop a theoretical model, which requires symbolic computing for an exact analytical solution. Numeric computation is useful in the next stage, in testing the model on large amounts of data or using it to perform simulations," added Moler. "We have taken a major step forward by offering the best of both worlds in a single package -- the industry-leading numeric computing software and the industry's most highly regarded symbolic package -- without making compromises on accuracy or performance."

The Symbolic Math Toolbox includes new MATLAB commands for more than 50 of the most commonly used symbolic functions in Maple. The toolbox also provides commands for variable precision arithmetic, direct access to the Maple kernel and Maple's core math library and linear algebra module, which come with the product. MATLAB users can access the full range of Maple functions via a new "maple" command.

The Extended Toolbox is a superset that includes access to Maple's programming language, the ability to create and execute Maple functions and applications, and the complete set of more than 20 Maple software packages for specialized fields such as number theory, power series, and geometry.

MATLAB is the most powerful numeric computing environment available today, providing hundreds of math and visualization functions such as matrix computation, numerical analysis, signal processing, object-oriented graphics, image display, animation, and more. MATLAB's 4GL programming language, graphics, and application-specific toolboxes allow users to analyze and visualize data, analyze and optimize engineering systems designs and algorithms, and create mathematical models.

Pricing for the Symbolic Math Toolbox will be $495, and the Extended Math Toolbox will be $695. University discount pricing for the Symbolic Math Toolbox will be $195, and the Extended Math Toolbox will be $495. The first platforms to become available will be the Sun SPARCstation and Microsoft Windows 3.1. Versions for other MATLAB platforms, including Macintosh, HP 700 series, Silicon Graphics, IBM RISCsystem/6000, Digital DECstation Ultrix, Alpha OSF/1 and VAX/VMS will become available later this year.

MATLAB Toolboxes extend the product by adding specialized functions for particular applications. These include neural networks, signal processing, control system design and analysis, system identification, and optimization. The toolboxes are created by world class experts in their respective fields and represent theory and algorithms at the cutting edge of scientific and engineering research.

Maple is the most powerful interactive computer algebra system for symbolic computation. Maple can solve the widest range of problems of any computer algebra system on the market, and speeds through elaborate calculations that would take hours or days to do on paper. It is widely recognized as providing reliable, accurate results.

Waterloo Maple Software is a private company founded in 1988 to market, distribute, and support MAPLE symbolic math software. The Maple software program was created in 1980 when Professors Gaston Gonnet and Keith Geddes of the University of Waterloo in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada joined together to produce the first symbolic math software product for minicomputers. Maple V is currently used by more than 100,000 engineers, scientists, mathematicians and students worldwide, and installations include some of the most prestigious universities in the world. Maple V is available for many UNIX platforms, Microsoft Windows, DOS, Macintosh, NeXT, VAX/VMS, and AmigaDOS systems.

The MathWorks, Inc., based in Natick, Mass., develops, markets and supports high performance software for interactive numeric computation, visualization and dynamic system simulation. The MathWorks' products are used worldwide by more than 140,000 users at leading commercial and government research laboratories and organizations, as well as at hundreds of educational institutions. MATLAB is available for MS-DOS and Apple Macintosh PCs; Sun, HP, Digital, IBM and Silicon Graphics workstations; VAX/VMS computers; and Convex and Cray supercomputers.

The MathWorks Inc

24 Prime Park Way, Natick, MA 01760

508-653-1415,  fax 508-653-2997


US K-12 Schools Spent $2.1 Billion on Educ Tech
US K-12 Schools Spent $2.1 Billion on Education Technology in 1992/93

Spending expected to grow 13% in 1993/94

September 13, 1993 (Washington, DC)- Spending on personal computer technology by US schools rose nearly 20% in the 1992/93 school year, reaching $2.1 billion, according to a study released today by the Software Publishers Association (SPA). A total of 332 K-12 school districts participated in the study and projected that spending on educational technology will rise another 13% in the 1993/94 school year to $2.24 billion.

The study was completed in the summer of 1993 and involved interviews with Technology Coordinators in K-12 school districts of all sizes in all parts of the US.

The study breaks out the following expenditures:

* Districts spent a total of $1.98 billion on education technology products and services in school year 1992/93, a 19% increase from $1.67 billion in school year 1991/92. Individual schools spent an additional $120 million, independent of district funds, for educational software, bringing the total spending on educational technology in the 1992/93 school year up to $2.10 billion.

* Spending on hardware and peripherals accounted for the majority of educational technology spending in the 1992/93 school year. Schools and school districts spent $570 million on non-Integrated Learning System (ILS) education software, or 27% of the total educational technology spending.

* Schools and school districts had a total of 4,398,000 personal computers installed at the time of the survey. The majority of these personal computers were used primarily for instructional purposes, while 435,000 (10%) were used primarily for administrative tasks.

* Technology coordinators expect that personal computers will increasingly be decentralized into classrooms, and will increasingly be connected to local area networks (LANs) and wide area networks (WANs).

* An estimated total of 112,000 CD-ROM drives were installed at the time of the survey. Among anticipated peripheral purchases, intent to purchase CDROM drives was particularly strong, and would cause a 72% increase in the installed base of CD-ROM drives. Purchase intent was also strong for videodisc players and modems.

* Finally, the technology coordinators identified a number of trends that are influencing their district's use of educational technology. Most importantly, they noted that technology is becoming part of the curriculum and will be increasingly integrated into instruction. They see networking, and instructional use of telecommunications, CD-ROMs and multimedia applications as technologies that will importantly affect our children's education.

"Technology has the potential to play a major role as we reinvent our education system," said Ken Wasch, Executive Director of the SPA. "Districts recognize this role, and are increasing spending on education technology even as overall spending levels are constrained. Education software is the key to the mix, the ingredient that engages the student and helps learning happen. We are very bullish on the future of education software."

The Software Publishers Association is the principal trade association of the PC software industry. Its 1,000 members represent the leading publishers in the business, consumer, and education markets. The SPA has offices in Washington, DC, and Paris, France.

Software Publishers Association

1730 M St, Northwest, Suite 700, Washington, D.C. 20036

202-452-1600,  Fax: 202-223-8756


The Soccer Game
The Soccer Game - by New ERA Software

You are manager of a 4th division football club of your choice - canyou cope with all aspects of football team management and take your team to the top of the first division an don to European success?

Programmed by a certifiable soccer maniac, who was fed up with the lack of detail and scope in available soccer management games, the SOCCER GAME uses the power of the PC to create a game far larger in scope and far more demanding than any available. Now on version 2, this is our best selling game.

The object of this outstanding game is to become a successful manager of a football team. At the outset you are contracted for a number of years to a fourth division team. From this lowly base you try to build up a reputation which ensures other teams have an avid interest in desiring your managerial qualities to be present at their club. Consequently, when your contract expires you may, if you're extremely talented, get offered a contract from a first division team. If, however, you are incompetent as a manager (whether by spending too much of the club's money, selling too many of their shares, losing too many matches, etc.) your contract will not be renewed and no other reasonably-minded team will offer you another contract. The game will be over. Whilst under contract, it is still possible for you  to be sacked - for gross misdemeanours - but not possible for you to leave your current club for another.

Success is measured in a number of ways. Largely it is a personal matter. Some people may play the game to win a European cup, others only for the FA cup; some will play the game to amass large sums of money, others to be top of the super league. Others still will be playing to remain as an active manager for as many seasons as possible.

Shareware registration is $25

Wizard Games of Scotland Ltd.

PO Box 498, Wilmington, MA 01887-0498

508-658-2209


Greyhound Racing Game
Greyhound - the safest be in racing history

Greyhound is a gmae for all gamblers and greyhound lovers everywhere. Managing a greyhound kennel may not be what you've always dreamed of, but after playing this game you might just change your mind...

In Greyhound you are the owner of a greyhound kennel. You both own and train the dogs, as well as being in charge of the kennel finances. The object is to use your skill and judgement to compete against other kennels and ultimately win the Championship and the Trophy at the end of each season.

If you like betting then Greyhound is for you: there are around 60 races per week in which you can win lots of money. And with 12 types of bet, ranging from win, place, forecasts and trios, you just can't lose (and pigs fly, etc.).

Greyhound takes you through all the sorrows and joys of owning and training racing greyhounds and the ecstasy of winning and the agony of losing large sums of money! You train your dogs, enter them for races, bet on them, and watch them run. You have to deal with injuries (short, long-term and career-halting) and fluctuating form. You have to decide whether you can afford to place a bet on your untried pup, or whether you can affort not to!

For statistics buffs, Greyhound is a must. It offers more facts and figures than any of our other games. Stats can all be sorted in various ways: wins, prize money, strike rate, best times (sprint, standard and distance) and average finishing position; listings can be shown for your own kennel, any particular grade, all grades or trainers. All stats can be easily printed out.

You can watch all the races, or just your own, or even just get the results.

You can buy puppies and watch them rise from the depths of grade 10 to the heights (and huge prize money) of grade 1. If you manage your finances wisely you should have enough money to go to auction races and buy yourself a proven racer; but, if you're not careful, you might be forced into selling your best dog just to stay solvent.

As you might expect, Greyhound comes complete with save/load facilities, online help, a permanent "alter dog and trainer names" utility and of course if at first you  don't succeed (or even if you do succeed and want to repeat the experience) you can play on for year after year until you finally win the championship!

Shareware registration is $20 for Greyhound, $25 for Greyhound 2, or $30 for both.

Wizard Games of Scotland Ltd.

PO Box 498, Wilmington, MA 01887-0498

508-658-2209


Insanity - Maze-based Adventure Game
INSANITY is a huge maze-based adventure game, where INSANITY rules! Find clues, solve puzzles and riddles, and try to stay allive in a place where the unexpected is common, and pandamonium is found at every turn.

As you try to find your way out of the labyrinth, you'll encounter many strange things. You'll meet a wizard, pass through stars, collect ammunition to defend yourself against little red fiends who are after your blood. You'll explore a castle and churce along the way, play games like seven card challenge and a fast paced soccer match. Most things won't make sense, but if you can find a method to the madness, you could find the key to end your search for a way out of INSANITY.

Shareware registration is $20

Wizard Games of Scotland Ltd.

PO Box 498, Wilmington, MA 01887-0498

508-658-2209


Rockstar Comedy Adventure Game
ROCKSTAR - try to become a megastar in the crazy world of sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll.

You have learnt to lay, and got a band together, and now you are chasing the big time. You want to be a star: to top the single and album charts and popularity pools worldwide.

To succeed you must work hard: tour extensively, spend lots of time and money in recording studios, and video studios, do radio and tv sessions and interviews, and generally plan a campaign for world domination.

Of course you will also find time to enjoy yourself: there will be groupies and parties, and holidays, and plenty of opportunities for over-indulgence. But you mustn't overdo it, or you'll end up in hospital or even dead! Luckily your manager, Dodgy Sam, your gand, and your friends(?), are there to give you loving advice and protection! But are you up to it all? Can you cope with the music business and be a rock star??

Shareware registration is $20

Wizard Games of Scotland Ltd.

PO Box 498, Wilmington, MA 01887-0498

508-658-2209


Grand Prix Formula One Racing Game
GRAND PRIX

Ever wonder what it would be like to manage a Formula One racing team? Well this excellent simulation will give you an insight into the intricacies of occupying the Manager's position.

You are responsible for hiring and firing staff, controlling the design, construction and testing of your cars, and making critical financial and race day decisions. Competition is strong and you will need your wits about you to stay solvent whilst you work your way to the top of the constructors' championship.

Features include:

-- 16 races per season, over 16 circuits each with unique

   and realistic characteristics

-- compulsory qualifying for each race

-- select drivers from transfer market

-- hire staff from transfer market or poach from other teams

-- select the manufacturer and model of your engine,

   transmission, chassis, electrics and body

-- or use your team's expertise to build your own components

-- test new cars on a circuit of your choice

-- select tyre manufacturers and compounds

-- pit stops, crashes, breakdowns, lap records, race commentary

-- choose from 20 teams

-- choose any of 100 drivers of differing skill and temperament

-- manage financies: sponsorship, bonuses, prize money, cash flow

   forecast, bankrupcy, contracts, salaries

-- detailed statistical information on all teams and drivers,

   including 10 year performance history

-- load and save game

-- newspaper reports

-- online help

Shareware registration is $25

Wizard Games of Scotland Ltd.

PO Box 498, Wilmington, MA 01887-0498

508-658-2209


R&R Report Writer for Windows, SQL Edition V2
R&R Report Writer for Windows, SQL Edition Version 2

Client/Server database reporting tool

Runs on Windows-based database client machines

For ORACLE, Microsoft SQL Server, Sybase SQL Server, NetWare SQL, Xbase and Btrieve. Powerful query, analysis and summary capabilities with publication-quality output.

Like its predecessors, R&R Report Writer SQL Edition lets users select, analyze, summarize and present useful data quickly and easily without programming.

Both an end user and a developer tool, R&R SQL Edition will automatically generate SQL statements. R&R converts calculations, sorts and filters into SQL expressions inserted into SELECT, ORDER BY and WHERE clauses.  End-users, therefore, do not need to understand SQL syntax or terminology.  For the SQL expert, however, R&R offers the flexibility to write SQL statements directly.

Includes unlimited-distribution, royalty-free runtime.

* Layout and presentation features

Shading, color printing and line and box drawing. Images in twelve different formats, such as .TIF, .BMP and .PCX Automatic space trimming, drag-and-drop editing, automatic line height adjustment, and action and format bars. Uses all Windows font styles, sizes, and colors. Full-page WYSIWYG print preview. Instant report template for tabular reports in just four mouse clicks.

* Database access features

Full relational join and query capabilities: relate up to 100 tables. Sort and group on pre-processed total fields and calculated fields. Calculated fields with over 80 pre-defined functions. R&R intelligently executes appropriate calculations on your database server. Users can create their own functions, including Windows DLL functions. Supports stored procedures for Sybase and Microsoft SQL Server, and Oracle 7.

* Pricing, System Requirements, and Availability

R&R Report Writer SQL Edition is now available through major distributors and software resellers. The cost of the single user package is $395.  Users of current R&R products may upgrade to the SQL Edition for $149.  Multi-user packs are also available. Requires 2MB of memory, 3.2MB of free disk space and Windows 3.1 or later.

Concentric Data Systems

110 Turnpike Rd, Westboro, MA 01581

(508) 366-1122,  Internet Email: syost@world.std.com