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/1994/may_jun_94/nb051194

Text File | 1994-05-21 | 88KB | 1,883 lines

(NEWS)(APPLE)(WAS)(00001)

MacWorld Expo - Mainstay Intros C Visual Environment 05/11/94
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1994 MAY 11 (NB) -- Mainstay, a
Camarillo, California, software company, has upgraded the
company's visual interactive programming environment for the
C programming language. Unveiled at the MacWorld Expo, VIP-C
runs native on either standard Apple Macintosh computers or
the new Power PC-based Macs.

Mainstay says the upgrade has a number of new features,
including hotlinks to all major compilers, revamped prototypes
that use the new Apple universal header files, and general
refinements that mean faster operations.

The program creates American National Standards Institute C code
which can be compiled using hotlinks to Symantec's Think 6.0
and 7.0, Apple's MPW, and Metrowerk's Code Warrior. With the
use of universal header files, users need do nothing different
to create code to run on any Mac.

Programmers can code in the text editor, using standard ANSI
C and Mac toolbox calls. Using VIP-C's higher-level functions,
developers can work without using toolbox calls, sparing
programmers from mastering the innards of the Macintosh to
understand low-level calls and various combinations of calls.

Mainstay provides VIP-C with a royalty-free run-time module for
stand-alone applications. The program has a suggested retail
price of $495 and is available through retail and mail order
outlets. The company says it will have an upgrade available to
registered users for $50 at the end of the month.

Mainstay also unveiled a new version of Marco Polo, the
company's document imaging and management program, with
new features, including optical character recognition (OCR),
enhanced keyword access, and refinements to the interface. The
price is $895, with upgrades for current Marco Polo users at $75.

The OCR function built into the document scanning interface
composes a single document that looks like the original and has
fully searchable text. Conventional OCR technology generates two
files, picture and text, for each document.

The upgrade also has a proxy archiving feature, which allows
users to designate someone else to archive on their behalf,
with a password. So a manager could ask an assistant to scan
and archive documents under the manager's name. The company
says this can be particularly useful for workgroup settings.

(Kennedy Maize/1990511/Press Contact: Lance Merker,
805-484-9400)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(WAS)(00002)

MacWorld Expo - Hardware Runs Windows On Mac 05/11/94
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1994 MAY 11 (NB) -- Do you really
want to run Windows on your Macintosh? While the new Power
PC-based Macs will run Windows in emulation, it is very slow,
so Orange Micro, an Anaheim, California, company is offering a
different approach -- an MS-DOS hardware coprocessor for Mac
machines.

The Orange board for a Macintosh provides Mac users with a
NuBus card that puts a DOS PC inside the Apple box to run
Windows applications simultaneously with Macintosh programs.

It is fast. A demonstration at the Mac World Expo attended by
Newsbytes showed a complex computer-assisted drafting file
running in an emulation window at the same time the same
drawing was running in an Orange window. The drawing in
emulation took over a minute, while the Orange drawing took
11 seconds.

The Orange card demonstrated used an Intel 486 DX4 chip running
at 100 megahertz (MHz) on a top-of-the-line Power Mac, while the
emulation was about the equivalent of a 386 at 33 MHz.

An Orange technician told Newsbytes that another limitation of
the Windows emulation is that it uses an 80286 instruction set.
Attempts to upgrade to a 486 instruction set will cause the
machine to bomb, according to the company.

The combination of the Mac and the Windows NuBus card provides
some interesting capabilities, including the ability to cut-
and-paste text between Mac and PC applications, the ability to
share files on the Mac hard disk between Mac and PC
environments, and the ability read DOS CD-ROM disks on the
Mac's CD-ROM drive.

According to the company, "Until Orange PC, Macintosh-to-PC
connectivity has consisted of little more than simple file
transfer techniques. With an Ethernet, Token Ring, etc., PCMCIA
(Personal Computer Memory Card International Association)
card installed in the PCMCIA slot of an Orange PC, you achieve
100% compatibility as a PC based node on your network. That
means you can actually execute DOS programs in a multiuser,
multifile, PC-oriented network environment with your Mac as the
universal platform."

Is this the hammer that will break the Berlin Wall between Mac
and DOS camps of the personal computing world? For some users,
it may be worth investigating, but at a cost. Prices start at $999
for a basic Intel 486SX running at 33 MHz with two megabytes
(MB) of RAM.

On the Mac side, the Orange requires a Power PC, Mac II,
Quadra, Performa, or any other Mac with a free NuBus slot, 2MB
of Mac RAM (the Orange card uses 512 kilobytes), a hard drive,
and System 7 with 32-bit addressing set on.

(Kennedy Maize/19940511)


(NEWS)(IBM)(BOS)(00003)

Samsung Ships 426MB IDE Drive, Eyes 540MB 05/11/94
RIDGEFIELD PARK, NEW JERSEY, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 11 (NB) -- Samsung
has released new 426 megabyte (MB) and 213MB hard disk drives for
IBM-compatible PCs, and might be adding a 540MB drive to its
lineup by the end of 1994.

"A lot of the market data says that the big volume for standard
desktop configurations is going to be in the 250MB to 300MB range.
But we think it's going to move to the 420MB range, and possibly into
the 540MB range by the end of the year," said Jeff Edelstein,
senior marketing manager for storage products, in an interview with
Newsbytes.

Ridgefield, New Jersey-based Samsung Electronics America (SEA)
recently introduced a 356.8MB hard disk drive, and also produces
250.9MB and 178MB units, according to Edelstein. Like some of the
company's earlier releases, the new 426.8MB model, the SHD-3212A,
and 213.4MB drive, the SHD-3211A, are equipped with IDE
(Integrated Drive Electronics) interfaces and follow the AT command
set for optional integration into "green PCs."

"Not too long ago, 150MB drives were the main piece of the
market," Edelstein told Newsbytes. Already, though, Samsung's new
426MB drive is selling in "significant volume," he added. "What
may be happening is that the market is sort of 'leapfrogging'
356MB and going straight to the 420MB level," the senior marketing
manager said.

Samsung might be convinced to step up to a 540MB if pricing on
models in the 420MB range starts to fall significantly by the end
of the year, according to Edelstein. Other factors that could play
a role include the planned release of Chicago, and the possible
release of major multimedia applications that are not CD-ROM
(compact disc - read only memory)-based, he said.

"Chicago, alone, is supposed to consume about 40MB. If just one
common multimedia application comes out in the near future, you're
going to start to see hard disk drives eaten up in a pretty major
way," he observed.

Although many other PC hard drive makers have already dropped all
products under 200MB, Samsung is continuing to carry its 178MB
units, according to Edelstein. "There's high demand for our 178MB
drive, and fairly stable pricing, too, because hardly anyone else
has a drive less than 200MB any more," Newsbytes was told.

Samsung's new 426MB hard drive is a dual-disk drive with four data
surfaces and four read/write heads. Formatted capacity is 106.7MB
for each surface. The 213MB hard drive is a single-disk drive with
two data surfaces and two read/write heads. Formatted capacity is
also 106.7MB for each surface.

Each of the new drives provides an average seek time of 13
milliseconds (ms) and an estimated mean-time-between-failure
(MTBF) of 250,000 hours.

The AT command set that the drives adhere to includes a
specification for "four levels of power down" that complies with
industry standards for "green PCs," Edelstein said. Most other
manufacturers of IDE drives also follow the AT command set, he
noted.

(Jacqueline Emigh/19940511/Reader Contact: Samsung Electronics
America, 201-229-4000; Press Contacts: Bob Rinklin or Mark Young,
HWH Public Relations for Samsung, 212-355-5049)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(BOS)(00004)

Cascade Adds ATM Interworking To WAN Switch 05/11/94
WESTFORD, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 11 (NB) -- Cascade
Communications' B-STDX 9000 WAN (wide area network) switches
have been newly equipped with ATM (asynchronous transfer mode)
interworking, a capability that allows high-speed ATM to be
integrated with low-speed, less expensive, frame relay services on
the same switching platform.

Cascade is providing the new capability through the ATM UNI (User
to Network Interface) IO (Input/Output) Module, a new card that
hooks into Cascade's B-STDX 9000 Multiservice WAN switch.

In an interview with Newsbytes, Bill Mitchell, director of
marketing for Westford, Massachusetts-based Cascade, said that
ATM interworking will allow corporations to use frame relay,
running at 56 kilobit-per-second (Kbps) to T1/E1 speeds, for
connecting branch offices to ATM backbone networks operating
at T3 rates.

The new trunking capability will be especially advantageous for
electronic mail, customer account databases, and other corporate
applications that need to be operated over both the frame relay and
ATM components of a WAN, Mitchell told Newsbytes.

ATM interworking will also be used for connecting corporate
frame relay networks through "edge switches" on high-traffic ATM
networks operated by telephone companies, he said. Newsbytes notes
that phone companies are using the smaller "edge switches" in
conjunction with larger core network infrastructure switches that
are located at phone company central offices.

Cascade's new ATM interworking capability converts data from
frame relay networks into ATM cells, Mitchell explained. Cascade
is enabling the capability through an implementation of
RFR.5, the Frame Relay Forum's approved standard for ATM
interworking.

Cascade's new ATM UNI IO Module is equipped with T3/E3 interfaces,
supports up to 4,000 virtual circuits per module, and provides ATM
access for multiple protocols, including routing protocols, bridge
protocols, and WAN protocols, Mitchell added.

Other features include SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol)-
based network management, redundant configuration, flash memory,
and compliance with the ATM Forum's UNI V3.0 specification. The
product is available immediately, at a price of $30,000.

In the future, Cascade plans to add other new functionality to its
B-STDX 9000 WAN switches, such as the ability to "switch ATM
between sites," Mitchell told Newsbytes.

The provision of ATM interworking reflects Cascade's continuing
progress as a multi-service WAN provider, the marketing
director maintained. "Over the years, we've grown from offering
frame relay, to SMDS (switched multimegabit data services), to
ATM," he said.

(Jacqueline Emigh/19940510/Reader Contact: Cascade
Communications, 508-692-2600; Joyce Radnor, Cascade, 508-
692-2600; Joann Anderson or Lisa Spellman, Copithorne & Bellows
for Cascade, 617-252-0606)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(DEN)(00005)

Computer Ignition Interlock Foils Drunk Drivers 05/11/94
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 11 (NB) -- An Atlanta company
has announced a system it believes will foil drunk drivers and save
the 22,000 lives lost in alcohol-related traffic deaths and injuries
annually.

The D.U.I.E. Project Inc., has introduced the Driver Bio-System, a
collection of high-tech components that interacts through a
vehicle's steering wheel to detect if the operator is intoxicated.

Other systems has been proposed to detect drunk drivers, such as
requiring the person to blow into a tube before the ignition can be
operated. The Driver Bio-System requires no action on the part of
the would-be driver other than grasping the steering wheel.

The company says the system is applicable to cars, trucks, buses,
planes, trains, ships and any other transportation system. "New autos
will have this system installed right from the factory just like the
seat belt or air bags. Older model cars and trucks can be easily
retrofitted with the Driver Bio-System," according to D.U.I.E.
Project Executive Director Ellwood Ivey.

A special bio-ring housed in the steering wheel analyzes the blood
alcohol level of the driver as soon as his or her hands touch the
steering wheel. If the BAC (blood alcohol content) is higher than
allowed internal and external lights flash and the horn sounds. If
the driver tries to operate the vehicle anyway, an onboard computer
renders the vehicle inoperable.

A special patented switching device detects if gloves or other
methods of compromise are being used.

The company says the system has the potential for side benefits
such as the monitoring of glucose levels, blood pressure and
cholesterol levels for the information of the driver.

(Jim Mallory/19940511/Press and reader contact: Fred Parsons,
D.U.I.E. Corp, 912-355-7243)


(NEWS)(IBM)(DEN)(00006)

Jurassic Park PC Screen Savers On CD-ROM 05/11/94
BELLEVUE, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 11 (NB) -- Asymetrix
Corporation has introduced a collection of screen savers based on
the "Jurassic Park" movie.

The company is shipping a collection of more than 60 megabytes
(MB) of screen-saver shows based on the popular movie that
can be installed individually on a users' hard drive. Asymetrix
earlier released a floppy disk version of the program. It is now
on CD-ROM disk and includes a variety of new wallpaper scenes
and sound effects.

The company said it worked closely with MCA/Universal Merchandising
Inc., and Amblin Entertainment to produce the software. MCA/Universal
is the marketing agency for Universal Pictures, the company that
produced the hit movie.

Joe Rehfeld, general manager of the consumer multimedia division at
Asymetrix, says the fundamental problem with most screen savers is
their repetitiveness. "People get bored with a finite set of content.
With this CD-ROM, we give our users an incredible range of material
to choose from."

The Screen Saver includes over 35 savers, with more than half of
those new since the release of the floppy disk version. Titles
include: Run Through The Jungle, Nedry's Adventure, What's for
Dinner, and Feeding Time.

There is also Sneak Preview, a graphic interface Asymetrix says
is designed specifically with children in mind.  Sneak Preview is
in a format that lets the kids view the screen-saver shows at
their own pace. Large graphical buttons provide the navigation
tools and the screen savers can be viewed by clicking on objects
encountered as the user moves through the different screens.

You also get a Dinosaur Encyclopedia, facts and statistics on the
dinosaurs of Jurassic Park. The Science of Jurassic Park includes an
animated movie about DNA cloning, and what Asymetrix thinks are
some of the best scenes from the movie are transformed into
vignettes in Lost in Jurassic Park. Park Operations shows users the
inner workings of Jurassic Park from the Hatchery to Computer
operations.

The CD-ROM version of Jurassic Park - The Screen Saver is available
now at a suggested retail price of $34.95. If you bought the floppy
disk version you can upgrade for $24.95 by using the rebate coupon
in the box.

To run Jurassic Park - The Screen Saver you need an IBM-compatible
PC powered by a 33 megahertz 386 or better processor, DOS 3.1
or later, Microsoft Windows 3.1 or later, at least 4MB of memory
(Asymetrix recommends 6MB), a CD-ROM drive, VGA or better graphics,
and a mouse or other pointing device. To enjoy the program's sound
effects you also need a sound card.

Asymetrix says it plans to ship a Macintosh version of the program
in the third quarter.

(Jim Mallory/19940511/Press contact: Suzette Cavanaugh, Asymetrix
Corporation, 206-462-0501; Reader contact: Asymetrix Corporation,
800-448-6543 or 206-426-0501, fax [phone])


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TOR)(00007)

SHL Systemhouse Drops ComputerLand Name in Canada 05/11/94
OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1994 MAY 11 (NB) -- SHL Systemhouse
Inc., has announced that it will remove the ComputerLand name
from its computer sales and distribution operations in Canada.

The move follows ComputerLand Corp.'s recent sale of the name in
the United States to Merisel, a computer products distributor.
Even before that happened, Systemhouse spokesman Rick Gray told
Newsbytes, Systemhouse had sold back to the US company the
franchise rights it held for ComputerLand operations in Canada
for several years.

While Systemhouse would have moved away from the ComputerLand
name eventually anyway, Gray said, the Merisel deal speeded up
the move, because Systemhouse felt confusion over use of the name
for different types of businesses in the two countries "was
actually detrimental to the business we were in."

The ComputerLand name will hang on in one part of Systemhouse's
operations for a while yet. The company will continue publishing
its mail-order catalog under the name ComputerLand Direct "for a
period of time" because of strong brand recognition, Gray said.

For its reseller operation, Systemhouse will do business under
the name Computer Innovations, which has always been the official
name of the subsidiary that ran the ComputerLand operations and
was, in the mid-1980s, the name of a separate retail chain that
bought up Canadian ComputerLand franchises and subsequently was
taken over by Systemhouse.

SHL has organized its sales and distribution business into five
units: SHL Computer Innovations; SHL Technical Services; SHL
ComputerLand Direct; SHL Learning Technologies; and SHL Kee
Systems. SHL Technical Services provides customer services and
support and SHL Kee Systems develops training materials.

Computer Innovations no longer runs storefront outlets, said Vic
Oliver, president of the subsidiary. It has about 40 offices
across Canada and roughly 800 employees, Oliver told Newsbytes.

Systemhouse does not break out Computer Innovations' revenues
from those of the company as a whole. The entire SHL Systemhouse
operation employs about 2,000 people. The company's other
principal businesses are systems integration and outsourcing.

(Grant Buckler/19940511/Press Contact: Rick Gray, SHL
Systemhouse, 312-697-5668; Wendy Boyd, SHL Computer
Innovations, 905-793-9000)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(TOR)(00008)

Canadian Students To Teach Literacy With Ambra PCs 05/11/94
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1994 MAY 11 (NB) -- Frontier College,
a 95-year-old literacy organization, is seeking to involve more
university students in teaching literacy, with the aid of
personal computers (PCs) donated by ExperComp Services Ltd., the
IBM Canada Ltd. subsidiary that sells Ambra computers in Canada.

John O'Leary, president of Frontier College, told Newsbytes that
the organization is trying to renew its links with universities,
which go back to its founding in 1899 at Queen's University in
Kingston, Ontario. By its 100th anniversary in five years,
O'Leary said, Frontier College hopes to have a presence on every
university campus in Canada.

Right now, about 1,000 students are involved in Frontier's
Students for Literacy program, being trained to teach people to
read and write. After training, the students are to go out and
teach reading and writing in libraries, shopping malls, community
centers, and anywhere else where people gather, according to
college officials.

They will do so with the help of Ambra PCs donated by ExperComp,
which has just announced a three-year commitment and an initial
donation of C$50,000 in equipment and money to the program.

Ambra, which has made previous donations to Frontier College, is
the only computer vendor involved with the Students for Literacy
program at present, O'Leary said. He added that the college hopes
the relationship will extend beyond the present three-year
commitment.

The Students for Literacy program is using Ambra subnotebook and
desktop computers, including a new Ambra Achiever model with
multimedia and voice navigation features.

The program is operating on about 20 campuses across Canada
today, and about 10 more are expected to join in this year,
Frontier College said.

(Grant Buckler/19940511/Press Contact: John O'Leary, Frontier
College, 416-923-3591, fax [phone]; Kate Jobling or Sharon
Rainey, Goodman Communications for ExperComp, 416-924-9100)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(DEN)(00009)

Is There A Future For Cray Computer Corp? 05/11/94
COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 11 (NB) --
Shareholders  want to know what the future holds for Cray Computer
Corporation - or if there is a future for the financially shaky
company. But they didn't find out yesterday at the company's annual
meeting.

About all shareholders got was "No comment," "We don't know," and
"We can't tell you" in response to questions about finances and
orders for the company's computers.

Company officials declined to comment on potential customers for
the Cray-3 supercomputer, apparently can't (or won't) predict exactly
when the bank account will be empty, and stepped behind the shield
of Securities and Exchange Commission rules to avoid questions
about future financing.

Seymour Cray, chairman of Cray Computer Corporation, spun the
company off from Cray Research in 1983 to develop a better
supercomputer using gallium arsenide instead of silicon. However,
the project ran into delays in packaging the integrated circuits.
Those  delays eventually led to the loss of the only order Cray had
gotten for the supercomputer when the company missed a crucial
milestone on the demonstration schedule.

In the meantime Cray Research, the company co-founded by Seymour
Cray, got into the supercomputer business and is apparently having
little trouble selling its systems.

As reported recently by Newsbytes, Cray Computer is now putting
its hopes on the Cray-4, a system that costs less to build and
promises better performance. But to bring it to market the company
has to stay in business, and that means having money in the bank.

A company representative told Newsbytes a Cray-4 prototype
is not expected to be ready until the end of the year.

Company officials have declined to comment on how long the
existing cash will last, but some reports estimate that funding
could run out as soon as June or July.

Cray Computer's financial reports show the company loses about
$11 million per quarter. Current operations are being funded by a
private stock placement last year that raised about $30 million.
Cray stock closed yesterday at just under $1.50.

With little to go on except faith, Cray shareholders at the meeting
yesterday offered some of their own solutions to the company's
problems. Suggestions included drastically cutting the price of the
Cray-3 systems, trying to sell the machines outside the US, as
Cray Research has done, and re-combining Cray Computer Corp with
Cray Research.

(Jim Mallory/19940511/Press contact: Cray Computer Corporation,
719-579-6464)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(LAX)(00010)

 ****Monitors, Not Keyboards, Cause Carpel Tunnel? 05/11/94
KERRVILLE, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 11 (NB) -- The improper
placement of computer monitors causes the debilitating hand and
arm injury that affects thousands of computer workers each year,
commonly diagnosed as carpel tunnel syndrome (CTS), according to
a some experts who specialize in computer workstation ergonomics.
One author has gone as far as to say constant strain on the neck
from viewing improperly placed monitors 40 hours a week would
cause CTS even if the computer user never typed a single word.

CTS is a category of repetitive strain injury (RSI) that is
defined as a crushing or pinching of the median nerve that passes
through the wrist-located bone and ligament tube, called the
carpel tunnel.

Classic CTS symptoms are pain, numbness, and tingling in the
hand. The April, 1991, University of California, Berkeley Wellness
Letter said the tingling and numbness can progress to a weakened
grip and severe pain in the forearm or shoulder. Occupational
Hazards said in the April, 1989, issue that CTS can worsen to the
point where the nerves die. If this happens, the person's
dysfunction of the hand or hands is irreversible, even with
surgery.

In the past, computer workplace arm, wrist, and hand injuries
have been blamed mostly on improper placement of the hands. The
most accepted theory is hands were never designed to lie flat in
front of a computer user with fingers pounding out the same small
motions over and over. Turning the hands down to lie flat twists
the carpel tunnel, and the situation is aggravated by the finger
movement which is said to thicken the tendons, pressing the nerve
up against the bone.

The answer traditionally has been wearing wrist bandages or
supports and, more and more often, surgery is used to open up the
space around the median nerve. About 100,000 workers complained
of CTS in 1992 and that number doubled in 1993.

But CTS is not limited to computer workstation users. It has been
reported by piano and violin players, hair dressers, knitters,
sewers, telephone operators, cigar rollers, and grocery store
clerks.

Besides use of their hands in repetitive motions, these workers
all have looking down in common, which according to Julia
Lacy, is the true cause of the problem. Lacy is author of a self-
published book in its second printing, "How to Survive Your
Computer Workstation" (CRT Services, 1990). She says her
conclusions come from surveys of several thousand full-time
computer users over a four-year period.

Her theory is that looking down pitches the head forward, placing
strain on the neck muscles, which in turn spasm. These spasms
aggravate the nerve that emanates from beneath the seventh
vertebra of the cervical spin from the C7/C8 nerve root area,
which is connected to the median nerve. This eventually causes
the symptoms associated with CTS.

"The head," says Lacy, "weighs as much as a bowling ball. Imagine
the extra work neck muscles must do when the head moves off its
natural pivot atop the shoulders," Lacy said.

"When monitors are set too low," Lacy continues, "neck muscles
must hold up a very heavy head, clamping down with a vice-like
grip on the C5-TI area, home of nerves found along the arm.
Eventually these exceedingly tense nerves spasm, shooting pain
down the arm and into the wrist and hand, where ultimately their
branches terminate." The C5 to TI area is seven bones, known as
cervical vertebrae, that make up the cervical portion of the
spine. The nerve roots that branch out from those bones are also
designated by the names of the vertebrae.

Michael Gauf, managing editor of CTD News, a newsletter focused
on cumulative disorders in the work place, told Newsbytes there
is both medical and anecdotal evidence that a combination of
repetitive motion and the improper monitor placement can cause
CTS. Termed "double crush syndrome," compression of the nerves
theoretically occurs in both the cervical spine area and the
wrist, causing pain and debilitation. Gauf said a number of
factors could cause the cervical spine problem, including
improper monitor placement, poor posture, or a bad seating
arrangement.

But Dr. David Glick, an independent researcher for the Richmond,
Virgina-based company Neural Function Analysis, said his company
started doing research to prove the "double crush" theory and ended
up agreeing with Lacy's theory on CTS.

Glick, who had never heard of Julia Lacy, said his survey of 496
people with CTS symptoms revealed only seven had damage in the
wrist area. The overwhelming majority, 442, had neck injury in
the C8 through T1 cervical area, 28 had neck and wrist injuries,
14 had shoulder injuries, and 5 had miscellaneous problems.

The seven who had CTS had also had corrective surgery to relieve
the symptoms, which Glick said permanently clouds the issue as to
whether or not they ever originally needed surgery at all.

Several common sense observations make it clear that the widely
accepted theory that computer keyboards cause CTS just could not
be true, Glick said.

One of the most commonly reported symptoms of CTS is the loss of
grip strength. A simple test shows the muscles that control grip
strength are in the forearm. If a person puts their arm up in
front of them, grasps the arm just above the elbow with the other
hand, then makes and releases a fist, they can feel the forearm
muscles at work. It is quite clear that the muscles that control
the hand strength are in the forearm, not in the wrist, Glick said.

Comparing nerves to water hoses in the way they transmit,
Glick described the flow of nerve impulses as always down, not
up. For example, if a person suffers a spinal injury, they could
be paralyzed from the point where the injury occurred, downward.
The paralysis never occurs upstream of a nerve injury.

With these points in mind, i.e. that the muscles that provide the
grip strength of the hand are in the forearm and that nerve
damage always manifests below the damaged point, it is simply not
possible that damage to the median nerve in the wrist could cause
a lack of grip strength, Glick asserts. It has to be damage above
the forearm. Damage to the median nerve would effect muscles
movement needed to bring the thumb and forefinger together, like
making the "OK" sign, and the muscles needed to produce the Spock
from Star Trek "live long and prosper" hand movement.

In addition, saying that the low or no force repetitive motion of
typing damages the nerves and muscle flies in the face of known
medical facts concerning muscle, according to Glick. Those
interested in developing their bodies use low or no force
repetitive motion to build and tone muscles. Our bodies are made
to move, Glick said, movement strengthens muscles and nerve
tissue, and low force repetitive motion is not going to cause
damage.

Additional support for his theory is found in motor vehicle
accident victims with cervical spine injuries, who display many
of the same symptoms as reported CTS victims, Glick asserts.

Yet Lacy, Glick, and others like them are flying in the face of
the accepted causes of CTS symptoms. Compaq, IBM, and Apple
Computer are all defendants in lawsuits filed by computer users
who claim the companies' keyboards are responsible for their CTS
symptoms. The Wednesday, May 4 issue of the Wall Street Journal
carried this headline, "Keyboard Users Say Makers Knew of
Problems."

In addition, an entirely new generation of keyboards are being
developed to tackle the CTS problem. There are keyboards split
down the middle, some that raise up on the sides so hands work at
a "more natural angle," and others shaped like mounds that hands
rest over that require users to learn "chords" in order to type.

But if these voices claiming the neck is the critical area are
right, the new generation of laptop, palmtop, and hand held
computer users face serious problems ahead. Nearly all the light-
weight, portable computers on the market now, and those proposed,
require users to look down to see the monitor.

As for corrective measures, Glick says the issue is not a one-
size-fits-all answer, but once the cause of the "nerve insult" in
the neck is found, the symptoms disappear practically overnight.
These changes include changing seating, moving the monitor, or
even correcting sleeping positions. Lacy said most computer
workstation users can protect themselves from CTS by making sure
they do not have to bend their head, even slightly, to view the
monitor

But not every user can simply move their monitor up to eye level
and correct the problem. Glick said moving the monitor down may
be the best way for those who have lost the normal cervical curve
of the spine, and sitting upright could cause those users problems.

Glick and Lacy told Newsbytes they are swimming upstream,
fighting a flood of accepted CTS opinion. With the rising acceptance
of computers into everyday life, there are fears an entire
generation could suffer pain and physical damage. "It's
imperative this news gets out," Lacy told Newsbytes.

(Linda Rohrbough/19940511/Press Contact: Julia Lacy, CRT
Services, 210-896-4122; Dr. David Glick, Neural Function
Analysis, 804-320-2002, fax [phone]; Michael Gauf,
CTD News, 313-443-1753, fax [phone])


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(DEN)(00011)

Ohio Univ Helps Computerize Vatican Library 05/11/94
CLEVELAND, OHIO, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 11 (NB) -- Case Western Reserve
University (CWRU) has been selected by IBM to help design an
electronic storage and delivery system for selected items in the
Vatican Library.

IBM says it approached CWRU because the two organizations have
collaborated on similar efforts in the past to design electronic
image storage and retrieval systems. Pontifical Catholic University
in Brazil is also participating in the project.

When complete the project will make the job of researcher's much
easier, reduce the workload of the Vatican Library staff, and
prevent damage to the stored materials since they will not be
handled as much.

CWRU spokesperson Toni Ferrante told Newsbytes that scanning of
the more than 20,000 images, about one-fourth of them in color,
will begin this month. The entire project is expected to take about
two years.

James Barker, director of administrative information services and
CWRU's Library Collections Services project, says the development
of software tools, document preservation methods and image
distribution systems will be complete by June.

Ferrante said university professors will work with CWRU computer
staffers and IBM personnel to develop the sophisticated software
tools.

Scholars who want to work with the stored images will participate
at various levels. Some will have Internet access to only catalog
information. They will receive the images as prints or via fax.
Others will be able to request electronic copies of the files via
Internet. A third group will get software tools that will allow them
to view and manipulate the images. Access will be possible from any
computer platform.

IBM is providing initial funding for the project, while additional
support is being sought from other interested parties. The Vatican
Library was established by Pope Nicholas V in 1451 and contains
150,000 manuscripts, two million printed books, 100,000 drawings
and print and a coin collection. Materials include a wide range of
subjects, not just religious items.

(Jim Mallory/19940511/Press and public contact: Toni Ferrante,
Case Western Reserve University, 216-368-4443)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(TOR)(00012)

 ***Ziff-Davis To Produce TV Computer Shows 05/11/94
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 11 (NB) -- Ziff-Davis
Publishing Co., publisher of such periodicals as PC Magazine, PC
Week, MacWeek, and Computer Shopper, is to produce two half-hour
weekly shows for Technology Information Network (Tech TV), a
subsidiary of Missing Link Communications in Englewood, Colo.

Tech TV plans to pair the two Ziff shows with half-hour
computer-related infomercials it will produce itself. Starting in
August, two one-hour packages will be broadcast on weekend
afternoons as paid programming on CNBC.

While Tech TV will be paying for the time on CNBC, Allison
Thomas, a spokeswoman for Missing Link, said the two Ziff-Davis
segments will not be infomercials. Ziff will control editorial
content, which will be interrupted by commercial breaks as in
conventional television.

The other half-hour segments will contain material provided by
manufacturers and designed to sell their products.

Ziff-Davis said its productions, PC Update and The Personal
Computing Show, will feature computer industry experts, including
editors and columnists from Ziff publications and personnel from
its product testing laboratories. The Personal Computing Show, on
Saturdays, will demonstrate the use of personal computer
products. PC Update, on Sundays, will be a newsmagazine focusing
on trends and on new technologies and products.

The infomercials, which will follow the Ziff-Davis productions,
will allow viewers to order products through a toll-free
telephone number.

CNBC reaches 53 million households, officials said. Tech TV is
also to be aired on other cable networks and local stations in 10
major cities, according to Missing Link.

The probable starting date is August 6, Thomas said, and the
initial commitment is to continue the shows until the end of
1994.

(Grant Buckler/19940511/Press Contact: Greg Jarboe, Ziff-Davis,
617-393-3313, fax [phone]; Allison Thomas, Allison
Thomas Associates for Missing Link, 818-509-3700)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(LON)(00013)

European Support For New SGSA Standard Strengthens 05/11/94
ZAVENTEM, BELGIUM, 1994 MAY 11 (NB) -- Several major European
computing, telecoms and voice processing companies have given their
support to the Signal Computing System Architecture (SCSA) standard,
Newsbytes has been told.

SCSA is an emerging standard that allows computers and telephone
technology to be interlinked at the highest possible level allowing,
for example, a two-way flow of supervisory information to flow
between the two environments.

Launched last year, SCSA is billed a "multi-layered, open hardware
and software standard for building multi-line computer telephony
systems." Since its creation last year, the standard has been
supported by various major computer and telecoms equipment
manufacturers.

The idea behind the standard, according to Dialogic Telecom Europe,
one of the companies actively involved in supporting the standard,
is that developers will be able to more quickly and efficiently
create modular and more powerful applications, such as interactive
voice and fax response, as well as voice messaging.

More than 190 companies have added their names to the list
supporting SCSA -- no mean feat for a standard only a year old,
Newsbytes notes. According to Jean-Claude Maurel, executive vice
president with Infovox of Sweden, SCSA working groups and advisory
councils have been formed to define the standard for specific
applications.

"The European representation in the support and development of SCSA
shows the global importance of this initiative. This will ensure
that SCSA will emerge as a worldwide standard, and not be limited to
acceptance on just one continent," he said.

Bertrand Chauvet, marketing director with Elan Informatique of
France, explained why SCSA is so important. "SCSA provides the first
industrial opportunity for a complete and worldwide approach to the
voice processing market. For this reason, we were anxious to begin
development of a SCSA product," he said.

(Sylvia Dennis/19940511/Press & Public Contact: L J Urbano, Dialogic
Telecom Europe - Tel: [phone])


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(LON)(00014)

Northern Telecom Secures Finnish Telecoms Contract 05/11/94
HELSINKI, FINLAND, 1994 MAY 11 (NB) --Northern Telecom has
signed a contract to supply fixed radio telephone equipment
to Telecom Finland, the Finnish state-owned telecoms company.

The equipment will be deployed across Finland from the start of next
year, Newsbytes has been told. According to Northern Telecom, the
hardware is being developed at the company's radio infrastructure
division in Paignton, Devon, in the UK.

This is the second deal of its type for NT in Europe, Newsbytes
notes. Earlier this year, NT secure a contract with Ionica for the
first implementation of fixed radio telephony equipment. According
to NT, Ionica is working closely with the company on the Finnish
project.

So what is fixed radio telephony? The terms are normally mutually
exclusive. In fact, the technology is a marriage of two distinct
technologies -- conventional wireline (fixed network) telecoms
cables link to a point near the subscriber and, for the last few
hundred meters, a high frequency "radio hop" is used to avoid the
cost of installing the local loop.

NT claims to have enhanced fixed radio telephony technology with the
inclusion of digital interworking. The analog telephony circuit is
digitized and compressed, as well as encrypted, to offer what the
company claims is a "secure and very bandwidth-efficient" radio hop
link. Subscribers will be provided with a small (30 centimeters)
radio transceiver fixed externally to their premises, which is
beamed towards the nearest base station.

According Bob Dow, NT's managing director of the Radio
Infrastructure Division, the system provides a number of
environment benefits as well as cost savings in that the need to
dig up roads and pavements (sidewalks) is considerably reduced.
"This a highly significant contract in that it represents the first
major national, established telecoms operator to commit to use the
NT/Ionica fixed radio access system," he explained.

Commenting on the contract, Mikko Pirinen, director of Telecom
Finland's consumer services division, said that using this
technology will allow the company to achieve its target -- 50
percent of the Finnish telecoms market by the end of the decade.

Although Telecom Finland is the state telecoms operator in Finland,
because of the open market there, a large number of private
operators have been competing to offer mobile and high-volume
national and international telecoms services.

Telecom Finland has control of much of the local loop but, as new
businesses open, the company has to compete with other telecoms
operatives on an open market basis. By using this new technology,
the company claims it can compete on a "level playing field" with
its competitors.

(Sylvia Dennis & Steve Gold/19940511/Press & Public Contact:
Paivi Mykkanen, Telecom Finland - Tel: [phone])


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(LON)(00015)

UK - Olivetti Intros JP450 Inkjet Printer 05/11/94
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1994 MAY 11 (NB) -- Olivetti has launched the
JP450, another in its line of bubblejet printers. The product, the
company claims, is aimed at the all-purpose marketplace for
individual professional users and is billed as offering "exceptional
printing speed, low running costs and a wide choice of printed
output."

Olivetti has had to move quickly to keep pace with Canon its main
competitor in recent times. This perhaps explains the relatively
low price -- UKP299 -- which will fall even further at "street
price," according to the company.

The JP450 supersedes the JP350 unit which was launched last
year. This printer, while looking similar on the outside, has been
restyled internally to achieve a claimed 40 percent reduction in
running costs, as well as being faster and offering a new color
print option.

Olivetti claims that this new printer is the fastest Windows printer
in its class, with speeds of five pages-per-minute (ppm). This, the
company claims, means it is the first bubblejet to truly compete
with low-end lasers in terms of speed and economy.

The economy aspect is further enhanced, Olivetti claims, by the
introduction of am economy print mode. Sara Holloway, printer
product manager with Olivetti UK, is confident that the unit will
become a bubblejet printer "by which others are measured."

How can Olivetti make such a bold statement? Holloway replied by
claiming that it offers "exceptional print quality and throughput,
unique features and outstanding value for money. The JP450 is not
just better value than its competitors -- it actually offers the
option of color printing at around the same price as most
monochrome printers."

According to figures from Dataquest, the market research company,
bubble and inkjet printers are fast becoming a major force in
printing, Newsbytes notes. Dataquest suggest that, over the next
three years, they will grab 29 percent of the printer market,
despite the fact that there are only three manufacturers in this
print category in the world -- Canon, Epson, and Olivetti.

(Steve Gold/19940511/Press & Public Contact: Olivetti UK,
tel [phone]; Fax: [phone])


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(LON)(00016)

UK - Samsung Intros "Quiet" Color Dot-Matrix Printer 05/11/94
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1994 MAY 11 (NB) -- Samsung has unveiled the
SP2417 color dot-matrix printer, which the company claims is
both cheap (UKP197) and very quiet in operation.

Unlike many other dot-matrix printers, the SP2417 unit includes a
single sheet paper tray which, in laser printer style, can handle up
to 50 single sheets at a time. The machine is aimed, A Samsung
official told Newsbytes, at the area of the laser printer market
that needs color output, a feature that cannot be met under the
UKP1,000 mark as far as lasers are concerned.

"This makes the machine suitable for the small office/home office
(SOHO) marketplace. We see this as a fast growing area of the
marketplace which this printer is suitable for," Newsbytes was told.

The SP2417 has all normal dot-matrix features, including paper
parking, paper feed, push tractor, auto paper loading, friction
loading and a micro adjustment reverse line feed. The printer also
has a top, rear and bottom paper feed.

Fonts resident in the SP2417 include LQ Courier, Letter Gothic,
Roman Sans-Serif, Prestige Elite and Script, as well as a draft
font. Enhancement features include condensed, emphasized, double
width, double height, double strike, underline, as well as sub and
superscript.

The real selling point of the printer however, is that it is quiet -
- only 46 decibels -- which is around a quarter of a standard dot
matrix. This is achieved, Newsbytes was told, due to the 24-pin
print head having a small pin diameter (0.2 millimeters). Despite
its small size pins, the print head has a life expectancy of 200
strokes in monochrome printing mode.

In draft mode, the printer operates at 160 characters-per-second
(cps), while in LQ modem, the speed is 53 and 63 cps in,
respectively, at 10 and 12 characters-per-inch (cpi) settings.

(Steve Gold/19940511/Press & Public Contact: Frank Thomas,
Samsung Computers & Peripherals - Tel: [phone])


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(LON)(00017)

UK - Cabletron Intros ATM Network Mgt Technology 05/11/94
NEWBURY, ENGLAND, 1994 MAY 11 (NB) -- Cabletron Systems has
announced Spectrum 3.0, a distributed network management system
which is billed as having the power to manage existing network
technologies, as well as emerging ATM (asynchronous transmission
method) networks.

This task has been achieved by distributing the Spectrum advanced
modeling engine over several multiple processors in a client-server
architecture. Cabletron claims that this means that network
management traffic is reduced, while enhancing management
facilities.

Cabletron refers to this technology as Spectroserver. According to
Mike Skubisz, the company's director of product marketing,
Spectroservers are the server part of the company's client-server
architecture. "Spectrum 3.0 is the only true client-server
management platform available today that permits multiuser
network management," he explained, adding that this new release
of Spectrum "has the capability to manage distributed network
environments into the next century."

So what differentiates Spectrum from other network management
systems? According to the company, it is the customization
facilities that sets it apart - users are not locked into a single
type of user, but, instead, may change Spectrum to meet the needs
of their network and organization's resources.

(Steve Gold/19940511/Press & Public Contact: Cabletron
Systems - Tel: [phone]; Fax:[phone])


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(LON)(00018)

UK - Tel-Me Online Service Unveiled 05/11/94
BIRKENHEAD, LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND, 1994 MAY 11 (NB) -- Phonelink
has launched its Tel-Me online service for PC-Windows users.

The service, which costs UKP300 a year, claims to offer a variety
of business and leisure information at a fraction of the cost of
traditional research methods. In addition, the service claims to
offer information in a few minutes rather than keeping people
waiting for traditional research.

As reported previously by Newsbytes, Phonelink has completed a
number of deals with information providers for its service. The
idea is to offer company information, rail and road travel
information, and the usual gazetteer of data that online services
provide.

The difference with Tel-Me, Phonelink claims, is that it presents
the data in an easy to digest graphical format rather than the pure
text format that many online services offer. Added to this,
Phonelink has enlisted the support of IBM in the project -- Big Blue
is bundling a demo copy of the Tel-Me software with all of its PCs
sold in the UK, as well as service literature.

To access Tel-Me, subscribers use the supplied software to place a
call -- either via modem, ISDN (integrated services digital network)
or similar wireline/wireless link -- to call the company's parallel
processing computer at its headquarters. This computer draws
information from the various systems operated by the likes of
British Telecom, British Rail, Thomson Directories and offers it on
an interactive and "best match" basis.

Phonelink claims that the parallel processing aspect of its
mainframe, coupled with the graphical nature of its software,
presents the data in a truly digestible format. For example, if an
origination and destination point is entered, Tel-Me will produce a
comparative tabulation of road and rail options for users. Ticketing
and reservations for rail services can be completed online.

Plans are in hand to launch a Tel-Me PC with pre-installed software
and comms equipment later this year. Phonelink is offering a
proprietary modem (operating at the curious 11,500 bits-per-second
speed rate) for UKP160. The modem is a fast-connect unit with a
claimed four second lock on time. An ISDN unit is also available for
UKP370, Ken Farnen, technical director with Phonelink, told
Newsbytes.

"We're not selling the technology here as a come-on. Users simply
use the hardware and software as with any Windows application. It
really is communication for the masses," he said.

The majority of information on Tel-Me can be accessed for 30 pence
(45 cents) or less. Directory assistance, for example, costs 12
pence a transaction, compared to the British Telecom fee of 45
pence.

For users with an eye on their phone bill, Tel-Me is available via
BT's Dial Plus packet data network, which has expanded to include
support for 9,600 bps modems over the last year. Phonelink claims
that the most rapid call connections are available, however, on a
direct dial basis.

Trevor Burke, Phonelink's chief executive, claims that the
information superhighway "has so far delivered little more than
hype, but Tel-Me at last offers millions of PC users a reason to
plug into it."

"Traditional dial-up databases tend to be awkward and expensive to
use and only appeal to the enthusiast or the specialist, but Tel-Me
is so fast, simple and inexpensive that it will be used by virtually
every type of PC user -- the entrepreneur, the manager, the salesman
and the secretary. Virtually anyone will find that Tel-Me cuts
hassle and increases profit," he said.

(Steve Gold/Press Contact: Suzanne Orsler, Buffalo Communications -
Tel: [phone]; Public Contact: Phonelink - Tel: [phone]-
0205, fax [phone]; UK Only - BT Localcall 0345-225577)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(TYO)(00019)

Japan - Post Offices To Install Telecom Ground Antennas 05/11/94
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1994 MAY 11 (NB) -- The Japanese Ministry of Posts
and Telecommunication says it will allow telecommunication firms
to install ground base antennas at post offices throughout Japan,
designed for the Personal Handy Phone System portable phone.

The ministry's decision will make the implementation of the PHPS
system easier. There are reportedly about 24,000 post offices
in Japan, with the ministry allowing installations at about
19,800.

The PHPS system is a new digital phone that allows users to make
calls with a cordless portable phone relatively cheaply. It is said
the monthly basic fee for the phone will be about 3,000 to 5,000
yen (around $30 to $50), which is less than half that of regular
cellular phones or car phones.

The PHPS systems will be limited to urban areas. Also, they cannot
be used in moving vehicles. The Ministry estimates that about 40
million PHPS units will be used by the year 2010.

Meanwhile, Japan's former telecom monopoly NTT will use its public
telephone booths to install antennas for the Personal Handy Phones.
Many Japanese electronics firms have been preparing to release
PHPS phones.

(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19940511/Press Contact: The
Japanese Ministry of Posts & Telecommunications, Press Bureau,
tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(TYO)(00020)

Japan - Sony To Release 32-bit Video Game Machine 05/11/94
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1994 MAY 11 (NB) -- Sony Computer Entertainment,
a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony, says it will release a 32-bit
video game machine towards the end of this year. Called the Play
Station, the retail price is expected to be between 40,000 yen
and 50,000 yen ($400-$500).

Sony's video game machine is based on a CD-ROM unit. It has
a game key pad and a box-type main system complete with CD-ROM
built-in. The video game device reportedly supports three-
dimensional (3-D) graphics. Sony has also incorporated a real-
time motion-picture mode and "texture mapping" technology in the
device.

In a bid to gain support of potential users, Sony has already linked
with 164 software makers, along with record companies and
magazine publishers, including Namco, Capcom, Taito, and Komami.

Already 82 firms have started creating CD-ROM-based software
for the video game device. Sony expects that about 27 game
programs will be released simultaneously along with the Play
Station. Each software package will be sold for around 5,000 to
6,000 yen ($50-$60).

It is expected that other video game machine makers such as Sega
and NEC Home Electronics will also release next-generation video
game devices around the end of this year.

(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19940511/Press Contact: Sony,
tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00021)

Internet Newstand Wins Individual Deal 05/11/94
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1994 MAY 11 (NB) -- The Electronic
Newsstand, which sells magazine subscriptions through an
Internet-linked service, has signed a deal to offer Individual
Inc.'s HeadsUp service.

HeadsUp selectively filters news from more than 300 sources,
offering two-sentence "briefs" for approval before delivering
full text. Subscribers create profiles by selecting from among
700 topics, and can get delivery of stories via fax, electronic-mail
(e-mail), or wireless e-mail. Individual offers a free, 30-day trial
of HeadsUp for people who sign up through the Electronic Newsstand.

Newsbytes discussed the Newstand service with spokesman Paul
Vizza. "Any one of our 90 publishers pay us a set-up fee to be
part of our news stand. We'll be paid each time they receive a
subscription order. The set-up fee is payable on receipt of a
signed contract, and as orders come in we invoice them on a
monthly basis."

Essentially, the service is something like KidSoft's CD-ROM,
which offers demo versions of software, then unlocks it after
subscribers pay for it. "We offer a demo version, and when they
buy the service we get part of the money. The Electronic Newstand
introduces publishers to the Internet community. Members can then
subscribe through us, and we turn over those orders."

He referred to it as "an agent relationship" adding "we don't handle
anyone's money." Publishers can handle orders just like "bill-me"
offers through blow-in cards inserted into their magazines. Also,
"There's no risk on the part of the Internet user," said Vizza. "If I
want a subscription to Discover, I send my name and address
to a mailbox, and they invoice me. Such 'soft offers' receive
more orders" than other types of offers.

During its first week of operation, The Newsstand was accessed
by Internet users more than 2,000 times per day. Today, The
Newsstand is accessed more than 40,000 times per day and has
sold magazine subscriptions in 21 different countries, including
Australia, Canada, Croatia, England, Estonia, France, Hong Kong,
India, Italy, Norway, Poland, the Republic of China, Singapore,
and South Africa.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19940511/Press Contact: The Electronic
Newsstand, Paul Vizza, 202/331-7494; E-mail: [e-mail])


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(ATL)(00022)

IDB-Peoples Merger Off 05/11/94
CULVER CITY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 11 (NB) -- Peoples
Telephone, one of the nation's top pay phone operators, has
canceled its deal to be acquired by IDB Communications, a
long distance company.

The deal had been valued at around $300 million, to be paid in
the form of 1.1 IDB share for each People's share. Peoples said
it backed out in part because the price of IDB stock had fallen
below the $16 price anticipated when the deal was signed.

But an IDB spokesman, Edward Cheramy, confirmed to Newsbytes
that a second reason involved Peoples itself. In anticipation of a
poor earnings report, IDB asked Peoples to re-negotiate the
ratio. Peoples declined, then cancelled the agreement. In the
wake of the deal's collapse the value of Peoples shares fell
nearly 50 percent, dropping nearly $5 per share to $7.62. By
contrast, IDB shares gained 10 percent, closing at $15.87.

IDB is a major factor in international calling, and had seen
Peoples as a way to expand domestically, where it trails far
behind AT&T, MCI, and Sprint. The firm earned $10.9 million last
year on $310 million in sales, and has recently been passed for
fourth place among US long distance companies by LDDS
communications. Peoples Telephone Company Inc. owns and
operates approximately 50,000 public, jailhouse and cellular pay
telephones in 46 states. It has about 12 percent of that market.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19940511/Press Contact: IDB Communications
Group Inc., Edward R. Cheramy, 213-240-3770)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(ATL)(00023)

Cable Ratings System Offered 05/11/94
CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 11 (NB) -- Adcom
Information Services has announced a strategic partnership with
Arbitron, GE Capital Corp. and Veronis, Suhler & Associates to
roll-out its system for monitoring cable TV viewership. The deal
represents Arbitron's return to the US ratings business -- it
closed its broadcast ratings business last fall.

Adcom said it has tested its system over the last eight months in
Cerritos, California, and is already negotiating to install the
system in Daniels' Cablevision System in Carlsbad.

Newsbytes discussed the deal with Adcom's Rich Guire. "In form
and substance the ratings will appear the same" as the old
Arbitron numbers, he said. "One big difference is we have very
big sample sizes compared to other systems. Cable is made up of
20-25 cable networks, all with small shares compared to broadcast
networks...large samples are a requirement to get accurate
ratings. When you have a 2 share error on a 20 share show, it's
not large, but a 2 share error on a 2 share show is as big as the
audience." For example, in a city like San Diego, which is 70-75
percent cabled, Nielsen has 260-270 households. The equivalent
Adcom panel for that market would be 2,400 households.

There are other problems with cable ratings -- namely customers.
While cable covers most markets, systems are owned by diverse
companies. For instance, "Los Angeles has 53 major systems in
its marketing area. A lot have common ownership. But the largest
system operator only has about 10% of the subscribers." In some
markets, the company will sell direct to operators. In other
markets, like Atlanta, where an "inter-connect" company sells ads
for a variety of operators, that marketing company becomes the
customer.

And forget about ratings "books" and "sweeps periods," Guire
added. "This is 365 days a year, irrespective of market size. We
use meters. In traditional methods they go to diaries for the
smaller markets. Ours is continuous measurement. And we use
all-electronic distribution -- we created online relational
databases, and the system operator accesses that."

He added: "Part of our service is we offer next-day automated
post-buy analysis. We do that because it offers marketing
advantages to the cable operator." For instance, cable is coming
up with more and more original programming, and operators cannot
draw premium prices for such shows without ratings proving
higher audiences. "When TNT did the original production of
Frankenstein, their normal movie might get a 2-3, but the
original production might do better." Adcom would prove it.

"Our meters are household meters," Guire added, rather than
people meters which detect the presence of people in front of
the set. "In the war for local ad dollars they still produce
acceptable data. Our meter design is relatively inexpensive,
because it's a foundation cost. We monitor all TVs within the
home. The monitor is mounted off a splitter, off the coax, inside
the home. It would be behind the TV, behind the wall unit. We set
it up so it can be unobtrusive as possible."

Guire added that panels do change, as people move or tire of the
equipment. But Adcom will also work to force churn. The longest
period any panelist will stay with its boxes is three years.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19940511/Press Contact: Adcom Information
Services, Rich Guire, 619-931-2440)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TOR)(00024)

 ****Kaleida To Narrow Focus, Cut 20% Of Staff 05/11/94
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 11 (NB) -- Kaleida, the
multimedia joint venture of IBM and Apple Computer Inc., will lay
off about 25 of its 126 employees in the next week as part of an
effort to focus on its behind-schedule ScriptX software and its
Kaleida Media Player.

Employees who are going to lose their jobs have not been named
yet, but will be in areas such as marketing, technical support,
and administration, a spokeswoman for Kaleida told Newsbytes.

Kaleida will be pulling back on its Malibu graphics controller
chip and on plans to develop an operating system for set-top
boxes to be used in home information services, the spokeswoman
said. However, those projects will not necessarily be abandoned.
Discussions are under way about moving the work into IBM or Apple
or other companies that have been involved with the projects.

IBM spokesman David Harrah told Newsbytes that Kaleida's backers
"directed the company to concentrate on getting ScriptX to
market." That was the original mission of Kaleida when IBM and
Apple set it up in 1991, he noted, and the company "seems to have
become somewhat distracted by some other things."

Alpha code of ScriptX is now in the hands of selected developers,
the Kaleida spokeswoman said, and beta code is expected to ship
within a couple of weeks. The company expects a commercial
product to be ready by the end of the year, she said.

ScriptX is to be a multimedia scripting language that will work
on both IBM and Apple hardware. It was originally due to be
delivered early this year.

(Grant Buckler/19940511/Press Contact: Diane Samples, Kaleida,
415-966-0499; David Harrah, IBM, 914-765-6666; Gillian Sagar or
Michelle McLaughlin, Miller Communications for Kaleida,
415-962-9550)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(LAX)(00025)

More Media Vision Resignations, Some Offices To Close 05/11/94
FREMONT, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 11 (NB) -- Media Vision
has not only publicly confirmed reports that it is under
investigation by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and
the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), it has also
announced the resignation of three members of its board of
directors. The company has also announced the closing of its
Bellevue, Washington software development offices.

The high-profile multimedia hardware and software company said
Chief Operating Officer (COO) Russell Faust has resigned from the
board, but will continue as COO. In addition, outside members
Bernard Vonderschmitt and Curtis Wozniak have left the board.
Vonderschmitt is president of engineering and software
applications company Xilinx, and Wozniak is vice president of
worldwide marketing at workstation vendor Sun Microsystems. The
two were appointed in January of this year, but Media Vision
reported the pair said "demands on their time made further
participation on the board of directors unfeasible."

Paul Jain, president and chief executive officer (CEO), Bradford
James, general partner at Brentwood Associates, and Dr. John
Chowning, director of Stanford University's Center for Computer
Research in Music and Acoustics, remain on the board, the company
said.

These departures total resignations of six key executives in
less than 30 days. Executive Vice President Min Yee, the
multimedia software guru brought in from Microsoft, made a very
public resignation last month. Last week both Satish Gupta, vice
president of strategic marketing, and Shiraz Shivji, vice
president of set top engineering, made their exits.

The attention to the company was prompted by its March
announcement it would report substantially lower earnings. Since
then Media Vision has announced layoffs of 50 of its work force
of 350, nine of which were laid off in conjunction with the
closing of the Bellevue office. It has also announced two further
delays in reporting its fourth quarter 1993 earnings. Company
public relations representative Elizabeth Fairchild told
Newsbytes it will still be several weeks before the earnings are
released.

The company is also under legal fire from class action
shareholder lawsuits and lawsuits alleging violation of Section
10(b), 20 of Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

The most recent allegations against the company include altering
of sales records, hidden returned products, recording sales of
products that had not shipped, and the conduct of Paul Jain
financed with company funds. The company has decided to ignore
personal allegations made against specific individuals, which
Fairchild called "totally inappropriate."

Media Vision confirmed it is being investigated regarding
securities issues, which company officials say is all the
information the FBI and SEC have chosen to release. Jain said
this week that Media Vision was only made aware of the
investigation on Monday, May 9. "We will cooperate fully
with the SEC to resolve the matter," Jain added.

Media Vision stock was still on the decline in the close of
yesterday's trading. The stock had dropped another quarter to
close Tuesday at 2 5/8 from Monday's closing price of 2 7/8.
Overall the stock has dropped dramatically from its December
high of 46 1/2.

(Linda Rohrbough/19940511/Press Contact: Elizabeth Fairchild,
Media Vision, tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(APPLE)(LAX)(00026)

Apple Developers Conf To Include System 7.5, OpenDoc 05/11/94
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 11 (NB) -- Apple Computer
says this year's annual Worldwide Developers Conference,
scheduled for May 16 through May 20 at the San Jose Convention
Center in San Jose, California, will focus on the new System 7.5,
Power Macintosh application development, and OpenDoc. A
pre-release version of System 7.5, expected for release
this summer, and a preliminary version of OpenDoc, are to be
featured.

System 7.5 contains more than 50 enhancements, Apple said,
including active assistance, more-robust graphics, a simplified
interface for printing, and built-in collaboration and file
interoperability. Sessions will be offered at the conference
concerning AppleGuide, the new active assistant in System 7.5,
and QuickDraw GX, which will be included with the operating
system for the first time.

The beta-test version of System 7.5 will be delivered on the
Worldwide Developer Technology compact disc read-only memory
(CD-ROM) to over 30,000, which includes the estimated 3,000
conference attendees, Apple said.

The company said it is also excited about application development
for the new top-of-the-line Power Macintosh and will be offering
sessions and support in that area. Over 60 applications that will
run native with the PowerPC microprocessor in the Power Macintosh
are now shipping, the company asserts.

Michael Spindler, Apple's chief executive officer (CEO) and
president, said: "With Power Macintosh, we are -- for the first
time -- the industry's price/performance leader. With System 7.5
and OpenDoc, we continue to extend our leadership in system
software. And, with our new product offerings, we continue to
attract new users to the Macintosh platform and gain even more
market share. All of this combines to advance one of the
company's most important objectives: enhancing our developers'
business opportunities."

OpenDoc, Apple's new component software, will be provided in an
alpha version to all conference attendees. Component software, a
hot topic in the software development community right now, is the
concept of creating parts that offer functionality that can be
purchased individually and seamlessly mixed and matched.

In addition, development for the Newton MessagePad personal
digital assistant (PDA), Communication and Collaboration,
QuickTime and Multimedia, and Scripting sessions will be offered.
Several sessions will focus on the use of specific tools, such as
HyperCard or AppleScript, Apple representatives said.

Registration for the conference is still open at a cost of $375
per day or $1,300 for the week.

(Linda Rohrbough/19940511/Press Contact: Nancy Morrison, Apple
Computer, tel [phone], fax [phone]; Public Contact,
Apple Computer, Developer Conference Registration & Information,
415-705-8050)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(LAX)(00027)

Borland Says Interbase Not For Sale 05/11/94
SCOTTS VALLEY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 11 (NB) -- Borland
is denying reports it has Interbase, its client/server database
technology, on the sales block. Company officials say the company
is looking for a "partnership" in its Unix Interbase business,
but is committed to developing alone shrink-wrapped client/server
versions for Windows NT, OS/2, and Novell's Netware.

Public relations manager Steve Grady told Newsbytes that, while
Borland feels the Interbase client/server market for Unix has
potential, it is a very different product and sales cycle approach
than the other market segments Borland serves. Interbase's
competitors in the Unix market are Oracle and Sybase, according
to Grady.

Right now, the Interbase Unix market is not a large portion of
Borland's revenue and requires a much longer sales cycle in order
to produce revenue. Grady said Borland does not break out its
revenues for products in terms of platforms and declined to say
exactly how much revenue Interbase produces currently.

Grady did say Borland has a strong commitment to Interbase on
the Intel platform. The company has plans to integrate dBASE for
Windows, the long expected database software product announced
for June delivery, with Interbase for client/server applications.

Borland acquired Interbase from Ashton-Tate, a company it
purchased three years ago. Since the Ashton-Tate purchase,
Borland has yet to get back on its financial feet and is now
facing a possible expensive legal loss to spreadsheet software
competitor Lotus.

Lotus sued Borland sometime ago over similarities between its
spreadsheet Quattro Pro and Lotus 1-2-3, and recently won a
judgement against Borland. Borland is expected to appeal, but
could end up paying out as much as $100 million, according to
analysts.

In a surprise move last month, Borland agreed to sell Quattro Pro
to networking company Novell for $145 million. Borland's Chief
Executive Officer (CEO) Phillip Kahn said the money will help
finance the fight against Lotus. The deal is part of Novell's
purchase of word processing software maker Wordperfect. Novell
plans to put together an all-in-one software bundle aimed at
Intel platform computer users.

(Linda Rohrbough/19940511/Press Contact: Steve Grady, Borland,
tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(SFO)(00028)

FutureTel Intros MPEG PC Compression Board 05/11/94
SUNNYVALE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 11 (NB) -- Since the
first mention in 1991 of Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG)
compression and decompression technology as the answer to full-
motion video on personal computers (PCs), the question of whether
it could be accomplished at a reasonable cost has remained an
imminent issue. Now, FutureTel has announced PrimeView, a
real-time MPEG compression board for PCs which is priced at
$9,995 (in quantities of 100 for original equipment manufacturers).

Conforming to MPEG-1 International Standards Organization (ISO)
standards, PrimeView can reportedly achieve video/audio
compression ratios as high as 180:1.

According to FutureTel, with compression rates that high, users
should be able to play video files off of Multimedia Personal
Computer (MPC)-1-compliant systems using a single speed compact
disc (CD) drive to produce full-motion, full-color results.

Initially targeting content authors, Fortune 1000 audio/video
staffs and other video professionals, FutureTel maintains that the
suggested price will assist in the development and growth of
television-like quality for the PC environment.

Speaking to Newsbytes, John Chun, spokesperson for FutureTel,
said, "What we have seen this last year are three major events.
The first is the support of large companies like Microsoft, with
Chicago, and Apple from their operating systems. Secondly, was
the adoption and integration of MPEG playback into integrated chip
sets. The third event is the cost effectiveness of real-time
compression boards."

Chun continued: "There are no other real-time solutions at this
price point. Other manufacturers are producing boards in the
$20,000 range. The PrimeView board uses two 32-bit VideoRISC
processors to deliver analog video into full motion compressed
digital video, and a 32-bit audio processor to provide 16-bit
stereo sound."

FutureTel is providing a developers kit, as well, which includes
an application programming interface (API) and C libraries.
Content authors are reportedly able to define and manipulate bit
rate, video mode and I/B/P ratios. The development of MPEG will
eventually bring television quality to the desktop user, many
proponents of the technology argue.

In addressing the future of MPEG, Chun said: "With MPEG you will
always have full color, full-motion video regardless of picture
size. The goal is to use this technology to bring these effects to
every user from a networked station to a single desktop
environment."

(Patrick McKenna/19940511/Press Contact: James Bairey,
Bedford Communications Group, tel [phone]/FtrTel940511/PHOTO)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(SFO)(00029)

Semiconductor Industry Breaks Book-To-Bill Record 05/11/94
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 11 (NB) -- The
Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) has just released the
North American, April 1994 book-to-bill collected figures,
indicating that it eclipsed the record breaking month of March
1994 by 4.6%. April bookings, with a total value of $2.890
billion, were up 28.5% over the same figures for April of '93.

The World Semiconductor Trade Statistics group collects
statistics on the number of products ordered by customers and
the products shipped by key semiconductor manufacturers on a
month to month basis. Called the book-to-bill ratio, this
statistical measurement indicates the whether new bookings
(orders) are greater or lesser than the quantities shipped by the
manufacturers.

Billings for the same time recorded $2.527 billion (April 1994)
compared to $1.934 billion in April 1993. Preliminary analysis
of the statistics shows a 1.14  book-to-bill ratio for the month
of April 1994. This means that for every $100 of product shipped,
the manufacturers received $114 in orders.

Since April of last year, the lowest ratio occurred in November
1993 with a .99 ratio, indicating that for every $100 of product
shipped the manufacturers receive $99 in orders.

Speaking to Newsbytes, Doug Andrey, spokesperson for SAI, said,
"This means that we have a relatively strong semiconductor market
fueled by a strong personal computer marketplace in North America."

SAI uses seventy key semiconductor to gather statistics, but states
that statistical methods allow them project the entire manufacturer
base.

Newsbytes was told that the SAI plans to release its twice a year
forecast next week. The forecast includes SAI's worldwide sales of
product by market."

(Patrick McKenna/19940511/Press Contact: Doug Andrey, SIA, tel
408-246-2711)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(TYO)(00030)

Japan - Casio To Enhance Children's Pocket Organizer 05/11/94
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1994 MAY 11 (NB) -- Tokyo-based Casio will release
an upgraded version of its electronic organizer for children. It will
reportedly support ten languages, and is expected to be released in
the overseas market within a couple of months.

Casio's new electronic organizer for children will have some unique
features. It comes equipped with illustrations of human faces,
along with telecommunications features. Using the human faces
feature, users can make montage pictures of themselves.

Also, the device will be able to communicate with another organizer
via infrared communications. The languages supported include
English, Japanese, and German.

Casio is currently selling the Japanese language version and an
overseas version. The current overseas version supports five
languages, but it does not have a telecommunication feature.
Also, the montage feature is currently limited.

The Japanese language version is the original model and has been
selling well since it was released in November 1992. The company
says that over 300,000 units have been sold.

Casio hopes to ship a total of 1.5 million units this fiscal year,
with over 1.2 million units going overseas.

(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19940509/Press Contact: Casio,
tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SFO)(00031)

Newsbytes Daily Summary 05/11/94
PENN VALLEY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 MAY 11 (NB) -- These are
capsules of all today's news stories:

1 -> MacWorld Expo - Mainstay Intros C Visual Environment 05/11/94
Mainstay, a Camarillo, California, software company, has upgraded the
company's visual interactive programming environment for the C
programming language. Unveiled at the MacWorld Expo, VIP-C runs native
on either standard Apple Macintosh computers or the new Power PC-based
Macs.

2 -> MacWorld Expo - Hardware Runs Windows On Mac 05/11/94 Do you
really want to run Windows on your Macintosh? While the new Power
PC-based Macs will run Windows in emulation, it is very slow, so
Orange Micro, an Anaheim, California, company is offering a different
approach -- an MS-DOS hardware coprocessor for Mac machines.

3 -> Samsung Ships 426MB IDE Drive, Eyes 540MB 05/11/94 Samsung has
released new 426 megabyte (MB) and 213MB hard disk drives for
IBM-compatible PCs, and might be adding a 540MB drive to its lineup by
the end of 1994.

4 -> Cascade Adds ATM Interworking To WAN Switch 05/11/94 Cascade
Communications' B-STDX 9000 WAN (wide area network) switches have been
newly equipped with ATM (asynchronous transfer mode) interworking, a
capability that allows high-speed ATM to be integrated with low-speed,
less expensive, frame relay services on the same switching platform.

5 -> Computer Ignition Interlock Foils Drunk Drivers 05/11/94 An
Atlanta company has announced a system it believes will foil drunk
drivers and save the 22,000 lives lost in alcohol-related traffic
deaths and injuries annually.

6 -> Jurassic Park PC Screen Savers On CD-ROM 05/11/94 Asymetrix
Corporation has introduced a collection of screen savers based on the
"Jurassic Park" movie.

7 -> SHL Systemhouse Drops ComputerLand Name in Canada 05/11/94 SHL
Systemhouse Inc., has announced that it will remove the ComputerLand
name from its computer sales and distribution operations in Canada.

8 -> Canadian Students To Teach Literacy With Ambra PCs 05/11/94
Frontier College, a 95-year-old literacy organization, is seeking to
involve more university students in teaching literacy, with the aid of
personal computers (PCs) donated by ExperComp Services Ltd., the IBM
Canada Ltd. subsidiary that sells Ambra computers in Canada.

9 -> Is There A Future For Cray Computer Corp? 05/11/94 Shareholders
want to know what the future holds for Cray Computer Corporation - or
if there is a future for the financially shaky company. But they
didn't find out yesterday at the company's annual meeting.

10 ->  ****Monitors, Not Keyboards, Cause Carpel Tunnel? 05/11/94 The
improper placement of computer monitors causes the debilitating hand
and arm injury that affects thousands of computer workers each year,
commonly diagnosed as carpel tunnel syndrome (CTS), according to a
some experts who specialize in computer workstation ergonomics. One
author has gone as far as to say constant strain on the neck from
viewing improperly placed monitors 40 hours a week would cause CTS
even if the computer user never typed a single word.

11 -> Ohio Univ Helps Computerize Vatican Library 05/11/94 Case
Western Reserve University (CWRU) has been selected by IBM to help
design an electronic storage and delivery system for selected items in
the Vatican Library.

12 ->  ***Ziff-Davis To Produce TV Computer Shows 05/11/94 Ziff-Davis
Publishing Co., publisher of such periodicals as PC Magazine, PC Week,
MacWeek, and Computer Shopper, is to produce two half-hour weekly
shows for Technology Information Network (Tech TV), a subsidiary of
Missing Link Communications in Englewood, Colo.

13 -> European Support For New SGSA Standard Strengthens 05/11/94
Several major European computing, telecoms and voice processing
companies have given their support to the Signal Computing System
Architecture (SCSA) standard, Newsbytes has been told.

14 -> Northern Telecom Secures Finnish Telecoms Contract 05/11/94
orthern Telecom has signed a contract to supply fixed radio telephone
equipment to Telecom Finland, the Finnish state-owned telecoms
company.

15 -> UK - Olivetti Intros JP450 Inkjet Printer 05/11/94 Olivetti has
launched the JP450, another in its line of bubblejet printers. The
product, the company claims, is aimed at the all-purpose marketplace
for individual professional users and is billed as offering
"exceptional printing speed, low running costs and a wide choice of
printed output."

16 -> UK - Samsung Intros "Quiet" Color Dot-Matrix Printer 05/11/94
Samsung has unveiled the SP2417 color dot-matrix printer, which the
company claims is both cheap (UKP197) and very quiet in operation.

17 -> UK - Cabletron Intros ATM Network Mgt Technology 05/11/94
Cabletron Systems has announced Spectrum 3.0, a distributed network
management system which is billed as having the power to manage
existing network technologies, as well as emerging ATM (asynchronous
transmission method) networks.

18 -> UK - Tel-Me Online Service Unveiled 05/11/94 Phonelink has
launched its Tel-Me online service for PC-Windows users.

19 -> Japan - Post Offices To Install Telecom Ground Antennas 05/11/94
The Japanese Ministry of Posts and Telecommunication says it will
allow telecommunication firms to install ground base antennas at post
offices throughout Japan, designed for the Personal Handy Phone System
portable phone.

20 -> Japan - Sony To Release 32-bit Video Game Machine 05/11/94 Sony
Computer Entertainment, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony, says it
will release a 32-bit video game machine towards the end of this year.
Called the Play Station, the retail price is expected to be between
40,000 yen and 50,000 yen ($400-$500).

21 -> Internet Newstand Wins Individual Deal 05/11/94 The Electronic
Newsstand, which sells magazine subscriptions through an
Internet-linked service, has signed a deal to offer Individual Inc.'s
HeadsUp service.

22 -> IDB-Peoples Merger Off 05/11/94 Peoples Telephone, one of the
nation's top pay phone operators, has canceled its deal to be acquired
by IDB Communications, a long distance company.

23 -> Cable Ratings System Offered 05/11/94 Adcom Information Services
has announced a strategic partnership with Arbitron, GE Capital Corp.
and Veronis, Suhler & Associates to roll-out its system for monitoring
cable TV viewership. The deal represents Arbitron's return to the US
ratings business -- it closed its broadcast ratings business last
fall.

24 ->  ****Kaleida To Narrow Focus, Cut 20% Of Staff 05/11/94 Kaleida,
the multimedia joint venture of IBM and Apple Computer Inc., will lay
off about 25 of its 126 employees in the next week as part of an
effort to focus on its behind-schedule ScriptX software and its
Kaleida Media Player.

25 -> More Media Vision Resignations, Some Offices To Close 05/11/94
Media Vision has not only publicly confirmed reports that it is under
investigation by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), it has also announced the
resignation of three members of its board of directors. The company
has also announced the closing of its Bellevue, Washington software
development offices.

26 -> Apple Developers Conf To Include System 7.5, OpenDoc 05/11/94
Apple Computer says this year's annual Worldwide Developers
Conference, scheduled for May 16 through May 20 at the San Jose
Convention Center in San Jose, California, will focus on the new
System 7.5, Power Macintosh application development, and OpenDoc. A
pre-release version of System 7.5, expected for release this summer,
and a preliminary version of OpenDoc, are to be featured.

27 -> Borland Says Interbase Not For Sale 05/11/94 Borland is denying
reports it has Interbase, its client/server database technology, on
the sales block. Company officials say the company is looking for a
"partnership" in its Unix Interbase business, but is committed to
developing alone shrink-wrapped client/server versions for Windows NT,
OS/2, and Novell's Netware.

28 -> FutureTel Intros MPEG PC Compression Board 05/11/94 Since the
first mention in 1991 of Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG)
compression and decompression technology as the answer to full- motion
video on personal computers (PCs), the question of whether it could be
accomplished at a reasonable cost has remained an imminent issue. Now,
FutureTel has announced PrimeView, a real-time MPEG compression board
for PCs which is priced at $9,995 (in quantities of 100 for original
equipment manufacturers).

29 -> Semiconductor Industry Breaks Book-To-Bill Record 05/11/94 The
Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) has just released the North
American, April 1994 book-to-bill collected figures, indicating that
it eclipsed the record breaking month of March 1994 by 4.6%. April
bookings, with a total value of $2.890 billion, were up 28.5% over the
same figures for April of '93.

30 -> Japan - Casio To Enhance Children's Pocket Organizer 05/11/94
Tokyo-based Casio will release an upgraded version of its electronic
organizer for children. It will reportedly support ten languages, and
is expected to be released in the overseas market within a couple of
months.

(Ian Stokell/19940511)