April 1993 Computer INFO ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ TRADE CENTER DISASTER A GOOD LESSSON FOR PC USERS ------------------------------------------------- On February 26, a blast shattered the World Trade Center and with that blast came a near-crippling loss of data. Kemper Securities Inc., a Chicago-based securities firm, moved in quickly with a hot-site set up to restore copies of data stored by the three IBM AS/400 midrange computers to one of two IBM ES/9000 mainframes in Milwaukee. By the following Monday the mainframe and mini users were back online working - but what of the PC users? Even those few who had made regular backups often didn't have access to another PC to use their data. A recent study showed that while 30 percent of the Fortune 500 companies have disaster-recovery plans - less than 5 percent have plans that deal with PCs. It was a hard lesson to learn and one that warrants remembering. --Chris Doelle MICROSOFT, INTEL TO ADD PLUG-AND-PLAY ------------------------------------- PCs again crept toward the Mac's ease-of-use when Microsoft and Intel announced plans to make it easier to plug boards into ISA-based PCs. The plan is for users to be able to plug in a board and forget about it. Intel expects some of the boards to ship as early as May, while Microsoft is being more cautious (shades of Windows NT?) by promising plug-and-play boards by the end of the year. --Chris Doelle CLARION FINALLY SHIPS --------------------- Its not what everyone had hoped for, but Clarion Software Corp. began shipping a prerelease version of Clarion Database Developer, Version 3.0. This marks a major upgrade for the succesful DOS-based tool. The prerelease is being distributed to all customers who have ordered the upgrade. Clarion is hoping it will tide-over the angry customers who have been waiting for version 3.0 through over a year of delays. --Chris Doelle MICROSOFT IS DENIED 'WINDOWS' TRADEMARK --------------------------------------- In a case that mirrored earlier fights over such terms as "Light Beer" and "The Pill", a court ruled that Microsoft does not have exclusive right to the term "windows" in dealing with computer software. This comes as a huge blow the mega-company Microsoft, which will now find it harder to fend off imitations of it's popular Windows software. ---Albert Lewis MICHAELANGELO ACTUALLY DID SOME DAMAGE -------------------------------------- A year ago, everyone scampered to get the latest in virus protection in order to prevent the dreaded Michaelangelo virus - it turned out to be more hype than anything else. But recent surveys at major companies have shown interesting findings. According to those surveyed - the overkill scare of the Mike virus has actually caused the majority of companies to ignore the threat of viruses. This confidence may leave the door open for future virus strains. ---Chris Doelle CLINTON PLANS ON UPGRADING WHITE HOUSE -------------------------------------- With a switchboard originally installed in 1964 and no electronic mail system to speak of, President Clinton has vowed to bring the White House into the present. He stated that the White House, "is a yesterday place and we need to make it a tomorrow place." ---Robert Blakely COMPUTER NERDS EVERYWHERE ARE IN MOURNING ----------------------------------------- Those of you who peruse the untold number of .GIF files on adult boards, (We at DEN 'never' would) have undoubtedly seen a large number of R and X-rated .GIFS with the "Rusty & Edie's" logo. Apparently, the FBI has also seen those logos and reacted by raiding the offices of Rusty and Edie's, one of the largest computer bulletin boards in the country. The BBS which is headquartered in Boardman, Ohio has been under surveillance for months by the feds and the SPA (Software Publisher's Association) for allegedly making numerous copyrighted business and entertainment programs available on line in exchange for a board membership fee. Rusty & Edie's reportedly had 14,000-plus sibscribers throughout the United States and other countries. --Chris Doelle MAJOR UPGRADE TO CONTACT ------------------------ Prime Concepts has announced plans to release version 1.3 of its popular contact-management program CONTACT! After several mostly cosmetic changes in recent releases, CONTACT! 1.3 adds some new features. The ability to print the user's contact database on form-feed rolodex cards is reported to be a part of the new version. CONTACT! 1.3 will reportedly be released by early summer. --Chris Doelle MICROSOFT MAKES BIG SALE ------------------------ In the "what else is new" department, Microsoft Corp. reported that Northern Telecom has signed a license agreement - worth more that $10 million to provide all of its PCs in 350 locations worldwide with Microsoft Office. Office is a collection of applications that includes a word processor, data- base, spreadsheet and graphics. The availability of the applications in different languages was one reason why NT chose Microsoft. --Albert Williams MORE PIRACY BUSTS ----------------- The BSA (Business Software Alliance) - another in the growing number of anti-piracy groups announced the "biggest simultaneous multinational enforcement effort" against software piracy. To date 37 lawsuits against firms suspected of copyright infringement in 10 European countries, including 13 electronic bulletin boards in Germany have been filed. BSA touts this as just a "preview" of enforcement activities to come. --Robert Blakely VOICE PRINTS TO BECOME REALITY ------------------------------ NCR and AT&T are working on a new generation of ATM (automated teller machine). The customer will speak into the machine and the ATM will match the sound with the voice print stored on the card. Set to be installed some time this year - this added security should greatly reduce theft related to ATM machines. --Chris Doelle MOBILE COMPUTING ON THE GO -------------------------- Motorola announced a joint venture with the National Dispatch Center to enable mobile computers to communicate over paging systems. The Motorola NewsStream wireless modem will connect with the NDC network, which will allow users to talk over 500 different paging networks nationwide. The service will be available this summer. --Robert Blakely WITCHCRAFT? VOODOO? - NOPE..SCIENCE! ------------------------------------- Can computers read minds? That is the goal of Fujitsu Ltd. At the New York State Department of Health researched have developed a computer that allows the user to move the cursor with his/her mind. At the University of Illinois, they have created a way for a computer user to type out a word by simply thinking of the letters. And yes...its ALL science. --Chris Doelle INTEL GOING NEURAL WITH A LITTLE HELP ------------------------------------- Intel began shipping samples of a new chip that incorporates neural networking capabilities - artificial intelligence technology that imitates the learning functions of the brain. The new chip was developed in partner- ship with Nestor, a neural network software developer in Providence, R.I., and with $1.6 million from the Pentagon. --Albert Lewis OUTSIDE FIRM ADDS CELLULAR PHONE TO POWERBOOK ---------------------------------------------- Applied Engineering (that's Applied - not Apple) will soon offer an internal cellular telephone package for the PowerBook line of Apple's note- book computers. The device will be called AErport and will enable Powerbook users to use the cellular phone as a standard phone or to link to other computers remotely. The AErport will cost about $3,000 and requires Power- book users to send their computers to Applied Engineering for installation. --Scott Hendrix VENTURA SHIPS LATEST RELEASE ---------------------------- Ventura Software Inc. began shipping a maintenance upgrade to its Ventura Publisher 4.1 desktop-publishing package for Windows. Version 4.11 includes improved memory management and the ability to use TWAIN 1.0-compat- ible scanners. The upgrade is available free on CompuServe or by calling Ventura Software at (619) 673-0172 --Robert Blakely UPGRADE DUE ON WORD FOR WINDOWS ------------------------------- A new upgrade to Word for Windows by Microsoft, is in the beta test- ing stages and expected to be shipped soon. Increased speed and LAN connec- tivity are reported to be part of the upgrade. --Chris Doelle WINDOWS SOFTWARE ON UNIX? ------------------------- Mainsoft is starting to ship a Win-to-Unix product called MainWin. Users of MainWin will be able to port their Windows applications to a Unix system using X Windows. --Robert Blakely SIM-EVERYTHING -------------- Maxis, the company that brought the amazingly popular simulation game, SimCity to the public has found their technology isn't just for games. First geographic planning courses at colleges utilized SimCity as curriculum - now Maxis is tailor-making applications. Chevron Corp. is using a simulation created by Maxis specifically for them called SimRefinery. It allows Chevron to simulation different refining techniques and find the most effect. A West Coast utility company has been using another Maxis creation, SimPower, which allows them to allocate their resources better. Maxis is also currently finishing up SimEnvironment which is reported to be scheduled for release to the gaming community as well as environmental organizations. --Chris Doelle DELL AVAILABLE AT SAM'S ----------------------- Dell Computer Corp. launched a new round of price cuts on selected personal-computer models, while announcing an enhance service program and a new sales deal to market through Wal-Mart's Sam's Club. The company, a pioneer in selling PCs through direct mail, lowered base prices on 14 PC models - including desktops, floor-standing models and notebook computers - by $50 to $500. --Houston Chronicle