*********************************************************** Microsoft(R) WinNews Electronic Newsletter Vol. 3, #8, March 11, 1996 *********************************************************** This week is the Microsoft Professional Developers Conference (PDC) which will focus on building Internet applications. Look for lots of related announcements on the Microsoft website this week and, of course, in next week's WinNews. The PDC is sold out (see details below), but there are opportunities to view some of the talks live (also below). Further on the Internet front, see below for today's breaking story on Microsoft's new plan to make it easy to get ISDN for Windows 95. Plus, for information on Microsoft's new interactive media initiatives, be sure to check out the new imedia website at: http://www.microsoft.com/imedia. This site currently has details on Microsoft's interactive media technologies, and in the near future will have items on new graphics, downloadable demo materials, links back to key Microsoft partners and information specifically for developers. This issue contains: A. SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION B. NEWS & EVENTS B1. MICROSOFT ANNOUNCES ACTIVEMOVE The next-generation cross-platform digital video technology brings stunning MPEG video and special effects to the desktop PC and the Internet. * For the complete text of this article, please visit the Windows website at: http://www.microsoft.com/windows * To check out all the new information on the new Microsoft "interactive media" site, visit: http://www.microsoft.com/imedia B2. Microsoft Internet Developers Conference Is Sold Out B3. Bill Gates goes to the Movies - Microsoft at the Movies Presents : Building Internet Applications - LIVE from the Professional Developers Conference. You can check out Bill's talk (and many other key speakers on March 13. For full details check out: http://www.microsoft.com/devmovies B4. Microsoft's "Get ISDN for Microsoft Windows" and ISDN Accelerator Pack Consumers now have the fastest, easiest way to get ISDN with Microsoft's new alliance of leading telephone companies, hardware manufacturers and Internet Service Providers. For complete details, check out the Windows 95 ISDN site at: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/getisdn REDMOND, Wash. - March 11, 1996 - Microsoft Corp. today announced a comprehensive program to simplify the acquisition and use of high-speed digital ISDN lines for users of the Microsoft Windows 95 operating system. The program includes new ISDN software for Windows 95 that is downloadable today at no charge, alliances with major North American telephone companies to allow users of Windows 95 to request an ISDN line electronically over the World Wide Web via "Get ISDN for Microsoft Windows," and broad support from hardware manufacturers and ISDN-capable Internet service providers (ISPs). Software supporting ISDN with Windows 95, called the ISDN Accelerator Pack, will be made available to end users by leading ISDN hardware vendors, telephone companies and ISPs over the Internet at no charge. "The customer experience of having ISDN installed and working has at best been extremely painful until now," said Rob Enderle, senior industry analyst at Giga Information Group. "With this announcement, Microsoft has delivered a solution that makes ISDN a reasonable option for those of us who are not telephony technicians. This service and related support for Windows 95 should accelerate significantly the adoption of ISDN into home as well as small-office and home-office markets. I would expect a whole series of new, feature-rich applications and services to be created for these markets by third-party developers and service providers." The "Get ISDN" software is also supported by leading online services and ISPs with broad ISDN access to their services, including MSN(tm), The Microsoft Network; Netcom; PSINet; and UUNET. It also includes information from major local telephone companies offering ISDN service. For more information on ISDN and how to get an ISDN hookup, check out the Windows 95 ISDN site at: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/getisdn B5. Final Versions Of Microsoft Internet Explorer 2.0 Available In 22 Languages Represents Broadest Global Support of Any Browser on the Market C. WINDOWS 95 SUPPORT & INFORMATION C1. WINDOWS 95 HINTS AND TIPS Be sure to check out the scrolling Tip of the Day on the Windows Home Page at: http://www.microsoft.com/windows C2. TOP INTERNET EXPLORER 2.0 SITES This list is also on the "What's Hot" area of the Windows web page at: http://www.microsoft.com/windows C3. NEWLY LOGOED "DESIGNED FOR WINDOWS 95" PRODUCTS For the complete list, check out the 3rd party product area on the Windows website at: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/thirdparty.htm C4. ANSWERS TO FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS You can access all types of Product Support information from the Microsoft Product Support website at: http://www.microsoft.com/support C5. MICROSOFT TV - Working with Windows 95: Windows 95 Microsoft Exchange Fax For all MSTV information check out: http://www.microsoft.com/mstv/ Jay Goldstein WinNews Editor ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ A. SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ If you know someone who might be interested in WinNews, please instruct them to: 1. Send Internet e-mail to: ENEWS99@MICROSOFT.NWNET.COM 2. Send the message from the account that you wish to subscribe (some people use more than one e-mail account). 3. Subject line should be blank. 4. Body of message should ONLY have in the text: SUBSCRIBE WINNEWS If you wish to stop receiving WinNews, send mail to enews@microsoft.nwnet.com with a blank subject line and the body of the message should only save in the text: UNSUBSCRIBE WINNEWS. WinNews is published twice a month, on the first and third Monday of each month. Special editions of WinNews may also be sent out occasionally. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ B. NEWS & EVENTS ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ B1. MICROSOFT ANNOUNCES ACTIVEMOVE Microsoft has Microsoft(R) ActiveMovie(tm)API, the next generation of cross-platform digital video technology for the desktop PC and the Internet. With ActiveMovie, developers and creative professionals will be able to create and deliver stunning titles on multiple platforms with crisp synchronized audio, video and special effects. Users will benefit from the following features: * State-of-the-art MPEG playback for full-screen, television- quality video on mainstream systems. * Internet playback and streaming for fast and easy playback of all popular media types on the Internet. * A flexible, extensible and future-proof architecture for easy integration of new technologies, third-party enhancements and real-time special effects. More than 20 industry companies have announced support for ActiveMovie, as well as the OpenMPEG consortium (representing 32 companies), and the Japanese Open MPEG Windows(R) Forum (representing 32 companies). This support signals that ActiveMovie will be a key API for the next generation of video on the desktop and the Internet. ActiveMovie is part of a rapidly expanding family of technologies from Microsoft that makes delivering interactive content easy for tool, title and Internet content developers. ActiveMovie uses and is integrated with Microsoft DirectX technology, automatically accelerating video playback on DirectDraw(tm)API-compatible graphics cards, and making possible stunning special effects and combinations of 2-D and 3-D elements with digital video. For example, ActiveMovie's integration with the Direct3D(tm) API enables special effects such as promotional presentations with video mapped to company logos and surreal characters in game play. * For the complete text of this article, please visit the Windows website at: http://www.microsoft.com/windows * To check out all the new information on the new Microsoft "interactive media" site, please visit: http://www.microsoft.com/imedia * Developers who want to request information about ActiveMovie should send electronic mail to mmdinfo@microsoft.com. *********************************************************** B2. Microsoft Internet Developers Conference Is Sold Out REDMOND, WA - March 7, 1996 - The last available seat for the Microsoft Professional Developers Conference (PDC) - Building Internet Applications was sold yesterday afternoon. This means almost 5,000 developers for the Windows operating system and the Internet plan to attend the conference, which will run March 12-14 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. Not only will conference attendees get a look at cutting- edge tools, technologies and hardware for developing Internet applications, but more than 300 Microsoft staff members will be on hand to answer questions and bring developers up-to-date on Microsoft tools and technologies. A sophisticated intranet designed specifically for this conference will also give attendees hands-on opportunities. The intranet, built around new Internet technologies being developed by Microsoft, consists of 160 machines available for use by conference attendees. The intranet will enable attendees to put some of Microsoft's newest tools and technologies to use and will also allow them to customize an information environment to suit their needs and interests. This information page will keep attendees updated on the latest conference news and events and will enable them to send and receive e-mail. In addition to a trade show, the conference will offer developers the choice of a wide range of technical breakout sessions and keynote addresses from Microsoft's gurus on operating systems, tools and applications. *********************************************************** B3. Bill Gates goes to the Movies - Microsoft at the Movies Presents : Building Internet Applications - LIVE from the Professional Developers Conference. On March 13 from 8am - 6pm Pacific Standard Time, there will be 8 hours of popcorn, soda and Internet information for developers. You can expect announcements on Microsoft's Internet Client Architecture ("Sweeper"), Internet Server Architecture to BackOffice to Operating Systems and how to use the new Internet-focused Win32 and OLE functionality to build powerful solutions. There will be a 3-CD takeaway including the Microsoft Solutions Development Kit 2.0 ($99 retail), an Internet CD prepared by the Microsoft Developer Network, and the Developer Roadmap. This event is co-sponsored by Digital Equipment Corporation. Microsoft will be broadcasting on the Mbone sessions from the Microsoft Internet Developers Conference that will be held in San Francisco on March 11-14. The broadcast times (GMT): March 13 1996, 16:00:00 GMT (8:00 am PST) to March 14 1996, 02:00:00 GMT (6:00 am PST) To locate a theater in your area and to review the agenda, or for a broadcast schedule of talks, visit the Microsoft movies section of the Microsoft Developers website at: http://www.microsoft.com/devmovies or (in the US) call 1-800-340-8255. For more general info on the conference please visit: http://www.microsoft.com/showcase/intpdc/default.htm. For more information on most of the technical details referenced in the talks (and for updated information during the show) please visit: http://www.microsoft.com/intdev/. You will need vic 2.7 to watch the broadcast. Pre-compiled vic binaries for most architectures are available from: ftp://ftp.ee.lbl.gov/conferencing/vic/alpha-test/ *********************************************************** B4. Microsoft's "Get ISDN for Microsoft Windows" and ISDN Accelerator Pack REDMOND, Wash. - March 11, 1996 - Microsoft Corp. today announced a comprehensive program to simplify the acquisition and use of high-speed digital ISDN lines for users of the Microsoft Windows 95 operating system. The program includes new ISDN software for Windows 95 that is downloadable today at no charge, alliances with major North American telephone companies to allow users of Windows 95 to request an ISDN line electronically over the World Wide Web via "Get ISDN for Microsoft Windows," and broad support from hardware manufacturers and ISDN-capable Internet service providers (ISPs). Software supporting ISDN with Windows 95, called the ISDN Accelerator Pack, will be made available to end users by leading ISDN hardware vendors, telephone companies and ISPs over the Internet at no charge. "The customer experience of having ISDN installed and working has at best been extremely painful until now," said Rob Enderle, senior industry analyst at Giga Information Group. "With this announcement, Microsoft has delivered a solution that makes ISDN a reasonable option for those of us who are not telephony technicians. This service and related support for Windows 95 should accelerate significantly the adoption of ISDN into home as well as small-office and home-office markets. I would expect a whole series of new, feature-rich applications and services to be created for these markets by third-party developers and service providers." The "Get ISDN" software is also supported by leading online services and ISPs with broad ISDN access to their services, including MSN(tm), The Microsoft Network; Netcom; PSINet; and UUNET. It also includes information from major local telephone companies offering ISDN service. For more information on ISDN and how to get an ISDN hookup, check out the Windows 95 ISDN site at: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/getisdn *********************************************************** B5. Final Versions Of Microsoft Internet Explorer 2.0 Available In 22 Languages Microsoft Internet Explorer 2.0 software for the Windows 95 operating system is now available in 22 languages - bringing Microsoft's Web browser to the largest international audience of any Internet client software. All 22 versions of Microsoft Internet Explorer for Windows 95 are available today to download from the Internet at no charge (other than the cost of connect time, if any) at Microsoft's World Wide Web home page - http://www.microsoft.com Microsoft Internet Explorer 2.0 for Windows 95 is now available in Chinese Traditional (Taiwan), Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese (AT and NEC 098), Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese (Brazilian), Portuguese (Iberian), Russian, Slovenian, Spanish, Swedish and Turkish. Microsoft plans to release Internet Explorer soon in the remaining languages supported by Windows 95. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ C. WINDOWS 95 SUPPORT & INFORMATION ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ C1. WINDOWS 95 HINTS AND TIPS The following are a few useful hints and tips that will result in a more productive work environment. We hope these are tips you can pass on to the users you support. Here are a couple for mobile PC users: 1. Synchronizing files between laptop and desktop PCs If you want to synchronize a set of files between your portable PC, your office desktop PC, and your home PC, create briefcases on your desktop PC(s) and keep the documents on your laptop. Drag the documents from your portable to the Briefcase on your desktop machine(s). Each time you connect your portable the docking station, the Briefcase on will automatically synchronize the files. 2. Viewing remaining battery life of laptop For computers with Advanced Power Management, clicking on the battery icon in the Tray status area (on the toolbar) brings up a detailed battery meter. *********************************************************** C2. TOP INTERNET EXPLORER 2.0 SITES Here are a list of some fun pages that look great running under Internet Explorer 2.0. Check out this frequently updated list at: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/show1.htm. Virtually Boston - http://www.cybercom.net/~kiwicove/vboston/index.html As good as going there... virtually. Fort Ogden Outpost - http://www.konnections.com/outpost/index.html This page nicely incorporates almost every new Internet Explorer feature. Home Page of Daniel Oak - http://www.best.com/~jonin/ A hodgepodge of MIDI, poetry and interesting links. Ken's Native Seattle - http://nwlink.com/~kenho/ Where to go and what to do in Seattle. The Yucatan Web - http://www.yucatanweb.com/ - Big fun down Mexico way! *********************************************************** C3. NEWLY LOGOED "DESIGNED FOR WINDOWS 95" PRODUCTS For a complete list of all software and hardware products that have received the "Designed for Windows 95" logo, check out the following address on the Windows website: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/thirdparty.htm *********************************************************** C4. ANSWERS TO FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS For complete details on support from Microsoft, check out Microsoft Support Online at: http://www.microsoft.com/support/ Question: Does Windows 95 provide support for CD-ROM changers? Windows 95 supports the use of CD-ROM changers (also known as jukeboxes). Although the protected-mode CD-ROM drivers should allow you access to your CD-ROM changer, the real-mode CD-ROM drivers are likely to be more reliable. The reason real-mode drivers may be more reliable is because the CD-ROM File System (CDFS) virtual device drivers (such as Volume Tracker) need to know whether each CD is accessible at boot. Each time a shell operation queries the system (for example, whenever you run My Computer or Windows Explorer), you experience a time delay. The length of this delay depends on the number of CDs in the changer. To work around this delay, you can set up a large CD-ROM cache. This is helpful only if you have large amounts of physical RAM. Please note that your cache may be used by something else, thus causing the CD shuffling to be slow anyway. Another workaround is to use the real-mode drivers. If you are uncertain whether your CD-ROM changer is using real- or protected-mode drivers, check the properties of the CD-ROM drive in My Computer. If the Capacity value of the CD is 127 MB, you are probably using real-mode drivers. If the Capacity value is an actual value (such as 370.9 MB), you are probably using protected-mode drivers. The Microsoft CD-ROM Extensions (MSCDEX) driver shows a capacity of 127 MB while in Windows regardless of the actual capacity. Also, if you are loading a CD-ROM driver in your Config.sys file and MSCDEX in your Autoexec.bat file, you are using real-mode drivers. *********************************************************** C5. MICROSOFT TV - Working with Windows 95: Windows 95 Microsoft Exchange Fax This is a reminder that this show will be aired: Satellite Information March 12 12:00 PM Eastern Cable Information March 12, 14 9:00 & 11:00 PM Eastern How to receive Microsoft TV Satellite Microsoft TV programming is broadcast via satellite every Tuesday at 12:00 noon Eastern. To receive these broadcasts, you need a satellite dish capable of receiving KU-Band (either Analog or DigiCipher) or C-Band signals and a television. If you do not have access to satellite equipment, Microsoft has arranged special pricing on a commercial-quality system through a national vendor. Call (800) 597-3200 or (612) 550-6390 between 6:30 AM and 5:30 PM Pacific Standard Time for details. Microsoft TV Satellite Coordinates: Ku Analog: Galaxy 4, Transponder 12, (11.9300 Ghz), Polarity H. Ku DigiCipher: Galaxy 4, Polarity H, Channel 900 (or 526) C-Band: (day time) Galaxy 7, (3920 Mhz), Polarity H, Channel 11. (night time) Galaxy 5, Channel 21, feed from Mind Extension University. Please use Cable times listed below to view broadcasts via these C-Band Coordinates. Cable/Broadcast Television (PCTV) Microsoft TV shows are aired as a co-production with PCTV, with the Microsoft shows airing as part of the "Business Computing" Series, which can be seen on Mind Extension University (MEU) and the Jones Computer Network (JCN) on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, at 9:00 PM Eastern (6:00 PM PST) and again at 11:00 PM Eastern (8:00 PM PST). Consult your local cable system or call the Microsoft TV information line at (800) 597-3200 or (612) 550-6390 between 6:30 AM and 5:30 PM PST for a referral to a Mind Extension University Jones Computer Network carrier in your area. For more information on MSTV, visit the MSTV webpage at: http://www.microsoft.com/mstv/ *********************************************************** You may feel free to forward this document, provided you forward it in its entirety, as per the copyright notice below. This document is provided for informational purposes only. The information contained in this document represents the current view of Microsoft Corporation on the issues discussed as of the date of publication. Because Microsoft must respond to change in market conditions, it should not be interpreted to be a commitment on the part of Microsoft and Microsoft cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information presented after the date of publication. 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