Date: Fri, 5 Jun 92 04:48 EST From: "Michael E. Marotta" Subject: File 1--Detailed Summary of X-Press (Response to CuD 4.24) In CUD #4.24, the transcript of Cisler's forum on Genie mentioned X-Press. Here is a more detailed description of what X-Press is. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Excerpts from: "Connecting Your Computer to Cable TV Doubles the Dimensions of Cyberspace" by Michael E. Marotta (originally published Aug 1991 by TELECOMPUTING, Albuq, NM) X-PRESS Informations Services, Ltd., of Denver Colorado, makes it possible for your home computer to receive and store news via cable (or satellite) television. X-PRESS X-Change is their basic service; they also sell an "executive" connection geared to businesses. X-PRESS X-Change is a basic consumer information service provided by cable television companies to personal computers. The service is a constant stream of worldwide news, sports, and weather supplemented with articles on lifestyle, shopping, and entertainment. Conferencing with other users is also possible. International news is the key feature of X-Change. In addition to the Associated Press, there are nine other news feeds. Tass and Xinhua send news in English from the USSR and China. English-language news also comes from OPEC, Taiwan and Japan. NOTIMEX sends out news in Spanish from Mexico. User can define up to 16 keywords for which the computer will automatically scan. The results can be stored to disk for later evaluation. The service is generally compatible with IBM-PC, Apple // and Macintosh, Atari and Amiga computers. It is most compatible with IBM-PCs including the XT, AT and PC/2 lines. To run with an Apple //c or //e, requires a super serial card. As you would expect, only the Atari-ST series can be used and Amiga owners must have a 500, 1000 or 2000. This is a 16-bit service. Also, there are some differences in the kinds of special features the various kinds of personal computers will support. For example, all of them will news and stock quotes and all can write news stories to disk for future reference. However, only IBM, Atari and Amiga systems can accept futures and options information. To connect to X-Change, you buy an interface kit for $99.95. If your cable television service already offers X-change there is no other charge. Executive service costs $19.95 per month. The cost of the modem is higher, also, $149.95. If your cable television provider does not carry X-Change and doesn't want to, then you can use a satellite dish. The signal comes from Galaxy-1 transponders 7 (WTBS) and 18 (CNN) but you don't have to subscribe to these to use the InfoCipher equipment. Via satellite the Executive service costs $26.95 per month. Both the Executive and basic products give you access to financial information. For instance basic service includes the ability to track 128 symbols from 2000 securities. X-PRESS Executive provides quotes on 30,000 securities. In addition, stocks, Treasury rates, CDs, Broker Call Loans and foreign exchange rate, and selected metal prices are also available. X-PRESS also provides software for tracking and analyzing financial data. The output is compatible with Lotus 1-2-3. Conferencing is also possible. X-PRESS clients can dial in via a Tymnet 800 number. Users can read and post messages in several areas. X-PRESS then selects messages to be posted on the television feeds. The "Pen Pals" conference is popular with grade schoolers. High school students benefit from a "Science and Technology" conference that leans toward NASA activities. Thus, X-PRESS is basically a BBS via cable television or satellite. Of necessity, the information flow is generally one way, from X-PRESS to you. Downloaded From P-80 International Information Systems 304-744-2253