Newsbytes - Internationa…ews 1983 May to 1994 June/Newsbytes - International Computing Industry News 1994 Edition - May 1983 - June 1994 - Wayzata Technologies (5045) (1994).iso/pc/text/mac_text/1992/nb921112

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(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(MOW)(00001)

Moscow: DEC Opens Four College Computing Centers 11/12/92
MOSCOW, RUSSIA, 1992 NOV 12 (NB) -- Digital Equipment has
announced the opening of four "engineering centers" in leading
Moscow education facilities.

Moscow State University, MIFI, FizTech, and Aviation institutes
have all received middle-sized computer and communications
facilities provided by DEC free of charge. The complete amount
of the agreement was not disclosed.

DEC spokeswoman Tatiana Znamenskaya said the main condition
on which the equipment was supplied is the free, unrestricted
access to those facilities by students.

As an additional effort, DEC is bringing small groups of students
from those colleges to its learning facilities in the Europe for a
short period of time.

(Kirill Tchashchin/19921109/Press Contact: DEC Moscow,
Tatiana Znamenskaya, phone [phone])


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(MOW)(00002)

Moscow: Insurance Groups To Cooperate On Info System 11/12/92
MOSCOW, RUSSIA, 1992 NOV 12 (NB) -- The four largest private
car and health insurance companies have announced their intent
to create a joint information system to prevent insurance claims
fraud.

The companies -- AstroVAZ, ASKO, Progress, and Stinvest -- have
decided to build a data processing center to fight the widespread
insurance abuse practice of a person claiming the full refund of
the same car repair or health costs from two or three different
companies. No other details of the proposed center were
announced.

(Kirill Tchashchin/19921109)


(NEWS)(IBM)(DEN)(00003)

Fifth Generation Intros Remote Comms Utility 11/12/92
BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA, U.S.A., 1992 NOV 12 (NB) -- Fifth
Generation Systems (FGS) has announced Here & There, a
communications utility that provides remote control, file
transfer, and terminal emulation capabilities for DOS-based
personal computers.

The company says Here & There allows users to transfer files in
the background while running DOS applications in the foreground
if sufficient system memory is installed. There's also a virtual
drive feature that enables the user to append the host computer's
drives to the remote computer, including network drives.

FGS spokesperson Chris Wildermuth told Newsbytes the drives
are identified as the next successive drives after the last drive
of the remote PC, and the system identifies the drive letters,
e.g., D, E and F, as remote drive A, B, and C respectively. The user
can then run any application installed on the host computer,
access files, and manipulate files on either system.

If Windows is installed on the remote computer, the user can
access Windows files and applications on the host computer,
minimizing the time needed for screen redraws when running on
the host computer.

Using Here & There's remote control capability, the user can act
either as the host computer or as the remote. Data can also be
sent and received simultaneously, reducing phone line charge
time. Wildermuth said only one copy of Here & There is required.
Loaded onto the remote computer, it can be downloaded to the
host and activated.

Other features include access security, with remote users
assigned read, write, or executive access privileges for
directories and files. Other security features include screen
blanking, keyboard locking, and automatic callback verification.
Here & There also provides a phone directory, printing to the
host PC's printer with spooling, and automated and unattended
functions using DOS batch file scripts.

System requirements include 640 kilobytes (KB) of RAM, DOS 3.3
or higher, 1.2 megabytes of hard disk space, and a Hayes-
compatible modem or direct connection. The program has a
suggested list price of $149. Wildermuth told Newsbytes it is
expected to ship early next week.

(Jim Mallory/19921111/Press contact: Chris Wildermuth,
Miller Communications for Fifth Generation, 310-822-4669;
Reader contact: Fifth Generation Systems, 504-291-7221)


(NEWS)(IBM)(DEN)(00004)

Central Point Beta Testing PC Tools For Windows 11/12/92
BEAVERTON, OREGON, U.S.A., 1992 NOV 12 (NB) -- Central Point
Software says it has started beta testing a Windows version of
its PC Tools utility program. The company says the program was
developed with a view towards saving time, reducing visual
clutter, and providing easier access to the functions and files
most often used.

Among new features is "Multidesk," described by the company
as an extension of the Windows work space that provides users
with a more "intuitive and productive" way to organize work.

A new file manager that uses "viewers" and "drag-and-drop"
capabilities has also been included. Users can view files from
more than 80 popular file formats, including files stored as
PKZip compressed archives. The company says menus and button
bars can be customized, and programs, files, and folders can be
placed directly on the desktop.

PC Tools For Windows also includes Winshield, a combination of
utilities that includes backup software that will backup to any
DOS or SCSI (Small Computer Systems Interface) device, working
in the background. Winshield also includes an analysis and disk
repair utility called DiskFix, an undelete program for Windows,
and anti-virus software. The program supports Novell Netware
and Microsoft Windows for Workgroups networking environments.
PC Tools for Windows is being demonstrated at Central Point's
booth at the upcoming Comdex Fall next week.

(Jim Mallory/19921111/Press contact: Deanne Berry, Central
Point Software, 503-690-2650)


(NEWS)(IBM)(TOR)(00005)

PhoenixView/XG Claimed As First XGA Video BIOS 11/12/92
NORWOOD, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1992 NOV 12 (NB) -- Phoenix
Technologies has introduced PhoenixView/XG, which the company
claims is the industry's first video basic input-output system
(BIOS) for IBM's high-performance Extended Graphics Array (XGA)
video standard.

Available immediately, PhoenixView/XG can be used with the
G200 and G201 XGA chip sets from SGS Thomson Microelectronics,
the vendor said. Phoenix sells its BIOS products to other
manufacturers for use in their personal computer products.

The XGA video standard provides higher screen and color resolution
than the more common VGA and Super VGA standards. It can display
256 simultaneous colors at 1024 by 768 screen resolution, or
65,536 colors at 640 by 480 resolution. XGA also executes
graphics operations faster by using a graphics coprocessor.

The standard is designed to be compatible with Video Electronics
Standards Association (VESA) requirements and is optimized to
accelerate Microsoft Windows and OS/2 graphics.

To date, only IBM sells computers using the XGA standard. Michael
Deutsch, a spokesman for Phoenix, said some of his company's
customers will show PCs using the new Phoenix BIOS at the
Comdex/Fall show in Las Vegas November 16-20, and will have
small quantities of the systems available for sale shortly after.

The XGA standard will add little to the cost of the systems,
Deutsch said.

Working with IBM and SGS Thomson Microelectronics, Phoenix
claims it developed the PhoenixView/XG to be easily configurable.
For example, the company said, some parts of PhoenixView/XG are
available in compact ROM-based form, or in terminate-and-stay-
resident (TSR) form to allow better monitor-specific support or
to support different extended video modes. Also, PC makers can
load monitor-specific information in read-only memory (ROM) or
make it available in a DOS file.

In addition to various forms of source and object code licenses,
the company said PhoenixView/XG is also available in customized
format through its custom engineering program. Customization
options include customer-specific code development or
optimization and system ROM configuration. Phoenix will develop
support for customers' extensions to the XGA standard, and to
match the hardware specifications of different monitors exactly.

Phoenix also markets two other lines of video BIOS:
PhoenixView/LC for portable computers with liquid-crystal and
plasma screens, and PhoenixView/DT for desktop computers.

(Grant Buckler/19921111/Press Contact: Saurin Pandya, Phoenix
Technologies, 408-452-6834; Michael Deutsch, Phoenix
Technologies, 617-551-4184; Public Contact: Phoenix,
408-452-6834)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(DEN)(00006)

New For Macintosh: Aldus Freehand 3.11 11/12/92
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1992 NOV 12 (NB) -- Aldus has
announced an upgrade to its design and illustration program,
Freehand.

Aldus Freehand 3.11 for the Macintosh includes full support for
Aldus Fetch, a product Newsbytes reported on recently, that allows
users to catalog, browse through, and retrieve images, animations,
digitized video, and sound files on the Mac. Users can also add
Fetch-readable annotations and keywords to 3.11 files, and can
launch Freehand from within Fetch.

The company says version 3.11 also provides a Trumatch color
library and improvements in file generation, previewing, and
printing. Trumatch is a digital color matching system that gives
users nearly 2,000 additional predefined colors for use in their
illustrations.

The new release can also generate PICT previews of EPS files. PICT
files take up less disk space than EPS files, reducing the time
needed to send illustration files over a network or phone lines.

Aldus spokesperson Belinda Young told Newsbytes that the
suggested retail price of Freehand 3.11 for the Mac is $595.
Registered owners of version 3.0 can upgrade to Freehand 3.11
including Fetch for $249, while registered users of version 3.1
can upgrade for $199. Fetch sold separately has a suggested retail
price of $295. Both Freehand 3.11 and Fetch are scheduled to ship
by the end of the year. European and Pacific Rim versions are
expected to be available later, but no date was announced.

Recommended system requirements for Freehand 3.11 include an
Apple Macintosh II series, Powerbook, or SE/30 computer, four
megabytes (MB) of system memory, Apple Computer's System 7
operating system, and an 80 MB hard drive. Minimum configuration
is a Mac LC, SE, Classic or Plus with 2MB of RAM, System 6.0.5,
and a hard drive.

(Jim Mallory/19921111/Press contact: Belinda Young, Aldus
Corporation, 206-386-8819; Reader contact: 206-662-5500)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(TOR)(00007)

New Product: PenMagic's LetterExpress For PenPoint 11/12/92
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA, 1992 NOV 12 (NB) --
PenMagic Software has announced its second product, software
that allows users of pen-based computers to create letters and
other business documents quickly while on the road.

LetterExpress, which runs on Go Corp.'s PenPoint operating system,
is based on the idea of "boilerplating" letters, reports, and other
documents. The software comes with 70 pre-written templates for
common situations, and users can add their own as well as
customize those provided, company spokeswoman Jennifer Curzon
said. Common word processing software on keyboard-based PCs
can be used to do these jobs.

On a pen-based computer, the user selects a template and then
customizes it by selecting various options and filling in such
details as the addressee's name. LetterExpress can import names
and addresses from its own address book or from other address
book software, according to the company.

Templates can be set up with a choice of alternate phrases that the
user can select with the touch of a pen. Users can also change the
wording of a pre-written document using the pen, Curzon said. The
software also incorporates handwriting recognition.

LetterExpress also uses "electronic ink" technology to let users
sign their letters on screen. Finished letters can be printed,
faxed, or sent by electronic mail, and they can be exported to
common word processing formats for archiving.

PenMagic officials cite three reasons why their software could be
useful. First, they expect it to appeal to users who do not type well,
because it will let them produce good-looking documents without
much typing. Second, they say it will be easier to use in
situations where there is no convenient place to sit down and type
at a keyboard -- an often-cited advantage of pen-based computers
is that you can hold the machine in one hand and the pen in the
other. Third, PenMagic sees the template approach as a good way of
ensuring consistency in business documents, especially things like
contracts that require precise wording.

LetterExpress has a suggested retail price of $199.

PenMagic was founded in September, 1990. Its first product was
Numero, a financial application for pen-based computers.

(Grant Buckler/19921111/Press Contact: Jennifer Curzon,
PenMagic, 604-988-9982, fax [phone])


(NEWS)(IBM)(LON)(00008)

UK: Agatech Slashes 386SL Notebook Pricing 11/12/92
TELFORD, SHROPSHIRE, ENGLAND, 1992 NOV 12 (NB) -- Agatech
claims to be giving its competitors more than a headache by
slashing the price of the 3027F notebook -- one of its fastest
and best-selling machines -- from UKP 1,300 down to UKP 999.

The 3027F comes with a 25 megahertz (MHz) 80386SL chipset,
two megabytes (MB) of RAM, and a 60MB hard disk. The price cut,
according to Greg Walton, the company's general manager, makes
the notebook once of the best deals on the market.

"This really is a fabulous machine. It has everything you could
wish for - speed, efficient power management, a good screen and
security. It's light and easy to carry, plus it looks great," he said.

Walton asserts that Agatech's competitors are still smarting from
the impact that the company's products have had in the portable
marketplace over the past few months. The price cut, he added,
will allow the company to stay ahead of the pack.

"We expect our rivals to consider this a real emergency. Few can
compete with us on price and we are prepared to take on anyone in
that department. We don't care if it's IBM or ICPI, Dell or
Diamond, dealers or direct suppliers, we will meet any challenge
because we believe that anything they can do, we can do better,"
he said.

The 3027F has a number of extra options available, including an
internal fax/modem card, a pocket LAN (local area network) adapter
for coaxial and twisted-pair connectors, plus an expansion chassis
that will take two full-size expansion cards. A car cigarette power
cord plus a clip-on track ball are also available.

The 3027F portable weighs 2.9 kilos and has a 28.5 by 23.5
centimeter (cm) footprint. The machine, which has a casing height
of five cm, has an 8.5-inch screen that supports VGA graphics at
640 by 480 pixel resolution.

(Steve Gold/19921111/Press & Public Contact: Agatech - Tel:
0952-670370)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(TYO)(00009)

Sony Develops Multimedia Viewing Device For The Head 11/12/92
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1992 NOV 12 (NB) -- Sony has developed a head
device for  multimedia video theater. The device consists of a
set of rectangle eye-glasses, a head band, and ear-phones.

With this device, the company claims that users will be able to
enjoy video programs just like they are watching through a wide
view screen.

Sony's Bizartron, consists of goggle-type glasses, a head band, a
pair of earphones, and a switch. Active matrix-type color TFT
(thin-film transistor) displays are equipped on the inside of the
glasses.

These display screens are only 0.7-inches in size, and two screens
are placed on the right eye and the left eye. Each screen has
133,000 pixels. The company claims that, with these pixels, the
screen provides extremely clear images.

Sony has also added its original flat-type plastic lens onto the
screen. As a result, these tiny displays can provide a large
viewing area to users. According to Sony, the wide view is almost
the equivalent to watching a 33-inch screen.

The device weighs only 250 grams. The Bizartron is still a
prototype and Sony says it still wants to improve the system.
The company has already been talking with Japan Airlines about
using the system for a for in-flight video theater on aircraft.

Sony is also considering using the device with a virtual reality
system. The company is also concerning about the health aspects
of this kind of device and has requested Yamanashi Medical
University and Niigata University to examine it.

(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19921112/Press Contact: Sony,
[phone])


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TYO)(00010)

Mitsubishi/AT&T In Chip Development Deal 11/12/92
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1992 NOV 12 (NB) -- Mitsubishi Electric and AT&T
have announced that they will jointly develop next generation
semiconductor chips for optical telecommunications. Under this
agreement, both firms will develop the advanced chips as well as
economical ways to manufacture them in quantity.

Mitsubishi Electric and AT&T will develop the element called the
"Laser Diode" (LD). The LD converts the electric signal into
optical signals, which then sends it to optical fibers. Both firms
will develop an un-cooled-type LD, which does not require a
cooling device. This chip element is used for optical data networks.
With this chip element, the transmission speed of data can be
increased considerably.

Currently, many electronics makers are trying to develop efficient
LDs, but research costs are high. Consequently, Mitsubishi and
AT&T have decided to cooperate on the project.

The major problem for the LD is the production costs. It costs
about 30,000 yen ($250) a piece. Mitsubishi and AT&T want to
establish a mass production technology, and hope to reduce that
figure to a fifth of current price.

(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19921112/Press Contact:
Mitsubishi Electric, [phone])


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(TYO)(00011)

Canon Claims World's Smallest Fax Machine 11/12/92
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1992 NOV 12 (NB) -- Canon has developed a
small fax machine, which it is claiming is the smallest on the
market. It is claimed to be smaller than that of NEC and Ricoh.

Canon is preparing to release the device in Japan and overseas
markets next year. The fax machine is even smaller than the
keyboard of a regular notebook-type personal computer. It
measures 29.7 by 11.1 by 3.1 centimeters (cm), and it weighs
only 950 grams. The small size is due to a new image scanner
developed by Canon.

The transmission speed of this fax machine is 20 seconds for
an A4-size document. The major advantage of this device is
that it supports a B4-size document. The device can be hooked
into a mobile phone or car phone to transmit and receive faxes.

The retail price of this fax machine is not yet set. But it is
expected to be around 200,000 yen ($1,650), according to Canon.

(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19921112/Press Contact: Canon,
[phone])


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(TYO)(00012)

Japan: Windows/Mac Software From Lotus/Just Systems 11/12/92
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1992 NOV 12 (NB) -- A Tokyo office of Lotus has
announced that it will release two new programs for the
Macintosh and Windows platforms. Japan's major word processing
software firm Just Systems will also release an upgraded version
of their program for Windows.

Lotus says it will release a Japanese version of Lotus 1-2-3 for
the Macintosh next month, called Lotus 1-2-3 R1.1J. The program
is claimed to be easier to use compared with the Windows version.
For instance, under the "drag and drop" feature, the user can
"grab" the cell-data and move or copy it. Overall, the pull-down
menus and the icon-based graphical user interface are claimed to
make the operation easier.

The retail price of the Japanese 1-2-3 for the Macintosh will be
98,000 yen ($820). It runs on the Mac Plus and above.

Another new program will debut from Lotus. It is a Japanese
electronic mail software, called cc:Mail Windows V1.11J. It is
intended for networking systems such as LAN Manager and
Netware. Lotus is planning to develop a Macintosh version,
MS-DOS version, and Unix version in the near future.

Meanwhile, Japan's major word processing software maker, Just
Systems, has developed a latest version of its best-selling
Ichitaro Japanese word processing product, called Ichitaro
version 5.0. The new version includes such features as
multi-font display, pull-down menus, a Kanji conversion feature
under the artificial intelligence, and a clip board.

The Kanji conversion is claimed to be much faster and efficient.
Also, the software has an automatic business letter-making
feature. It will carry the retail price of 68,000 yen ($550) for
80286- and 80386-based computers, and be released in
February.

(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19921112/Press Contact: Lotus
Development, Tokyo, [phone], Just Systems,
[phone])


(NEWS)(APPLE)(LAX)(00013)

Thunderstorm For Mac Update, Windows Version Planned 11/12/92
SUNNYVALE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 NOV 12 (NB) -- Supermac
says it is releasing a software update for its Thunderstorm
graphics accelerator for the Macintosh that supports
enhancements that Adobe has made in Photoshop. The company
also announced that it would offer a version of the Thunderstorm
2.5 board for Windows early next year.

The announcements were prompted by Adobe's introductions of
Photoshop 2.5 versions for the Macintosh and for Windows, which
allow applications created on the Macintosh to be moved to
Windows and vice versa. Photoshop is popular for pre-press work
with graphical images.

The Thunderstorm card offers dual programmable digital signal
processor (DSP) chips for speeding up the screen draws of
graphics after computational extensive changes such as adding a
filter, rotating an image, or decompressing a compressed image.

Supermac says the Thunderstorm works transparently with
Photoshop 2.5 and handles Despeckle and Custom Convolution
filters, the Rotate and Magic Wand tools, and JPEG compression
of CMYK, PICT, and TIFF formats. Performance gains of up to
2,300 percent have been reported by Supermac when the
Thunderstorm is available during use of the Unsharp Mask,
Gaussian Blur, Motion Blur, Blur More, Sharpen Edges, and
Sharpen More filters and the Resize tool.

The planned Windows version of the Thunderstorm 2.5 board for
the IBM and compatible personal computer (PC) platform will
perform the same functionality for Photoshop 2.5 for Windows
as the Thunderstorm 2.5 card provides now for the Macintosh,
Supermac said.

The company also offers the Thunder/24, a graphics card
available both on the Macintosh and PC platforms, a product
Supermac says also helps speed graphics performance. The PC
version is based on the PC Extended Industry Standard
Architecture (EISA). Supermac says the Thunder/24 can support
live, real-time palette updating in Photoshop, so users can see
adjustments to images without having to move into preview
mode.

Sunnyvale, California-based Supermac has also announced
further cross-platform moves with its Windows version of the
Videospigot digital video card for the PC. The company says it
expects to ship the Videospigot for Windows in December of
this year.

(Linda Rohrbough/19921112/Press Contact: Stephanie Bryant,
Supermac, tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(APPLE)(SFO)(00014)

New For Macintosh: Inline Sync Utility Updates Files 11/12/92
LAKEVILLE, CONNECTICUT, U.S.A., 1992 NOV 12 (NB) -- Inline
Design is bringing to market the second utility that resulted
from their collaboration agreement with Microseeds.

This agreement was announced in August and will lead to Inline
Design's assuming complete marketing and distribution
responsibilities for Microseeds' line of utilities. Microseeds
will be able to concentrate in the development and support
aspects of their products.

Inline Sync is a utility that is intended to solve the problem that
many people have who own both a desktop Macintosh as well as a
Powerbook. In such cases, it is not uncommon to have copies of the
same file on each machine. The problem occurs in keeping track of
which version is the most current.

Inline Sync solves that problem by using Apple's System 7
capabilities for file transfers. When the user attaches the two
computers and runs the program, the program goes through every
file on the different computers and compares them. If two files
are found to be the same except for their last modification date,
the program will take the latter of the two and assume that to be
the one that should be kept. The program will the copy the later
version of the file to the machine that has an earlier version.
Therefore, after running this program, the user is assured that
the latest versions of all files are now on both machines and that
both machines are in sync.

One of the more unique features of this program is in the way that
it accommodates one of the idiosyncracies of Appleshare. If two
machines are brought together under Appleshare and one has its
clock set to a different time zone than the other, Appleshare will
automatically identify this case and reset the modification times
on the files.

This could lead to a situation where the same file is appearing on
two machines with different modification times. Inline Sync is
aware of this potential problem. In essence, Inline Sync looks at
the difference in the clock settings for the two machines it is
attempting to sync, in addition to the modification times on the
files.

Inline Sync has started shipping now at the retail price of $129.95.

(Naor Wallach/19921109/Press Contact: Darryl Peck, Inline Design,
203-435-4995/Public Contact: Inline Design, 203-435-4995)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SFO)(00015)

QMS Intros New Workgroup Printer 11/12/92
MOBILE, ALABAMA, U.S.A., 1992 NOV 12 (NB) -- QMS has added
another printer to their printer product line. This latest entry,
known as the QMS 1725, fits in the middle of its printer range
and is designed to serve the printing needs of departments
containing about 20 users.

The printer is based on Canon's NX engine which offers 17 ppm
(pages per minute) performance with a duty cycle of 50,000 pages
per month. The engine supports both 600 dots-per-inch (dpi) and
300 dpi printing.

To this, QMS has added its controller board with Crown technology.
According to the company, Crown offers a myriad of advantages
for the departmental printer and the company is extremely
happy with the reception that Crown has been receiving in the
marketplace.

The QMS 1725 comes with four methods of connecting to computers.
It has an on-board serial port and a parallel port that can be used
for direct connections. Then there is an Appletalk connector along
with another slot which can be used for either an Ethernet or a
Token Ring card.

The printer will support simultaneous access from all four ports.
This means more that a simple switching scenario. In QMS's case,
there is an option of adding a hard disk and having all four ports
collect data which is spooled to the hard drive at the same time.
When the printer is done with its current page, it picks up the
next page from the hard drive.

Crown also provides for various printing software options.
Postscript is a standard feature on the printer which supports
both Level 1 and Level 2. HP PCL is another standard software
feature. Options include HP-GL and LN03 Plus emulation which
comes standard with the DECnet package.

The base laser printer comes with eight megabytes (MB) of RAM
which can be expanded to 32MB. Retail price for the base printer
is $5,995. This base unit comes with everything needed to operate
it including paper trays. Options range from $895 for some of the
Ethernet cards to $1395 for the DECnet option. The printer will
begin shipping over the next two weeks.

(Naor Wallach/19921109/Press Contact: Ann Strople, QMS, 205-
639-4474/Public Contact: QMS, 205-639-4400, 800-631-2692)


(NEWS)(IBM)(TOR)(00016)

Corel, SyDOS Launch CD-ROM Bundle 11/12/92
OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1992 NOV 12 (NB) -- Corel and SyDOS,
a division of SyQuest Technology of Boca Raton, Florida, have
announced a deal to bundle CorelDraw graphics software with
SyDOS's external compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM) drive.
SyDOS will sell the hardware-software combination for US$999.

Because the SyDOS drive connects to a computer's parallel port,
the complete package will be ready to run with no hardware
installation other than plugging in the cable, Corel spokeswoman
Janie Sullivan said. An integrated pass-through parallel port
adapter lets the drive share a single parallel port with a printer,
according to SyDOS.

The SyDOS Personal CD drive can also be used to play audio
compact disks.

Corel includes a CD-ROM version of CorelDraw 3.0 in every package,
with an extensive library of clip art. "Probably a majority" of
buyers of the graphics software today do not already have CD-ROM
drives, Sullivan said.

Corel formerly offered a hardware-software combination called
the Blockbuster bundle, which included a Panasonic CD-ROM drive,
CorelDraw, and a Small Computer Systems Interface (SCSI)
expansion card for PCs manufactured by Corel. Corel discontinued
this bundle about the time it stopped making the SCSI card and
left the hardware business to concentrate on its more successful
software offering.

The bundle is due to begin shipping in late November.

Corel also announced that CorelDraw 3.0 is now network-ready.
All copies of the software will now be shipped with networking
capability built in, Sullivan said.

While making no visible difference to those using the software on
stand-alone PCs, this will mean any package can be installed on a
network server and additional users can then be added by
purchasing extra licenses for $475 (C$575). The price of the
initial package remains at $595 (C$695). Extra copies of the
documentation are $50 (C$60).

(Grant Buckler/19921111/Press Contact: Janie Sullivan, Corel,
613-728-8200 ext. 1672, fax [phone]; Linda Haury,
SyDOS, 407-998-5400)


(NEWS)(IBM)(TOR)(00017)

IBM Details Multimedia Strategy In White Paper 11/12/92
WHITE PLAINS, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1992 NOV 12 (NB) -- IBM has
announced publication of a white paper on multimedia, which
outlines the company's view of where this infant market is going.
Available on request from IBM, the white paper will be distributed
at Comdex/Fall in Las Vegas November 16 to 20, and the following
week at the Canadian Computer Show in Toronto.

IBM said it plans to extend multimedia capabilities -- the
integration of sound, graphics, video, and data -- across
distributed computing platforms. The company also said it plans
to extend its line of multimedia-oriented PCs, which currently
consists of five models, to include low-cost multimedia player
models, portable units, and servers meant for enterprise-wide
multimedia services.

An IBM spokeswoman could not say when such machines might be
announced. IBM last extended its multimedia product offerings
September 21, when the company announced four new models in
its Ultimedia line of multimedia PCs. Those announcements were
part of a wide-ranging extension of IBM's PS/2 product line.

The company said it is also pursuing front-end multimedia
workstations, operating system, and presentation services, and
application tools and services. Other work in progress deals with
data services, distributed services and communications,
networking, systems management, multimedia servers, and
standards, officials said.

IBM announced that its white paper, entitled "Multimedia
Distributed Computing," is available by calling 800-426-9402. On
calling that number, Newsbytes was informed that copies will not
be available for mailing out until the end of this week.

The announcement came at the same time as IBM said it would
work with the American NBC television network and NuMedia, an
Alexandria, Virginia, multimedia development company, to test
delivering a multimedia news service over telephone lines in
parts of the United States.

(Grant Buckler/19921111/Press Contact: Martha Terdik, IBM
Canada, 416-474-3900)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(TOR)(00018)

New Products: Easel Unveils Client/Server Tools 11/12/92
BURLINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1992 NOV 12 (NB) -- Easel
Corp., has announced shipment of three new development tools
aimed at creating client/server applications.

Easel announced a new version of Enfin/2 for Windows, an
object-oriented application development tool it acquired in
August when it bought Enfin Software.

Company officials said Enfin/2 for Windows will work with major
database management systems that use structured query language
(SQL), and a collection of graphical user interface (GUI) controls
and visual tools.

The software will compete mainly with development tools from
PowerSoft and Gupta Technologies, company spokesman Douglas
Clauson said.

Enfin/2 uses an object-oriented approach based on the  Smalltalk
language and has many tightly integrated visual tools, the firm
said, enabling developers to build Windows-based client/server
applications faster. There are no deployment fees for applications
developed with any Enfin product.

Features include a WYSIWYG (what-you-see-is-what-you-get)
screen designer, a point-and-click SQL query editor, a visual
database browser and editor, a WYSIWYG report writer, a visual
financial model editor, a class browser, and advanced debugging
facilities with a source execution profiler.

In addition, Easel said, the software includes all standard Windows
GUI controls and many extensions. It will also let developers build
applications that will run on the OS/2 operating system as well as
Windows.

Due to be available in December, Enfin/2 for Windows is priced at
$3,995.

Easel also said it has begun shipping the EASEL Transaction Server
(ETS) Toolkit and the EDA/SQL Option for its Easel Workbench
development environment.

ETS Toolkit gives developers high-speed access to major database
management systems using SQL, the company said. It is meant for
building on-line transaction processing applications, where
complex database transactions must be handled fast.

ETS Toolkit includes an interface that resides with an Easel
Workbench-built application on a client workstation running OS/2
or Microsoft Windows. It also includes software templates that
reside on an OS/2-based transaction server, which accesses OS/2
Database Manager.

Through the transaction server, ETS Toolkit can also access all
IBM databases that are part of that company's Systems
Application Architecture (SAA) strategy, including DB2, SQL/DS,
and SQL/400, Easel said.

All current EASEL Workbench, EASEL/2 and EASEL/win customers
on maintenance contracts will receive the ETS Toolkit at no cost.

The EDA/SQL option for Easel Workbench works with Information
Builders' EDA/Link product on the PC and EDA/SQL on the host.
Easel said it provides transparent access to virtually any data on
leading commercial computer platforms. By using the EDA/SQL
option for Easel Workbench, the vendor said, developers can build
client/server applications that seamlessly access enterprise-
wide data. The option costs $995 per developer.

Easel also announced its Client/server Object-Oriented Partners
(CO-OP) program for sales, support, and distribution of Enfin/2
for Windows. As part of the CO-OP program, Easel will enter
relationships with several resellers,  consultants, and systems
integrators.

(Grant Buckler/19921112/Press Contact: Douglas S. Clauson,
Easel, 617-221-3088)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(DEN)(00019)

Convex Donates Computer To Aid Solar Car Design 11/12/92
RICHARDSON, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1992 NOV 12 (NB) -- Convex
Computer has donated a Convex C120 to the University of
Minnesota to aid in the development and design of a solar vehicle.

The university's solar car, named Aurora, will participate in
Sunrayce 93, a 1,000 mile cross-country race in which solar
vehicles built by university teams compete.

Sunrayce will be held the week of June 20, 1993, and is sponsored
by the US Department of Energy (DOE), the National Renewable
Energy Laboratory (NREL), and the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA). The theme of the race is "Education, Energy and Environment,"
and its purpose is to challenge science, mathematics, and
engineering students as well as to foster scientific innovation
and creativity.

Thirty-six colleges and universities, about half the schools
applying, were selected to participate in the race from the
Arlington Convention Center in Dallas, Texas, to the Minnesota Zoo
in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The cars are expected to travel about
150 miles each day, with a scheduled media stop at the halfway
point of each day's race. The car with the lowest cumulative
elapsed time will be the winner.

The University of Minnesota got interested in the project after the
Sunrayce USA race in July of 1990. Faculty advisors to the project
say the student members see the race as an opportunity to go
beyond the classroom and gain practical engineering experience.
About 90 students are involved in the project.

The school says it will use the Convex C120 to enhance Aurora's
basic design concepts, and verify the vehicle's complex design
using finite element analysis for structural members and the
thermal problems encountered by solar vehicles. Computational
fluid dynamics analysis will be used to improve the shape of the
vehicle, which has already been tested in a wind tunnel.

Convex spokesperson Alison Peoples told Newsbytes that the
company has donated computer equipment to other universities,
"when the project is worthwhile." Peoples said Convex is
particularly interested in the project because its chief operating
officer, Terry Rock, is a race car enthusiast.

(Jim Mallory/19921112/Press contact: Donna Burke, Convex
Computer Corporation, 214-497-4230)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(DEN)(00020)

New For Macintosh: Calendarmaker From CE Software 11/12/92
WEST DES MOINES, IOWA, U.S.A., 1992 NOV 12 (NB) -- CE Software
has announced an upgrade to its calendaring software for Apple
Computer's Macintosh, called Calendarmaker 4.0.

According to the company, the new version of Calendarmaker can
print extremely large wall charts and other multi-page printouts,
with the maximum size a huge 113 inches by 113 inches. That is
about 14 pages wide and 11 pages high, CE Software spokesperson
Michele Eddie told Newsbytes. Other features include an icon and
graphics importer to collect graphics from several files to use in
a single calendar.

Calendarmaker's calendars can be printed in several WYSIWYG
(what-you-see-is-what-you-get) formats including daily, weekly,
biweekly, monthly, or annually. Headings can be generated with
the dates as words or numbers or even in a foreign language. The
program can also print user-selectable borders and colors for
significant events. Recurring events can be edited as a group and
the dates the events fall on can be designated as a set.

Calendarmaker will have a price tag of $49.95 until February 1,
1993, when it will jump to $79.95. Registered users of version 3.0
or later, purchased after October 15, will automatically receive
the  upgrade when it ships, which will be by the end of the year,
according to CE spokesperson Sue Nail. Earlier version users who
purchased prior to October 15 can upgrade for $25.

Calendarmaker 4.0  is a 32-bit application which will run under
System 6.0.5 or System 7. The company also publishes a Windows
version of Calendarmaker.

(Jim Mallory/19921112/Press contact: Sue Nail, CE Software,
515-224-1995, Reader contact: CE Software, 515-224-1995)


(NEWS)(IBM)(DEN)(00021)

 ****Microsoft Ships Windows NT Beta, Upgraded SDK 11/12/92
REDMOND, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1992 NOV 12 (NB) -- Microsoft has
started shipping beta copies of Windows NT to several thousand
beta testers, a Microsoft spokesperson told Newsbytes.

According to Collins Hemingway, even though Windows NT is still
in beta testing, and is not expected to reach the general user
community  until the first half of 1993, over 150 people will be
demonstrating 32-bit Windows NT applications at Comdex, an
annual industry trade show that opens next week in Las Vegas. He
also confirmed that the program has not yet been tuned for
performance or size, and does not include either scheduling or
electronic mail features.

New software goes through an extensive field testing process,
starting with alpha testing, which is done by a very small number
of testers. Once their comments and reactions have been recorded,
a larger group of beta testers, often corporate users, get the
program. As their reactions to the program are received the
program is modified as needed and the number of beta testers is
increased with each new beta release.

Microsoft has also started shipping an updated release of its Win32
Software Developers Kit (SDK), which includes the same beta code
plus additional development tools. In the second SDK release,
developers will receive the Win32s application programming
interface (API) which provides support for 32-bit applications
running under Windows 3.1 and the recently released Windows for
Workgroups as well as Windows NT. There is also extensive help
files and an upgraded compiler, says Microsoft.

The Win32 SDK is being mailed automatically to the developers
who purchased the original SDK or who received it at Microsoft's
Win32 Professional Developers Conference. The company says that
since July of this year more than 30,000 developers worldwide
have received the SDK.

(Jim Mallory/19921112/Press contact: Collins Hemingway,
Microsoft, 206-882-8080; Reader contact: Microsoft,
206-882-8080 or 800-426-9400)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(DEN)(00022)

New Firm Develops Holographic Data Storage 11/12/92
AUSTIN, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1992 NOV 12 (NB) -- The Microelectronics
and Computer Technology Corporation (MCC), has announced the
formation of a new company that will commercialize an
innovative new storage technology developed by the research
consortium.

Tamarack Storage Devices Inc., has been formed to develop
products based on MCC's holographic storage technology, in which
data is recorded on low cost film or crystal medium as a
three-dimensional hologram.

The technology uses a multiplexing scheme that stacks multiple
holograms in the same physical space. The data is superimposed
on a laser beam using a spatial light modulator. The beam is
focused into and through a small photorefractive crystal of
strontium barium niobate (SBN) and the page is recorded as a
page hologram.

SBN is photorefractive crystalline material with high sensitivity
and high speed that have the capability of recording images. Their
recording characteristics can be electrically controlled and they
are stable over a long period.

MCC says a stock of 30 to 50 pages can be recorded in a single
crystallite about one millimeter (mm) in diameter and a few
millimeters long. MCC sees holographic storage as a potential
replacement for floppy disks, tapes and CD-ROMs in applications
requiring large amounts of storage space such as multimedia files.
It holds two patents, issued in 1990 related to the technology.
Five of MCC's 67 member companies are participating in the
holographic project, internally code-named "Ratpack."

"The three-dimensional storage aspect of this technology allows
for very high storage densities which are approximately 10 times
greater than existing magnetic or optical recording technologies,"
said Tamarack founder and VP Steve Redfield.

According to Redfield, data access times and transfer rates could
be from 10 to 1,000 times faster than those of existing floppies,
tapes, and CD-ROMs. Tamarack President and CEO John Stockton
said holographic storage combines the access speeds and transfer
rates of hard disks and the storage capacity of high-end 8mm
tape drives, installed in a removable medium.

Tamarack, which is currently seeking investors, says it expects to
have a demonstration drive ready by the end of the year, with
customer availability by the end of 1993. Stockton told Newsbytes
that the initial models would be in a 5.25-inch form factor and use
WORM (write-once, read-many) media. Later models will use
read-write media about the size of a 35mm photographic slide.
Stockton said production models will be priced competitively with
8mm tape drives and store one gigabyte of data.

The company received seed funding from MCC, a cooperative
research  and development enterprise whose mission is "to
strengthen and sustain the competitiveness of member companies
who share common elements of a technical vision in information
technology."

(Jim Mallory/19921112/Press contact: Cynthia Williams, MCC,
512-338-3512, fax [phone]; Reader contact: MCC,
512-338-3543)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00023)

Latin Phone Update 11/12/92
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1992 NOV 12 (NB) -- Cellular tenders
in developing nations, and the resulting equipment purchases,
highlight international telecommunications news.

Brazil set a tender for equipment to serve a cellular network
in Sao Paolo, its largest city. Telesp, a unit of its Telebras
phone monopoly, will run the network of 107 cells and five
exchanges, designed to serve 70,000 phones. Entered are a joint
venture among Siemens and Motorola, another venture between
NEC of Japan and Globopar of Brazil, a Brazilian unit of Ericsson,
a venture among Northern Telecom and Promon of Brazil, and
another between AT&T and SiD Telecom of Brazil. A second,
privately-owned network is also planned.

Telebras is preparing for a new era of privatization and
competition by shaking up its executive suite. Jorge Moraes
Jardim Filho is the new president, replacing an appointee of
ousted President Collor. A new CEO is also due to be appointed.
Telebras is partly-owned by private interests, and its ADRs are
traded in the US. Those interests are behind demands that the
company become more efficient, which would also be in its
commercial interest as it faces new competition in places like
Sao Paolo.

Equipment suppliers see Latin America as a major market for their
goods, with Ericsson alone bragging it has bagged contracts in
Venezuela and Mexico for cellular gear under the US AMPS
standard. Ericsson has four Brazilian contracts in the cities of
Porto Alegre, Londrina, Minas Gerais, and Santa Catarina, again
under the AMPS scheme.

All these Latin moves still face political hurdles. Brazil's
democracy remains fragile following the impeachment of Collor.
Mexico, which has a Free Trade Agreement pending with the US
and Canada, is seen as a model democracy, but in fact its ruling
Institutional Revolutionary Party, known as PRI, is accused of
running a one-party state which steals elections. Progress may
stop or even be reversed under new US President Bill Clinton,
who is expected to demand democracy along with capitalism as
the price of cooperation. Four recent state elections may prove a
test of that new policy. PRI is accused of stealing them by its
political opponents. And if the model for Latin democracy is
seen as a fraud, it's an ill omen for others.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19921112/Press Contact: Ericsson, Kathy
Egan or 212 285-4030)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00024)

US Telecom Services Extend Worldwide 11/12/92
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1992 NOV 12 (NB) -- US
telecommunications services continue their extension around
the world.

Highlighting recent news in this area is an announcement from
AT&T that it will now offer direct-dial service to Vietnam. A
US embargo against that nation has held since it lost a war
there in 1975, but recent moves by Vietnam to deliver
information on missing prisoners from that war have helped
thaw relations. The embargo will be lifted once a full accounting
is accepted on 2,266 American servicemen still missing from
the Vietnam War.

AT&T also announced new options on its fax services, offering
flat six-second pricing on international services. The new
offerings are called AT&T Pro Fax and AT&T CustomNet Fax, and
are installed on customer lines designated for international fax
usage. Charges on the fax lines are combined with charges for
voice calls made on toll-free or incoming WATS (wide area
telecommunications service) lines to create volume discounts.

LCI, a small long distance company, extended use of its WorldCard
calling card to Spain and Thailand. Service should be extended to
another 20 countries in the next three months. The system works
with local toll-free numbers in each nation, which lets a
cardholder make international calls at low US rates. Operator
assistance is offered for placing calls to the US from 53
nations, including Mexico, with another five due to be offered in
the next few months.

In the area of satellite communications, Orion Network Systems
announced plans to offer fax, voice, data electronic mail and
videoconferencing services to Central and Eastern Europe using
small satellite terminals called VSATs (very small aperture
terminals). The first services are now being offered, to
Czechoslovakia and Poland.

Sprint announced it will try to expand its international calling
presence with pre-paid calling cards travelers can use when
visiting the US from Europe. Travel agents can imprint their
own logos on the cards -- the market for travel from Europe to
the US has boomed as the dollar has fallen against European
currencies, especially the German mark. Sprint will also market
the cards to airlines as frequent flyer premiums. Calling cards
are common in Japan and elsewhere, but problems have come up
in recent years because they can be forged.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19921112/Press Contact: Jim Fette, LCI
International 614-798-6272, Jennifer W. Alston, Orion Network
Systems, 800-786-7466; Janis Langley, Sprint, 202-828-7427;
AT&T, Albert Chu, 201/644-1714)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00025)

TV Answer Faces New License Competition 11/12/92
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1992 NOV 12 (NB) -- TV Answer,
which has sought to create interactive shopping and banking
services on new frequencies linked to subscriber televisions,
faces new competition from a competitor offering a completely
different type of service.

Interactive Network said it is aiming its interactive game
services, which are often tied to regular TV and sports shows,
at the same frequency market. The US Federal Communications
Commission decided to award the new frequencies sought by TV
Answer, called Interactive Video and Data Services, by lottery on
a local basis in 734 areas, instead of nationally as the Mexican-
backed TV Answer wanted.

As it stands now, anyone can apply inexpensively for a frequency
license, with an equal chance of winning rights without regard to
experience. Interactive said that NBC and Cablevision Systems
have agreed to affiliate with it on a local basis where they win
lotteries, and provide support to other licensees in developing
programming. Tribune Company and Gannett also agreed to work
with Interactive and lottery winners in developing information
services, where they have newspaper or other operations. IBM's
Networking Systems Services unit agreed to work with
Interactive on a proposal to leverage IBM's networking
capabilities to support lottery winners.

To date, the FCC has approved licensing IVDS spectrum in New
York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Chicago, Dallas, Houston,
Washington D.C., Boston, and San Francisco.  Two "tentative
selectees" will eventually be chosen by lottery in each of the
734 markets.  Upon approval of an engineering and logistical
report, using an FCC form number 574, the two "tentative
selectees" will be designated as local market IVDS operators.
Full licensing of the spectrum is awarded only when the winner
provides service to 50 percent of the allotted territory, which
must be completed within five years.

Interactive Network, which currently provides its services in
northern California using both the FM radio band and the
vertical blanking interval of PBX broadcasts, is also backed by
United Artists, AC Nielsen, Groupe Videotron Ltee, and Granada
Group. Spokesman Dave Denison told Newsbytes Interactive's
offering is completely different from what TV Answer has
proposed. "Their system is mainly an entertainment system. The
viewer can interact with sports programs and game shows and
other prime time shows. They also offer some of their own
games, if nothing is being broadcast that's appropriate. It's
nothing like a home shopping network."

(Dana Blankenhorn/19921112/Press Contact: Dave Denison, for
Interactive Network, 212-888-4848)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00026)

Advanced Telecom, LDDS Show Profits 11/12/92
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1992 NOV 12 (NB) -- Mergers between
small long distance companies have been criticized as attempts
to turn two or more sows' ears into a single silk purse. This is
because money-losing companies frequently merge in hopes that,
by combining their networks and customer bases, and by cutting
costs, they can turn a profit. Frequently, these hopes are dashed
as customers abandon the networks, leaving the resulting
combination worse off than before.

Advanced Telecommunications and LDDS, apparently do not fit
that stereotype. Both reported strong earnings in the most recent
quarter, as they prepare a merger that is due to take place in a
few months. The two companies expect to emerge from the merger
as the fourth-largest US long distance company, behind Sprint,
MCI Communications, and AT&T.

Advanced Telecommunications said it earned $7.3 million for the
quarter ending in September, on revenues of $108.6 million. Those
figures were up from $4.2 million in earnings on sales of $85.8
million a year ago. LDDS said it earned $6.8 million on sales
of $97.2 million for the quarter ending in September, up from
earnings of $5 million on sales of $80.1  million a year earlier.
LDDS is based in Jackson, Mississippi, and Advanced is based in
Atlanta, Georgia. The two companies have not decided where to
locate their new corporate headquarters.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19921112/Press Contact: ATC, Patrick E.
Delaney, 404/261-5885; LDDS Communications Bernard J.
Ebbers, 601/364-7000)


(NEWS)(IBM)(ATL)(00027)

Ibex Intros Fax-On-Demand For Windows 11/12/92
PLACERVILLE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 NOV 12 (NB) -- Ibex
Technologies has announced FactsLine for Windows, a voice-fax
system for customer service, literature fulfillment, forms
distribution, and other document retrieval applications. The
company said its system combines fax-on-demand with fax
broadcasting and voice processing functions, which are easy to
configure under Windows.

Ibex already sells a version under MS-DOS, but new features have
been added in the Windows version, the company said. A pop-up
scripting feature, and a simulation feature, are among the
enhancements.

The company said its new product automatically assures that
dated documents become inactive, allows for updating of the
system while it is operating, offers full management reports
and document conversion, and a visual voice editor for recording
and editing of announcements. The software costs $6,500.

It was shown at the Voice '92 show in Atlanta this week and
will also be on exhibit at next week's Comdex show.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19921112/Press Contact: Xenia Moore,
for Ibex, 619-457-4687)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(LAX)(00028)

New For Macintosh: SuperATM Approximates Fonts 11/12/92
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 NOV 12 (NB) -- In
another step to free computer users from an "ASCII jail," Adobe
has announced SuperATM, a variation on the company's Adobe
Type Manager (ATM) product line.

Adobe says the focus of this product is to allow users to
approximate fonts so they get the rough appearance of the
document, even if they do not own the font in question. The idea
is to allow users to develop with a font they do not have. The
document will then be printed on a Postscript printer or at a
service bureau. It will also allow users to edit a document
without losing its appearance, even if they did not create it.

SuperATM substitutes a metrically-exact font for an Adobe Type
Library font and some TrueType fonts. This means the document
using the font in question will have the same line and page breaks
as well as the approximate appearance of a document created
with the original typeface.

Further, the company said the document can be edited and, when
moved back to where it was created, will still display and
print the original fonts. Adobe says graphics professionals
will find the ability to edit in substituted fonts a plus, as
the final version will be in the actual typefaces when printed
on a system which has the original fonts.

SuperATM is based on an enhanced version of ATM and Adobe's
multiple master type technology that the company announced in
1991. The substituted fonts, serif or sans serif, are derived from
the two new multiple master designs. Also included are five
unique symbol display typefaces that do not convert well when
substituted: Symbol, ITC Zapf Dingbats, Bellevue, Cottonwood,
and Madrone.

The product works with the following Macintosh applications:
Microsoft Word 4.0 and 5.0, Microsoft Excel 3.0 and 4.0, Aldus
Pagemaker 4.2, Quarkxpress 3.1, Aldus Freehand 3.1, Macdraw Pro
1.5, Adobe Typealign 1.0.5, Filemaker Pro 1.0, Readysetgo! 4.5a
and 5.0, Clarisworks 1.0, Claris Resolve 1.0, Macproject II
2.5v1, Macproject Pro, Nisus 3.06, Publish-It 2.1, Publish-It
Easy! 1.0, Mathtype 2.11 and Qued/M 2.09.

If the Macintosh application does not support SuperATM, Adobe
says the user can install the bitmap of the typeface needed and
SuperATM will perform the font substitution. Over 400 bitmaps
are included with SuperATM, however, a compact disc (CD) is
included with the product which supplies 1,300 bitmaps from
Adobe's Type On Call library.

John Warnock, chairman and chief executive officer of Adobe
Systems said in a prepared statement: "Now it is possible to
use electronic documents anywhere, without worrying about the
fonts. For people who work on different computers at the office
or at home, or for those who need to read or edit created
documents elsewhere, SuperATM eliminates the frustration of
seeing the document's text format altered because of a missing
font."

SuperATM also includes Adobe Type Reunion for management of
the original and substitute fonts.

The product requires a Macintosh computer with two megabytes
(MB) of RAM under Apple System 6 software (or four MB if the
user is running Apple System 7 software); a hard disk drive; one
diskette drive; and any Postscript or non-Postscript printer
compatible with ATM software.

The Macintosh version of the SuperATM package is expected to
be available by the end of 1992 from Adobe resellers. Retail
pricing has been set at $149. However, a $49 upgrade price will
be available from Adobe to registered users of its ATM software.
A Windows version of SuperATM has also been announced for the
middle of next year, the company added.

(Linda Rohrbough/19921112/Press Contact: LaVon Peck, Adobe,
tel [phone], fax [phone], Public Contact:
800-833-6687)


(NEWS)(IBM)(LAX)(00029)

Wordtech To Demo dBASE-Compatible Arago For Windows 11/12/92
ORINDA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 NOV 12 (NB) -- Wordtech,
developer of the dBASE IV-compatible database application
software Arago, has announced Arago for Windows.

The company says it plans to demonstrate the new software at
Comdex, but users will not actually see it available until March
of 1993.

However, that appears to be about the same time the other
competing database for Windows products will make it to market.
Fox Software demonstrated Foxpro for Windows at last year's
Comdex, Borland demonstrated dBASE for Windows, and Computer
Associates' Aspen, the Clipper for Windows product, is still
under wraps. Wordtech claims however, that while it is the last
to announce a Windows version of its database product, it will
be the first to deliver.

The company claims its implementation of the common user
access (CUA) spans across all its products, including dBXL and
Quicksilver. Because of this CUA consistency, Arago maintains
that applications created in Arago for DOS will run without
modification when compiled in Arago for Windows.

The company says the implication is that developers will be
able to work in both Windows and DOS with a single set of
source code.

This concept is the same one Borland is planning to introduce
with its dBASE for Windows compiler that it has announced for
delivery next year. However, Wordtech says it will offer Arago
for Windows at a lower cost.

The company also asserts the product is compatible with dBASE
IV and dBASE III Plus, making the product a "bridge" for moving
existing applications in the two languages to Windows without
re-writing the applications.

Wordtech says users who buy Arago dBXL ($399) or Quicksilver
($499) after November 16 of this year will receive the Windows
product at no additional cost. Existing Arago users can upgrade
for $99 and older dBXL users for $199. Pricing for Arago for
Windows has not been announced.

Wordtech says it will ship desktop mapping software Mapplan
for Windows in December and will demonstrate the product at
Comdex. Mapplan is a geographic information system (GIS) for
demographic and market analysis which allows users to display
DBF data on a geographic basis. Mapplan for Windows is retail
priced at $599, Wordtech said.

(Linda Rohrbough/19921112/Press Contact: Lori Mankin,
Wordtech, tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(IBM)(LAX)(00030)

 ****Stacker Bundled With IBM DOS 5.0 11/12/92
LAS VEGAS, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 NOV 12 (NB) -- Stac
Electronics, makers of the hard disk data compression product
Stacker, has said its Stacker 2.0 software is being bundled
with IBM's new version of PC DOS, version 5.0.

This is seen as an attempt to beat Microsoft to the punch, as it
is reported that the software giant plans to integrate some form
of data compression into its next version of the DOS operating
system, MS-DOS 6.0. Microsoft's MS- DOS 6.0 is being beta tested
now and is slated expected to be released in 1993.

The latest version of Stacker is version 3.0 for Windows and
DOS, but users who purchase DOS 5.0 from IBM will receive a
coupon to upgrade to version 3.0 for $49.95, Stac said. Stacker
3.0 retails for $135 and an upgrade from any competing
compression product is usually $74, Stac said.

Data compression is becoming a popular alternative to the
purchase of larger storage devices, such as larger hard disk
drives. On older computers, the purchase of a larger hard disk
drive is often prohibitive because of lack of availability of
drives that will work with the basic input/output system (BIOS)
of the computer in question.

Also, many computers have a BIOS with a relatively low upper
limit for the size drive they will accommodate, compared to
current storage needs. While users can upgrade the BIOS in
some cases, it is usually easier to purchase another system or
compress the drive. The only problem is that data compression
products use some memory, which is also a precious commodity
in older computers.

Further, the compression is transparent to the user and most
users notice no difference in performance, while some have even
reported a performance gain with a compressed hard disk drive.
This is because the amount of time it takes for the processor
to compress the data is offset by the savings in time garnered
by writing less actual data to the drive.

Version 2.0 offers compression of hard disk, floppy, and
Bernoulli disks and also includes 386Max version 6.0 from
Qualitas. A special version of the Norton Speed Disk
optimization utility is included for optimization prior to
compression, Stac added. An installation process guides the
user through the needed steps and completes much of the
installation automatically.

Carlsbad, California-based Stac Electronics claims four million
users worldwide are using its compression technology Stacker
LZS. The company's largest competitor is Addstor, makers of
data compression product Superstor.

(Linda Rohrbough/19921112/Press Contact: Joanne Rush, Stac
Electronics, tel [phone], fax [phone])