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/jan_feb_94/nb021594

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(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SFO)(00001)

Canon Color Scanner For Home & Small Office 02/15/94
COSTA MESA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 FEB 15 (NB) -- Canon
Computer Systems Inc., (CCSI) a subsidiary of Canon Inc. of Tokyo,
has announced the shipment of the IX-4105 Color Image Scanner, the
company's first full color, desktop scanner for the small office and
home office (SOHO).

The 24-bit scanner supports both the Macintosh and Windows
platforms and incorporates Ofoto version 2 scanning software from
Light Source of Larkspur, California. The company says the product
is intended for users who want to add high-end graphic abilities to
their presentations, documents, and brochures, but are not graphics
experts.

According to John Brasner, product manager, "The product that we
have developed is to empower the SOHO user to produce corporate-
type professional documents with a reasonable price, ease of use,
and in a desktop size that is not available anywhere else. With the
Ofoto software, resolution is automatically set so that disk size
can be kept to a minimum and all scanning functions can be kept to
a one-button operation. The finished document can be produced on
a printer, taken on disk to a printer, or developed on film."

The company claims that the 24-bit color supports up to 16.7
million colors and that the Xenon lamp used in the scanner
produces greater scanning quality and consistency.

CCSI says the IX-4105 enters the market to compete with Hewlett
Packard's HP 2CX and the Epson 800C scanners. The price of
$1,175 for the Windows version and $1,169 for the Macintosh
version is "competitive" with HP and lower than the Epson model,
claims the company.

All leading OCR and imaging applications are supported and the
Window's version comes with a TWAIN-complaint Windows
driver. The Macintosh version is shipped with a PhotoShop plug-in
module. An optional 20-page, automatic feeder is available for
$349 for either model.

CCSI offers a one-year "door-to-door" warranty that includes
24-hour replacement and/or 72-hour repair service, free of charge.

(Patrick McKenna/19940214/Press Contact: Karen Lippe, CCSI,
714-438-3075)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(TYO)(00002)

Sega To Intro Educational PC & Pocket Organizer In US 02/15/94
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1994 FEB 15 (NB) -- Sega Enterprises is preparing
to release its educational computer in the US around August,
called the PICO. Sega will also release a multimedia pocket
organizer in the US around September.

Sega Enterprises will release the PICO through Sega Of America.
It is notebook-sized, comes with a picture book, and is connected
with to regular television set. With the attached electronic pen,
children can move the picture on the screen. Also, with the touch
of the pen, the computer emits a sound or voice. The computer is
aimed at children between three and seven years of age.

Although the device is intended for children, it is quite powerful,
and comes equipped with a 16-bit processor. It was released
in Japan last June. Already over 200,000 units of the devices have
been sold. Also, Sega has linked with music device manufacturer
Yamaha, and has released a musical version of the device.

In order to sell the PICO, Sega is planning to establish a toy
division at Sega Of America in the Spring. The device will be
priced around $159. Alphabet and number software will also
be released.

Sega also plans to release electronic pocket organizers -- the
ST3000, PC5000, and JR7000 -- which have a multimedia feature
and are intended for children aged between seven and 15 years of
age. All the devices have a simple graphics feature, a database, a
calculator, and an address book, and can be used for saving game
data.

(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19940214/Press Contact: Sega
Enterprises, tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(TYO)(00003)

Japan - Toshiba Prepares Multimedia RISC Chip 02/15/94
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1994 FEB 15 (NB) -- Toshiba plans to release a
RISC (reduced instruction-set computing) chip for multimedia
devices by the end of the year. The chip reportedly has an
extremely fast processing speed and consumes a relatively
low amount of power.

Toshiba's new 32-bit RISC processor is based on MIPS
Technologies' R3000 architecture. Toshiba has applied its
0.6-micron drawing technologies, and added some new features.
The processor operates at 50 megahertz (MHz) and calculates at
40 mips (million-instructions-per-second). It reportedly
consumes a low 500 milliwatts. The new chip will be sold for
personal information devices and other multimedia products.

Toshiba has also developed a 64-bit version, and is planning
to release that at a later date. It is reportedly an enhanced
version of MIPS Technologies' R4000. Toshiba is planning to market
the chip for personal information devices and for control units of
cable televisions.

Other Japanese computer chip makers, such as NEC and Hitachi,
have also begun selling RISC processors for personal information
devices.

(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19940214/Press Contact: Toshiba,
tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(GOVT)(TYO)(00004)

Japanese Gov't Plans Own Information Superhighway 02/15/94
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1994 FEB 15 (NB) -- The Japanese government is
planning to establish its own version of the US Information
Superhighway (IS).

The Japanese version of the IS is currently planned by the
Economic Federation, the Ministry of International Trade and
Industry, the Posts & Telecommunication Ministry, private
firms, and various universities.

The Nikkan Kogyo newspaper says the organizations and firms
are preparing to set up steering committees.

The Japanese IS will reportedly be based on NTT's multimedia
network project, which is currently being established. Under
NTT's plan, a fiber optic cable will link every dwelling in Japan.
The company estimates that it will take about 15 years and
two trillion yen ($18 billion) per year to implement the network.

The Posts & Telecommunication Ministry, which is a supervising
Ministry of NTT, has apparently concluded that it is too costly
for NTT itself to realize this project. As a result, the Ministry
has been trying to convince other organizations, as well as the
private sector, to support the scheme.

Meanwhile, the Posts & Telecommunication Ministry will start
several multimedia-related projects. First, the Ministry will
create a research and development center for advanced
technologies using pictorial data telecommunications. This
project has a budget of five billion yen ($45 million). It will also
create a cable TV network service support center and a software
technology development center for high definition TV.

(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19940214)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(TOR)(00005)

ATI Chips Aim At "True Color" 02/15/94
MARKHAM, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1994 FEB 15 (NB) -- Personal computer
users who want to work with true color without sacrificing
performance are the target market for two new chips from ATI
Technologies Inc., according to company spokesman Andrew Clarke.

ATI has announced the ATI-88800GX, the first controller in its
mach64 line of graphics and multimedia accelerators, and the
ATI-68860 SpectraDAC, a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) chip
meant to work with the 88800GX.

The two chips working together provide good true color
performance, Clarke told Newsbytes.

ATI said its 88800GX chip uses a 64-bit architecture whose
performance complements today's fast central processors. The
64-bit design includes every part of graphics data movement,
including the graphics engine, the graphics memory bus, and,
using the ATI-68860 SpectraDAC, the 64-bit pixel port.

ATI claimed the controller can deliver graphics performance of
better than 100 million Winmarks, with 1,280 by 1,024 resolution
in true color at high refresh rates. The company added that its
chip provides high performance when running only DOS, as well as
with Microsoft Windows.

The ATI-68860 is a high-performance color palette DAC meant to
complement the mach64GX line. It connects directly to the serial
port of video random access memory (VRAM), virtually doing away
with screen refresh overhead, company officials said. The chip
runs at a maximum operating frequency of 125 megahertz (MHz) with
360 megabyte-per-second pixel port bandwidth, allowing for true
color graphics at 1,280 by 1,024 resolution and a 76 hertz
refresh rate.

Samples of the chips are currently available to ATI's original
equipment manufacturer (OEM) customers, Clarke said, and a
board-level product will be announced soon.

(Grant Buckler/19940215/Press Contact: Andrew Clarke, ATI
Technologies, tel [phone] ext 8491, fax [phone])


(NEWS)(IBM)(TOR)(00006)

3D Micro Offers Commodore PC Line In Canada 02/15/94
MARKHAM, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1994 FEB 15 (NB) -- 3D Microcomputers
Wholesale and Distribution (Canada) Inc., which in December said
it would take over marketing and selling Commodore International
Inc.'s DOS-based PCs in Canada, has announced a new line of
Commodore PCs for the Canadian market.

The line includes seven systems, all using variants of the Intel
Corp. 486 processor. Two are multimedia PCs with compact disk
read-only memory (CD-ROM) drives and sound cards. All come
equipped with four megabytes (MB) of memory, MS-DOS 6.2,
Microsoft Windows, and the Microsoft Works integrated software.

Prices range from C$1,149 for a 33 megahertz (MHz) system with a
486SLC processor and 170MB hard disk to C$2,499 for a machine
with a 486DX2 processor running at 66 MHz and a 340MB hard disk.
Monitors are not included in these prices.

In December, Doug MacGregor, president of Commodore in Canada,
said his company decided to turn the DOS line over to 3D so it
could focus on its proprietary hardware: the Amiga personal
computer and the newly introduced CD32 game machine.

"We're finding it very difficult to compete in the MS-DOS
marketplace right now and make money," he said. "We have to put
our emphasis and focus on the Amiga, and that's the way that
Commodore can be successful."

Commodore Canada continues to market DOS machines to
government, education, and institutions.

While Commodore's DOS PCs have never gained much attention in
the United States, the company has done better in this segment
of the market in Canada and parts of Europe.

Last week, Newsbytes reported that Commodore's Australian
subsidiary is on the verge of being sold.

(Grant Buckler/19940215/Press Contact: Chuck Yeung, 3D
Microcomputers, tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(BOS)(00007)

Networks Expo '94 Opens Today In Boston 02/15/94
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1994 FEB 15 (NB) -- Today marks
the start of the first edition of Networks Expo, and attendance is
expected to be up 200 percent over last year, when the Blenheim-
sponsored networking conference and exhibition was still known
as NetWorld.

Networks Expo Boston '94 has attracted 250 exhibitors under its new
name, and will feature a number of major product announcements,
along with lots of new features for attendees, said Jay Gorga, show
manager, and Mark Haviland, a Blenheim spokesperson, in a
conference call with Newsbytes.

New highlights include: "Driver Training on the Information Super
Highway - An Introduction to the Internet," along with conference
tracks on client-server computing and application development; an
all-day Resellers Symposium; four seminars by the Boston Computer
Society; the NetWare Solutions Pavilion; and 16 hands-on product
training sessions from top hardware and software vendors,
sponsored in conjunction with the Certified NetWare Engineer
Professional Association (CNEPA).

The three-day networking expo will also boast two keynotes.
T. Travers Waltrip, VP of telecommunications for the Travelers
Companies, speaks today on "Product Considerations for the Year
2000."

Philip W. Edmonds, corporate director of telecommunications for
Disney World Services, will talk tomorrow about "Building a
Worldwide Wide Area Network." Noted Gorga: "This represents the
first time that a Disney IS (information systems) executive has
ever spoken at a major trade show."

Cheyenne Software, Novell, Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard, Computer
Associates, Artisoft, Empise, Exabyte, and other members of the
System Independent Data Format (SIDF) Association plan to unveil a
new standard for storage management architecture.

VisiSoft Corporation and Digital Communications Associates (DCA)
will jointly announce new product and marketing developments.
Other companies slated to make major product announcements at the
show include IBM, Brightwork Development, Attachmate, Xylogics,
NetSoft, Frye Computer Systems, AT&T Microelectronics, Datapoint,
Cameo, Saber Software, and a new start-up called Leap Technology.

Novell will participate in the CNEPA training sessions, along
with such companies as IBM, Hewlett-Packard, Lotus, Banyan, and
Blue Lance, according to Haviland. Offered once before at NetWorld
Dallas, the training sessions will give attendees "something they
can sink their teeth into" in technical areas that include SNMP
(Simple Network Management Protocol) agents, Windows NT,
NetWare 4.0,  Lotus Notes, WordPerfect 4.0, and more, added Gorga.

Novell does not have a booth at Networks Expo '94. Instead, a
group of five resellers from the New England area will be holding
the NetWare Solutions Pavilion to address questions about -- and
interest in -- Novell products. "But Novell might have a booth at
next year's show," Gorga told Newsbytes.

Blenheim acquired the Dallas edition of the NetWorld show from
Novell in 1987, and launched the Boston edition in 1989. In
December, 1992, Novell opted to give the NetWorld name to the
creators of the Interop shows instead.

Retaining ownership of the show itself, the venue contracts, and
the database compiled over the years, Blenheim decided that "the
show would go on," but under the new name Networks Expo.

Subsequent editions of Blenheim's Networks Expo will be held in
Dallas and San Francisco. The upcoming event in Dallas will
reflect an expanded resellers' focus that builds on the Resellers'
Symposium being held in Boston, according to Gorga.

During the all-day symposium on Wednesday in Boston, 12 prominent
manufacturers and resellers will discuss their ideas on channel
marketing and 1994 reseller strategies. The symposium is being co-
sponsored by LANDA and LAN (local area network) Times, which has
a new reseller supplement entitled "Selling Networks."

Networks Expo will keep six conference tracks from the previous
NetWorld show: Fundamentals, Strategic Directions/Business
Management, Software and Applications, Enterprise, Network
Management - Technical Issues, and Planning and Design.

To spur greater attendance, Blenheim offered discounts on full-
conference fees to previous attendees of Blenheim shows and their
referrals. The conference fee includes complimentary CNEPA, Boston
Computer Society, and "Driver Training on the Information Super
Highway" sessions, as does the exhibition-only fee of $60 per day.

The number of exhibitors is down this year from last year's total
of 350, Gorga acknowledged. "But because attendance is up, the 250
exhibitors who are there this year will be greatly rewarded," the
show manager told Newsbytes.

(Jacqueline Emigh/19940215/Reader Contact: Blenheim, 201-346-
1400; Press Contacts: Annie Scully, Blenheim, 201-346-1400 ext
145; Mark Haviland, Blenheim, 201-346-1400 ext 152)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(BOS)(00008)

Powersoft Intros PowerBuilder Desktop, 32-Bit Servers 02/15/94
BURLINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1994 FEB 15 (NB) -- Powersoft
has launched PowerBuilder Desktop, a new version of its scalable
PowerBuilder client-server product line that is targeted directly
at desktop developers.

The rollout of PowerBuilder Desktop is part of Accelerate '94, a
series of announcements that also includes a new pricing strategy;
new Watcom SQL (structured query language) database servers for
NetWare, OS/2 and Windows NT; and "Getting to Client-Server," an
international, 56-city series of one-day interactive training
sessions for desktop developers.

PowerBuilder Desktop continues a move to speed the transition to
client-serving computing that began last September with the debut
of PowerViewer and PowerMaker, two client-server tools built on
the PowerBuilder engine, according to officials.

"PowerBuilder Desktop gives PC and Xbase-class developers full
client-server capabilities at a desktop price," said David Litwack,
president of Powersoft. The new desktop development product is
aimed at providing the same functionality as PowerBuilder
Enterprise, with connectivity restricted to Powersoft's Watcom SQL
and Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) access to desktop databases.

Features of PowerBuilder Desktop include: a Database Painter for
defining tables, columns and indexes; a built-in data dictionary
for defining validation rules, display formats, and other aspects
of data behavior; and SQL Smart database access, a capability
provided through a DataWindow control that is meant to shield the
developer from complex programming.

Developers can also build applications that take advantage of
dynamic data exchange (DDE), object linking and embedding (OLE),
dynamic link libraries (DLL), and other features of Microsoft
Windows, such as support for Visual Basic (VBX) controls, according
to the company. The product is expected to ship March 1.

Industry observers have suggested that the new desktop version of
PowerBuilder brings the Burlington, MA-based vendor into head-to-
head competition with the likes of Borland, Software Publishing
Corp., and Microsoft in the desktop domain. Up to now, Powersoft
has been best known as a maker of sophisticated, high-end client-
server tools for enterprise environments.

The new SQL servers from Powersoft's Watcom subsidiary include
a line of multiuser SQL database servers for PC networks, with
versions for NetWare, OS/2 and Windows NT, in addition to
standalone, single-user SQL databases for OS/2 and Windows NT.

Watcom's SQL line was previously limited to DOS-hosted multiuser
network servers and standalone databases for DOS and Windows 3.x,
officials said.

The Watcom servers provide native dynamic SQL as well as an ODBC
application programming interface (API) for interoperability with
multivendor front-end tools, and NetBIOS or NetWare IPX
Internetwork Packet Exchange) network communication support.

The new SQL server platforms are aimed at taking advantage of
multitasking and the other performance and reliability advantages
of 32-bit operating environments, according to Powersoft.

Application programming capabilities include: bi-directional,
scrollable and updatable cursors; updatable multi-table views;
binary large objects (BLOBs); database compression; multinational
character set support; and self-tuning, cost-based query
optimization.

Security and reliability features include on-line backup,
referential and entity integrity, and encryption, officials
maintained. For concurrency and transaction processing, the
servers provide row-level locking; symmetric multithreading of
server requests; checkpoint rollback and forward transaction
logs; and ANSI transaction model (four isolation levels).

Under Powersoft's new pricing policy, PowerBuilder Desktop will be
priced at $249 on an introductory basis through May 31, and $695
after May 31. The kit provides a standalone Watcom SQL for Windows
relational database; the ability to develop applications that allow
connectivity to Watcom SQL and/or ODBC-compliant databases and
files; and the new Powersoft Infobase CD-ROM (compact disc read-
only memory), containing all PowerBuilder documentation, plus
technical product information, and product "tips and techniques."

The PowerBuilder Team/ODBC Kit, which is scalable from personal
to multiuser workgroup applications, is priced at $695. The product
adds version control interfaces; "full ODBC" support that includes
server database support; and an open library API (application
programming interface) designed to allow access to PowerBuilder
object libraries by other applications, such as CASE (computer-
aided software engineering) tools, version control systems, and
automated testing tools.

The PowerBuilder Enhanced Database Kit, for developers who have
both PowerBuilder Desktop and the PowerBuilder Team/ODBC kit,
will be available for $1,595. This kit offers native drivers for
popular server databases such as Oracle, Sybase, Informix, and DB2.

PowerBuilder Enterprise, priced at $3,395, will
include: PowerBuilder Desktop, the PowerBuilder Team/ODBC Kit,
and the PowerBuilder Enhanced Database Kit; along with the
PowerBuilder Development Toolkit, for development, documentation
and maintenance of PowerBuilder applications; the PowerBuilder
Application Library, a collection of objects, windows and functions
for faster development; and the Watcom Image Editor.

Also under the new pricing policy, PowerViewer will continue to
be available for a promotional price of $49 until March 1, when
the price will be raised to $99.  On June 1, the price will be
increased to $199.

PowerMaker will be available at a promotional price of $99
until March 1. From March to June 1, the price will be $199,
and effective June 1, it will be $349.

The NetWare Loadable Module (NLM) version of Watcom SQL is
expected to ship on March 1, the OS/2 version in April, and the
Windows NT edition in the third quarter. Standalone, single-user
versions of Watcom SQL for OS/2 and Windows NT will be
priced at $395.

Prices for the Watcom SQL network servers are $795 for a six-
user version, $1,595 for a 16-user version, $2,995 for a 32-user
version, and $4,995 for an unlimited version. Through March 31,
Watcom SQL for NetWare will be offered at special introductory
pricing of $399 for a six-user version and $799 for a 16-user
version.

The new "Getting to Client/Server" training sessions are slated to
start next month. In addition to a day of hands-on training in
techniques for building client-server applications, Powersoft will
give attendees a copy of PowerBuilder Desktop. The tuition fee is
$395.

(Jacqueline Emigh/19940215/Reader Contact: Powersoft, 617-229-
2200; Press Contacts: Patricia Colpitts or Rachael Stockton,
Powersoft, 617-229-2200; David Grip, Brenda Nashawaty, or
Kristen Astley, McGlinchey & Paul for Powersoft, 617-862-4514)


(NEWS)(IBM)(BOS)(00009)

Object-Oriented Tool For Creating Apps With RDBMS 02/15/94
BELLEVUE, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1994 FEB 15 (NB) -- Asymetrix has
released Asymetrix InfoModeler, an object-oriented, PC-based tool
aimed at letting developers create applications "more quickly and
accurately" with the use of popular relational database management
systems.

InfoModeler is the first full-featured, affordable, Windows-based
implementation of object role modeling (ORM), a technology that has
resulted from two decades of European, Australian and US research
into applying natural language for conceptual data modeling,
officials said in announcing the product.

The new tool lets developers record and present their information
models to end users in plain English, so users can determine more
easily whether the information is correct, according to the
company. InfoModeler also represents an attempt to automate the
database generation process to the point where manual database
design steps are completely eliminated.

The tool allows developers to think in terms that are natural to
the data itself -- objects and the roles played by those objects --
instead of taking a relational or logical view, officials said.
For example, in the English statement, "Customer purchases
product," customer and product are objects, with the customer in
the role of purchasing the product.

Using InfoModeler's Formal Object Role Modeling Language (FORML),
the designer enters a conceptual view of the information system
that reflects the data requirements, along with samples of the
data, the company explained. The designer can then talk with
managers and other end users about the design.

Once the conceptual model is complete, InfoModeler validates that
the English facts and examples are correctly specified. Then, in
one click of the mouse, the product automatically generates a
logical view of the information by mapping English facts into
relational databases.

Ultimately, also in a single click, InfoModeler generates the
actual database (Oracle 7, for example) from the logical model.

InfoModeler also provides a large set of Windows-based modeling
tools, according to the company. One modeling tool, the Fact
Compiler, is for letting the developer enter information about the
database system in English.

Other modeling tools include: the Fact Diagrammer; the Table
Browser; the Database Generator; and the Report Generator, which
creates InfoModeler reports in graphical and table formats.

InfoModeler currently works with these databases: Oracle 7,
Microsoft FoxPro 1.5 for Windows; Borland Paradox 1.0 for Windows;
Microsoft Access 1.0 and 1.1; Microsoft SQL (structured query
language) Server 4.2; and Sybase SQL Server 4.2.  Asymetrix said
that support for other popular database products will follow later
this year.

Asymetrix InfoModeler is available immediately in three packages.
InfoModeler for Desktop Database Systems is priced at $795.
InfoModeler for Oracle 7 System and InfoModeler for MIcrosoft/
Sybase SQL Server Systems are $1,495 each.

(Jacqueline Emigh/19940214/Reader Contact: Asymetrix, 206-
462-0501; Press Contact: Isabelle Boucq, Waggener Edstrom for
Asymetrix, 206-637-9097)


(NEWS)(IBM)(TOR)(00010)

 ****Unisys Chooses IBM To Make Chips 02/15/94
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1994 FEB 15 (NB) -- IBM and Unisys
Corp., have announced an agreement under which IBM will make
advanced complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) chips
for Unisys using half-micron technology.

Unisys chose IBM Microelectronics to make the new chips, for
use in an upcoming line of enterprise servers, because, "they are
ready to go with half-micron technology at this point," said
Brian Daly, a spokesman for Unisys. "Their capability is advanced."

Motorola Corp., which has manufactured chips for Unisys in the
past, will continue making the chips for current Unisys products,
Daly told Newsbytes.

Company officials said they expect the effort to yield major
cost/performance benefits, to be delivered by early 1995 in
Unisys' second generation of CMOS-based open enterprise servers
providing mainframe-class performance.

Unisys will design the chips using its advanced design and
simulation technology. IBM Microelectronics will fabricate the
chips using its high-performance CMOS technology. The devices
will be made at the IBM Microelectronics Division fabrication
facility in Burlington, Vermont.

Unisys said the announcement signals the completion of its
migration from emitted coupler logic (ECL) chips to CMOS in its
enterprise servers. The move to sub-micron CMOS has made
possible greater speed, density and cost effectiveness, the
vendor claimed.

Unisys will design the logic for the new chips at its plants in
Mission Viejo, California, Roseville, Minnesota, and Tredyffrin,
Pennsylvania. Physical design will be done in Rancho Bernardo,
California. Enterprise servers using the chips will be
manufactured at the Roseville plant.

The deal is strictly a manufacturing agreement and does not give
IBM access to Unisys' chip designs for use in its own hardware,
Daly added.

(Grant Buckler/19940215/Press Contact: Martin Krempasky, Unisys,
215-986-4788; Brian Daly, Unisys, 215-986-2214; Jim Smith, IBM
Microelectronics, 914-892-5389)


(NEWS)(IBM)(TOR)(00011)

IBM Signs 18 Vendors For CD Showcase 02/15/94
WHITE PLAINS, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1994 FEB 15 (NB) -- IBM has
announced that 18 software vendors, including several of the
biggest names, have signed up to put their wares on its CD
Showcase sampler disk.

Microsoft Corp., Lotus Development Corp., WordPerfect Corp.,
Computer Associates International Inc., and Borland International
Inc., are among the vendors whose software will be on the compact
disk read-only memory (CD-ROM) disk that allows personal
computer users to preview or try out software before they buy it.

IBM announced CD Showcase last summer, and is one of several
vendors offering such CD-ROM sampler disks. Apple Computer Inc.,
has a similar product, and some independent operators are putting
together their own samplers.

A single disk may contain as many as 100 different programs.
Customers will obtain a disk from a reseller, which may give it
away free. They will be able to test the packages a disk contains
and, if they want to purchase, dial a toll-free number to obtain
a code that unlocks the desired software package. Documentation
for the software will also be stored on the CD-ROM.

Company spokeswoman Molly Morgan told Newsbytes that software
vendors will have a choice about what they put on the disk. Some
may choose to provide just a canned demo, others may offer a
limited working version of their software -- one that can do
everything but print, or everything but save files, for instance.

According to IBM, software resellers will be able to offer more
software without increasing their overhead. Software publishers,
meanwhile, will get new marketing opportunities and reduced
production costs.

For computer users, the idea "could be quite advantageous," said
David Majaury, informatics administrator with the Canadian
government's Department of Communications in Ottawa, "because it
gives you the opportunity to try it before you buy it."

Besides Borland, CA, Lotus, Microsoft, and WordPerfect, the list
of vendors putting their software on CD Showcase includes: Ace
Software Corp., Adobe Systems Inc., Aristosoft Inc., Azalea
Software Inc., Delrina Corp., DeltaPoint Inc., Individual Software
Inc., Prodigy Services Co., SoftKey International Inc., Software
Publishing Corp., Symantec Corp., T/Maker Co., and VisiSoft Inc.

(Grant Buckler/19940215/Press Contact: Molly Morgan or Barbara
Cerf, IBM, 914-642-5886)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(DEN)(00012)

TI Demos High Definition Display Device 02/15/94
DALLAS, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1994 FEB 15 (NB) -- Texas Instruments has
demonstrated a fully digital prototype of its high definition
display system which it wants to make the picture of the future for
high-definition television (HDTV) sets and other high performance
display devices.

TI says the demonstration, conducted at the fourth annual
High-Definition Systems Conference earlier this month, shows that
its Digital Micromirror Device (DMD) technology has the potential to
make quality projection television a reality. The conference was
sponsored by the US Department of Defense's Advanced Research
Projects Agency (ARPA).

Gary Feather, Digital Imaging Systems marketing manager at TI, says
the DMD-based technology is capable of showing an extremely bright,
high-quality, large display that overcomes the performance
limitations of current display technologies such as CRT (cathode ray
tube) and LCD (liquid crystal display)-based projection displays. "It
can improve the performance of today's large screen projection TVs,
which employ NTSC (National Television Standards Committee)
display standards, and will be able to scale up to meet high-
definition standards requirements," according to Feather.

The system uses three high-resolution DMDs, one for each of the
colors that comprise an image (red, green, and blue) projecting a
1,716 by 960 picture element (pixel) image. That is over five times
the pixel density demonstrated at last year's ARPA conference. The
projector provides a 256-level gray scale,uses eight bits of data per
color, and has a 575 watt metal-halide light source. Each DMD has
more than 2.3 million mirrors in a 1.5 by 0.75 inch form factor.

The front screen projection system TI demonstrated at the ARPA
conference projects images up to 12 feet from as far away as 22
feet. Current US television sets use a 525 line standard. High
definition displays are expected to utilize up to 1,200 scanned
lines.

TI is one of four firms selected for the projection display
technology portion of the US High Definition Display program
sponsored by ARPA. The company says it will equip its demonstration
projector with an add-on, motion-adaptive, progressive scan function
and deliver that system to the government by the end of July 1994.

(Jim Mallory/19940215/Press Contact: Sheree Fitzpatrick, Texas
Instruments, 214-995-2984; Reader Contact: Texas Instruments,
214-995-2011)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(DEN)(00013)

 ****Nintendo Plans Mega-Memory Game Cartridge 02/15/94
REDMOND, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1994 FEB 15 (NB) -- Nintendo of
America Inc., has announced plans to utilize a mega-memory game
cartridge format for its new 64-bit video game system,
code-named Project Reality.

Competitor Sega of America said this week that it has
surpassed Nintendo in the sale of 16-bit video players, claiming 57
percent of the 1993 market compared to 43 percent for Nintendo.
Sega says the standings are the result of a survey by NPD Research.
The two companies are engaged in a stiff price war. Sega is
reportedly still working on a 32-bit system dubbed Saturn that is
expected to debut in the fall.

Nintendo officials say the Project Reality system will store at
least 100 megabits of data for each game using silicon technology
and will contain five to six times the memory of the current 16-bit
Nintendo games. The company says the silicon-based cartridge
format will increase access time to as much as two million times
faster than that of the current CD-ROM technology.

Nintendo Marketing VP Peter Main says Nintendo has not dismissed
the use of CD or other technologies, with the company continuing to
evaluate CD technology. He says Project Reality was designed to
accommodate a potential future CD-ROM accessory attachment. "We
are also continuing to evaluate other non-cartridge or CD software
mediums for potential use with Project Reality," according to Mains.

Nintendo says the Project Reality hardware will carry a price tag
under $250 and expects the mega-memory cartridge prices to be
compatible with current 16-bit cartridges. The first Project
Reality arcade software is scheduled to be introduced in the fourth
quarter. A home system is expected to ship in 1995.

(Jim Mallory/19940215/Press Contact: Karyl Levinson,
Golin/Harris for Nintendo, 206-462-4220)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(DEN)(00014)

Aldus Intros Single-User "Fetch" Software For Mac 02/15/94
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1994 FEB 15 (NB) -- Aldus Corp.,
has announced the release of a single-user version of Fetch, its
image database software for cataloging and organizing image and
multimedia files on Apple Computer's Macintosh platform.

Fetch allows the user to catalog, sort, organize and retrieve the
images used by graphics professionals such as designers and
photographers. Aldus says the cost of the single-user version,
which is about half the cost of the multiuser version, makes the
software an affordable alternative for small design shops,
advertising agencies and other graphics professionals who do
not need to share files.

Newsbytes first reported on the Fetch software when Aldus
introduced the program in September of 1992. Users can locate
images by viewing thumbnail images or by searching by keyword,
file name, file extension or image description. Fetch can store more
than 100,000 items per catalog. Once a desired image is located it
can be copied, previewed, played, printed or placed, all without the
need to load the source application. Images can also be edited by
launching an editing application of choice. Catalogs can contain
items that are not located on the users computer, such as a
cartridge, CD-ROM, floppy disk, or DAT tape.

Aldus also sells OEM (original equipment manufacturer) versions of
Fetch which consist of the Fetch Browser and the Fetch Cataloger.
The OEM Browser is a special version of Fetch used by publishers of
 multimedia content, primarily those that publish CD-ROM titles.
The OEM Cataloger is designed for third party product bundles with
vendors that need a cataloging tool.

The single user version of Fetch has a suggested retail price of
$149. If you purchase the single user version then later decide to
upgrade to the workgroup version, the upgrade will cost $99.

System requirements include Apple Computer's System 6.0.7 or later,
including System 7. Aldus recommends an Apple Macintosh SE/30,
Powerbook 145 or higher, a Mac II series, an LCII or III, Centris,
Performa or Quadra computer. You also need five megabytes of
system memory and a hard drive.

(Jim Mallory/19940215/Press Contact: Belinda Young, Aldus
Corp., 206-386-8819; Reader Contact: Aldus, 206-628-2320)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00015)

 ****Viacom Wins Paramount 02/15/94
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1994 FEB 15 (NB) -- After a long
fight, Viacom has finally won Paramount Communications for roughly
$10 billion. The company announced that 75 percent of Paramount's
outstanding shares were tendered to it, beating a rival bid from
QVC Network Inc.

Following the announcement, shares in both Viacom and Paramount
fell sharply in early morning trade, while shares in QVC rose. In
recent weeks analysts had said repeatedly both companies' bids
for Paramount were too high

Under the terms of the agreement, Viacom will pay about $104 in
cash for 50.1 percent of Paramount, then pay stock for the rest.
Viacom won over a higher stock bid from QVC after it was
concluded Viacom's stock offer had more guarantees against
falling stock prices while the deal is being done than QVC's bid.

The final result is similar to Viacom Chairman Sumner
Redstone's 1986 win of Viacom itself. In that battle, his
National Amusements Co., won the prize after raising its bid three
times, with Redstone maintaining majority control of the
resulting company. In 1986, too, analysts said Redstone over-
paid, but in that case he proved his detractors wrong, in part
because of the fast growth of cable programming networks like
MTV.

In addition to its movie studio, home of "Star Trek" and other
films, Paramount also owns the Simon & Shuster book publishing
company, which in turn owns both Prentice-Hall, a leading
producer of computer books, and Macmillan, acquired in an auction
during the takeover battle. Other holdings include Madison Square
Garden and its tenants, the New York Knicks basketball club and
New York Rangers hockey team.

One striking part of this deal, in contrast to past takeover
battles, was the formation of broad corporate alliances by the
players. Among QVC's partners during the battle were Cox
Communications and BellSouth, while Viacom teamed with NYNEX and
Blockbuster Video. In fact, Viacom wound up concluding a separate
agreement to buy-out Blockbuster during the battle, a deal which
was hailed by some as a coup for Blockbuster head Wayne Huizenga.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19940215/Press Contact: Viacom, Raymond
Boyce, 212-258-6530)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(ATL)(00016)

 ****Motorola Subject of US-Japan Trade War Talk 02/15/94
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1994 FEB 15 (NB) -- Motorola will be
the initial focus in a rapidly accelerating trade war between the
US and Japan. The move follows the collapse of trade talks
between Japanese Prime Minister Morihiro Hosokawa and US
President Bill Clinton last week.

US Trade Representative Mickey Kantor was expected to announce
at 2:30 Eastern Time that Japan is in violation of a 1989
agreement under which Motorola was due to win a bigger share of
Japan's cellular phone market. The action will be based on a
protest from Motorola. Motorola was finally allowed to establish
a competing cellular network after the 1989 agreement, under US
standards, but was then forced into a merger with a Japanese
telecommunications company which proceeded slowly to create the
networks needed by Motorola. As a result, Motorola's system
currently has just 12,000 customers, while competing systems, in
which US companies do hold small stakes, have 400,000.

Motorola made a good first shot in the trade war for both sides.
From the US side, it feels Motorola represents a clear case of
non-tariff barriers keeping a Japanese market closed -- a case
which has been made by the last two US administrations. For
Japan, cellular phone issues are completely separate from the
trade framework negotiations which broke down, holding out hope
they might be re-started before direct sanctions are put in
place. Over the last few days, however, there have been impacts
from the collapse of talks. Japanese stock prices have fallen
sharply, while the value of the yen against the dollar has risen
to record highs, nearly 100 yen to the dollar.

Motorola President Christopher Galvin scheduled a press
conference for 3:15 PM in Washington to respond to Kantor's
announcement. Today's move does not mean immediate trade
sanctions, although a tariff of 100 percent could be imposed on
selected products under US law. Instead, the finding sets in
motion a process by which tariffs could be imposed, and implies a
greater urgency toward settling the underlying trade agreements.
And even a working tariff on cellular phone imports will not impact
the market much. Most Japanese cellular phone makers manufacture
products in the US. Panasonic, Oki, and Mitsubishi all have
plants near Atlanta, for instance.

In Japan, where the multi-party coalition of Prime Minister
Hosokawa faces an early election and possible loss of power to
the Liberal Democrats over the issue of the economy, the
government tried to back-pedal. A statement was released to the
effect the country will "voluntarily" do what it can to reduce
its global trade surplus, $131 billion last year and half with
the US In fact, Tokyo may unilaterally ease regulations and
make bid practices more clear, steps it had agreed to take
before the Washington talks collapsed.

Publicly, Japan continues to object to "numerical targets" for
US penetration of Japanese markets, calling them akin to
quotas. The US administration's position is that previous US
governments backed-down on trade deals, and saw those
agreements it did set bypassed.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19940215/Press Contact: Motorola,
Michael Kehs, 202-833-4296)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(ATL)(00017)

Davidson & Fisher-Price In Education Deal 02/15/94
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1994 FEB 15 (NB) -- Davidson &
Associates Inc., a leading producer of childrens educational
software, signed a license deal with Fisher-Price, a leading
maker of kids' games.

Under terms of the deal, announced at the New York Toy Fair,
Davidson will license the Fisher-Price name, logo, and product
names for use in a new line of multimedia software for children
aged three to seven which Davidson will produce. The new titles
will feature animation, graphics, color, music and sound effects,
and be available on CD-ROMs and under Microsoft Windows.

Among Davidson's best-known titles are "Kid Works 2" and "Kid
CAD," both sold in the home market, and "English Express" and
"Story Club" for the school market. Founder Jan Davidson is a
long-time leader in the computer education field, and keynoted
last year's National Education Computer Conference show in
Orlando, attended by over 5,000 teachers. But that show also
illustrated some of the changes in the market which are forcing
her move to align with brand names, as Microsoft demonstrated
its first educational software products in a suite off the show
floor.

Fisher-Price is a unit of Mattel, a larger toy-maker. Products
contemplated under the alliance will come out in the next year.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19940215/Press Contact: Linda Duttenhaver,
Davidson & Associates, 310-793-0600 ext 230; Laurie
Strong, Fisher-Price, 716-687-3395)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(ATL)(00018)

Ex-FCC Chair Sikes Wins First Product Deal For Hearst 02/15/94
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1994 FEB 15 (NB) -- Former FCC
Chairman Al Sikes signed his first true product deal since
leaving the federal government, as his new employer, Hearst Corp.,
signed to buy an equity interest in and affiliation agreement
with Books That Work, based in Palo Alto, California.

Hearst, which is privately held, did not disclose how much it
paid for its stake in the smaller company, nor did it reveal how
big a stake it took. Books That Work, too, is privately held.

Books That Work, founded in 1992, produces disk-based software
under MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows. Among its early titles are
"Design & Build Your Own Deck" and "The Home Survival Toolkit."
Both seem, on the surface, to be good fits with Hearst magazines
like Country Living, Colonial Homes, Town & Country and Popular
Mechanics. Other Hearst magazines include House Beautiful,
Cosmopolitan, Good Housekeeping, and Harper's Bazaar.

Sikes, who focused on deregulation during his term at the FCC
under former President Bush, decided to avoid the "revolving
door" charged leveled against many ex-government employees who
wind up lobbying the government, signing instead with Hearst to
form a new unit called Hearst New Media & Technology.

A few weeks ago, that unit signed a deal to participate in a
Canadian trial of interactive television, but a Hearst spokesman
acknowledged to Newsbytes this is the unit's first deal with
products. Books That Work Publisher Stuart Gannes said the two
companies will work jointly on development of new titles.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19940215/Press Contact: Tom Campo, Hearst,
212-649-2147; Staci Strauss, for Books That Work, 212-995-2200)


(NEWS)(IBM)(LAX)(00019)

OFOTO Mac Color Scanning Software Now For Windows 02/15/94
LARKSPUR, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 FEB 15 (NB) -- Light Source
Computer Images says it is now shipping a Windows version of its
"award-winning" Macintosh OFOTO color scanning and printing
software. The company also said the OFOTO Version 2 for Windows
software is also being bundled by Canon with the new IX-4015
color scanner.

Light Source maintains its product is attractive due to its
ability to give users quality photo scans with a single mouse-
click. The software is automatically able to scan and classify
the images as a color photo, grayscale photo, or black and white
line art and make adjustments accordingly. It also straightens,
crops, and sharpens the image, the company added.

Users can calibrate the software for accurate reproduction from
scan to print by printing then scanning a calibration chart
included with the OFOTO software. In this way, correction can
even be made for day-to-day variables such as temperature,
humidity, paper stock, or ink, according to Light Source.

Light Source and Canon recently announced a partnership to
jointly develop and share technologies in color imaging. Canon is
also bundling OFOTO Version 2 for Windows with its new IX-4015
400 dot-per-inch (dpi) color scanner, which is one of the
lightest and smallest color scanners the company has introduced.

OFOTO has won honors from PC Magazine and Windows Magazine for
its grayscale version. The OFOTO Version 2 for color software for
the Macintosh was honored with the 1993 Macworld World Class
Award and the Reader's Choice Award for a "Favorite New Product"
from Publish! magazine.

The Windows version will work with most popular, flat-bed scanners,
including those from Hewlett-Packard, Agfa, Microtek, and UMAX.
It requires an IBM or compatible personal computer (PC) running
Microsoft Windows 3.1 in enhanced mode and DOS 5.0, a VGA display,
two megabytes (MB) of random access memory (RAM), though more
is recommended, and 10MB of hard disk space. Retail price for the
product is $295.

(Linda Rohrbough/19940215/Press Contact: Melody Haller, Niehaus
Ryan Haller PR for Light Source Computer Images, 415-615-7907,
fax [phone]; Public Contact, Light Source Computer Images,
tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(DEN)(00020)

 ****Microsoft Spends $130M For Animation Company 02/15/94
REDMOND, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1994 FEB 15 (NB) -- Microsoft
Corp., says it will spend $130 million to acquire a Montreal-based
computer animation and visualization software company.

Microsoft said that the boards of directors of both firms have
already approved the purchase of Softimage Inc., for $130 million
in Microsoft stock. All that remains is the approval of the
Softimage shareholders.

The deal gives Microsoft a firm presence in the two- and three-
dimensional world of animation used by film studios, animation
houses, graphics artists, product designers and engineers.

Microsoft spokesperson Lisa McKenzie told Newsbytes Softimage
tools were used to create the dinosaur animation in the popular
movie "Jurassic Park," as well as music videos produced by the
rock group "Def Leopard."

Softimage sells kits of authoring tools. Its products are high-end,
with prices starting at $6,000 for software that allows the user
to write animation programs. McKenzie said Softimage will remain
in Montreal, anticipates no name or staff changes, and will continue
to be led by Softimage founder and Chairman Daniel Langlois.
Langlois will report to Craig Mundie in Microsoft's Advanced
Consumer Technical Group.

McKenzie said support by Microsoft will help Softimage realize
more quickly some of their software deadlines. No information
was available as to possible new releases from Softimage.

Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates said the market for digital media is
growing rapidly. He called Softimage "a technology leader in this
area," and said Microsoft is committed to continuing the
development of professional authorizing tools that will accelerate
the creation of high quality digital content.

Microsoft officials told reporters the acquisition will help meet
demand for more high performance features for home computers
equipped with compact disc players (CD-ROMs).

The deal calls for approximately four shares of Softimage stock
to be traded for one share of Microsoft stock. An adjustment factor
keeps the value of each share of Softimage between $21 and $24.

Microsoft budgets about $100 million for multimedia spending
annually, but said the $130 million it would spend on Softimage
was not included in that budget.

This will not be the last acquisition Microsoft makes. Senior VP
Nathan Myhrvold said he expects more acquisitions as the company
expands its efforts in the digital multimedia field.

(Jim Mallory/19940215/Press Contact: Lisa Mckenzie Waggener
Edstrom for Microsoft, 503-245-0905; Reader Contact: Microsoft,
206-882-8080 or 800-426-9400)


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

Central Point Intros PC Tools 2.0 For Windows 02/15/94
BEAVERTON, OREGON, U.S.A., 1994 FEB 15 (NB) -- Central Point
Software has announced the release of PC Tools 2.0 for Windows.

New features include: support for Doublespace drives; more
protection against unknown viruses; and better file and desktop
management. The new release also includes a feature called
Crashguard, a system monitor that warns the user Windows may be
about to crash. There is also an enhanced System Consultant which
provides self-implementing configuration recommendations.

Crashguard is a feature that monitors memory, system resources, and
disk space usage, providing an audible and/or visual warning when any
of those resources reach a point where they could cause a system
crash. An on-screen bar graph and text readout display the current
level of memory, hard disk space, and various buffers used by
Windows to manage the graphical environment.

Users can set separate "warning thresholds" for each of the three
resources monitored. When that threshold is exceeded a warning is
displayed and sounded. The onscreen bar graph is updated each time
a change occurs, such as opening another application.

If available memory is the problem, Tools task manager can be used
to identify memory use by application and help the user decide
which applications to close.

A "Do It" Button has been added to the task manager that implements
the recommendations made by System Consultant for enhancing
performance of key system components such as memory, CPU (central
processing unit), video, and interrupts. There is also an "Undo" button
if you change your mind after implementing the settings. Both
buttons automatically edit the system files entries appropriately.

Central Point has also added a feature called INI-consultant, which
provides the user plain English descriptions of the WIN.INI,
SYSTEM.INI, WNUSER.INI, AUTOEXEC.BAT, and CONFIG.SYS files. An
explanation is provided for each line in those files, with syntax and
acceptable values for specific settings. INI-Consultant also makes
suggestions for settings in those files.

There is also a QuickStart tutorial that uses animation and
multimedia to get the user familiar with PC Tools 2.0 for Windows,
and the File Manager can now view more than 100 different file
formats including Wordperfect 6.0. The company says viewers for
Microsoft Word 6.0 and Excel 5.0 will be available on March 1 and
June 1, respectively, on Central Point's bulletin board service or its
Compuserve forum. All file viewers have clipboard support, enabling
the viewed file or a selected portion to be copied to the Windows
clipboard then used in another file.

Central Point has also incorporated PKZip 2.0 file compression and
decompression, and the File List windows can be sorted by clicking
on column headings. You can also shell out to DOS in the new
version without closing Tools.

PC Tools 2.0 For Windows has a suggested retail price of $179.95.
You can switch to Tools from a competitive product for $49.95. Until
July 31, 1994, you can get a free copy of Connect Software's E-Mail
connection universal Windows electronic mail interface when you
buy Tools. The order form in the Tools box requires $9.95 for
shipping and handling.

Central Point is also offering a trial version of File Manager that
includes Smartfind, drag and drop PKZip, and viewers for TXT, BMP,
and WRI files. It is free for downloading from the company bulletin
board or the Compuserve forum. You can also get it on disk for
$4.95 shipping and handling by contacting Central Point Software's
toll free number.

(Jim Mallory/19940215/Press Contact: Deanne Phillips, Central
Point Software, 503-690-2650; Reader Contact: Central Point
Software, 800-964-6896)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(LAX)(00022)

Homework Helper On-line Resource To Debut This Fall 02/15/94
PHILADELPHIA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1994 FEB 15 (NB) -- Parents
can look forward this fall to Homework Helper, a new on-line
information service where kids can type in questions in standard
English and get answers from a vast resource of databases. The
service is being built as a result of agreements between its
instigator, Infonautics, Tandem Computers, and software developer
MRJ.

Homework Helper is slated to begin on Prodigy and is being called
the most extensive electronic library available for children. The
strength of the system as a research tool lies in the fact that
children can type in questions in standard sentence form and the
computer will search all the available databases for the answers.

In addition, the answers that will be geared toward the age and
ability level of the child asking. For example, if a ten year old
child asks, "Who shot JFK?" different information will be offered
than if a 35 year old adult asks the question although the answer
will be fundamentally the same, according to Infonautics
officials. The decision of which databases to search will not be
an issue as well, because the computer will search all available
information.

Over 35 publications, will be available, including: USA Today, Los
Angeles Times, Forbes, Simon & Schuster, Newsbytes News Network,
Journal Graphics, Reuters, and Time Magazine. Additionally,
thousands of digitized photographs, graphic images, and maps will
be offered as well as over 700 major literary works, CNN
television transcripts, Compton's Multimedia Encyclopedia, the
World Almanac, and the Book of Facts.

After Prodigy, Infonautics says it plans to aim at offering
Homework Helper on the Internet. The service will feature a
graphical user interface (GUI) for both Windows and Macintosh
computers. No information as to what Homework Helper will cost
was available. However, Prodigy users will have to subscribe
to the service above their normal Prodigy connection charges.

Tandem, known for its fault-tolerant computer systems, will be
the exclusive hardware provider, running Homework Helper from
its Integrity Network Resource (NR) Unix servers. Infonautics
officials told Newsbytes they were looking for a system that was
"pure" Unix, complaint with Unix standards, scalable, and high
performance. The Cupertino, California computer maker also has
experience creating a distributed computing environment
connecting users and information from multiple sites with its 20
years of on-line transaction processing experience. The Tandem
deal is valued at $5 million.

MRJ, which describes itself as an employee-owned information
resources company headquartered near Washington, DC,  is
helping develop the software for Homework Helper.

Infonautics, based in Wayne, Pennsylvania, is funded by venture
capital investments from Zero Stage Capital of Pennsylvania and
Keystone Venture Capital. It is also receiving funding from the
Markle Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to
communications technology for the public good, and the Ben
Franklin Partnership for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

(Linda Rohrbough/19940215/Press Contact: Joshua Kopelman,
Infonautics, tel [phone], fax [phone]/PHOTO)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(LON)(00023)

Apple Computer UK Slashes PowerCD Pricing 02/15/94
UXBRIDGE, MIDDLESEX, 1994 FEB 15 (NB) -- Apple Computer UK has
announced it has slashed the price of the PowerCD, the company's
"three in one" CD-ROM (compact disc read only memory) drive, which
was launched last Autumn. With immediate effect, the price of the
drive falls from UKP411 to UKP199.

According to Craig Sears-Black, Apple Computer UK's director of the
Personal Interactive Electronics (PIE) division, the unit is capable
of playing CD-ROM titles, Photo CD, and audio compact discs. The
machine is billed a small, light weight unit for use at home, in
the office, or on the move.

"PowerCD is now the most competitively priced, multi-function CD
player on the market, offering flexibility and unrivalled value for
money. We believe this price reduction will encourage many more
people to use CD-ROM for both business and entertainment purposes,"
he said.

The PowerCD is a multi-function CD-ROM drive that comes with an
integral small computer systems interface (SCSI) port. This port
allows it to be linked to almost any Mac, the company claims, as
well as connecting it to TV using a video cable. In this mode,
Newsbytes notes, users can have instant access to photographic
images stored on single and multi-session Kodak Photo CD disks.

(Steve Gold/19940215/Press & Public Contact: Apple Computer,
44-81-569-1199)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(LON)(00024)

UK - Vodata/British Airways Offer Interactive Flight Info 02/15/94
NEWBURY, BERKSHIRE, ENGLAND, 1994 FEB 15 (NB) -- British Airways
(BA) and the Automobile Association have started using Vodata's
Information Service facilities to offer Flightwatch, an interactive
flight information phone service that the companies claim will offer
up-to-the-minute details of all BA scheduled and Caledonian charter
flights.

According to BA, Flightwatch allows travelers to learn of flight
schedule alterations as they happen. By dialing the premium rate
access numbers -- (0377-407777 for BA flights and 0336-407778
for Caledonian) -- and following what Vodata calls "simple
instructions," callers can obtain details of domestic or
international outgoing or incoming flights.

In use, Flightwatch uses interactive voice response and data
processing technology to provide full details of flights every
day, as well as the day before and the two following days. For
information on a single flight, callers are asked to specify a
flight number and provide "yes" or "no" responses to simple
questions, either by speaking into the phone or by pressing the
appropriate phone keypad buttons.

The Flightwatch service was developed using Vodata's Interactive
Vodastream managed information service and applications
software from Goodwood Communications Limited.

David Upton, business executive of Vodata's Vodastream
Information Services, claims that it is the first "comprehensive
service" of its kind to offer flight schedule alterations, as and
when they happen. "Flightwatch will prove to be a valuable aid to
air travellers, their friends and families. The latest and most
sophisticated telephone technology has been cleverly applied to
ensure that Flightwatch is straightforward and easy to use by all,"
he said.

The Flightwatch computer is actually linked directly to BA's central
flight information database, allowing what the company calls
"immediate" flight information to be retrieved and given to the
call. This information, which was recorded by an AA traffic and
travel broadcaster, is accessed straight from the BA flight computer
system making it, BA claims, the most up to date system available.

(Steve Gold/19940215/Press Contact: Vodafone Press Office,
44-635-33251)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(LON)(00025)

Lotus & RAM Mobile Working On UK Wireless cc:Mail 02/15/94
STAINES, MIDDLESEX, ENGLAND, 1994 FEB 15 (NB) -- Lotus has
announced that it is working with RAM Mobile Data to develop a UK
version of the wireless cc:Mail system being sold in the US. Both
companies have demonstrated a beta test prototype system and
expect to ship commercial product later this year.

According to Lotus, with an estimated 40 percent of the working
population away from their offices at any one time, the ability to
stay in touch is becoming increasingly critical, as witnessed by
sales of mobile phones in the UK.

Gavin Lennox, UK brand manager for Lotus' Communication products,
said that by keeping in touch, organizational productivity and
effectiveness is greatly improved.

"Satisfying the mobile needs of businesses is the biggest challenge
for electronic mail providers. cc:Mail has always been the product
to beat for business use -- in terms of number of gateways, cross
platform capabilities, and sheer scalability," he said, adding that,
by clarifying Lotus' strategy in the mobile arena, the company
believes that cc:Mail will continue to increase its market share.
Currently, Newsbytes notes, cc:Mail is in use by around 4.5 million
users around the world.

"As the wireless information highways become a reality, and
hardware portability increases, data and telecoms are converging
faster than ever," explained Paul Shapira, director of wireless
messaging at RAM Mobile Data. "Our agreement with Lotus will see
products coming to market that provide cc:Mail users seamless
access through RAM's radio technology. This is going to help solve
the most challenging of business problems -- being in when you're
out."

So how does the wireless version of cc:Mail work? Newsbytes
understands that, by the inclusion of a driver module to allow
cc:Mail to link to other cc:Mail nodes over the RAM mobile data
network. The three client versions of cc:Mail that can be used over
the RAM network, include the Windows edition, the Remote DOS
version and the HP100LX version. Pricing has yet to be confirmed.

(Steve Gold/19940215/Press & Public Contact; Lotus UK,
44-784-455445)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(LON)(00026)

UK - Mercury Intros Low-Cost Videoconferencing 02/15/94
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1994 FEB 15 (NB) -- Mercury Communications
has launched the System 1000, a videoconference system that the
company claims is standards-based, yet is still available at a
budget price.

Pricing in at UKP1,250, the system is billed as an entry-level
videoconferencing system that supports all main videoconferencing
system standards, including the international H.320 standard.

"Three years ago, a high quality standards-based videoconferencing
system would have cost hundreds or thousands of pounds. Very high
quality systems are now available to suit all segments of the
videoconferencing market, from boardroom to cost-effective
rollabout office models. Price is no longer the barrier it used to be,
particularly for small businesses," said Steve Cramoysan, Mercury's
Videoconferencing product manager.

According to Cramoysan, the new system extends the company's
range of video systems and network services for all sectors of the
videoconferencing market. Mercury claims to provide network
"solutions" for videoconferencing in several ways, including private
leased line connections, Basic rate ISDN (integrated services
digital networks), Wideband ISDN and Primary Rate ISDN through
the ISDX, Mercury's digital private branch exchange.

So how does the System 1000 work? Newsbytes notes that unit is
self-contained and available as a desktop, as well on a standalone
basis. The system includes a Basic Rate ISDN interface as standard,
plus either a fixed camera plus 21-inch monitor, or a pan, tilt and
zoom camera with a 29-inch monitor. The system is billed as a
plug-in play device.

(Steve Gold/19940215/Press & Public Contact: Mercury
Communications, tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(LON)(00027)

UK Trade Deficit Deepens, British Govt Reveals 02/15/94
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1994 FEB 15 (NB) -- The Central Statistical
Office (CSO), a division of the British Government, has announced
preliminary figures about the visible trade gap in the UK.

According to the CSO, the trade deficit widened to UKP1,040
million in November 1993, while the export value fell 5.5 percent
from October, 1993. The figures pushed up the overall deficit
figure to UKP11,200 million in the first 11 months of 1993.

CSO figures also show that growth in imports of goods have been
covered by their falling prices. According to officials, the three
months prior to November brought about a rise in export prices of
around two percent and a fall of import prices by the same amount.

According to the CSO, the obvious trade deficit with the European
Community (EC) in November was UKP262 million, plus a further
UKP773 million from non-EC countries brought the figure to just
under UKP1,040 million.

(Sylvia Dennis/19940215)


(NEWS)(IBM)(LON)(00028)

UK - IBM Intros PS/2 Server 85 Workgroup Servers 02/15/94
PORTSMOUTH, HAMPSHIRE, 1994 FEB 15 (NB) -- IBM has added two
new workgroup servers to its existing PS/2 Server 85 range.

According to Big Blue, the new machines are the result of customer
demand to develop a low cost workgroup PC Server -- defined as a
machine capable of supporting a local area network (LAN) with
between five and 100 users.

The two new machines are billed as being useful for both small
and large business. The ideal target for sales is in corporate
departments and branches, as well as in small to medium-sized
businesses.

"The driving force behind the Server 85 range is to offer customers
an all round good deal - in short, a leading-edge IBM server that is
exceptional value for money", commented Mike Hope, marketing
manager for Server Solutions.

The new Server 85 models feature an 486DX2 66 megahertz (MHz)
processors which can be upgraded to Pentium technology, 256
kilobytes (KB) of Fast Level 2 Write Back Cache, as well as ECC
memory support (something that IBM claims is unique at this price
point), plus an integrated SCSI-2 (small computer system interface
type 2) controller, a choice of 540 megabyte (MB) or one gigabyte
(GB) disks and LogicLock "C2" features for security.

According to IBM, the Server 85-466 is fully compatible with all
leading network operating system, including SCO-Unix, OS/2 LAN
Server and Novell Netware. Pricing on the systems ranges from
UKP3,525 to UKP3,900 for standard system solutions.

(Sylvia Dennis & Steve Gold/19940215/Press & Public Contact:
IBM Personal Software Enquiry Desk, 44-0329 242728)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(WAS)(00029)

 ****Congressman Warns IRS On Electronic Fraud 02/15/94
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1994 FEB 15 (NB) -- Rep. J.J. "Jake" Pickle
(D-Texas) has warned the Internal Revenue Service that if it doesn't
get a handle on fraud committed through electronic filing, he will
recommend a freeze on the popular service.

According to Jennie Stathis of the General Accounting Office, the
congressional watchdog agency, electronic filing rose 14 percent
last year, to 12 million returns, but the number of fraudulent
electronic returns the IRS detected rose 105 percent.

Pickle, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee's
oversight subcommittee, said that electronic filing makes it "easy
as pie" for crooks to beat the system. "In my judgement," the
80-year-old congressman said, "the IRS has perfected the art of
using its computers to give out tax refunds quickly without making
a corresponding effort in the area of fraud controls. It seems that,
to some degree, the IRS is speeding down the highway at night with
its headlights off, hoping to avoid on-coming traffic. Perhaps, the
IRS need to pull into a rest stop and pull out a map."

Pickle said that "as a result of the subcommittee investigation and
review of internal IRS reports leading up to this hearing, I have
concluded that the situation is worse than originally thought."

IRS Commissioner Margaret Milner Richardson acknowledged that
electronic fraud was a vexing problem for the tax collectors. She
told Pickle's subcommittee that the service has hired the Energy
Department's Los Alamos National Laboratory to apply its artificial
intelligence expertise, won through its work in designing nuclear
weapons, to the fraud problem.

Frazier Todd, 35, told the subcommittee how he set up a tax return
preparation business in Atlanta near public housing projects. He got
IRS approval to be an electronic return originator, meaning he could
send in returns to the IRS by modem. He then recruited low income
people from the housing projects who had too little income to file
a return and applied to the IRS for employer identification numbers
for a passel of fake companies. Todd sent in bogus W-2 forms on
the low income people showing withholding by the fake firms and
then filed electronic returns claiming refunds. In two years, he
told the subcommittee, he took in more than $500,000.

Now serving time in a federal prison, Todd said he was nailed by
an informer, not because the IRS ever figured out what he was
doing.

(Kennedy Maize/19940215/Contact: House Ways and Means
oversight subcommittee, Patrick Heck, 202-225-5522)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(WAS)(00030)

 ****Washington Sending Mixed Messages - Japan Trade War 02/15/94
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A. 1994 FEB 15 (NB) -- Is the expected
ruling by the Clinton administration that Japan has violated the
cellular phone deal the opening salvo in a full-fledged trade war?
So far, Washington is sending mixed signals.

US Trade Representative Mickey Kantor was telling reporters that
the cellular phone ruling and further actions by the administration
following the breakdown of trade talks between President Clinton
and Japanese Prime Minister Morihiro Hosokawa would "not be the
trade equivalent of Desert Storm." Other administration officials
were cautioning that the decision on cellular phones merely
"starts a process," and is "mostly symbolic."

But Clinton himself was a bit more bellicose, saying that the
breakdown in talks with Japan over a so-called framework trade
agreement "could result in trade war."

There was also fairly tough talk from two senior administration
officials who briefed reporters after the breakdown. One of the
officials was in the room with Clinton and Hosokawa and the
other was engaged in the marathon talks with Japanese trade
officials who traveled to Washington with Hosokawa. One of the
officials called the end of the talks "an important turning point
in the relationship; that we're no longer -- as the president said --
going to disguise our differences.  We're no longer going to reach
cosmetic agreements."

The key difference between Clinton and Hosokawa was numerical
trade targets. The Clinton administration wants to emulate the
semiconductor pact of the late 1980s, which set a target of 20
percent market share for US semiconductors in the Japanese market.
The administration believes this approach works, because the US
share of the Japanese semiconductor market hit 20 percent last year.

But the Japanese reject trade quotas. "Prime Minister Hosokawa
sought to portray the difference as being a difference over whether
or not the United States was seeking numerical targets." said a
senior official. "The President, I think, very forcefully indicated to
him that that was not the issue. The issue was the question as to
whether or not there could be an agreement over objective criteria,
which would enable us to judge whether or not there were tangible
results."

What happens next? The administration says it is prepared to take
several steps, starting with imposing tariffs on Japanese cellular
phones. But there are other steps the White House could take,
including strategic partnerships with Korean and Taiwanese
competitors to the Japanese, further jawboning, a complaint at
the GATT, and other steps. "There is a good-sized menu," said the
senior administration official. "Some of them can be taken promptly,
some of them would be over a longer-term. But the United States
will be reviewing all of its options with the aim to opening the
markets."

(Kennedy Maize/19940215)


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

Newsbytes Daily Summary 02/15/94
PENN VALLEY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A.,1994 FEB 15 (NB) -- These are
capsules of all today's news stories:

1 -> Canon Color Scanner For Home & Small Office 02/15/94 Canon
Computer Systems Inc., (CCSI) a subsidiary of Canon Inc. of
Tokyo,  has announced the shipment of the IX-4105 Color Image
Scanner, the company's first full color, desktop scanner for the
small office and  home office (SOHO).

2 -> Sega To Intro Educational PC & Pocket Organizer In US
02/15/94 Sega Enterprises is preparing to release its educational
computer in the US around August, called the PICO. Sega will also
release a multimedia pocket  organizer in the US around
September.

3 -> Japan - Toshiba Prepares Multimedia RISC Chip 02/15/94
Toshiba plans to release a  RISC (reduced instruction-set
computing) chip for multimedia  devices by the end of the year.
The chip reportedly has an  extremely fast processing speed and
consumes a relatively  low amount of power.

4 -> Japanese Gov't Plans Own Information Superhighway 02/15/94
The Japanese government is planning to establish its own version
of the US Information  Superhighway (IS).

5 -> ATI Chips Aim At "True Color" 02/15/94 Personal computer
users who want to work with true color without sacrificing
performance are the target market for two new chips from ATI
Technologies Inc., according to company spokesman Andrew Clarke.

6 -> 3D Micro Offers Commodore PC Line In Canada 02/15/94 3D
Microcomputers Wholesale and Distribution (Canada) Inc., which in
December said it would take over marketing and selling Commodore
International Inc.'s DOS-based PCs in Canada, has announced a new
line of Commodore PCs for the Canadian market.

7 -> Networks Expo '94 Opens Today In Boston 02/15/94 Today marks
the start of the first edition of Networks Expo, and attendance
is  expected to be up 200 percent over last year, when the
Blenheim- sponsored networking conference and exhibition was
still known  as NetWorld.

8 -> Powersoft Intros PowerBuilder Desktop, 32-Bit Servers
02/15/94 Powersoft has launched PowerBuilder Desktop, a new
version of its scalable  PowerBuilder client-server product line
that is targeted directly at desktop developers.

9 -> Object-Oriented Tool For Creating Apps With RDBMS 02/15/94
Asymetrix has released Asymetrix InfoModeler, an object-oriented,
PC-based tool aimed at letting developers create applications
"more quickly and accurately" with the use of popular relational
database management systems.

10 ->  ****Unisys Chooses IBM To Make Chips 02/15/94 IBM and
Unisys Corp., have announced an agreement under which IBM will
make advanced complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS)
chips  for Unisys using half-micron technology.

11 -> IBM Signs 18 Vendors For CD Showcase 02/15/94 IBM has
announced that 18 software vendors, including several of the
biggest names, have signed up to put their wares on its CD
Showcase sampler disk.

12 -> TI Demos High Definition Display Device 02/15/94 Texas
Instruments has demonstrated a fully digital prototype of its
high definition display system which it wants to make the picture
of the future for high-definition television (HDTV) sets and
other high performance  display devices.

13 ->  ****Nintendo Plans Mega-Memory Game Cartridge 02/15/94
Nintendo of  America Inc., has announced plans to utilize a
mega-memory game  cartridge format for its new 64-bit video game
system,  code-named Project Reality.

14 -> Aldus Intros Single-User "Fetch" Software For Mac 02/15/94
Aldus Corp., has announced the release of a single-user version
of Fetch, its image database software for cataloging and
organizing image and multimedia files on Apple Computer's
Macintosh platform.

15 ->  ****Viacom Wins Paramount 02/15/94 After a long fight,
Viacom has finally won Paramount Communications for roughly  $10
billion. The company announced that 75 percent of Paramount's
outstanding shares were tendered to it, beating a rival bid from
QVC Network Inc.

16 ->  ****Motorola Subject of US-Japan Trade War Talk 02/15/94
Motorola will be  the initial focus in a rapidly-accelerating
trade war between the  US and Japan. The move follows the
collapse of trade talks  between Japanese Prime Minister Morihiro
Hosokawa and US  President Bill Clinton last week.

17 -> Davidson & Fisher-Price In Education Deal 02/15/94 Davidson
&  Associates Inc., a leading producer of childrens educational
software, signed a license deal with Fisher-Price, a leading
maker of kids' games.

18 -> Ex-FCC Chair Sikes Wins First Product Deal For Hearst
02/15/94 Former FCC  Chairman Al Sikes signed his first true
product deal since  leaving the federal government, as his new
employer, Hearst Corp.,  signed to buy an equity interest in and
affiliation agreement  with Books That Work, based in Palo Alto,
California.

19 -> OFOTO Mac Color Scanning Software Now For Windows 02/15/94
Light Source Computer Images says it is now shipping a Windows
version of its "award-winning" Macintosh OFOTO color scanning and
printing software. The company also said the OFOTO Version 2 for
Windows software is also being bundled by Canon with the new
IX-4015 color scanner.

20 ->  ****Microsoft Spends $130M For Animation Company 02/15/94
Microsoft Corp., says it will spend $130 million to acquire a
Montreal-based  computer animation and visualization software
company.

21 -> Central Point Intros PC Tools 2.0 For Windows 02/15/94
Central Point  Software has announced the release of PC Tools 2.0
for Windows.

22 -> Homework Helper On-line Resource To Debut This Fall
02/15/94 Parents  can look forward this fall to Homework Helper,
a new on-line information service where kids can type in
questions in standard English and get answers from a vast
resource of databases. The service is being built as a result of
agreements between its  instigator, Infonautics, Tandem
Computers, and software developer  MRJ.

23 -> Apple Computer UK Slashes PowerCD Pricing 02/15/94 Apple
Computer UK has announced it has slashed the price of the
PowerCD, the company's "three in one" CD-ROM (compact disc read
only memory) drive, which was launched last Autumn. With
immediate effect, the price of the drive falls from UKP411 to
UKP199.

24 -> UK - Vodata/British Airways Offer Interactive Flight Info
02/15/94 British Airways (BA) and the Automobile Association have
started using Vodata's Information Service facilities to offer
Flightwatch, an interactive flight information phone service that
the companies claim will offer up-to-the-minute details of all BA
scheduled and Caledonian charter flights.

25 -> Lotus & RAM Mobile Working On UK Wireless cc:Mail 02/15/94
Lotus has  announced that it is working with RAM Mobile Data to
develop a UK  version of the wireless cc:Mail system being sold
in the US. Both  companies have demonstrated a beta test
prototype system and  expect to ship commercial product later
this year.

26 -> UK - Mercury Intros Low-Cost Videoconferencing 02/15/94
Mercury Communications  has launched the System 1000, a
videoconference system that the  company claims is
standards-based, yet is still available at a budget price.

27 -> UK Trade Deficit Deepens, British Govt Reveals 02/15/94 The
Central Statistical Office (CSO), a division of the British
Government, has announced preliminary figures about the visible
trade gap in the UK.

28 -> UK - IBM Intros PS/2 Server 85 Workgroup Servers 02/15/94
IBM has added two  new workgroup servers to its existing PS/2
Server 85 range.

29 ->  ****Congressman Warns IRS On Electronic Fraud 02/15/94
Rep. J.J. "Jake" Pickle (D-Texas) has warned the Internal Revenue
Service that if it doesn't  get a handle on fraud committed
through electronic filing, he will  recommend a freeze on the
popular service.

30 ->  ****Washington Sending Mixed Messages - Japan Trade War
02/15/94 Is the expected  ruling by the Clinton administration
that Japan has violated the  cellular phone deal the opening
salvo in a full-fledged trade war?  So far, Washington is sending
mixed signals.

(Ian Stokell/19940215)