mac.2370nenad,
Još malo tračeva o kupovini Apple-a... Sama vest da se o tome
razmišlja je podigla cenu njegovih akcija za jedan dolar na
berzi.
Oracle's Ellison does the Apple tease--again
Does he mean it this time?
Oracle Corp. CEO Larry Ellison has again fired up the
rumor mill concerning the future of Apple Computer
Inc. This time Ellison has told a California newspaper
that he is putting together an investment group and
intends to decide over the next few weeks whether to
buy Apple.
Ellison, who is good friends with Apple co-founder and
consultant Steve Jobs, said he would dismiss Apple
CEO Gil Amelio, according to the San Jose Mercury
News. The newspaper also quoted Ellison saying that
he and Jobs would be members of a new board, but
that Jobs would not be involved in the potential deal.
In an interview with the paper, Ellison said he would
approach the deal--should it occur--as a private
investor and that it would not involve Oracle.
Wall Street watchers, who have sat through years of
rumors about Apple's fate, treated the latest news
with arm's length interest.
"I'm tired of commenting on rumors. My file cabinet of
Apple rumors has fallen over," said Andy Neff, senior
managing director at Bear Stearns & Co., in New
York.
But the news did push Apple's stock up $1 at one
point in morning trading.
Officials at Oracle and Apple were not immediately
available for comment.
Analysts questioned whether Ellison would be more
successful than other high-powered executives at
trying to turn Apple around.
"It's not a management issue," said Jim Poyner senior
vice president at Oppenheimer & Co., in New York.
"One can criticize current management for not being
as creative as people hoped they would be in the first
year. But it's just a technical issue unless you, as a
buyer, have something radically different up your
sleeve."
Ellison did not divulge specifics to the newspaper
other than to say he would fire Amelio. If Ellison is
indeed mulling a takeover of Apple, analysts
questioned the strategic sense of making that news
public.
"It would obviously be unfriendly, and it's a strange
way to do an unfriendly deal," said Barry Bosak, an
analyst at Smith Barney, Harris Upham & Co., in New
York. "Usually, somebody just goes ahead and does
something, and if they have any discussion, they're
usually in private. It's very unusual to wage preliminary
bids in a newspaper."
Besides putting Apple, and Amelio, on notice, today's
news has also raised the company's stock price, not
something a potential buyer normally wants to see.
The bump in the stock today raised the price for 60
percent of the outstanding shares to $1.32 billion from
$1.25 billion. Ellison is quoted as saying he would buy
60 percent of the shares in cash.
And about two percent of those shares are owned by
Apple board member A.C. Markkula, who Ellison said
had "destroyed" what Jobs built up, according to the
Mercury News. According to Apple's Dec. 27 proxy
statement, Markkula is the single largest shareholder
on Apple's board of directors.
In January 1996, Sun Microsystems Inc. was rumored
to have offered about $23 a share for the company.
Markkula, the dominant member of the board, was
said to have led the negotiations with Sun.
mac.2371ljubisha,
Još malo igrica. video pool je problematičan (hint: askripka je
pomenuo ove fajlove verzije 3) ali možda neko i provali o čemu se radi.
zodiac.tap me ladno ignoriše posle učitavanja (puca) i nije loš ovaj
fajl jer sam skinuo nekiliko verzija sa raznih strana. Skinuo sam i
neki ZXS (valjda?) fajl koji krene sa učitavanjem ali sa pogrešne adrese
i puca već na screen-u. Jel ima neko predstavu koji je to fajl?
E da, tu su Bruce Lee, Xecutor, Chase HQ (pitajte me za šifru moje
omiljene igre zbog koje sam kupio Atarija koga sam hteo da prodam posle
dva dana kad sam video da je Spectrum verzija bolja :> ), Operation Wolf
i možda još nešto... :)
spectrum.sitmac.2372ljubisha,
Jel i vama u MacSpectacle-u stoji onaj znak (delta) u levom gornjem
uglu? Nije da mi smeta ali me nervira. :)
mac.2373askripka,
-> #2371, ljubisha=- i možda još nešto... :)
Ajde vidi da li imaš: D. Thompson Supertest, MatchDay 2 i WS
Basketball. Prvo dvoje imam ja, ali u verzijama koje odbijaju da
sarađuju... :)
mac.2374kmilan,
Koja je brzina DSP koji može da emulira modem?
mac.2375madamov,
[6] Game Sprockets, PlainTalk, and Cyberdog 2.0 Survive!
As the dust settles from last week's reorganization, we're happy to
report that three cool Mac OS development technologies--PlainTalk, Game
Sprockets, and Cyberdog 2.0--are still alive within Apple.
Apple's core speech research team is working diligently on speech-
related technologies, according to Psi Mankoski of the Spoken Language
Research Group. For the latest PlainTalk speech recognition and speech
synthesis news, check out this team's web site:
<http://www.speech.apple.com/>
Also, Chris De Salvo from the Apple Game Sprockets team says that though
his team is smaller, it will continue to support this game development
technology for the Mac OS. He adds, "Our main focus is to make sure that
the current Sprocket features continue to work for years to come." New
versions of DrawSprocket (version 1.1.2) and InputSprocket (version 1.2)
will soon be released. SoundSprocket and NetSprocket are currently in
maintenance mode. You can download all of these files from the web:
<http://17.126.23.20/dev/games/>
And last but not least, a small team of programmers is finishing up
Cyberdog, Version 2.0, and this extension will ultimately be folded into
Mac OS System 8. The Beta 2 version of Cyberdog 2.0 was recently posted
on Apple's web site. This beta release fixes numerous bugs, including
problems with self-refreshing ad banners. It also now runs on 680x0-
based Mac OS computers. To download this prerelease software or to
report bugs, go to this web site:
<http://www.cyberdog.apple.com/beta/beta20info.html>
mac.2377madamov,
[8] Apple Announces the Twentieth-Anniversary Macintosh
Last week Apple formally announced the Twentieth-Anniversary Macintosh.
This innovative computer features a total entertainment center,
including a television tuner, CD player, and computer. Inside the sleek,
2-inch-thick housing, there's an active-matrix display, hard disk and
floppy drive, a CD-ROM drive, an AM/FM tuner, a PowerPC 603 RISC
processor, an Acoustimass sound system by Bose, a cable adapter for
composite video, and a custom keyboard with a detachable trackpad. This
Macintosh will be sold in five countries: France, Germany, Japan, the
United Kingdom, and the United States. U.S. customers will be able to
purchase the special edition for approximately U.S.$ 7,500, and it's
scheduled to ship in June. Actual prices may vary, depending on
resellers. Apple suggests that interested buyers register their intent
to purchase at this site:
<http://www.twentiethanniversary.apple.com>
For the complete press release on this computer:
<http://product.info.apple.com/pr/press.releases/1997/q2/970319.pr.rel.m
ac.html>
mac.2376madamov,
[7] Apple's MessagePad 2000 Ships
This week Apple began shipping the MessagePad 2000--a mobile computer
for the business professional, and one of the fastest handheld Internet
computers on the market. The MessagePad 2000 offers the versatility of a
laptop computer and includes e-mail, fax, and Internet access
capabilities, as well as personal productivity software, all in an
ultra-light 1.4-pound unit. Incorporating the 160-MHz StrongARM
processor, the MessagePad 2000 performs up to ten times faster than
current handheld computers in the market and works easily to exchange
data with both Windows- and Mac OS-based computers. You can read the
full press release on this product:
<http://product.info.apple.com/pr/press.releases/1997/q2/970324.pr.rel.m
sgpad.html>
mac.2379madamov,
---------------------------------------
NEW SOFTWARE RELEASES
---------------------------------------
--> Metrowerks C/C++ Compiler Updates
You can now download version 1.7.1 of the Metrowerks MPW tool C/C++
compilers and linkers and the Metrowerks IDE C/C++ 1.7.1 update from
these Internet sites:
<http://www.metrowerks.com/db/updates.qry?function=list&sw=cw11>
<ftp://ftp.metrowerks.com/pub/updates/>
<ftp://ftp2.metrowerks.com/pub/updates/>
If you are connecting from Europe, you may want to try this mirror site:
<ftp://ftp.promo.de/pub/Metrowerks/mirror/updates/>
mac.2378madamov,
---------------------------------------
EVENTS
---------------------------------------
--> European Developer Briefing in France, April 17 to 18
To keep you up-to-date on Apple's dual OS strategy, Apple's European
Developer Relations would like to invite you to a full-day briefing on
Thursday, April 17, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., at the Abela Regency
Hotel in Nice, France. This briefing will cover Mac OS 8, Rhapsody and
OpenStep, and WebObjects. In addition, Apple will offer a limited number
of developers a hands-on introduction to the current Intel version of
OpenStep and the OpenStep development environment--the tools you can use
today to start getting ready for the Rhapsody Developer Release that's
due later this year. This event is limited in space and will be filled
on a first-come, first-served basis. For registration and event
information, visit the European event web page:
<http://www.euro.apple.com/edr/events/nice-briefing.html>
For questions not answered on the web page, send a message to Stephen
Humphrey at <shumphrey@apple.com>.
--> JavaOne, Sun's Worldwide Java Developer Conference, April 2 to 4
As a cosponsor of this event, Apple would like to invite you to join
this three-day technical conference to learn Java technologies directly
from Sun's Java development team. Keynotes will be delivered by Java
industry luminaries such as James Gosling, John Gage, Scott McNealy,
Alan Baratz, and Eric Schmidt at the Moscone Convention Center in San
Francisco. Apple will conduct a session in the Java Industry Momentum
track, presenting Apple Java solutions and discussing Apple's view of
the Java industry as it moves forward. On-site registration costs U.S.$
1,195. You can register by calling 1-800-668-2741 in the United States
or Canada or 415-372-7077 outside these countries. For further
information on JavaOne, go to:
<http://java.sun.com/javaone/>
mac.2380madamov,
---------------------------------------
WEB-BYTES--Pointers to More News and Software
---------------------------------------
--> Apple Requests Feedback on Sample Code
Apple Developer Technical Support (DTS) is currently revamping its
Sample Code to better serve developers. If you have ideas on how to make
it better, please fill out the short online survey posted on this web
site:
<http://reg.devworld.apple.com/samplesurvey.qry>
--> Another Cool Mac OS Web Site
If you actually want more Mac OS news than Apple Developer News
provides, check out the MacinStuff Times web site. This site posts about
a dozen Apple-related news stories each day, and archives more than
3,000 past stories. If you're considering purchasing ad space on this
site, editor David Josephson reports that during its thirteen months
online, the site has garnered more than one million hits and has had
over 207,000 individual (nonrepetitive) readers. The web site is located
at:
<http://cgi.gen.com/informedusa/headlines3.26.shtml>
mac.2381madamov,
Date: Wed, 26 Mar 97 17:59:01 -0000
From: EvangeList <evangelist@apple.com>
To: "Macway" <macway@solutions.apple.com>
Subject: ?? - Software Needed for 128K Mac
Message-ID: <199703270159.RAA21418@scv2.apple.com>
This request is from:
Tom Rule, <trule@cennet.mc.peachnet.edu>
Don't laugh - but I just "inherited" an original Mac 128k (at least, I
THINK it's the 128 and not the 512), complete with system 1.0 plus a disk
with system 1.1f, external floppy drive, and the original carrying case!
and the thing STILL WORKS. Well, you have to use a paperclip to eject the
floppies because the springs are shot, but IT WORKS!
Because I run a Mac lab here at Macon College, I'd like to set this up
(to demonstrate how far we've come in computing, but also to show the
similarities). I'd like any information on the system I can find -
especially software (maybe someone has something stashed up in the
garage?)
and it's Still friendly after all these years, too!
Thanks for the help.
Reply to <trule@cennet.mc.peachnet.edu>
________________
Do you believe in Macintosh? Please check out:
<http://www.evangelist.macaddict.com/>
Join the EvangeList mailing list by sending an email to:
<evangelist@macway.com>.
Please send messages that you'd like us to consider for posting to:
<evangelist@apple.com>
mac.2382madamov,
Integrated Web server highlights new features at a competitive price.
CUPERTINO, CA. March 24, 1997 ACI US, Inc. shipped the 4th Dimension
Version 6 (4D V6) relational database today. Company president and
founder Marylene Delbourg-Delphis states, "With 4D V6, ACI has plotted a
course in three main directions. We have taken a new approach to
Internet/intranet technology, enhanced the developer environment, and
revised the 4th Dimension interface."
4D V6 integrates database technology with Internet capabilities through
its built-in web server, enabling immediate Web data publication simply
by clicking a check box in the Preference dialog. The new version
converts 4D forms to HTML on-the-fly with no need for an external CGI or
additional software. Because of the integrated 4D architecture, a Web
browser becomes just another client to 4D, allowing users to access,
insert, modify and delete data stored in 4D and SQL or ODBC-compliant
databases such as ORACLE, Informix, and Sybase. Additionally, the
optimized 4D Web server architecture guarantees automatic session
maintenance, record locking, transaction management, and data integrity.
4D V6 is an integrated, coherant, 32-bit, cross-platform architecture,
allowing smooth scalability between individual and workgroup
applications. The extensive 4D V6 cross-platform development capabilities
make it a very cost-effective system for development and deployment.
4D V6 enhances the developer environment through new features such as a
world-class debugger, increased speed, memory management and I/O
optimizations, a new graphic interface, and hundreds of new commands.
Other 4D V6 features include triggers and stored procedures,
drag-and-drop support, and an object-based form editor for easy
user-interface creation and straightforward code re-use. 4D V6 also
allows users a hierarchical view of the database structure and easy
access to all 4D objects through 4D Explorer, the elaborate drill-down
browser.
PRICE AND AVAILABILITY
According to Vice President of Sales Bruce Finch, "We took a hard look at
pricing strategies in the marketplace. As a result, ACI US is much more
competitive. Publishing your database on the Web has never been easier or
more affordable." The street price for 4D V6 is $299, including 5
simultaneous Internet connections.
For customers wishing to add more connections, expansion package options
are available. Customers may purchasse 4D V6 through authorized resellers.
ABOUT ACI US, INC.
ACI US, INC. was founded in 1987 as the US publisher of 4th Dimension and
the 4D product line, which has set the relational database standard for
ten years, In 1995, ACI extended 4th Dimension technology to the Windows
platform. ACI US is located at 20883 Stevens Creek Boulevard, Cupertino,
CA 95014; tel 408-252-4444; toll free 800-881-3466; fax 408-252-4829;
<http://www.acius.com>.
mac.2383madamov,
Date: Wed, 26 Mar 97 17:59:32 -0000
From: EvangeList <evangelist@apple.com>
To: "Macway" <macway@solutions.apple.com>
Subject: Tidbit - MacKiDo Temple
Message-ID: <199703270200.SAA19638@scv2.apple.com>
This tidbit is from:
David K. Every, <dke@MacKiDo.com>
MacKiDo Temple <http://www.MacKiDo.com/> is a hot new Mac Evangelism site
that answers all the MacMyths with the MacFacts. Also has News Analysis,
Reviews, and other MacInfo. Check it out.
________________
Do you believe in Macintosh? Please check out:
<http://www.evangelist.macaddict.com/>
Join the EvangeList mailing list by sending an email to:
<evangelist@macway.com>.
Please send messages that you'd like us to consider for posting to:
<evangelist@apple.com>
mac.2384madamov,
WEB BROADCASTING RELEASES TAG FM 1.0 FOR FILEMAKER PRO 3.0 FOR MAC
FREE WEB PAGE CREATION TOOL MAKES IT EASIER TO BUILD STATIC OR =
DYNAMIC WEB PAGES ON THE MAC WITH FILEMAKER PRO 3.0
PALO ALTO, CA. -- March 20, 1997 -- Web Broadcasting Corp. releases =
the FREE web page creation tool TAG FM 1.0. TAG FM links FileMaker =
Pro 3.0 databases on the Mac with drag and drop ease to popular web =
page creation tools like Adobe PageMILL=81 , Claris Home Page=81, and =
BBEdit=81. Although designed for use with WEB FM 3.0, the leading web =
server plug-in for FileMaker Pro 3.0, many features of TAG FM can be =
helpful with other tools or simply as an interface for using =
FileMaker Pro to generate HTML.
With TAG=80FM you can drag and drop [tokens] representing layouts, =
fields, scripts, and value lists for a database to your web page. You =
can even drag and drop complete ready-to-use FORMs. Special features =
include the capability to export a complete Claris Home Page library =
file, or automatically convert HTML on the clipboard to a FileMaker =
Pro calculation formula.
TAG FM is a FREE product of Web Broadcasting Corp. and may be =
downloaded at:
<http://macweb.com/>
CONTACT INFORMATION
Web Broadcasting Corp.
555 Bryant St. #386
Palo Alto, CA 94301
(415)329-9676
info@macweb.com
http://macweb.com/
mac.2385madamov,
WEB BROADCASTING CORP. SHIPS WEB FM 3.0 SDK FOR FILEMAKER PRO 3.0 SDK
UNLEASHES UNPRECEDENTED OPPORTUNITY FOR FILEMAKER PRO 3.0 DEVELOPERS TO
COMPETE IN THE INTERNET PRODUCT SPACE
Palo Alto, CA. -- March 21, 1997 -- Web Broadcasting Corp. announces the
release of the WEB FM 3.0 Solutions Distribution Kit (SDK). The new SDK
version of the leading web server plug-in for FileMaker Pro 3.0 for Mac
allows unlimited, royalty-free distribution of WEB FM 3.0 to customers
that have already licensed the Macintosh runtime database engine version
of FileMaker Pro 3.0 SDK from Claris Corporation.
WEB FM 3.0 SDK provides FileMaker Pro 3.0 developers with a fast,
cost-effective way to distribute customized World Wide Web solutions to
clients and consumers. This means enterprising FileMaker Pro 3.0
developers can now distribute their desktop applications and solutions as
powerful Internet or Intranet applications and solutions.
"WEB FM 3.0 SDK represents a truly remarkable opportunity for FileMaker
Pro 3.0 developers to build and distribute products for the exploding
Internet market", said Tony Campitelli, Product Manager, Database
Products, Claris Corporation.
"We're hard-core FileMaker Pro developers." said CSA member Willie
Florance of WorqSmart in Phoenix, Arizona. "WEB FM 3.0 SDK is the missing
piece we were looking for with our Simply Surveys product".
With WEB FM 3.0 SDK, developers bind a version of WEB FM 3.0 to work with
their run-time application. These applications can operate on a web
server and, if necessary, along-side the standard version of FileMaker
Pro 3.0 for Mac, as well as co-exist with other web server CGI's and
plug-ins for FileMaker Pro 3.0.
Essential web server features required by developers and built-in to WEB
FM 3.0 SDK include the ability to assign auto-configured values for web
server settings including:
-- Suffix-mapping
-- Action name
-- Creator extension
-- settings file name
-- And more...
WEB FM 3.0 is the ONLY web server plug-in available on the market today
that allows a FileMaker Pro 3.0 database to be distributed as a
stand-alone, entirely self-contained database file without the need for
scores of supporting FORMS and HTML files. Advanced developer features of
WEB FM 3.0 include support for persistent client-side cookies, custom
http response headers, adding and updating to portal fields, and the
capability to capture and use in Scripts or calculations nearly all web
server environment variables.
Introductory pricing for the WEB FM 3.0 Solutions Distribution Kit is
only $1,495 until April 30th, 1997, a 25% discount. For more information
on WEB FM 3.0 or to download a DEMO version visit:
<http://macweb.com/>
ABOUT WEB FM 3.0
WEB FM 3.0 is a screaming fast, powerful, full-featured web server
plug-in that links Claris Corp's FileMaker Pro 3.0 for Mac OS database
application to the World Wide Web or a corporate Intranet. WEB FM enables
FileMaker Pro 3.0 developers to quickly and easily build fast, dynamic,
interactive, and reliable database solutions with a web browser interface.
ABOUT FILEMAKER PRO 3.0 SOLUTIONS DISTRIBUTION KIT
The FileMaker Pro 3.0 Solutions Distribution Kit for Windows 3.1, Windows
95 and Windows NT and Macintosh provides FileMaker Pro 3.0 developers
with a fast, cost-effective way to distribute customized Windows 3.1,
Windows 95, Windows NT and Macintosh solutions to clients and consumers.
The FileMaker Pro 3.0 SDK is only available directly from Claris
Corporation. For more information on FileMaker Pro 3.0 and other Claris
products, call Claris at 1-800-3-Claris or visit the Claris World Wide
Web site at www.claris.com.
ABOUT WEB BROADCASTING CORP.
The Web Broadcasting Corp.'s mission is to develop incredibly fast,
powerful, and easy to use dynamic web server add-on tools for the
FileMaker Pro community.
mac.2386madamov,
Date: Thu, 27 Mar 97 12:39:31 -0000
From: EvangeList <evangelist@apple.com>
To: "Macway" <macway@solutions.apple.com>
Subject: Followup - Microsoft Mac-Likeness survey
Message-ID: <199703272040.MAA21968@scv2.apple.com>
This follow-up message is from:
James Burger, <burger@crosslink.net>
Interesting little tid bit about how effective Macway is!!!
Kevin Browne wrote:
Greetings!
I would first like to thank you for taking an interest in responding to
our survey -- we really do plan to use the data to make Microsoft Office
97 for Macintosh a better Mac product! Second, I would like to apologize
for the disruptions you encountered in trying to help us. We had planned
to "regulate" the traffic flow to our survey site by posting first to
sites that are less-well-travelled by Mac users (it's sad that
Microsoft's own site is one of those...), and by working with Ziff-Davis
to invite segments of their subscriber base to the site. That plan was
negated yesterday when a well-meaning person posted the survey URL on
Evangelist, prompting a flood of responses (4 times the traffic!). The
database we allocated for the task was filled, and you received these
errors. This problem has been addressed, and we do not anticipate a
repeat. If you are still willing to share it with us, I invite you to
post your feedback to the survey. If you were able to log in, you should
be able to pick up where you left off by logging into the survey using
the same User Name and Password with which you began the survey.
Thank you for your time, and I apologize for any inconvenience we have
caused.
Kevin Browne
Product Planning Lead
Macintosh Business Unit
________________
Do you believe in Macintosh? Please check out:
<http://www.evangelist.macaddict.com/>
Join the EvangeList mailing list by sending an email to:
<evangelist@macway.com>.
Please send messages that you'd like us to consider for posting to:
<evangelist@apple.com>
mac.2387madamov,
Date: Thu, 27 Mar 97 17:30:01 -0800
From: Guy Kawasaki <gkawasaki@macway.com>
Subject: Official Apple Washington Post Rebuttal
Message-ID: <199703280129.RAA10472@dnai.com>
Keyword: Market by market, Education
We have sent the following letter to the editor of the Washington =
Post today in regard to a recent article.
Guy
______
March 27, 1997
Dear Editor:
Rajiv Chandrasekaran's 3/14/97 article, titled, "Is School Out For =
Apple?" leaves readers with the false impression that schools have =
abandoned the Macintosh for Windows computers. We wish to set the =
record straight and pose a few questions of our own.
First, there are 30 middle schools in Montgomery County; 29 of those =
schools use Macintoshes exclusively. Our question: How is it that Mr. =
Chandrasekaran chose to cite the one middle school that purchased =
Windows systems?
Second, he conducted a 20-minute interview with Deeva Garel, the =
director of network services for the county, yet he failed to include =
any of her remarks. That is unfortunate because, according to Ms. =
Garel, she told him:
- The school district uses Macintoshes in elementary and middle =
schools because it has the best instructional and multimedia software =
(the district's core criteria for deciding which systems to buy);
- Macintoshes are used in specific curriculum areas in the county's =
high schools; and
- Apple has provided excellent service, support and training to the =
county's schools.
Our question: Are these not relevant points to bring out in the story?
Third, in an attempt to support his thesis, Mr. Chandrasekaran =
presents an incomplete reference to a report from International Data =
Corp. (IDC) that measured computer purchase plans among schools and =
districts for the 1996-97 school year. The report showed that 55% of =
the schools surveyed intend to purchase Windows systems this year, =
whereas 56 percent of districts plan to purchase Macintoshes.
Question: Since districts control 75% of hardware purchases, =
shouldn't Mr. Chandrasekaran have mentioned that schools may not be =
the most reliable predictor of intent-to-purchase plans?
Moreover, in focusing on the report=BCs forecasts, Mr. Chandrasekaran =
neglected to report the actual numbers of computers installed in K-12 =
institutions today. A few facts:
- Apple remains the leading computer brand used in K-12 schools, with =
60 percent market share among public schools. Apple-branded systems =
account for 4.2 million of the 7 million computers in schools today.
- The number of Macintosh units in schools continues to increase, =
growing by 5 share points last year alone.
Our question: Doesn't balanced reporting demand including both?
Fourth, he states that Apple's current share of the education market =
is 58 percent, according to QED. Admittedly this is down slightly =
from year's past. Our question, however, is whether Mr. =
Chandrasekaran is seriously suggesting that serving nearly =
three-fifths of any market is a weak position?
Further, Mr. Chandrasekaran describes the Wintel share of the market =
as 39 percent, yet this is a mix of Apples and oranges. The Wintel =
numbers are an aggregate of ALL PC companies' sales into education.
Fifth, he paraphrases an unnamed group of analysts and educators as =
questioning Apple's ability to give teachers what they need after our =
recent reorganization. No education people in the Washington area =
were affected by layoffs; the local team dedicated to serving =
Maryland, Washington and Northern Virginia totals 16 people. =
Moreover, our first quarter K-12 sales for this region were up 20 =
percent in unit volume and 15 percent in dollar volume from last year.
Additionally, I personally told Mr. Chandrasekaran how we are =
changing the educational technology landscape with the eMate 300, and =
also emphasized that the reorganization will allow us to focus even =
more on education as a strategic market.
Our question: Does this sound like a company unable to support the =
education market?
Finally, let's not forget the children. There is a reason that =
education has stood by Apple and its products for 20 years: the =
learning experience for children. With all due respect to one =
principal quoted in the article, we believe what children learn about =
computers is not nearly so important as what they learn by using the =
computer as a knowledge resource. Time and time and time again, the =
Macintosh's intuitive interface is heralded because it lets children =
concentrate on creating, exploring and learning -- not on figuring =
out how to use the computer.
Though he may not have intended, Mr. Chandrasekaran's exclusion of =
relevant facts and apparent cursory analysis impugns Apple's =
corporate reputation in a highly valued and strategic market.
Sincerely,
Mike Lorion
Vice President, North American Education Division
Apple Computer, Inc.
(408) 974-7040
________________
Do you believe in Macintosh? Please check out: =
<http://www.evangelist.macaddict.com/>
Join the EvangeList mailing list by sending an email to: =
<evangelist@macway.com>.
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mac.2388madamov,
Date: Thu, 27 Mar 97 21:15:20 -0800
From: Guy Kawasaki <gkawasaki@macway.com>
Subject: Rumors of Larry Ellison "Buying" Apple?
Message-ID: <199703280514.VAA05089@dnai.com>
Life can't get much more bizarre than this. If you'd like to let Oracle
know what you think of this idea, here's an email address:
<savapple@us.oracle.com>
I hope that the NC's they're using over there can handle all the email.
:-)
Guy
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mac.2389madamov,
-> #2364, askripka> Međutim... Stvar ne radi... Naime, alias 'ne vidi' original.
Ne znam čime je snimao, ali Toast Pro 3.0.2 ima opciju za proveru aliasa. Ja
sam kopirao CD sa sistemskim softverom (ceo disk sam prevukao preko ikone
particije koju sam pripremao za CD), posle sam dodao još što šta, svi aliasi
su radili. dakle, nisam pravio nove aliase, već su mi radili oni originalni
koji su iskopirani kao fajl sa CD-a. Kako, ne znam, ali je tako bilo.
mac.2390madamov,
-> #2365, ljubisha> Jel može jedno kratko uputstvo za korišćenje onog Telnet programa iz DIR-a?
Ništa komplikovano, odabereš File-New Connection, uneseš adresu i posle nekog
vremena ti se otvori terminalski prozor u kojem radiš normalno kao da si se
direktno modemom (terminalom) nakačio na host.
mac.2391madamov,
-> #2366, nenad> Predsednik Oracle-a se izgleda merači da kupi Apple...
Jednom rekoh prošle godine kada se šuškalo kako Sun hoće da kupi Apple da, ako
već mora da se prodaje, onda neka kupac bude Sun ili neka slična firma. Oracle
je jedna od takvih firmi, bolje oni nego Intel ili Microsoft.
mac.2392madamov,
-> #2367, ljubisha> Jel može da Meka da se prikači pc serijski miš?
Ne može, Mac ima ADB port na koji se kači miš. Ako hoćeš dva (i više) tastera,
kupiš specijalnog miša kakve prave mnoge firme, jedna se godinama reklamira na
zadnjoj strani MacWorlda (Kensigton).
mac.2393madamov,
-> #2368, ljubisha> Ustvari, može i uput na neki link koji drži ovakve stvari.
Idi na MacWorldovu ili MacUserovu software arhivu pa probaj tamo da nađeš. Ili
idi FTP-om na neki od Info-Mac mirror sajtova, to je najveća kolekcija Mac
softvera koja postoji (ako ideš preko EUnet-a najbolje je da uzmeš neki mirror
u Holandiji). Linkove ka mirrorima ćeš naći u okviru Anarchie.
mac.2394madamov,
-> #2369, askripka> Ali, ako ti je baš toliko stalo do emulatora sa 2 tastera
Zar ne postoji neka kombinacija tipa Command-Option-click koja bi simulirala u
okviru emulatora pritisak na desni taster?
mac.2395madamov,
TidBITS#372/31-Mar-97
=====================
Speculating about Apple, while not yet named as an official
Olympic sport, is certainly popular enough to be considered for
the Exhibition category. In this issue, Adam examines much of the
Apple speculating that's going on and offers his own views about
Apple's directions. We also cover Apple's presence at the recent
Internet World, and look in detail at Snapz Pro, a snappy new tool
for creating screenshots.
Topics:
MailBITS/31-Mar-97
Apple's Decisions
iWorld and Welcome to It
Say Cheese! Snapz Pro
<http://www.tidbits.com/tb-issues/TidBITS-372.html>
<ftp://ftp.tidbits.com/pub/tidbits/issues/1997/TidBITS#372_31-Mar-97.etx>
Copyright 1997 TidBITS Electronic Publishing. All rights reserved.
Information: <info@tidbits.com> Comments: <editors@tidbits.com>
---------------------------------------------------------------
tidbits.372mac.2396madamov,
TidBITS#373/01-Apr-97
=====================
EXCLUSIVE! Hot on the heels of Oracle CEO Larry Ellison's public
speculation of a hostile takeover of Apple, Steve Jobs announces
the merger of Apple and Pixar, Jobs's successful animation
company. In this special issue, we also unveil a host of
behind-the-six-colored-curtain information, including sale
of the Newton and PowerBook divisions, new technologies for
Rhapsody, a TidBITS global reorganization, rumors of Cyberdog
abuses, and more.
Topics:
MailBITS/01-Apr-97
Apple Goes Hollywood
Waxing Rhapsodic: New Technologies from Apple
The TidBITS Channel
Internet Merchandising Takes Off
The PowerBook Secret
TidBITS Web Surfing Party Game
<http://www.tidbits.com/tb-issues/TidBITS-373.html>
<ftp://ftp.tidbits.com/pub/tidbits/issues/1997/TidBITS#373_01-Apr-97.etx>
Copyright 1997 TidBITS Electronic Publishing. All rights reserved.
Information: <info@tidbits.com> Comments: <editors@tidbits.com>
---------------------------------------------------------------
tidbits.373mac.2397madamov,
-> #2374, kmilan> Koja je brzina DSP koji može da emulira modem?
Jel' ovo nastavak iz konferencije Atari? B) Elem, Quadra 660 AV i Centris 660
AV imaju AT&T-ev 3210 DSP procesor na 50 MHz, dok Quadra 840 AV ima isti
procesor na 66 MHz.
mac.2398kmilan,
-> #2397, madamov>> Koja je brzina DSP koji može da emulira modem?
>Jel' ovo nastavak iz konferencije Atari? B) Elem, Quadra 660 AV i Centris 660
>AV imaju AT&T-ev 3210 DSP procesor na 50 MHz, dok Quadra 840 AV ima isti
>procesor na 66 MHz.
Možda :) ... i ti DSP mogu da emuliraju modem? Kojom brzinom? Da li to znači
da su AT&T DSP bolji od Motorolinih :)
mac.2399madamov,
-> #2398, kmilan> i ti DSP mogu da emuliraju modem? Kojom brzinom?
Koliko znam, standardne brzine su podržane (28.8 i 14.4), nisam se mnogo
zanimao za to. Naravno, potreban je i GeoPort adapter da bi se povezao na
telefonsku liniju.
mac.2401madamov,
Date: Mon, 31 Mar 97 14:37:15 -0000
From: EvangeList <evangelist@apple.com>
To: "Macway" <macway@solutions.apple.com>
Subject: Tidbit - "Gus" Apple II Emulator
Message-ID: <199703312239.OAA29466@scv3.apple.com>
This tidbit is from:
Matthew Roe, <Roe@microage.upstate-ny.com>
Gus is an Apple IIGS emulator for Power Macintosh developed by some
engineers at Apple in their spare time over the last 4+ years. Gus is not
and will not be an official Apple product. Gus runs Apple II and IIGS
software from "disk images" created from original Apple II and IIGS disks:
<http://www.macos.apple.com/gus/>
This could be of great importance for schools who are trying to jump from
the (many) Apple II series to the Mac OS. Please show your support if
there is interest in this product.
________________
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mac.2400madamov,
Date: Mon, 31 Mar 1997 14:53:26 -0500 (EST)
From: MacWay@aol.com
Subject: You got to love the press
Message-ID: <970331145211_-770351230@emout07.mail.aol.com>
>From Reuters Ltd:
HOLLYWOOD (Variety) - Pity the Economist: It knows not what it slams. The
haughty British financial and political magazine claimed in its March 22
issue that the Brad Pitt/Harrison Ford starrer The Devil's Own from
Columbia Pictures was ``suffering'' at the box office. Problem was that
the film didn't open until March 26.
Reuters/Variety (C) Reuters Ltd. All rights reserved
________________
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mac.2402madamov,
Date: Tue, 1 Apr 97 13:39:48 -0000
From: EvangeList <evangelist@apple.com>
To: "Macway" <macway@solutions.apple.com>
Subject: Guy on WPHT Computer Talk Radio in Philly
Message-ID: <199704012138.NAA23032@scv3.apple.com>
This tidbit is from:
Bryan Rickman, <bkrickman@earthlink.net>
I was glad to hear Guy speaking at WPHT this morning in Philly. I was
thinking of calling in because I was sick of hearing the same old details
about the Apple's "NeXT" OS. I was going to ask more about MacOS 8.
However, Guy managed to one up me with a Mac OS 7.6 "tangent" on his own
before I called in. Here is a really good snippit from the talk show,
"Computer Talk," hosted by Rich Levin.
Guy: So much of the talk and the questions are about Rhapsody and the
NeXT OS. It sort of, you know, presupposes that this OS isn't so hot, and
you know that's wrong! We have today a better OS than Windows 95, today.
The one you buy in the store. You can go out and buy it today. But we're
on this kick now of, oh my god, "Things'll finally get better when
Rhapsody ships." And that's not true. Then...and this is another thing
the press has built into this...this impression that, you know, "System 7
is crashing everywhere, and no one's productive with Macintosh today."
And you know, "If Rhapsody doesn't ship in time Apple is dead." It's
crap!
Rich: Thank you very much!
Guy: There's millions of people using Macintoshs quite happily today.
And...myself included. And...you know let's just...let's just like stick
with reality here for a second. Today, if you wanted to buy a personal
computer, if you had the choice, you should strongly consider a
Macintosh. No if's, and's, or but's.
Rich: Now, Guy, don't keep it in, let it out.
Guy: Yah, okay. It's early here
[The show went from 6-8am in Philly. That would be 3-5am back in the
Valley. More power to you Guy!]
It was really nice hearing a solid argument for the Macintosh. Rich Levin
even went on to add some strong support for the Mac. He predominately
uses PC's in his day to day work, but he had intentionally spent some
quality time with his Mac preparing for this show. He had a nice plug for
the PowerBook 3400. He also talked about running his "legacy
applications" for Windows 95 on it with Insignia SoftWindows 95. Imagine
that, legacy Win95 applications.
________________
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mac.2403ljubisha,
-> #2394, madamov> Zar ne postoji neka kombinacija tipa Command-Option-click koja bi simulirala
u
> okviru emulatora pritisak na desni taster?
Da, 'jabuka' odrađuje posao ali onda moram sve vreme da držim levu
ruku na tastaturi tako da je rad u Arabeski i otvaranje pasijansa veoma
zamorno.
mac.2404madamov,
Date: Tue, 1 Apr 97 17:56:24 -0000
From: EvangeList <evangelist@apple.com>
To: "Macway" <macway@solutions.apple.com>
Subject: Macintosh vs Unix Web Stats
Message-ID: <199704020155.RAA19416@scv3.apple.com>
Keyword: Advocacy, Why Macs Are Better
This tidbit is from:
Albert Lai, <aml61@columbia.edu>
Sonoma State University has some performance notes on Macintosh vs Unix.
The results are quite pleasing. The two contestants were an Apple Power
Macintosh 7100/66 running MacHTTP 2.03 and a Sun SPARC IPX running at
50MHz running NCSA httpd v1.3 (costing $3000, $4500 respectively).
PowerMac SPARC
LocalTalk Connections 4184 4360
Ethernet Connections 5732 6060
Total Connections 9916 10420
Connections dropped 0 0
Connections Timed Out 0 0
Connections denied 0 97
Megabytes served 184.1 193.5
"In terms of performance-per-dollar, the PowerMacintosh wins by a large
margin in this test."
"I found the performance of these particular machines to be comparable
under the conditions descibed. The SPARC performed marginally better, but
it occasionally denied connections.... The Mac platform, however, costs
less to purchase and may cost far less to support than the more esoteric
UNIX platform. For a 50% premium, the SPARC's marginally greater
performance comes at a steep price."
For those that want to see the report, the URL is:
<http://www.sonoma.edu/WM/thetest.html>.
I'd say that Mac WWW servers are here to stay.
________________
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mac.2405madamov,
-> #2403, ljubisha> Da, 'jabuka' odrađuje posao ali onda moram sve vreme da držim levu
> ruku na tastaturi
Moram sam sebe da demantujem jer sam juče uživo video Macintosh Plus kako radi
sa Genius mišem. Elem, čovek ga je vezao na kabl koji inače koristi sa modemom
i ubacio u modem port. Prethodno je utrošio celu noć surfujući i tražeći nešto
što bi mu pomoglo. Našao je ekstenziju Serial Mouse Driver, verzija 1.01 na
nekom gopher sajtu u Francuskoj, instalirao i povezao. Međutim, ima jednu
veliku manu, ukoliko nešto greškom promeniš u podešavanju (sa Microsoft Mouse
emulacije pređeš na neku koju Genius ne podržava) ostaješ bez miša i jedini
način da se spaseš je priključivanje standardnog Appleovog miša. Takođe mi se
n sviđa kako se miš ponaša, Mekovci i Ataristi znaju kako mouse pointer treba
glatko da ide preko ekrana, dok se ovaj ponaša kao da sediš za nekim Windowsom.
mac.2406madamov,
First CHRP-based Macs should appear this summer
Apple has entered beta testing of its Common Hardware Reference Platform
(CHRP) release of Mac OS 7.6. The CHRP OS runs on prototype CHRP systems
developed by Motorola, IBM, and other companies. The CHRP hardware design lets
Mac makers use many components also found on PCs. This allows less-costly
systems designs since PC parts are generally produced in high volumes. And
because components are available from multiple vendors, parts shortages at
individual producers should have less effect on Mac availability. The CHRP
hardware also allows use of PC-standard ports, such as serial ports.
The CHRP 7.6 OS should be ready in June. However, Apple and other system
makers will likely choose to use the Mac OS 8.0 version of CHRP instead, since
that version should be available when Mac OS 8.0 (code-named Tempo) ships in
July. The Mac OS 7.6 includes enabler files that provide CHRP support; Mac OS
8.0 will include CHRP and non-CHRP support in the same box, so users won't
need to know whether their Mac uses a CHRP motherboard or an earlier Mac
motherboard design (such as the Tsunami design in the Power Mac 9600,
PowerTower Pro, and SuperMac S900; the Tanzania motherboard used in the Power
Mac 4400/200 and Motorola StarMax; and the Alchemy motherboard used in the
Performa 6400, SuperMac C600, and PowerBase).
The initial CHRP systems may not support IDE hard drives, which are finding
their way into many Macs. Apple found a bug in the commonly used IDE chips and
decided not to hold up the CHRP OS while it sought a workaround (the chips
support only polling, not direct memory access [DMA], which causes drive
performance to slow down; Apple's current IDE hardware is proprietary and does
support the faster DMA method).
Apple CHRP R&D director Mike Bell says that system vendors will be able to add
IDE support into their CHRP-based Macs by updating those Macs' ROMs. Mac
makers that use IDE drives will probably choose to wait until those ROMs are
available before shipping CHRP systems. Mac makers using SCSI drives will
probably not wait for the patched ROM.
The initial CHRP OS will not support two new cross-platform hardware
technologies: the Firewire SCSI replacement and the Universal Serial Bus,
which allows multiple devices to be connected to a PC or Mac à la the
Mac's ADB. Bell says that Apple will add support for those technologies across
its product line all at once, rather than have them supported just on
CHRP-based Macs. Apple has not announced a timeline for supporting these two
peripheral bus architectures.
mac.2409madamov,
But De Luca won't address Rhapsody licensing</B></FONT><P>
Apple marketing chief Guerrino De Luca today reaffirmed the company's
commitment to licensing the current Mac OS, but refused to address questions
about licensing the forthcoming Rhapsody operating system. He also indicated
that license fees are likely to rise when CHRP systems become available.
Current Mac OS licensees include Power Computing, Umax Computer, DayStar
Digital, and Motorola Computer Group.
"Licensing is strategic for us," De Luca said during a press conference in
which Apple announced its latest restructuring. "We are absolutely determined
to have great relationships with our licensing partners. We have given our
customers a choice and we will not take that choice away from our customers."
At present, he said, licensees pay fees to license both the Mac OS and
hardware design. With the emergence of CHRP systems and their
industry-standard components, De Luca said, manufacturers will not have to pay
licensing fees for hardware. As a result, "we're going to adjust [software]
licensing fees accordingly." Apple is currently negotiating these points with
its licensees, he said.
However, De Luca would not address Apple's plans for licensing Rhapsody.
"Rhapsody is a different OS," he said. "The discussions are all on the Mac OS."
Power Computing spokesman Mike Rosenfelt said he heard no surprises in the
press conference and believes that Apple is committed to the licensing
program. While it's possible that some licensing fees will increase, he said,
he doesn't anticipate changes that would adversely affect Power Computing.
Power Computing's relationship with Apple, he said, will continue to be
"business as usual."
mac.2407madamov,
Copland-based Finder will be PowerPC-native
Apple has decided to call its next OS, code-named Tempo, and due in July, Mac
OS 8. That was the name originally planned for the Copland OS effort that was
killed last August. Apple says it decided to use the Mac OS 8 name for Tempo,
rather than Mac OS 7.7 or another 7.X number, because of Tempo's all-native,
multithreaded Finder, enhanced find capabilities, new window and list views,
and new 3-D look (popularized by the <A
HREF="http://www.macworld.com/software/paul/Software.579.html">Aaron</A>
shareware extension based on the original Copland interface design).
Mac OS 8's new Finder should run significantly faster, since it is all PowerPC
code, not a mix of 680X0 and PowerPC code as in the current Finder. Because
the Mac OS 8 Finder is multithreaded, several Finder operations can run
simultaneously, such as multiple file copies and Trash emptying. The new
Finder also allows background tasks such as a window's contents being updated
as you are working in another window.<P>
The new window views include a tab view that lets you place common folders at
the bottom of the screen, where they turn into tabs that when clicked open the
full folder. The concept is similar to the WindowShade feature, except that
the tab is created automatically when you move a folder to the bottom of the
screen.
mac.2408madamov,
Plans three releases in 1997
At this week's Internet World in Los Angeles, Apple Computer announced plans
to release three versions of WebObjects in 1997. <P>
WebObjects is a set of object-oriented client-server Web authoring tools
originally developed by Next Software. The software supports HTML, Java, and
ActiveX, along with databases from Informix, Sybase, and Oracle. It currently
runs on Windows NT, Solaris, HP-UX, and OpenStep, and will eventually run on
Rhapsody, Apple's next-generation operating system.
WebObjects 3.1, scheduled for release this spring, will allow developers to
create applications entirely in Java, as well as in C++, Objective C, and
other languages. It will also support Adobe Acrobat 3.0, using Acrobat's forms
feature to automatically produce PDF files based on user requests and
background database queries.
WebObjects 3.5, slated for a summer release, will feature prebuilt application
components and other enhancements designed to make the software easier to use.
It will also work with the forthcoming developer release of Rhapsody.
WebObjects 4.0, scheduled for a winter release, will offer enhanced support
for client-side Java along with additional application components.
mac.2410madamov,
Advertised now; Power, Umax to announce officially next month
Although not officially announced by their manufacturers, 250MHz 604e systems
from Umax Computer and Power Computing are soon to become available and are
being advertised in consumer publications and by catalog vendors.
Sources at Power Computing and Umax say the systems, originally scheduled to
ship in early March, were delayed after IBM determined it would not have
sufficient yield of the 250MHz PowerPC 604e. The clone makers say they were
unable to pull all their advertising following IBM's decision. The new models
are now due out in early April, when the chips are expected to ship in
sufficient volume to meet demand.
Power Computing's PowerTower Pro 250 is a beefier model than Power's previous
top-of the-line machine, the 225, and not only in terms of speed: it will ship
with wide SCSI, in addition to the 1MB of cache and 8MB of VRAM also found on
the 225. The standard configuration will also include 32MB of RAM, six PCI
expansion slots, an upgradable CPU daughtercard, nine drive bays, an 8X
CD-ROM, and internal and external SCSI support. The 250 will also ship with
Macromedia Director 5.0 bundled, and it will sell for $4495. A RAID array
option costs another $1390.
The Umax SuperMac S900 is being advertised in a similar configuration, with a
2GB hard drive, an 8X CD-ROM, 32MB of RAM, and 8MB of VRAM. (Additional
details were not available from the company as the product is still not
officially announced.)
mac.2411madamov,
Users of HDSC Setup 7.1.2 or earlier lose data when installing 7.6
Users with hard disks formatted using Apple HDSC Setup 7.1.2 or earlier and
wishing to install Mac OS 7.6 should beware: you will likely lose data when
running the 7.6 Installer.
Several users have reported blinking question marks at start-up after
installing 7.6.
Apple says it is working to resolve the problem, but currently no
drive-recovery software will enable you to access your data under this
scenario. Apple also says this problem will not occur with later versions of
HDSC Setup.
At last word, Apple did not have information on this posted to Apple's Info
Alley.
mac.2415madamov,
Preview beta to be available in May
Be has revealed its rollout plans for the BeOS, the multitasking,
multithreaded operating system that the company is positioning as an
alternative to the Mac OS. <P>
The next release of the software, the BeOS Preview Release, will be available
in a beta version for developers in time for the Be Developer Conference May
10-11, says Be marketing director Mark Gonzales. Three weeks later, the
company expects to release the software to the general public.
Gonzales says the BeOS Preview will be "roughly equivalent" to Apple's
Rhapsody Premier, which is scheduled to ship in early 1998. He notes that
Preview is not a developer-only release, but will be available to the public.
Apple plans a developer release of Rhapsody in mid-1997; users will have to
wait for Rhapsody Premier before they can sample the new OS.
BeOS Preview will feature a revised user interface, a faster file system, and
support for Unicode, an emerging standard for multilingual computing. Gonzales
says the company is now summarizing the other features that can be expected in
the Preview release.
Following BeOS Preview will be an "R2" release this fall, most likely in
November, Gonzales says. R2 will feature changes to the BeOS Media Kit (Be's
equivalent to QuickTime) along with revisions based on feedback from users and
developers. R2 will also incorporate Fredlabs' VirtualMac software, which lets
you run Mac applications from within the BeOS. However, Gonzales says that Be
may release a VirtualMac beta prior to R2.
Be plans two releases in 1998: "R3" in March or April and "R4" in late summer
or early fall.
mac.2413madamov,
Apple to ship fewer full system releases on revised schedule
Apple Computer's Mac OS timetable has shifted once again. As part of its
layoff announcement last week, Apple said it will simplify product plans,
including plans for the new Mac operating system. The company will ship fewer
full system releases and more system updates in 1998, with both on a revamped
schedule.
Originally Apple planned to follow Tempo, or Mac OS 8, which it says is still
on track for July, with two full system releases -- Allegro and Sonata -- and
one system update in 1998. Under the new OS timetable, users will see only one
major Mac OS release, Allegro, and two systems updates next year. Apple is no
longer saying Allegro will hit early in the year; the current target is
mid-1998. The timeframe for release of the system updates, which will include
bug fixes and minor performance tweaks, has not been set. Sonata will ship
sometime in 1999; Apple is not offering more specific estimates on whether it
will be ready early or late in the year.
Apple vice president of marketing Guerrino De Luca said the semi-annual system
releases were "not practical from a developer point of view." He also said
Apple received feedback from customers to the effect that they would have
trouble staying current given the number of Mac OS releases that were
originally planned. Apple says that issuing fewer full system releases and
more system updates will help solve the practicality problems.
The schedule for the three Rhapsody releases has not changed. The Developer
release is scheduled for mid-1997, Premier is scheduled for the end of 1997 or
beginning of 1998, and Unified is scheduled for mid-1998. (Earlier reports
saying that Rhapsody's schedule had slipped are incorrect, according to
AppleSoft marketing vice president Jim Gable.)
mac.2414madamov,
Apple will narrow scope and emerge healthy
Days after announcing layoffs and technology cuts, Apple CEO Gilbert Amelio
today reiterated his promise to make the company profitable by narrowing its
focus.<P>
"Apple was trying to do too many things, be too many technologies, and do many
things ... that could have been done by third-party vendors," Amelio said
during an address to the Massachusetts Software Council, a trade organization
that represents software companies in the state.
"We're going to narrow the scope of what we're going to do," Amelio added.
"Apple will emerge as a healthy company."
Last Friday, in its latest restructuring, Apple announced it would trim 2700
full-time and 1400 part-time workers from its staff of 13,400 employees. It
also announced plans to discontinue work on several software efforts,
including its Cyberdog browser and OpenDoc component technology.
"OpenDoc is being superseded by Java, and the object model within Java is
almost identical to OpenDoc," Amelio said. "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em."
The Internet is key to Apple's current strategy, Amelio said. That includes
extending the Mac's dominance in desktop publishing to Web site design, as
well as pushing Macs as a Web server platform for small businesses and
departments. Tempo, the forthcoming Mac OS release, will also feature improved
Internet integration.
One Mac-using designer in the audience asked Amelio how she should handle
derisive comments from clients when she pulls out her Mac portable to show a
demo.
"What do I say in those meetings when they say, 'show me a real computer,' "
said Suzanne Watzman, president of Watzman Information Design of Cambridge,
Massachusetts.
Amelio said improving compatibility between the Macintosh and non-Macintosh
systems is a priority for the company. And, he added, "the quickest way to
silence those folks is [for Apple] just to start making money again."
Watzman wanted more specifics on compatibility, however, and she hopes Apple
is serious about making it a priority.
"It has to be or Apple won't survive," Watzman said later.
mac.2412madamov,
Macworld talks with developers about Apple's and the Mac's future
The vitality of the Macintosh rests largely with third-party hardware and
software developers, who must continue to invest in new products and in
innovation for the platform to thrive. Following Apple's restructuring
announcement last Friday, Macworld contacted more than 20 developers to gauge
their reactions to Apple's new plan and their optimism about Apple's--and the
Mac's--future.
Most developers sounded encouraged by the new structure. Although he expressed
deep regret over the employee layoffs, Richard Herbert, senior vice president
of Pantone said the cuts are necessary: "I feel that keeping Apple afloat and
prosperous is vital to the computer industry. After all, it was the Mac that
pushed Microsoft to build a better OS."
Apple's need to sharpen its product and company focus has been a long-standing
theme among Macintosh developers, and nearly all the developers we spoke with
were pleased to hear Apple announce its intentions to focus more clearly.
Dan Feldman, CEO of Abacus, said, "It is critical that Apple focus on its core
business and key market segments. With this announcement they have shown that
they are willing to make some of the tough decisions necessary to bring their
core business back to profitability."
Philippe Spruch, CEO of storage vendor La Cie echoed that sentiment: "Some of
the changes will help simplify the direction that the company is headed.
Hopefully, a narrower focus will help the company find renewed vigor for the
projects that define Apple's future. We remain enthusiastic about the products
coming from Apple and are optimistic about the company's prospects. The part
of our business associated with the Apple market continues to grow."
<b>Was it Enough?</b>
A few developers, however, were not completely sold on Apple's latest moves.
Adam Lavine, CEO of Specular, a maker of 3-D graphics software, remains
concerned. "They are in a worse position than they anticipated previously due
to lack of customer confidence in the Macintosh's hurting revenue," Lavine
said. "They didn't understand the magnitude of the problem six months ago; I'm
not 100-percent convinced they understand the magnitude of the problem now.
Gil Amelio said regarding people he's letting go, 'If things get better, maybe
we'll see them again.' I would have felt a lot better if that 'if' had been a
'when.' "
One Mac software developer, who wished to remain anonymous, questioned Apple's
decisiveness and the sustainability of this latest plan: "I wonder why they
waited two months. All of these things seemed obvious in January. I am
surprised by how little they are restructuring. Given that it was not very
deep, and that they have a lot of other decisions to make, I worry that they
will end up doing another layoff in three to six months."
The concern about decisiveness was repeated by Roy McDonald, president and CEO
of Connectix, which makes performance-oriented utilities and desktop video
cameras. "At this late date Apple may need to take more decisive action than
painfully laying off or selling off select business groups," he said.
McDonald advocated a complete separation of the applications, system software,
and hardware businesses into independent Claris, Macintosh, and Apple
corporations. In his view, creating three independent publicly held entities
would increase shareholder value and clarify the respective missions of each
group.
Technology Cuts
Overall the developers we contacted felt Apple's announced technology
cuts--OpenDoc, Cyberdog, and Open Transport--were obvious choices. But smaller
developers, whose businesses are more tied to Mac-only development, seemed
more fazed by Apple's dropping of these Mac-specific technologies.
Alan Lefkof, CEO of Farallon Computing, a large networking products company,
said that using "native TCP/IP (to replace Open Transport) is better for
building Internet/intranet products."
Richard Diehl, CEO of Diehl Graphsoft, a maker of CAD software believes the
cuts make sense given Apple's new OS direction. "Both the Mac OS development
tools and Open Transport are technologies that Rhapsody will provide in
spades, so it makes sense to leave these to the third-parties." Diehl also
suggests that "Apple needs fewer technologies, but better ones. Look at
QuickTime and QuickDraw 3D. When I saw these technologies for the first time,
I said, 'Yes, I want to support that.' "
And Abacus' Feldman is "happy that Apple is emphasizing Java over OpenDoc.
This makes future product planning a great deal easier," he said.
However, other developers were less willing to see OpenDoc so casually cast
aside. "Java and ActiveX meet a customer need, but it's not the same need as
OpenDoc," said NisusWriter product manager Joe Kissel. "Java is designed to
let developers create applications, while OpenDoc lets users create their own
environments."
Kissel also voiced concerns about what Apple would give up in the move to
Java. "[In Java], there's no human interface, and the details are still being
worked out for drag and drop, and embedding. With Java Beans, either you have
what you need or you don't; there's no specific way for [users] to link parts."
Although Apple specified some of the discontinued software projects, several
developers said they were still fuzzy about how Apple will handle development
tools and hardware projects.
Chuck Berger, CEO of Radius, a maker of display and video hardware, states
that "the decision to let third parties handle development tools is an
excellent one as long as Apple provides the proper support and provides that
support in advance of new releases, so developers can have products running on
them at the time of release. The loss of superficial things like video
conferencing will go unnoticed and possibly open up opportunities for third
parties. As a card developer, it would be nice to see similiar announcements
about where Apple is headed on the hardware side."
In general, most developers agreed that that Apple's choices supported the
company's stated business and OS strategies.
Larry Zulch, CEO of Dantz Development, summed it up when he said, "The
products or technologies that will not receive further major attention by
Apple are either those that have proven of questionable or of no value, such
as OpenDoc, Cyberdog, and AIX servers, or they are mature enough that they
will carry on until Rhapsody renders them obsolete, such as Open Transport,
Mac OS Tools, and Game Sprockets."
Execution is Everything
All of the developers we contacted said they will continue to develop for the
Mac and that they believe Apple can still succeed. However, though most
developers are optimistic about Apple's plan, they are cautious about whether
Apple will follow through. "Our concern shifts from plan to implementation.
Apple must implement their plans with conviction, clarity, and focus," said
Zulch.
Abacus's Feldman captured the overall mood of developers regarding the
restructuring: "I am more optimistic that with these announcements Apple can
stabilize the company and stop the freefall that it is in. But the bottom line
is that now that they have articulated both a product and an OS strategy, they
need to execute the plan and not change course. This is difficult to do given
the immense pressure the organization is under.
"I hope that the press gives Apple some time to effectively execute their
plans. I hope that consumers will now have the confidence that the Macintosh
has a future and therefore not postpone hardware purchases. I hope that Apple
executes its plans. If these events happen, then developers will have
confidence that the Macintosh platform is here to stay and will continue to
develop innovative software for the Macintosh."
mac.2417madamov,
OpenDoc organization finds itself without a mission
CI Labs has announced that it was no longer receiving funding from its
sponsoring corporations (most notably, IBM and Apple), and that once the
distribution of remaining assets had been completed, the organization will
dissolve.
CI Labs is an independent consortium charged with testing and validation of
Live Objects, software components developed to work with the OpenDoc
architecture.
IBM and Apple recently independently announced plans to mothball OpenDoc and
support Java as a component software standard. Both companies said that they
would support current users of OpenDoc and release bug fixes, but that there
would be no further development on the architecture.
According to a CI Labs spokeswoman, the Live Objects testing suite would
probably remain available either from CI Labs or from either Apple or IBM.
It's unclear whether the anticipated second version of the test suite would be
released.
mac.2416madamov,
PowerBook 2400 set for June-July timeframe</B></FONT><P>
<a name = "Main Text"></a>
<FONT SIZE="+1">
Sources within Apple Computer today confirmed unofficial reports on the
details of the subnotebook it is codeveloping with IBM, code-named Comet, and
likely to be named the PowerBook 2400.
According to reports first published last week on http://ogrady.com/2400.html
O'Grady's PowerPage, the 2400 will weigh less than four pounds, run at 180MHz
and 200MHz clock speeds, come with 16MB RAM upgradable to 64MB, a 1.2GB to 3GB
drive, two Type II or one Type II PC cards, 256KB L2 cache, VGA video
connector, 800-by-600 VGA display resolution, and Lithium Ion battery. Unlike
the 3400, the reports say, graphics acceleration will not be available on the
2400.
The joint development project, first announced by CEO Gil Amelio at last
year's WorldWide Developer Conference (WWDC) should bear fruit in a Japanese
release set for May, with a U.S. announcement to follow in June or July.
Pricing is estimated at about $2500.
mac.2419madamov,
Amelio Won't Let Possible Apple Buyout Distract Him
In an interview published in the San Francisco Chronicle, Gil
Amelio (Chairman and CEO of Apple Computer Inc.) said "I just
cannot let this be a big distraction," and "I will not get into a
mode reacting to Larry Ellison."
The Chronicle said Amelio had said he doubted a bid was truly in
the offing, pledging to remain personally above the fray, but it
said Apple attorneys were dusting off its shareholder rights plan
just in case.
Steve Jobs says he has nothing to do with the bid of over $1
billion to take control of Apple and bring in a new line of
executive staff. However, Larry Ellison (leader of the investor
group that has plans to but out Apple and Oracle Corp CEO) has
said that if he were to take control of the company, Steve Jobs
would be part of the new board of high ranked executives.
Some analysts also said there was little incentive for investors
to agree to the deal so long as Ellison seemed determined not to
offer a price above current levels.
mac.2420madamov,
Apple Macintosh Performa: The End of an Era
The Apple Macintosh Performa has been considered by many as the
best personal computer Apple has produced since the original
modular Mac's. Since it was first introduced, the Performa meant
ease of use, easy set up and light on the wallet. The original
line of Performas was meant for educational purposes, but Apple
soon realized that the Performa was needed in the home market,
something that Apple had very little penetration in. At the time
of it's introduction to the home consumer, very little computer
systems were available from Apple, except models that few, if any,
could afford. That is where the Performa took it's place. From the
first model that was available to the home consumer, the Performa
meant that everyone could now afford a home personal computer, and
the bundled equipment that came with it, such as a monitor,
keyboard, mouse and a wealth of software, the Apple Performa could
compete with Windows Personal Computers in not only performance,
but finally in price as well. The original Performas were equipped
with Motorola's 68030 processor, and each new generation received
a much more powerful processor. The current generation of
Performas sport the latest generation of processors, called the
PowerPC. The first Performa to be equipped with the PowerPC was
the 6100 series Performas with a 601 60mhz PowerPC. For the first
time, home consumers could now purchase a PowerPC machine for
around $2000, which came with just about everything one could need
in one box. Today, these same Performas have a 200mhz 603e PowerPC
with a PCI bus, something that only up to about a year ago, meant
spending 3 times the amount for a comparable machine.
Recently with the introduction of the PowerPC 603 Performas, Apple
has further strengthened their share in the home market. However,
these first 603 and 603e Performas have been a much less desirable
system for many consumers, for since their introduction, they have
been plagued with numerous problems. At first, many of these
problems were publicized in the Macintosh Newsgroups on the
Internet, and many of these problems were very severe. After about
two months, it soon became apparent that these machines had a lot
in common, mostly in the lack of quality. Soon, many of these
early disgruntled owners decided to make a web page devoted to
these problems, and to put pressure on Apple to acknowledge them.
Owners on the Internet came in droves to the Performa Problems
Page, a web site devoted to tracking these problems, and providing
a voice form many. The Performa Problems Page contained all the
known problems, like frequent freezing, monitor hue changes,
serial port performance and even the simple fact that Apple's
newest networking standard, known as Open Transport, would not
work on these machines. The Performa Problems Page helped owners
join the PowerPC 603 Mailing List where owners form all four
corners of the world could exchange ideas, thoughts and help each
other with these problem plagued PowerPC Performas.
At first, Apple dismissed these problems, even after repeated
phone calls, letters and email messages to them. Apple basically
told these owners that they need to reinstall the software,
rebuild the desktop, zap the PRAM, reinstall the application
software, remove third party extensions etc., all of which failed
to resolve the long list of problems. Apple failed to realize that
not only were many of the owners new customers to these Performas,
many have had previous Apple Macintosh systems, and were very
familiar with troubleshooting software conflicts. After months of
complaining to Apple that there were severe problems with these
Performas, Apple finally announced the Apple Repair Extension
Program, which extended the standard one year warranty on Apple
products to seven, provided a logic board exchange that will
replace the logic board by an in-house repair call, and
replacement of the monitor cable on the all-in-one Performas. Many
owners felt victorious in the quest to get Apple to not only
acknowledge the problems, but to act upon it, providing a solution
to some very disturbing problems. However, the problems remained.
Next week: The problems continue for these little Performas.
You can research the problems of the Apple Macintosh Performa at
http://www.yetanother.com/performa/ on the Internet.
-Robert J. La Follette
mac.2418madamov,
Iomega Cuts Prices on Zip Drives
As of April 1st, The minimum advertised price of the Iomega Zip
Drive will drop from $199 to $149.
This price reduction applies to Iomega branded external SCSI and
parallel Zip drives and Iomega's internal SCSI Zip drive which
includes a Zip Zoom SCSI card. Outside the United States, new
price adjustments will be determined with Iomega's international
channel partners.
Iomega's Zip drives and 100MB Zip disks provide 70 times the
capacity of traditional floppy disks, giving consumers unlimited
capacity in 100MB increments, increased flexibility and a built-in
backup system. With speed fast enough to run applications and
multimedia, the Zip drive brings a new dimension of flexibility to
today's versatile Macintosh and Windows-based personal computers,
including powerful new MMX PCs.
Iomega's Zip drives and disks are available in more than 7,500
storefronts worldwide. The Zip drive is also offered by
top-selling PC vendors, including Apple, Compaq, Dell, Gateway,
Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Micron, Packard Bell, NEC, Power Computing
and Unisys.
Check out Iomega at: http://www.iomega.com.
mac.2421madamov,
Apple to Bundle Symantec's Norton Utilities with New Small Business Machines
Symantec Corporation today announced that the award-winning Norton
Utilities for Macintosh 3.2 will be bundled on Apple's new line of
Macintosh computers for the small business market. Norton
Utilities for Macintosh 3.2 will be included on the Small Business
Macintosh 6500/250 and 4400/200, scheduled to be released this
month.
Norton Utilities for Macintosh is the most advanced solution for
system and data protection and repair available for single and
networked Macintosh computers. The combination of the
market-leading Norton Utilities for Macintosh and the first
Macintosh computers made just for small businesses will give users
needed protection against lost or damaged files. Norton Utilities
for Macintosh will detect and prevent disk problems before
damaging data loss ever occurs, a painful threat for small
business owners.
The Apple Small Business Macintosh Series is designed specifically
for small and home-based business owners who need a computer that
is ready to use out of the box. The Series includes everything
necessary to create correspondence and marketing materials, manage
finances, send e-mail and faxes, access the Internet and more --
all without purchasing additional software or office hardware such
as fax machines or modems. Bundled with the industry-standard
business software, including Microsoft Office, these systems
provide users with comprehensive, powerful small business
solutions.
The Apple Small Business Macintosh 6500/250 will be available at
an estimated retail price of U.S. $2599, and the Apple Small
Business Macintosh 4400/200 will be available for an estimated
retail price of U.S. $1999. The Small Business Macintosh Series
will be available through retail channels as well as Distributors,
VARs, and resellers.
Visit Symantec's Home page for further information on Norton
Utilities, and visit Apple's home page for further information on
the new small business machines..
mac.2422madamov,
LARRY ELLISON FORMS INDEPENDENT INVESTOR GROUP TO EVALUATE APPLE ACQUISITION
Calls For Feedback on Internet Mailbox savapple@us.oracle.com
ATHERTON, Calif., March 27, 1997--In a front page story in this morning's
San Jose Mercury News, Lawrence J. Ellison confirmed his personal interest
in acquiring Apple Computer. The move, led by Ellison and an undisclosed
investor group, is independent of Oracle Corp., of which Ellison is chairman
and CEO, and Oracle's subsidiary, Network Computer, Inc. In his remarks to
the San Jose Mercury News, Ellison welcomed feedback from Apple employees,
customers and shareholders, and members of the computer industry at large.
To collect reactions to this prospective acquisition, an electronic mailbox
has been established at savapple@us.oracle.com Respondents are encouraged to
answer three questions listed below. Responses will be tabulated for private
consideration of the Ellison investor group.
1. Which of the following best describes you?
o Apple employee
o Apple customer
o Apple shareholder
o Apple reseller
o Apple software developer
o Independent or institutional investor
o Member of the computer industry
o Other (please respond in three words)
2. Can Apple benefit from new management?
o Yes (explanation optional)
o No (explanation optional)
3. Presuming the successful acquisition of Apple by the Ellison investor
group, what do you believe should be its single top priority?
4. Other comments are welcome.
This morning's San Jose Mercury News story can be accessed through the World
Wide Web at http://www.sjmercury.com/business/apple/ap032697.htm For more
information about Oracle, please call 415/506-7000. Oracle's World Wide Web
address is (URL) http://www. us.oracle.com/.
# # #
Trademarks:
Oracle is a registered trademark of Oracle Corporation. Oracle7 and Oracle
InterOffice are trademarks of Oracle Corporation. All other products or
company names mentioned are used for identification purposes only, and may
be trademarks of their respective owners.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright ę 1995, 1997 Oracle Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
mac.2423madamov,
AppleLink, 13, succumbs to Internet
By Stephen Howard (stephen_howard@macweek.com)
At 4 p.m. on March 31, Apple officially pulled the plug
on AppleLink. The online service was for many years the
communication backbone among Apple employees, dealers,
user groups and third-party developers. The Mac-only
system is survived by various apple.com Internet sites
and e-mail servers.
First launched in 1984, AppleLink pioneered graphical
user interfaces for online services. The program went
through several versions before retiring at 6.1 in 1991.
[Image]
--------------------------------------------------------
It's over: AppleLink closed down last week after 13
years of service.
--------------------------------------------------------
The service was developed and maintained for Apple by
General Electric's Information Services subsidiary,
GEISCO, of Rockville, Md. While Apple designed the
interface and provided the content, GEISCO controlled
the infrastructure and extracted usage fees. The fees
were also steep for outside users, peaking at $36 per
hour for 9.6-Kbps lines.
Apple tried switching several times to alternative mail
and conferencing systems, including CE Software Inc.'s
QuickMail, PowerTalk and SoftArc Inc.'s FirstClass.
However, it was the popularity of the Internet and Web
sites that finally allowed the company to de-Link.
mac.2424madamov,
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday, April 1, 1997 ß Page C1 ę1997 San Francisco Chronicle
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Click Here To Lower Your 1996 Taxes]
Parnassus Gets Rid of Entire Apple Stake
Jon Swartz, Chronicle Staff Writer
The San Francisco-based Parnassus Fund said yesterday it
sold its entire state of 340,000 shares in Apple Computer.
Jerome Dodson, the mutual fund's manager, said the decision
to dump the stock during the past two trading days was based
on Apple's ``slim'' chances for a turnaround.
-------------------------------------------------------------
More high-tech info at New Media News
-------------------------------------------------------------
``There are better ways to use our money,'' he said. ``We
still think they have good products, but under the current
management, we're not optimistic about its immediate
prospects over the next 12 months.''
And even if Larry Ellison were to take over Apple -- the
Oracle chief executive is mulling a bid -- ``we don't have a
lot of confidence in his ability to save the company,''
Dodson said.
Although Parnassus' investment represents only about 0.3
percent of Apple's 124.7 million shares outstanding,
industry watchers said it signals further unrest in the
investment community over the company's recent money-losing
financial performance.
``It's obviously a vote of no-confidence,'' said Kurt King,
an analyst at Montgomery Securities in San Francisco. ``It's
unusual to see a long-term holder liquidate in one fell
swoop.'' Apple had no comment.
Dodson said Parnassus bought the stock for about $37 per
share three years ago and sold it for $18.50 per share.
Apple shares dipped 38 cents yesterday to $18.25. For more
than a year, Dodson had been one of the only institutional
investors openly critical of Apple's management team.
But in February, the California Public Employees Retirement
System singled out Apple as one of America's 10 ``worst
financial underperformers.'' CalPERS, a state- employees
pension fund with $108 billion in assets -- owns 710,000
shares of Apple stock, about 0.6 percent of the total.
CalPERS officials are scheduled to meet Apple chief
executive Gil Amelio, Chief Financial Officer Fred Anderson
and other Apple executives today to discuss the company's
long-term strategy.
╩ [previous] Prev ╩ Next [articles]
╩ article in this section
Searches | The Gate News Page | The Gate Sports Page | Feedback | The Gate
ę The Chronicle Publishing Company
mac.2426madamov,
New Multimedia Presentation Shows off 20th Anniversary Macintosh
Capabilities
MediaX Corp. has produced a state-of-the-art multimedia
presentation that will show off the advanced and unique features
of the 20th Anniversary Edition Macintosh.
The presentation called the "Welcome Tour for the Twentieth
Anniversary Macintosh". The multimedia experience will feature
hundreds of megabytes of cutting edge animation, digital video,
interactive 3D graphics, original soundtrack and CD-quality audio.
MediaX feels it has developed a 3D, real time multimedia program
as innovative and leading edge as the Twentieth Anniversary
Macintosh itself.
Commenting on the prestigious Apple project, Nancy Poertner,
MediaX chief executive officer, said, "We share Apple's spirit of
innovation so keenly demonstrated in their Twentieth Anniversary
Macintosh. Showcasing our talent and technology on the world's
stage with the Twentieth Anniversary Macintosh introduction is an
important milestone for MediaX, and a great way to start 1997."
mac.2425madamov,
An Overview of Microsoft Office 97 for the Mac OS
Microsoft Office 97, designed for your Power Macintosh, will help you get
your job done in new and better ways with intelligent, integrated
applications that let you realize the full potential of the Internet or
your organization's intranet. Powerful new web technology will make it easy
to find the information you're looking for and freely share data and
documents in their native formats or HTML. With Office 97, it will be
possible to effectively and interactively collaborate with others to
quickly and easily get powerful, professional looking results.
Microsoft Office 97 for Power Macintosh will offer Microsoft Word 97,
Microsoft Excel 97 and Microsoft PowerPoint 97. At this point we are not
publicly discussing specific features of the product, but stay tuned for
more news as the product is planned to ship by the end of 1997. Find out
more about Office 97 at http://www.microsoft.com/office/
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date of Publication: December 20, 1996
The information contained in this document represents the current view of
Microsoft Corporation on the issues discussed as of the date of
publication. Because Microsoft must respond to changing market conditions,
it should not be interpreted to be a commitment on the part of Microsoft,
and Microsoft cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information presented
after the date of publication.
This document is for informational purposes only. MICROSOFT MAKES NO
WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN THIS DOCUMENT.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Top [ ]
[Microsoft Software for the Internet] ę 1997 Microsoft Corporation
All rights reserved.
mac.2427madamov,
[Image] New QuickTime on the way [Image]
[Image] By Alex Lash ╩ The Net ╩
March 28, 1997, 1 p.m. PT
[BackWeb speeds
[Menu bar] Apple Computer will unveil version three of ╩ push technology ╩
[Image]
[Image] its QuickTime multimedia software at the [DirectX
[IBM] National Association of Broadcasters ╩ challenges ╩
conference in Las Vegas on April 8.
QuickTime [Image]
[Menu bar]
3.0 will be the first QuickTime release to [MTV queues up
come out for the Macintosh and Windows 95/NT ╩ local content ╩
platforms simultaneously with the same [Image]
feature sets. [Disney only does
╩ Windows [Image] ╩
The main improvement in the new version is
the software's ability to handle foreign [Blue bloods
file formats, according to QuickTime product ╩ christen Web ╩
manager Mitchell Weinstock. Multimedia [Image]
development programs which support QuickTime ╩[IRS under online ╩
will be able to import non-QuickTime files, onslaught [Image]
add media types, and export the file as a [Disney does deal
QuickTime file or in its original format, ╩ with MSN [Image] ╩
Weinstock said.
╩ Computing ╩
The new release will also enable developers [IBM has designs
to create interactive special effects, in ╩ on set-top ╩
which the end user's cursor can cause [Image]
reactions within a movie, such as ripples ╩[Windows CE to ╩
across a water surface. Other features have talk NT [Image]
been included in the new underlying [Convergence spec
architecture but will need front-end viewers ╩ announced [Image]╩
built by third-party developers before they
become available to the end user, said ╩[Apple powers up ╩
Weinstock. Macs [Image]
[Line blurs
Apple will announce more details, including between
third-party support, on April 8. On that day ╩ workstations, PCs╩
Apple vice president Ellen Hancock will [Image]
deliver the keynote speech at the NAB [HP Netstations
conference. ╩ speak Java ╩
[Image]
The final version of QuickTime 3.0 will be ╩ Intranets ╩
available in May. [Rethinking Java
╩ ╩
[Image]
Meanwhile, Apple is shipping QuickTime VR [Netscape to plug
2.0 development tools to programmers this ╩ server, tool gap ╩
week. The tools, which help developers [Image]
create panoramic images, will add support [Merging for
for an open C++ programming interface and ╩ survival [Image] ╩
embedded QuickTime movies. The QuickTime VR
2.0 player should be ready within two weeks. ╩ Business ╩
Apple is also planning to update the [White Pine in
QuickTime plug-in with support for QuickTime ╩ stormy weather ╩
VR 2.0 by early June, said QuickTime VR [Image]
product manager Sean Safreed. ╩[Shiva stock hits ╩
the skids [Image]
╩related news stories [Autodesk settles
[IEllison still wants Apple Mar. 27, ╩ antitrust charge ╩
1997 [Image]
[AST must label
[IApple notebook lite en route Mar. ╩ used PCs [Image] ╩
25, 1997
[IMS wants OpenDoc developers Mar.
21, 1997
[IMacs ready for DVD by '98 Feb. 12,
1997
[IApple to name Rhapsody licensees
Feb. 11, 1997
╩
[Image] Copyright ę 1995-97 CNET, Inc. All rights
reserved.
mac.2429madamov,
[Image] [PeopleSoft]
[Image] [Category Business]
[Image] Readers cheer on Ellison [Image]
[Image] By Clair Whitmer
April 1, 1997, 12:30 p.m. PT ╩ The Net ╩
[Net pranksters
[Menu bar] ╩ fool with ╩
Go for it, Larry.
[Image] Explorer [Image]
[IBM] That's the message NEWS.COM readers [FTC cracks down
sent this week when asked whether ╩ on credit scams ╩
[Menu bar] Oracle's Larry Ellison should buy [Image]
Apple Computer. [No joke: Motley
╩ Fool on Web ╩
Ellison last week floated a "trial [Image]
balloon" in the press suggesting that [Making 56 kbps
he would gather a group of private ╩ two-way [Image] ╩
investors, pool their money, and make
a takeover bid for Apple. Ellison has [San Francisco
said many times that Apple would be ╩ hails Java ╩
better off if he and his friend Steve [Image]
Jobs booted out current management ╩ Computing ╩
and took over themselves. Last week's [Sun makes Java
report was only the latest iteration ╩ chip deals ╩
of that plan. [Image]
[Compaq wants PC
╩ on the TV [Image]╩
But this time even Jobs characterized
Ellison's plan as "bizarre," [533-MHz Mac chips
according to the original report in ╩ delayed [Image] ╩
the San Jose Mercury News.
[Final Cut won't
NEWS.COM readers disagree, [Image] ╩ ship till '98 ╩
according to the results of [Image]
our unscientific poll. In fact, 56 [Windows CE
percent of the 625 readers who ╩ toolbox out ╩
responded think Ellison should follow ╩ [Image]
through with his plan to buy Apple. [Creative gets
╩ ruling against ╩
The logic for many readers seems to Cyrix [Image]
be that Apple needs something or ╩ Intranets ╩
somebody, and Ellison would make as [Microsoft puts
good a white knight as anyone else. ╩ out more fires ╩
[Image]
A good portion of the other 44 [Email filters to
percent, however, think Ellison's ╩ stop leaks ╩
proposal is misguided because it [Image]
comes too late, because they believe ╩ Business ╩
in CEO Gil Amelio's turnaround plan, [CompuServe buyout
or because they think Ellison is an ╩ rumored [Image] ╩
egomaniac whose prime motivation is
getting more publicity for himself [Intel wins one,
and not concern for Apple's future. ╩ loses one on MMX ╩
[Image]
See the following pages for readers' ╩[Informix stuns ╩
explanations of their votes. analysts [Image]
[Fore reveals poor
Next Page ╩ sales [Image] ╩
[Floppies here to
╩ stay [Image] ╩
[SBC, Pac Tel
╩ merger a done ╩
deal [Image]
[Readers cheer on
╩ Ellison [Image] ╩
[Image] Copyright ę 1995-97 CNET, Inc. All rights reserved.
mac.2428madamov,
New Software Expands Macintosh Speech Recognition Features
A new release of Dragon PowerSecretary, the only speech
recognition dictation solution for the MAC OS, was announced today
by worldwide speech leader Dragon Systems, Inc.(r) of Newton, MA.
The new Version 2.0.7 is now compatible with most Macintosh
desktops and portables and delivers improved in recognition
accuracy at newly reduced prices.
Dragon PowerSecretary is offered in three editions. The Power
Edition is designed to work with any standard Macintosh
application as well as support custom software. The Power Edition
has a 60,000 word active vocabulary and offers an extensive
120,000 word integrated dictionary which covers a broad range of
topics, places and names.
Dragon PowerSecretary requires a 33 MHz 68040 Macintosh (Power
Macintosh recommended for best performance) with built-in sound
(660AV, 840AV, and 540 PowerBook). Dragon PowerSecretary requires
a minimum of 24MB of system RAM and 13MB of RAM for the
application itself (32MB of RAM is recommended when using multiple
applications). Hard disk storage requires a minimum of 25 MB for
the Power/Personal Editions, 40 MB for the MED Edition and 5 MB
for each additional user. A complete compatibility list is
available on the Dragon Systems web site: www.dragonsys.com.
The Personal Edition of Dragon PowerSecretary 2.0.7 is priced at
$395, the Power Edition at $695 and the MED Edition at $995.
Version 2.0.7 supports MAC OS Version 7.5 or greater. 68030 or
earlier Macintoshes are not supported. Minimum requirement is a
68040 with a Media Vision PAS 16 NuBus Sound card installed, or
with a 16-bit sound card.
mac.2431madamov,
---------------------------------------
PRODUCT AND TECHNOLOGY NEWS
---------------------------------------
[3] Hands-On Rhapsody Lab at WWDC
One of the best reasons to attend this year's Worldwide Developers
Conference (May 13 to 16, San Jose, California) is to learn about the
upcoming Rhapsody operating system and get hands-on access to it. In
addition to about 20 sessions covering various aspects of Rhapsody,
Apple will be hosting a Rhapsody Hands-On Lab.
At this lab, you'll have an opportunity to test the compatibility of
your current Mac OS applications, extensions, and control panels on a
very early version of Rhapsody's Mac OS Compatibility Environment,
called "Blue Box." This will not be the full Blue Box implementation,
but we expect that most software solutions that don't access hardware
will run. Any specific restrictions will be listed at the WWDC lab.
Bring your applications on floppy disk, CD-ROM, or an external SCSI hard
disk. Details on how to register for this lab will be available soon.
Your feedback and compatibility issues will help us make Rhapsody a
great product for you, Apple, and our customers.
In addition to an extensive Rhapsody track of sessions, WWDC will also
include tracks on the Mac OS, interactive media, Internet technologies,
and hardware--and youŇll get a chance to network with Apple people and
other developers.For more information, see the WWDC web site:
<http://devworld.apple.com/mkt/WWDC/index.html>
If you don't have web access, you can fax a request for information to
408-777-9610.
---------------------------------------
[4] First Rhapsody Developer FAQ Posted
Apple established the <rhapsody-dev-feedback@apple.com> address so you
can provide us with feedback on issues that you feel are critical for
the success of Rhapsody and your products. After looking at the issues
that developers have raised thus far, Rhapsody engineers have posted the
first Rhapsody Developer FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) list on the
Apple Developer World site at:
<http://devworld.apple.com/rhaptechfaq.html>
As more becomes known about Rhapsody, the development team will post an
updated version to the above web address. Apple Developer News will
alert you when a new version of the Rhapsody Developer FAQ becomes
available.
---------------------------------------
[5] Anniversary Macintosh Available to Developer Program Members
Apple has set aside a number of Twentieth Anniversary Macintosh
computers for purchase by members of the Apple Developer Program.
Ordering and pricing information will be sent to program members who
reside in the United States, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and
Japan as soon as it is available. To read more about this innovative
computer, which includes a television tuner, CD player, and Bose sound
system, see the following press release:
<http://product.info.apple.com/pr/press.releases/1997/q2/970319.pr.rel.m
ac.html>
---------------------------------------
[6] Mac OS Moves From Biannual to Annual Major Releases
As a result of Apple's restructuring, the company has changed its
delivery schedule for Mac OS releases in 1998. Instead of issuing two
major annual releases, code-named "Allegro" and "Sonata," Apple will
release only one, Allegro, in mid-1998. To make the latest system
improvements readily available, Apple will ship two minor system updates
(instead of one) between Mac OS 8 and Allegro. Rhapsody's anticipated
ship date remains unchanged: the Rhapsody Developer Release is due in
mid-1997, Rhapsody Premier Release is due in early 1998, and the
Rhapsody Unified Release is due in mid-1998.
---------------------------------------
[7] Claris Home Page Named Best Web Authoring Tool
Claris Home Page beat out major competitors, Front Page (Microsoft) and
PageMill (Adobe), to win the NetGuide Award for Best Web Authoring Tool.
The first annual NetGuide Awards, presented by NetGuide magazine earlier
this month at Spring Internet World in Los Angeles, "honor the most
innovative and interesting Internet products and Web sites worldwide,"
according to NetGuide magazine.
Designed for novice-to-expert web page authors, Claris Home Page 2.0
lets users design and develop customized Web pages in minutes--without
having to learn HTML. Claris Home Page 2.0 is available for Windows 95,
Windows NT, and the Mac OS. To read the complete press release, visit
the Claris web site:
<http://www.claris.com/news/docs/rel-netguide-c.html>
---------------------------------------
[8] Information Week's Article on the Mac OS Platform
Rich Levin of Information Week just published a thoughtful article,
"Confessions of a Computer Atheist: Why It Pays to Keep an Open Mind
About Platforms," that provides a strong vote of confidence for using
Mac OS computers in corporate intranet applications.
In this article, Levin says, "If Apple can meet their delivery
schedules, and deliver their next-generation operating system in 1998 as
promised, the platform is as worthy of enterprise IT [information
technology] consideration as any other alternative, net-centric, Java-
based computing platform. In fact, it's more worthy, because over 25
million Macintosh computers boot up every day, compared to a handful of
darn-near-prototype NCs."
To read the complete article (in the March 24, 1997, issue), visit this
web site:
<http://techweb.cmp.com/iw/author/runtime.htm>
mac.2430madamov,
Date: Wed, 2 Apr 97 19:59:33 -0000
From: EvangeList <evangelist@apple.com>
To: "Macway" <macway@solutions.apple.com>
Subject: Tidbit - BYTE Review of Web Store Front Software
Message-ID: <199704030400.UAA07714@scv2.apple.com>
Keyword: Market by market, Internet
This tidbit is from:
Brickwell, Jim, <jbrickwell@acius.com>
For those who are interested in all-inclusive Web storefront software for
the Mac, there is an interesting article in the April issue of BYTE
magazine. Of the three products reviewed, only one product, iCat's
Electronic Commerce Suite 2.1.2, runs on the Mac. According to the
article, the iCat package simplifies Web, CD-ROM, and catalog publishing
using ACI US, Inc.'s 4th Dimension database engine. The article further
states that iCat is the only product reviewed that supports the creation
of CD-ROM as well as Internet based catalogs. The article praises iCat's
lower price saying, "iCat's Electronic Commerce Suite has plenty to offer
beyond its lower cost."
For more in-depth details, turn to page 136 of the April 1997 issue of
BYTE and read the Lab Report's "Hanging Out an Internet Shingle."
For more information on iCat Electronic Commerce Suite 2.1.2, contact
iCat Corporation, Seattle, WA; (206) 623-0977; <http://www.icat.com>.
For more information on ACI US, Inc.'s 4th Dimension, contact ACI US,
Inc., Cupertino, CA; (408) 252-4444; <http://www.acius.com>.
________________
Do you believe in Macintosh? Please check out:
<http://www.evangelist.macaddict.com/>
Join the EvangeList mailing list by sending an email to:
<evangelist@macway.com>.
Please send messages that you'd like us to consider for posting to:
<evangelist@apple.com>
mac.2432madamov,
---------------------------------------
WEB-BYTES--Pointers to More News and Software
---------------------------------------
--> A High-Tech Marketing Discussion Group
Bill Meade, an assistant professor of Marketing at the University of
Missouri, is launching an online discussion on Geoffrey Moore's approach
to high-tech marketing. Moore's books, "Crossing the Chasm" and "Inside
the Tornado," help companies understand and take advantage of technology
adoption life cycles. (Moore has also written several excellent Apple
Directions articles in the past.) To sign on to the list, send an e-mail
message to <listserv@umslvma.umsl.edu> with no subject and a one-line
message body that says
subscribe crosschs first-name last-name
Objectives of the list are discussed at
<http://www.umsl.edu/~sbmeade/crosschs.html>
If you have trouble signing on, contact Bill Meade at
<sbmeade@umslvma.umsl.edu> or 314-521-0396.
--> More Mac OS User Classified Ads
ClassMac Classified Ads is a web site designed to give Mac OS users a
place to buy and sell anything Macintosh-related. You can place a
ClassMac Free Ad, which allows anyone to have a "For Sale" or "Wanted"
ad. You can also place a ClassMac Deluxe Ad for U.S.$ 20, which buys you
a 60-day listing, a banner ad, and other special features. Mention
"EvangeList" or "MacWay Digest" in the "Comments or questions about
ClassMac" area when you place the ad, and ClassMac will knock U.S.$ 5
off the ad fee. To place an ad, visit the ClassMac web site:
<http://members.aol.com/classmac>
--> A Cool Mac OS Chat Application
To get some ideas on incorporating live chat capabilities into your
customer support services or programs, check out this beta chat software
>from Excite. This new product, called Talk!, delivers "chat"
capabilities free from the limitations of traditional chat rooms. With
Virtual Places, any web site is now a live chat site where content is no
longer separate from discussion. It includes advanced features such as
avatars and gestures, buddy lists, auditoriums, and tours.
To check it out, visit this web site:
<http://talk.excite.com>
Or you can go directly to the download page:
<http://talk.excite.com/go.webx?98@^86677@chat/download.html>
--> Another Mac OS Evangelism Site
MacKiDo Temple is a new Mac Evangelism site (with attitude and humor)
that includes a well-organized listing of Macintosh myth rebuttals, news
analysis, and reviews.
<http://www.MacKiDo.com/>
--> Corrected Site Address for MacinStuff Times
Here's the home page address (URL) for the MacinStuff Times web site,
which we described last week:
<http://www.informedusa.com/t/mactimes.html>
mac.2433madamov,
[Image] 533-MHz Mac chips delayed [Image]
[Image] By Jim Davis ╩ The Net ╩
April 1, 1997, 4:30 p.m. PT
[INet pranksters
[Menu bar] Exponential Technology will delay shipment of ╩ fool with ╩
Explorer [Image]
[Image] its 533-MHz processor for high-end Mac OS
[IBM] systems as IBM (IBM) and Motorola (MOT) [IFTC cracks down
prepare to deliver a new generation of faster ╩ on credit scams ╩
[Menu bar] PowerPC processors. [Image]
[INo joke: Motley
Exponential says that it now expects to ship ╩ Fool on Web ╩
the 533-MHz X704 in the third quarter of this [Image]
year, providing an opportunity for IBM and [IMaking 56 kbps
Motorola to close some of the performance gap ╩ two-way [Image] ╩
with Exponential.
[ISan Francisco
Its X704 processor is a PowerPC-compatible ╩ hails Java ╩
chip designed for processor-intensive [Image]
applications including desktop publishing, ╩ Computing ╩
multimedia authoring, and image processing. [ISun makes Java
The 533-MHz chip was originally slated for ╩ chip deals ╩
release by July. [Image]
[ICompaq wants PC
╩ on the TV [Image]╩
The company will ship chips in the second
quarter at clock speeds ranging from 400 to [I533-MHz Mac chips
450 MHz, according to Joe Barta, ╩ delayed [Image] ╩
Exponential's marketing manager.
[IFinal Cut won't
Meanwhile, Motorola has stated that the ╩ ship till '98 ╩
next-generation PowerPC processor, for use in [Image]
desktop and notebook computers, will [IWindows CE
initially run at 250 MHz and could eventually ╩ toolbox out ╩
reach speeds of up to 400 MHz, taking some [Image]
the wind out of Exponential's sails. [ICreative gets
╩ ruling against ╩
The delay, although not unusual, also comes Cyrix [Image]
at a time when Apple Computer (AAPL) is ╩ Intranets ╩
reevaluating its investment in a number of [IMicrosoft puts
future technologies. Apple is an investor in ╩ out more fires ╩
Exponential, as is Mac clone maker Umax [Image]
Computer, among others. [IEmail filters to
╩ stop leaks ╩
Apple has reportedly reconsidered its use of [Image]
Exponential's technology, but has recently ╩ Business ╩
reaffirmed its commitment to use the [ICompuServe buyout
processors in upcoming, unannounced ╩ rumored [Image] ╩
computers, according to sources close to the
project. [IIntel wins one,
╩ loses one on MMX ╩
Current Mac hardware limits the overall [Image]
performance of these souped-up processors, [IInformix stuns ╩
however. In the case of the X704, processing analysts [Image]
power is essentially confined to the special [IFore reveals poor
circuit board that contains the processor. If ╩ sales [Image] ╩
the processor needs to go out to the system
to get data, then data only flows back at the [IFloppies here to ╩
clock speed of the system bus. The speeds at stay [Image]
which the processor talks to the rest of the [ISBC, Pac Tel
system have been limited to 50 MHz in most ╩ merger a done ╩
Apple systems. deal [Image]
System manufacturers say they are looking [IReaders cheer on ╩
forward to new hardware designs which will Ellison [Image]
allow bus speeds of 75 MHz to 80 MHz by the
third quarter.
mac.2434vdjole,
-> #2399, madamov>> i ti DSP mogu da emuliraju modem? Kojom brzinom?
> Koliko znam, standardne brzine su podržane (28.8 i 14.4), nisam se mnogo
> zanimao za to. Naravno, potreban je i GeoPort adapter da bi se povezao na
> telefonsku liniju.
1. Da li sam dobro razumeo jednu raniju poruku da svi Mekovi sa PPC mogu
da emuliraju modem na bazi grube (procesorske) sile.
2. Šta je TAČNO GeoPort interfejs? Koliko shvatam reč je o, u suštini,
analognom I/O kanalu? Za kakve sve namene može da se prilagodi (znam za
telefon i standardni serijski interfejs) i da li su za svaku od njih
potrebni posebni GeoPort adapteri ili jedna vrsta adaptera obavlja sve?
3. Kako se izvodi povezivanje periferija (tj. štampača) sa paralelnim
interfejsom- video sam da postoje neke skalamerije koje to omogućavaju.
Da li je tu takođe u igri GeoPort + adapter?
mac.2435madamov,
-> #2434, vdjole> 1. Da li sam dobro razumeo jednu raniju poruku da svi Mekovi sa PPC mogu
> da emuliraju modem na bazi grube (procesorske) sile.
Da, uz GeoPort adapter i GeoPort softver.
> 2. Šta je TAČNO GeoPort interfejs?
GeoPort je novi tip veoma brzog serijskog porta, a GeoPort sistem se sastoji
iz nekoliko delova: GeoPort hardvera ugrađenog u sistem, spoljašnjeg GeoPort
adaptera i neophodnog softvera kojim se pristupa adapteru. GeoPOrt serijski
port izgleda isto kao standardni Macov mini DIN-8 konektor, samo što ima 9
pinova umesto osam kojim se dovodi napajanje do GeoPort adaptera. Port je
potpuno kompatibilan sa običnim Mac serijskim portovima, tako da svi stari
uređaji rade. Kada radi kao običan serisjki port onda podržava standardne
mogućnosti serijskog porta na Macu, uključujući i LocalTalk, ali kada je na
njega prikačen GeoPort adapter onda radi na brzini od 2 megabita u sekundi.
> 3. Kako se izvodi povezivanje periferija (tj. štampača) sa paralelnim
> interfejsom- video sam da postoje neke skalamerije koje to omogućavaju.
> Da li je tu takođe u igri GeoPort + adapter?
Ne, to nema veze sa GeoPortom. Mac nema paralelni interfejs, pa se uređaji sa
takvim interfejsom moraju povezavita na Maca korišćenjem neke vrste
paralelno-serijskog konvertera. Najpoznatiji i najpopularniji proizvod za ovu
namenu je PowerPrint koji, pored neophodnog hardvera, dolazi sa drajverima za
praktično svaki ikada porizveden štampač.
mac.2437madamov,
Date: Fri, 4 Apr 97 15:07:43 -0000
From: EvangeList <evangelist@apple.com>
To: "Macway" <macway@solutions.apple.com>
Subject: Tidbit - Mac Takes Top Honors in Scientific Computing and Automation
Magazine
Message-ID: <199704042308.PAA11826@scv2.apple.com>
This tidbit is from:
Carl Strohmenger (HSC), <cstrohme@com1.med.usf.edu>
The March 1997 issue of Scientific Computing and Automation magazine
contains the 6th Annual Reader's Choice Awards starting on page 15. In
the Desktop PC category (see page 28) the Apple Power Macintosh computers
were chosen by readers over runners-up Compaq and Dell. The ballot was
run in 2 issues last fall, and "criteria for selection included value for
price, technical support, ease of use, quality and reliability."
________________
Do you believe in Macintosh? Please check out:
<http://www.evangelist.macaddict.com/>
Join the EvangeList mailing list by sending an email to:
<evangelist@macway.com>.
Please send messages that you'd like us to consider for posting to:
<evangelist@apple.com>
mac.2436madamov,
Date: Fri, 4 Apr 97 15:07:37 -0000
From: EvangeList <evangelist@apple.com>
To: "Macway" <macway@solutions.apple.com>
Subject: Danny Goodman on Microsoft "Improvements"
Message-ID: <199704042308.PAA18154@scv2.apple.com>
This tidbit is from:
Payton Fletcher, <pfletch@fedex.com>
Danny Goodman's page <http://www.dannyg.com/onmymind.html> lets you
relive the "emergence" of Windows 95 from the viewpoint of someone who is
admitedly biOSual and has been making keen observations on the subject
over the last couple of years. Danny doesn't mind slinging a few pointed
comments at Apple (who does) but the sum total is clearly on the right
side.
Here is his last entry:
In the March 24, 1997 issue of PCWeek, columnist Eamonn Sullivan makes
the following statement:
"Microsoft also has a talent for taking ideas from elsewhere and making
them much easier to use..."
As someone who watched for so long as Microsoft failed to steal the best
stuff from the Macintosh user interface, I have to wonder about this
contention. Consider the following parallels:
Macintosh - Windows 95
Finder - Windows Explorer
File Sharing - Network Neighborhood
Floppy Disks - A complete disaster
File Type & Creator - File name extensions
Not that the Mac does everything better than Windows (give my keyboard
context switching, please), but in my long experience (definitely short
on Unix time), I don't see much evidence to support the column's
statement.
------
Drop by and look at his site - and pick up some free Java goodies while
you're at it!
________________
Do you believe in Macintosh? Please check out:
<http://www.evangelist.macaddict.com/>
Join the EvangeList mailing list by sending an email to:
<evangelist@macway.com>.
Please send messages that you'd like us to consider for posting to:
<evangelist@apple.com>
mac.2439madamov,
Customers Able To Run MS-DOS and Windows Applications On Macs
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla.--April 4, 1997--Strengthening its cross-platform
compatibility solutions, Apple Computer, Inc. today introduced two PC
compatible computers--the Power Macintosh 7300/180, with a 180MHz PowerPC
604e RISC processor and a 166MHz Intel Pentium processor; and the Power
Macintosh 4400/200, with a 200MHz PowerPC 603e RISC processor and a Cyrix
PR166 6x86 processor. These solutions are primarily targeted to business
and education customers who want the power and ease-of-use of a Macintosh
computer but also need Windows compatibility. The 166 MHz Intel Pentium
processor PCI card is also available as an upgrade card, allowing
PCI-based Power Macintosh computers to run MS-DOS and Windows
applications.
Because the PowerPC processors in the new PC Compatible 7300/180 and
4400/200 Power Macintosh systems work independently from the Pentium or
Cyrix processors on the 12" PC Compatibility Cards, customers can run
Macintosh and DOS/Windows applications concurrently and instantly switch
between Mac OS and DOS/Windows environments. Data can also be cut and
pasted between environments. In addition to standard Macintosh networking
capabilities, Power Macintosh systems installed with the PC Compatibility
Card support MS-DOS and Windows networking applications and services
using Novell NetWare IPX/SPX, TCP/IP, and NETBEUI protocols over the
built-in Ethernet network connection. The cards provide fast multimedia
and application performance through the high-resolution accelerated
graphics ATI Video as well as on-board Sound Blaster 16 support for
high-fidelity audio output.
In addition to today's announcements, Apple will also offer a new PCI
card for about U.S. $100 called the Apple PC Serial and Parallel Card,
that features both a RS-232 and a bidirectional ECP parallel port. This
card allows customers to hook up legacy IBM compatible or PC system
peripherals to a PC Compatibility Card. The new PCI card is scheduled to
be available in June 1997. U.S. pricing and availability may vary.
Configurations, Availability and Estimated U.S. Pricing The PC
Compatibility Upgrade card is scheduled to be available in early
April,1997 and the Power Macintosh 7300/180 and 4400/200 systems bundled
with PC Compatibility Cards are scheduled to be available in volume by
the end of May, 1997. PC Compatibility Cards for regions outside the U.S.
are scheduled to be available beginning in May, 1997. Pricing--based on
estimated U.S. retail prices--and availability of cards and systems may
vary.
Power Macintosh 7300/180 PC Compatible: U.S. $3,200 180MHz PowerPC
604e/12" PCI card - 166MHz Intel Pentium 32MB RAM on Power Macintosh;
16MB RAM on PC Compatible Card 2GB/256K Level 2 cache/2MB VRAM/1280x1024
(75 Hz)/PC Game Port 12x-speed CD-ROM/Ethernet Software: Windows 95, Mac
OS 7.6.1
Power Macintosh 4400/200 PC Compatible: U.S. $2,400 200MHz PowerPC
603e/12" PCI card - Cyrix P166 6x86 processor 32MB RAM on Power
Macintosh; 16MB RAM on PC Compatibility Card 2GB/256K Level 2 cache/1MB
VRAM/1024x768 (75 Hz)/PC Game Port 12x-speed CD-ROM/Ethernet Software:
Windows 95, Mac OS 7.6.1
PC Compatibility Card - Upgrade Card U.S. $1,000 12" PCI card - 166MHz
Intel Pentium 16MB EDO/FP RAM 256K Level 2 cache/2MB VRAM/1280x1024 (75
Hz)/PC Game Port Software: DOS 6.22
*Estimated U.S. retail prices may vary, check with local dealers.
mac.2438madamov,
Apple Introduces First 300 Megahertz Desktop Computer
Simplifies Desktop Line Under Power Macintosh Brand
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla.--April 4, 1997--Apple Computer, Inc. is bringing
unprecedented speed to the home desktop with today's announcement of the
Apple Power Macintosh 6500/300--the first 300 megahertz system available
today. Following less than two months after Apple introduced the fastest
laptop computer currently available, the new Power Macintosh 6500 line
gives customers a choice of systems ranging in speeds from 225 to 300
megahertz, all with accelerated multimedia features; built-in Internet
access capabilities; and, advanced video capture, edit and publishing
options. The announcement reflects Apple's drive toward a simplified
desktop line under the strength of the Power Macintosh brand. "The
introduction of the first 300 megahertz personal computers should be
viewed as a sign that Apple is one hundred percent committed to providing
individuals with the most powerful multimedia systems for home, small
business, and education," said Guerrino de Luca, Apple's executive vice
president of Marketing. "Our new Power Macintosh 6500 series matches
world class power with the competitive prices that consumers expect."
Aggressively priced in the United States from around U.S. $2,000 for the
Power Macintosh 6500/225 to around U.S. $3,000 for the top-of-the-line
Power Macintosh 6500/300, the new series is designed to run Mac OS 7.6,
the upcoming Mac OS 8, as well as Apple's next-generation Macintosh
system software--code named Rhapsody.
The unveiling of the Power Macintosh 6500 series is marked by the
kick-off of a three-day "Multimedia Discovery" technology fair at Walt
Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Co-hosted by Apple and Disney, the
fair showcases the power and fun of multimedia with performance and
capabilities that only the Macintosh can deliver. From playing the
hottest 3D accelerated games for the Macintosh, to exploring video
conferencing as a way for students to solve typical school homework
problems, the technology fair offers interactive and engaging multimedia
activities at the Epcot Theme Park along with special media creativity
workshops being held at Apple's existing exhibit at Innoventions. All
activities are planned to take place from April 4 through 6 and are
designed to provide Disney guests the opportunity to discover the dynamic
world of multimedia using leading-edge Apple technology.
Power Macintosh Systems Equipped With New Motorola PowerPC Chip The new
Power Macintosh 6500 series significantly enhances performance in areas
such as media capture, creation, editing and publishing, 2D and 3D
graphics and processor speed for home, small business and education
customers. Based on in-house tests running real applications, the new
Power Macintosh systems complete tasks up to twice the speed of Pentium
processors with MMX technology running at 200 megahertz. A user's actual
performance may vary depending on what tasks they are performing.
Performance, User Experience, Connectivity, Compatibility, Industrial
Design All Part Of The Power Macintosh Experience The Power Macintosh
6500 mini-tower systems are equipped with powerful integrated hardware
and software components. Each come with a minimum 256K level 2 cache,
with 512K standard on the 6500/275 and 6500/300 systems; 32MB to 64MB of
RAM (expandable to 128MB); a 3GB or 4GB hard drive; 16-bit CD-quality
stereo sound with SRS surround sound and integrated dual-mode subwoofer;
and, Iomega Zip drives are standard in three models allowing customers to
easily transfer large files, backup critical applications and expand
storage capacity. The ATI RAGE II graphics acceleration chip provides Mac
customers with video and graphics performance previously seen only in
high-end systems. The 6500 series' advanced multimedia functionality
includes accelerated QuickTime and QuickTime MPEG for impressive full
screen, full motion movie playback; accelerated QuickDraw and QuickDraw
3D for fast, fluid handling of complex 2D and 3D graphics; and,
accelerated video capture for video editing, Internet video conferencing,
and, general purpose image input.
Other standard features include 2MB of video RAM to support millions of
colors on 17" monitors, built-in 12x-speed CD-ROM drive, a built-in
33.6kps modem for fast "single-click" connectivity to the Internet and
advanced telephony capabilities such as digital voicemail and
send/receive faxing. Each system also comes with keyboard, mouse and
high-quality software bundles. Monitors are sold separately.
Configurations, Availability and Estimated U.S. Retail Pricing The Power
Macintosh 6500 series comes in five configurations to meet the diverse
price-performance and feature needs of home, small business and education
customers. Additionally, each system comes with an array of powerful,
high-quality applications and CD-ROMs. [Note to Editors: for a detailed
list of preinstalled software/CD-ROM titles on each system, please refer
to apple.com.]
The Power Macintosh 6500/300 and Power Macintosh 6500/275 systems are
planned to be available in limited quantities later this spring. The
Power Macintosh 6500/225 and 6500/250 models are scheduled to be
available immediately. Pricing, configurations, product availability, and
software bundles vary.
Power Macintosh 6500/300: U.S. $3,000 300MHz/64MB RAM/4GB hard
drive/12x-speed CD-ROM drive/Iomega Zip drive/33.6kps modem/L2-512 cache
Software/CD-ROMs included: Home bundle featuring personal productivity,
learning/reference, games/entertainment and Internet titles such as Adobe
Photo Deluxe, ClarisWorks 4.0 and Quicken SE by Intuit.
Power Macintosh 6500/275:
U.S. $3,000 275MHz/32MB RAM/4GB hard drive/12x-speed CD-ROM drive/33.6kps
modem/L2-512 cache/Avid Cinema/Apple Video System/Apple TV/FM Radio
System Software/hardware/CD-ROMs included: Creative Studio bundle
featuring everything creative individuals need to capture, create, edit
and publish video, music/audio, 3D graphics, art, photos and Internet
content--from Adobe PageMill 2.0 to Microspot 3D World for 3D creation.
Power Macintosh 6500/250:
U.S. $2,600 250MHz/48MB RAM/4GB hard drive/12x-speed CD-ROM drive/Iomega
Zip drive/33.6kps modem/L2-256 cache Software/CD-ROMS included: Small
Business bundle featuring presentation, Internet access, and finance,
productivity and business management titles such as the newly enhanced
Microsoft Office for Macintosh and Symantec's Norton Utilities.
Power Macintosh 6500/250: U.S. $2,300 250MHz/32MB RAM/4GB hard
drive/12x-speed CD-ROM drive/Iomega Zip drive/33.6kps modem/L2-256 cache
Software/CD-ROMs included: Home software bundle.
Power Macintosh 6500/225: U.S. $2,000 225MHz/32MB RAM/3GB hard
drive/12x-speed CD-ROM drive/33.6kps modem/L2-256 cache Software/CD-ROMs
included: Home software bundle.
All pricing listed represents estimated U.S. retail prices, and may vary.
mac.2440vdjole,
-> #2435, madamov> GeoPort
A kako se to izvodi direktno povezivanje adaptera sa telefonskom linijom
tj. kako se dobija "analogni" signal? Da li adapter radi neku vrstu D/A
konverzije ili se analogni signal imitira nekakvom pulse-width modulacijom
oslanjajući se na niski propusni opseg telefonske linije, ili interfejs
iz principa omogućava različite nivoe sinala, ili... ?
mac.2441askripka,
Ja izgleda nemam pametnija posla nego da na internetu tragam za
emulatorima. Izgleda da se stare ljubavi teško zaboravljaju.
Elem... Pronađoh nešto zanimljivo: Sinclair QL emulator!!!
Shareware... Radi fantastično... S obzirom na mogućnosti QL-a u
odnosu na Spectruma, C64 ili CPC6126, mislim da je prava stvar.
Iskreno, oduševljen sam! :))
E sad ide 'The Dark Side' :))
Autor je, da bi 'zaštitio' shareware i naterao ljude da plate
smislio ovo: isporučuje u paketu 2 verzije emulatora... prvu, koja
ima SVE opcije, pa možete pogledati mogućnosti, ali je veštački
usporena na 30% brzine QL-a, i drugu verziju koja radi kako treba
(što se brzine tiče) ali nema sve mogućnosti.
Ako ima zainteresovanih, vičite...
Dobro bi došla informacija oko internet adrese gde mogu da se nađu
igrice za QL-a... Video sam snapshot (ekrana :)) ) sa PsiChess-om i
LunarJetMan-om... izgleda sjajno... barem 5 puta bolje nego
Spectrum...
Samo da najavim uskoro i Amiga emulator za Mac-a... Ali o tome
drugi put :)))
mac.2442madamov,
Novo u direktorijumu:
mac\comm\*.*
------------------
emeff11.sit 267k ű Email Effects 1.1 ASCII crtanje u E-Mail porukama
mac\internet\*.*
------------------
fetch303.sit 701k ű Fetch 3.0.3 FTP klijent, nastavlja prenos po prekidu
mac\system\*.*
------------------
aaron16.sit 159k ű Aaron 1.6 INIT koji Mac OS-u daje izgled Coplanda
mac\utils\*.*
------------------
easyer12.sit 57k ű Easy Errors 1.2 spisak kodova grešaka
fbud401.sit 291k ű File Buddy 4.0.1 menja tip, kreator i dr. atribute fajla
mac.2443madamov,
-> #2440, vdjole> Da li adapter radi neku vrstu D/A konverzije ili se analogni signal
Ukratko, odgovor je da, ali detalje ne znam. Dakle, adapter je zadužen za
konverziju analognog signala u digitalni, i obrnuto.
mac.2444madamov,
-> #2441, askripka> Ja izgleda nemam pametnija posla nego da na internetu tragam za
> emulatorima.
Kad već pominješ emulatore, evo jednog interesantnog sajta:
http://www.cs.csubak.edu/~jstiles/emulator/
Nisam bio odavno, valjda još radi, koliko se sećam tu je spisak svih emulatora
raspoloživih za Macintosh platformu.
mac.2445ljubisha,
-> #2441, askripka> Dobro bi došla informacija oko internet adrese gde mogu da se nađu
> igrice za QL-a... Video sam snapshot (ekrana :)) ) sa PsiChess-om i
> LunarJetMan-om... izgleda sjajno... barem 5 puta bolje nego
> Spectrum...
Ako smem da predložim jednu adresu za koju sam 90% siguran da ima
programe za QL-a? Spectrum.com. :)
> Samo da najavim uskoro i Amiga emulator za Mac-a... Ali o tome
> drugi put :)))
Darko je skinuo Comodor emulator i probao par igrica ali mu se koče
posle demoa. Nisam ga pitao dokle je stigao sa probama.
mac.2447madamov,
-> #2446, askripka> I da znate da čekam vaše komentare...
Čekam i ja ne bih li alarmirao file moderatora da QL emulator prebaci u
direktorijum.
mac.2448askripka,
-> #2447, madamov=- > I da znate da čekam vaše komentare...
=-
=- Čekam i ja ne bih li alarmirao file moderatora da QL emulator
=- prebaci u direktorijum.
A ti samo čekaš??? Nemaš komentar???
Ma znam ja... ne znaš da ga startuješ :)))
btw... može li neko (ala mi ovo 'neko' zvuči ipak vrlo određujuće)
da navede TAČNU razliku između 603 i 603e čipa, kao i između 604 i
604e?
Konkretno, PowerComputingov PowerCenter 150 ima 604 na 150 (dakle,
nema onog 'e'). U čemu je kvaka?
Molio bih što precizniji, detaljniji i konkretniji odgovor...
mac.2449madamov,
-> #2448, askripka> A ti samo čekaš??? Nemaš komentar???
Što se mene tiče, može i bez komentara u direktorijum. B) Još da mi je neki
program za QL-a pa da probam kako radi. B)
> btw... može li neko (ala mi ovo 'neko' zvuči ipak vrlo određujuće)
> da navede TAČNU razliku između 603 i 603e čipa, kao i između 604 i
> 604e?
Tačnu ne znam, osim da je brži, moderniji, a 603e u odnosu na 603 troši i
manje struje. Ako je baš bitno, probaj nešto da iskopaš na IBM-ovom ili
Motorolinom sajtu, najvažnije je da e varijante, praktično, zamenjuju obične.
mac.2453madamov,
Move by Parnassus Fund shows lack of confidence</B></FONT>
Apple Computer is facing increased dissatisfaction from its shareholders as
Parnassus Fund, a San Francisco-based mutual fund company, sold every one of
its 340,000 shares.
Meanwhile, CalPERS, the California Public Employees Retirement System, Apple's
largest single shareholder with some 710,000 shares, cancelled its
long-awaited meeting with CEO Gil Amelio and CFO Fred Anderson due to travel
considerations. Before rating Apple among this country's "worst financial
underperformers," CalPERS had requested a meeting with Apple to discuss its
long-term strategy. The meeting, which was to happen today, has not yet been
rescheduled but probably won't happen for another two to three weeks, a
CalPERS spokesman said.
While Parnassus's stake in Apple represented only about 0.3 percent of Apple
shares, the liquidation of its entire investment shows a lack of confidence
in Apple's turnaround power, particularly since it follows Apple's March 14
reorganization.
mac.2451madamov,
Apple's Mac OS First to Support FireWire Standard
NAB, LAS VEGAS--April 7, 1997--Apple Computer, Inc., a leader in the
multimedia/digital video arena, today became the first computer vendor to
provide operating-system support for FireWire. The Company announced
availability of a software extension to the Mac OS that developers can use to
create solutions for connecting FireWire-enabled peripherals to Apple Power
Macintosh and other Mac OS-compatible computers. FireWire
technology--developed by Apple and approved as the IEEE 1394 high-performance
serial bus standard--enables fast, easy, and economical transfer of digital
information between a personal computer and peripheral devices, such as
digital video camcorders.
Developers can use the FireWire 1.0 application program interface (API) along
with their own software, and a FireWire PCI card and cable, to offer customers
a complete solution for connecting high-speed peripherals to the computer.
Companies such as miro, Digital Processing Systems, and Radius have announced
solutions that allow a Power Macintosh computer to work directly with a Sony
or a Panasonic DV camcorder using the FireWire interface. Customers can use
these solutions for non-linear video editing or still-image capture of
DV-format data. Other companies, such as Adaptec and Texas Instruments have
announced products for development of FireWire solutions.
"FireWire brings the Mac's legendary great performance and seamless user
experience to the process of editing digital video," said Phil Schiller, Apple
vice president of Desktop and Server Product Marketing. "Today's release of
the FireWire 1.0 API to the innovative Mac OS developer community can make it
possible for powerful new Mac-based DV solutions to appear quickly."
Apple has been working closely with several leading developers on FireWire
solutions and will be demonstrating many of these solutions in the Apple booth
(#M7319) at NAB, April 7-10.
FireWire Advantages
FireWire provides many advantages over other peripheral interconnection
technologies. The cables are as simple to connect as a telephone cord--there
is no need for screws or latches. And, unlike SCSI technology, FireWire is
autoconfiguring--so it eliminates SCSI device ID conflicts and the need for
terminators. FireWire is also a hot plug-and-play technology, which means
that a device can be disconnected and then reconnected without the need to
restart the computer. FireWire is fast--it can transfer digital data at 200
megabits per second, with a planned increase to 400 megabits per second later
in 1997. And, the FireWire technology supports expansion--up to 63 devices
can be attached on the same FireWire bus.
Finally, FireWire includes support for isochronous data transfer, which
provides guaranteed bandwidth for real-time video and audio streams.
FireWire 1.0 Availability
FireWire 1.0 is available to developers immediately. Developers interested in
obtaining the API can make the request by sending an email to:
firewire@apple.com. FireWire 1.0 is provided to customers via FireWire
solutions from Third-Party developers. Apple also plans to make FireWire 1.0
available with the release of Mac OS 8.
System Requirements
FireWire PCI-card solutions are compatible with any Power Macintosh or Mac
OS-compatible computer with an available PCI slot and Mac OS Version 7.6 or
higher.
Industry Support of FireWire
Additional information regarding FireWire and FireWire products is available
on the 1394 Trade Association's website: http://www.firewire.org as well as on
Apple's FireWire website: http://firewire.apple.com.
mac.2450madamov,
4/7/97 - Apple Launches FireWire Technology
Standard supports 200Mbps speeds, to move to 400Mbps this year
Apple Computer will launch its long-awaited FireWire 1.0 input/output
technology at the National Association of Broadcasters trade show in Las Vegas
today, according to company officials.
FireWire is both a technology that has won approval as a specification by the
IEEE international standards committee, as the 1394 specification, and a
product that Apple licenses out and will include in a forthcoming version of
the Macintosh computer.
FireWire provides 200M-bit-per-second input/output between Macintosh computers
and external devices such as printers, scanners and video cameras. By midyear
Apple plans to increase the speed of FireWire to 400Mbps.
Apple will build FireWire software into all future versions of the Macintosh
operating system, starting with MacOS 8. Beginning in the fourth quarter,
Apple will build the FireWire I/O board into its high-end Macintosh 9600 and
by mid-1998 will put it directly on the motherboard, officials said.
"We believe that FireWire could replace SCSI (Small Computer Systems
Interface) by the year 2000," said Mick Mountz, power Macintosh product
manager. "Unlike SCSI or USB (Universal Serial Bus) it can handle digital
content."
The FireWire I/O card can handle up to 64 peripherals through daisy-chaining.
Apple has also developed 400Mbps peer-to-peer networking technology called
FileExchange.
FileExchange is particularly suited to the production of digital content, said
Mountz. "Pictures that are scanned in can be moved to a workstation for work
in PhotoShop."
Apple is currently soliciting the support of printer and scanner manufacturers
for FireWire.
Meanwhile, both Intel and Microsoft have adopted the IEEE 1394 specification
as an I/O technology for use in digital media products.
FireWire also supports audio visual controls (AVC), a standard method for
controlling consumer electronics devices such as video cameras and VCRs.
"I don't think that it has got to the point where you can control your coffee
pot yet," said Mountz. "But consumer electronics vendors such as Panasonic,
Sony, Toshiba and Yamaha have all adopted AVC."
FireWire technology is part of Apple's work with Sony on a digital home of the
future. Apple is also in discussions with audio recording studios about using
FireWire as a means of controlling a wide range of recording equipment,
according to Mountz.
FireWire is not yet available as a stand-alone offering, but third-party
vendors are shipping it in their own products. For instance, Radius includes
it in its PhotoDV product, a digital-video frame-capture solution that sells
for $499.
FireWire will add between $200 and $500 to the price of a Macintosh computer,
according to Mountz.
mac.2452madamov,
Norman, Sidhu, and Casanova -- all top-level scientists
Joining what seems to have become a mass exodus at Apple are three highly
respected researchers who left the company last week. Two of them, Don Norman
and Gursharan Sidhu, were Apple fellows, and the third, Frank Casanova, was
well known for his technology presentations at Macworld Expos and on
computer-related television programs.
Norman, who served as vice president of Apple's Advanced Technology Group
(ATG), is considered an expert on interface design, while Sidhu was Apple's
networking guru and the creator of AppleTalk, the LaserWriter, and the
AppleShare file server.
Traditionally, Apple fellows have been chosen for their technical
accomplishments, leadership qualities, and visionary acumen, and have been
given the freedom to pursue research projects of their choice without the
constraints of daily responsibilities. With the departure of Norman and Sidhu,
only two Apple fellows remain -- former Macintosh software evangelist Guy
Kawasaki and publishing technology director Gary Starkweather, developer of
laser scanning technology.
mac.2457madamov,
4/2/97 - BeOS Rolls In Bitstream Font Technology
Be takes aim at high-end content creation
Be has licensed Bitstream's font technology for use in the BeOS, an operating
system that Apple contemplated buying before it decided to acquire Next. Since
that acquisition, several Macintosh clone makers licensed the BeOS, and Be is
rumored to be in talks with Netscape regarding possible licensing agreements.
The agreement with Bitstream means the BeOS will incorporate TrueType and
PostScript Type 1 font processors as well as a core set of Bitstream fonts. Be
touts the BeOS as a operating system well suited to high-end content creation.
Earlier this month, Be released the initial implementation of Bitstream's
technology to developers in the BeOS DR8.3 update. Developers and customers
can expect to see full integration of the technology in the next release,
called the BeOS Preview Release, scheduled to arrive in May.
mac.2455madamov,
4/2/97 - Apple's Prince Has Come -- to Buy 5 Million Shares
Saudi billionaire grabs 5 percent of Apple shares worth $115 million
Apple Computer received a vote of confidence yesterday from a Saudi Arabian
prince, one of the world's wealthiest men, who announced that he purchased
$115 million of Apple's outstanding shares for a 5 percent stake in the
company.
According to news reports, Al-Waleed bin Talal, nephew of Saudi Arabia's King
Fahd, bought a block of 2 million Apple shares on Thursday for $19 a share and
1.3 million shares for various prices up to $19. On Monday, he bought another
2.69 million of Apple's 124.7 million shares.
Al-Waleed said he believes Apple has the potential to offer large returns to
its shareholders; the prince has the reputation for buying large stakes in
ailing companies that he sees are poised for a turnaround. His advisers also
said the purchase of Apple stock is part of the prince's effort to continue to
diversify his holdings.
Apple's stock was up today, opening at 17 and 7/8.
mac.2454madamov,
April 8, 1997
New York Times reports on possible search for white knight
Citing unnamed executives close to Apple Computer, the New York Times reported
Thursday that the company is actively seeking "a friendly merger candidate,"
perhaps Sun Microsystems. The report comes on the heels of a possible effort
by Oracle CEO Larry Ellison to lead a takeover of Apple, and a day after a
Saudi Arabian prince announced that he had acquired a 5 percent stake in the
company.
Apple declined to comment on the New York Times story. But it would not be a
surprise to see Apple seeking a suitor in light of Ellison's revelation last
week that he was considering what would amount to a hostile takeover--one in
which he would dump the company's top management. Seeking a friendly suitor is
one of several common strategies used when a company faces a hostile takeover.
According to the New York Times story, one executive who does business with
Apple was told by unnamed Apple employees that the company was in merger
discussions with Sun Microsystems. Last year, Apple and Sun discussed a
possible acquisition that never happened. Other companies that have been
mentioned as merger or acquisition partners include Motorola, IBM, and AT&T.
mac.2456madamov,
4/3/97 - The Prince Talks Strategy
Wants to compare Amelio, Ellison turnaround plans
Saudi prince Al-Waleed Bin Talal--whose recent acquisition of $115 million in
Apple stock makes him the company's second-largest shareholder--says he wants
to talk with both Apple CEO Gil Amelio and Oracle CEO Larry Ellison about
their respective plans for revitalizing the company. Last week, Ellison said
that he was considering a $1.25 billion takeover of Apple.
In an interview with Bloomberg News from his home in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia,
Al-Waleed declined to criticize Amelio directly, but said that Apple's recent
cuts did not go far enough. He also described Ellison as his "good friend."
But he expressed confidence in Apple's prospects due to its strong brand
identity and its large base of loyal Macintosh users.
In recent weeks, the prince had purchased 6.25 million shares of Apple stock
for $115 million, good for a little more than 5 percent of the company and
making him Apple's second-largest shareholder after American Express, which
holds about 8.6 percent of the company's stock.
Al-Waleed, whose net worth is estimated at $10 billion, has a history of
buying shares of struggling companies with strong brand names. He recently
purchased a 5 percent stake in Trans World Airlines and also has holdings in
hotels, banks, and retail chains.
mac.2458madamov,
3/28/97 - Apple's Clone Support in Question
Mac makers unnerved by new license policy
One consequence of Apple's cost cutting and inward focus has been anxiety
among the other Mac makers about the company's commitment to the clone
industry, at a time when the clone makers have stabilized the Mac's market
share and pushed performance beyond that of PCs for the first time ever -- at
prices close to a PC's.
Even before Apple's March 14 reorganization, clone makers were worried by what
they saw as a tougher line at the company.
The clone makers have never been happy that Apple could dictate what products
they shipped and what technologies could be included (Apple certifies each
system and its components for compatibility and thus can decide what
components are used in clones).
But the clone makers began to get truly nervous when Apple started talking
about higher license fees and fees tied to the performance of their systems
(the clone makers' systems typically run faster than Apple's).
Clone Makers' Anxieties
In the two weeks since the Apple reorganization, the clone makers' concerns
have turned into anxiety, at a level Macworld has not seen since Apple tried
to pull out of Mac licensing two years ago. Executives at every clone maker
have described a similar set of concerns to Macworld.
By contrast, Apple executives have acted very relaxed, characterizing the
public angst shown by clone makers as essentially a negotiating ploy as Apple
enters its second phase of licensing, one that relies on the Common Hardware
Reference Platform (CHRP) rather than on Apple-proprietary motherboards and
circuitry.
Conflict of Interest?
Apple has moved the group that creates the Mac ROMs, the CHRP OS, and the CHRP
specification into the Mac hardware group. Clone makers call this a conflict
of interest, since the people who are supposed to support Apple's competitors
report to the people who design Apple's Macs.
"Closer alignment will only help increased synergies" between Apple's
engineering groups," says Apple vice president of marketing Guerrino De Luca.
He admits that there is no strong separation between Apple's internal projects
and external CHRP and OS efforts, but says Apple has not had that in the past,
either, so the situation has not worsened for licensees.
Similarly, the licensees are concerned that Apple seems intent on continuing
to certify -- and thus controlling the technologies in -- Mac clones, even
those based on the supposedly neutral CHRP specification, which is jointly
controlled by Apple, IBM Microelectronics, and Motorola's RISC Processor
Division. The clone makers want certification ended or moved to a neutral
group.
Apple's De Luca says that "certification has the objective to ensure
compatibility and a Mac OS experience to users -- not to block licensees'
technologies."
Deemphasis on Licensing?
The March 14 reorganization of Apple's licensing team has exacerbated the
clone makers' fears. The licensing group has been all but disbanded, with most
executives losing their jobs and the sole remaining executive reporting to the
company's financial arm. Furthermore, on the engineering and marketing side,
licensing support is now part of Mac development.
The clone makers fear that this will cause the licensing group's mission to
change from supporting the clone market to becoming a tax agency charged with
maximizing Apple's income from the clone market. De Luca says "cost recovery
is secondary, and not necessarily a good way to develop a sustainable
proposition."
The clone makers had some concerns about the previous licensing group, which
was supportive of the licensing concept but found its resources constrained by
Apple management. With that team disbanded, they say they now are even more
concerned.
Speed Penalties?
Apple acknowledges that it will raise licensing fees. "The licensing fee
should reflect the full value of the Mac OS," De Luca says. While no one will
confirm what the current fees are, sources estimate that the current OS
licenses cost $50 and that the new OS license will cost no more than $100 --
not a big deal to clone makers. The real concern is over a fee structure that
discourages them from competing in specific markets.
According to the clone makers, Apple is proposing to charge a licensing fee
based on CPU speed. (Apple won't discuss its contract proposals.) Licensees
see this as an attempt to push them into low-margin consumer markets where
Apple has been unable to make money, at the expense of the lucrative business
and professional markets where Apple has been unable to meet demand and where
companies like Power Computing have made inroads.
Furthermore, the clone makers say, the fees would be CPU-speed-specific, so
that over time, the effect would be to automatically increase the fees as
faster systems are introduced. De Luca says this is "just one interpretation"
of what might happen and no more valid than a scenario in which fees may
decline as performance increases. He would not discuss what the actual
licensing proposals are.
Apple is offering clone makers' what De Luca calls "particularly attractive"
licensing terms to encourage them to enter new geographic markets in which
Apple has been unsuccessful. Apple has for several years encouraged clone
makers to target such markets, but licensees have been slow to do so because
they don't see much money to be made, at least not initially. (Motorola, for
example, sees the China market as a five-year investment worth pursuing so
long as it can make money in other markets meanwhile.)
Disadvantaged Platform?
Apple is bifurcating the platform, the clone makers say, developing
proprietary designs it will not license to other Mac makers and providing CHRP
as the design on which clone systems will be based. Apple says it is working
on its own CHRP-based systems, but also is working on systems that use Apple's
own proprietary technologies. Apple is willing to license some of its
proprietary technologies to other clone makers, but only after Apple uses them
in its own systems, says Phil Schiller, Apple's product marketing manager for
desktop systems. "We're not going to give Apple-proprietary technology to
others before we use it," he says.
Schiller and De Luca deny Apple has any intention of making CHRP a
second-class platform. "The sooner we get the CHRP design, the sooner we get
differentiation, which is good for us and good for them," Schiller says. He
says Apple wants and expects every Mac maker -- including Apple -- to innovate
on the Mac platform to their best advantage, something the move to CHRP allows
by letting licensees design their own hardware.
Apple says it expects CHRP to provide more differentiation among companies,
and believes it is entirely appropriate for Apple to give its systems a
technology edge. "We view CHRP as a critical step to move from licensing as
'identical copies of what Apple does' to licensing as a way to give customers
multiple choices of Mac OS-compatible and different systems," De Luca says.
Licensees say they accept this, but only if the Mac OS and CHRP specification
are independent of Apple's Mac business decisions, a separation they doubt
exists. One executive at a clone maker proposes that all Mac makers make
their own technologies available to others -- for a fee, of course -- to
encourage the adoption of the best technology across the Mac platform while
rewarding the innovators. In fact, that's what happened with the
multiprocessing technology created by DayStar Digital that Apple and Umax have
licensed and use in their own systems.
The licensees are also concerned that Apple has dragged its feet on the CHRP
OS and will be slow in supporting technologies that might let the clone makers
get an edge over Apple. "We are still completely committed to making CHRP
happen. That work has not abated at all," Schiller says. "We are not going to
do anything to slow up CHRP work. That's not the kind of advantage we need,"
he says.
The licensees point to the lack of support in the CHRP OS now under
development for parallel ports, the FireWire high-speed peripheral bus, ISA
slots (which would bring cheap internal PC modems to the Mac), and the
Universal Serial Bus. Apple CHRP program manager Mike Bell says that Apple
will introduce no technology into CHRP before Apple introduces it into its own
designs. The licensees are always free to add such technologies themselves by
writing the appropriate extensions to the Mac OS, De Luca says.
The licensees counter that this could result in incompatible hardware and
delay the introduction of performance-oriented technologies to the Mac
platform. But how Apple will allow licensees to extend the CHRP design and Mac
OS while also insisting on a certification process to ensure compatibility
remains to be seen.
Notebook Monopoly
Clone makers point to Apple's actions on PowerBooks as evidence that Apple's
CHRP effort, licensing policies, and OS development are all skewed to give
Apple an advantage. Apple refuses to license the current PowerBook designs to
other companies, and the CHRP specification -- controlled by Apple, IBM
Microelectronics, and Motorola's RISC Processor Division -- won't define
what's needed for a CHRP-based Mac notebook for at least another year.
Schiller admits that the CHRP work is slow, since it is done by committee.
De Luca explains the refusal to license the PowerBook as an economic decision:
Apple wants to recoup the investment in its notebooks that it could not recoup
last year because of battery fires and other design flaws in 1996's PowerBook
5300. The licensees ask why Apple's quality-control problems should have any
bearing on what kinds of products they can design this year or next, a
question Apple executives have not directly answered.
The PowerBook example goes beyond the CHRP effort or Apple licensing rules.
Even if a clone maker created a Mac notebook, there is no Mac OS available to
enable power management, PC Card support, and other common notebook features
-- these features are not standard parts of the Mac OS and thus not available
to the licensees.
Rhapsody Licenses
Clone makers have told Macworld that Apple would not clearly indicate to them
what its stance is on licensing the Rhapsody OS due in mid-1998. De Luca gave
Macworld a definitive response: "We do intend to license Rhapsody to the
current Mac OS licensees and others. The current conversations are focused on
Mac OS licensing [Mac OS 8 and CHRP] only; I expect that we will ready for the
Rhapsody discussions later in the year."
Apple public-relations director Laurence ClavŔre says the confusion over
Apple's licensing plans for Rhapsody stem from continued discussion within
Apple over whether and how the company should license the Yellow Box OpenStep
portion of Rhapsody for use on PCs. OpenStep runs on PCs and some
workstations, and Apple is deciding whether to make a Mac-less Rhapsody
available on multiple platforms or to keep OpenStep on non-Mac platforms
available in some other way.
Negotiating Ploys?
Apple says that the licensees' concerns are part of a negotiating tactic to
get better deals from Apple. "I suspect that the things you hear from our
licensees are part of a negotiation strategy. You know: you leak this or that
piece to the press to put some pressure on the other party. This is fine,
understood, acceptable, and makes the business a fun thing," De Luca says.
Several licensees tell Macworld that they hope Apple is proposing hardball
licensing plans as a negotiating ploy, to get them to concede more than they
would prefer. They expect the negotiations to get more reasonable over the
next two or three weeks.
Apple sees the issue as the normal frustration in negotiations over a change
from one strategy to another; in this case, from licensing a set of
proprietary designs to licensing just an OS and codeveloping an open platform
on which everyone can build. "While we want our licensees to have a
competitive business proposition and welcome their presence in any market as a
mean to offer Mac OS customers a choice, we are not in any way establishing an
asymmetry where licensees can compete with us and we cannot compete with
them," De Luca says.
The clone makers see it as Apple trying to limit the clone makers because
Apple has been unable to develop new Macs and produce them efficiently enough
to compete in an open market with the clones. "Apple needs to declare a public
position on the strategy. I'd like a sales pitch for the [clone makers] -- all
we're hearing is the control points. We're not hearing how we all make money
and grow the platform together," says Dennis Schneider, vice president and
general manager of Motorola Computer Group's Commercial Products Division. "I
haven't yet seen the passion around licensing. Instead, we're hearing too many
signs of a plan limiting specific users' choices," he says. Matching
sentiments expressed by every licensee, an executive at another company puts
it bluntly: "There is not a level playing field here."
Apple's Schiller says the clone makers' fears are unfounded because it's clear
within Apple that its and the clone makers' ultimate needs are the same. "The
model won't fly if we're not all taking steps -- Apple and the licensees both
-- that will grow the market," he says.
One thing is clear: as Apple struggles to reinvent itself so it can lead a
resurgent Mac market, it and its key allies are arguing over their fundamental
relationship.
mac.2460madamov,
4/2/97 - Metrowerks, Microsoft Announce Distribution of Java Compiler
Companies claim top performance for Mac OS
At the JavaOne conference in San Francisco today, Metrowerks and Microsoft
announced that their jointly developed virtual machine for Java and
just-in-time (JIT) compiler are available for redistribution with their
licensees' Java-enabled applications.
Microsoft and Metrowerks are claiming that their Java virtual machine and JIT
compiler are the fastest implementation for the Mac OS. They also say their
memory-management scheme saves users from taking big memory hits.
"The Microsoft and Metrowerks virtual machine ensures the Macintosh will be a
first-class citizen in the Java community," said Kim Cooper, chairman and CEO
of Digital Harbor. "With the ability to offer the Microsoft and Metrowerks
virtual machine and JIT, we can ensure that our Macintosh Wav users get the
fastest and most robust experience possible." (Wav is a word-processing
program.)
Developers can get redistribution rights under the terms of the Metrowerks
CodeWarrior licensing agreement.
mac.2462madamov,
4/7/97 - Apple Ships Mac OS 7.6 Update
Lets newest Power Macs run latest OS release
Although Mac OS 7.6 shipped in late January, the new Power Mac 4400, 7300,
8600, and 9600 systems that Apple announced in mid-February -- as well as the
new Power Mac 5500 and 6500 systems released on April 4 -- are incapable of
supporting Mac OS 7.6 because their ROM was set to look for System 7.5.X. To
fix that gap in its hardware and software, Apple today announced Mac OS 7.6.1.
Mac OS 7.6.1 runs on all Macs from Apple and other companies that have a
68030 CPU with 32-bit addressing, 68040 CPU, or any PowerPC CPU, except the
updates does not work with the PowerBook 3400; Apple says it will have a
special version for that notebook soon.
Owners of new Power Macs that can't run Mac OS 7.6 can get a full copy of Mac
OS 7.6.1 by filling in the coupon that came with their Macs and paying the $10
fee.
If you bought a new Mac on or after December 7, 1996, from Apple, APS
Technologies, DayStar Digital, Motorola Computer Group, Power Computing, or
Umax Computer, you can also get the full Mac OS 7.6.1 for $10 -- even if your
Mac came with a version of System 7.5 instead of Mac OS 7.6. Apple has made a
list of qualifying systems available at its Web site. You can also call
800/335-9258 from the U.S. or Canada.
The 7.6.1 update is free to people already running Mac OS 7.6 on their Macs.
You can download that update from Apple's Web site at
http://support.info.apple.com/ftp/7.6.1.html. You can also order the upgrade
on disk for $10 by calling 800/293-6617 from the U.S. only.
The OS update is for U.S. versions of the Mac OS only; foreign-language
versions should be available in about three months, Apple says.
mac.2461madamov,
4/1/97 - New Power Macs Still Haven't Shipped
Due out in February, 8600/200 and 9600/200MP still aren't in resellers' hands
It's not an April Fools' joke: the new Power Mac 8600/200 and 9600/200MP,
which Apple planned to release in mid-February, really still have not shipped,
and the Power Mac 7300/200 and 9600/200, also announced in February, are in
limited supply.
Apple confirmed that the 8600/200 and 9600/200MP have not shipped, offering no
detail as to why and no word on when the systems will be available. An Apple
spokeswoman said she expected Apple to announce the new date for the release
of these systems by the end of this week.
Complaints of unavailability are becoming a familiar refrain from Mac
resellers, who were desperate to get their hands on the PowerBook 1400's.
"This is deja vu," said Tom Santos, president of Macadam Computer in San
Francisco.
Resellers report they now have sufficient supply of the 1400's to meet
customer demand, only to find they can't meet demand for the new Power Macs,
particularly the 8600, which seems to be the most-requested model. The
resellers say that in addition to the nonshipping 9600/200MP and 8600/200,
they have only seen the 7300/200 and 9600/200 in limited supply or in the
education channel because of uneven distribution. The Power Mac 7300/180 does
not seem to be in short supply.
Also not shipping is the Power Mac 9600/233, although Apple did not expect
that system to ship until later this spring when it announced it in
mid-February.
mac.2459madamov,
First Call consensus also projects profitable Q4
In the wake of the largest layoff in Apple Computer's history and projections
for lower-than-anticipated sales, analysts are predicting Apple will report a
$250 million loss this quarter. That figure includes the $155 million
restructuring charge the company has said it will take for laying off 4100
permanent and contract employees.
A consensus of estimates from 25 analysts, collected by First Call, a
financial research firm in Boston, put Apple's losses for the second fiscal
quarter, which ends March 31, at $2.01 per share, including the restructuring
charge.
Excluding that charge, the analysts expect Apple will report a loss of $1.20
per share, or approximately $149 million on its 124.5 million shares, with the
analysts' estimates ranging from a low $0.74-per-share loss to a high of $1.60
per share.
For the same quarter a year ago, Apple reported a loss of $5.99 per share, or
a whopping $740 million. But that figure reflected vast inventory write-downs
and restructuring charges, part of the then-new administration's all-out
effort to get its financial house in order.
Apple is expected to report its second-quarter 1997 results the week of April
14 and is now in the mandatory quiet period preceding earnings reports, during
which companies cannot discuss their financial performance.
While the analysts also see a loss in Apple's third quarter, there is a silver
lining in the First Call consensus. The analysts predict a return to
profitability during the fourth quarter, which coincides with Apple chief
financial officer Fred Anderson's statements to the public. Anderson has
targeted Apple's break-even at $8 billion in operating revenue, which he said
Apple would achieve by the end of the year.
The First Call consensus for fourth quarter is $0.07-per-share, or $8.7
million, profit. But the estimates cover a wide range--from an estimated loss
of $0.32 per share to a profit of $0.58 per share--indicating that the
analysts' confidence levels for a fourth-quarter profit vary dramatically.
mac.2463madamov,
[2] Mac OS 7.6.1 Update Delivers Better Reliability
Apple just released Mac OS 7.6.1 Update, a set of system software
enhancements that improves the overall reliability of the Mac OS, and
brings the benefits of Mac OS 7.6 to the most recently introduced Mac
OS-based systems. This release is not intended to deliver any new
features, nor does it deliver updates to technologies already available
through download sites on the Internet and online services.
Mac OS 7.6.1 Update is Apple's rapid response to feedback from customers
and developers on Mac OS 7.6. Here are some of its enhancements:
* Nearly all Type 11 errors are now properly classified as Type 1 or Type
2 errors. These errors cause the active application to quit, but allow
customers to save their work in other applications before restarting the
computer.
* Customers with 68030- and 68040-based computers will benefit from an
updated CFM-68K Runtime Enabler, which allows these computers to use
applications that take advantage of the Code Fragment Manager (CFM).
* PowerBook customers will benefit from improvements in serial device
compatibility, PC storage cards, and removable CD-ROM drives.
Mac OS 7.6.1 Update is available electronically, free of charge, at this
web site:
<http://support.info.apple.com/ftp/7.6.1.html>
In the United States, customers may order Mac OS 7.6.1 Update on four
floppy disks for U.S.$ 10 (plus tax and shipping/handling) by calling
1-800-293-6617. Customers running a localized version of Mac OS 7.6
should not install the U.S. version of Mac OS 7.6.1 Update. Localized
versions of the update will be released within approximately 90 days of
the U.S. version. The European mirror site is
<ftp://ftp.info.euro.apple.com/Apple.Support.Area/Apple.Software.Update>
The Mac OS 7.6.1 Technote, which presents a detailed list of changes, is
posted at this site:
<http://www.devworld.apple.com/dev/technotes/tn/tn1096.html>
mac.2465madamov,
[4] QuickTime 3.0 for Windows and Mac OS Unveiled
Apple just announced major advances in QuickTime, the industry-standard
digital media system software for Windows and Mac OS. This is the first
time the full power of QuickTime--including the ability to capture, edit,
compress, and play back digital media--is available for all major
personal computer platforms, including Windows 95, Windows NT 4.0, Mac OS
System 7, and Mac OS System 8.
One of the most significant new features of the QuickTime 3.0 software
architecture is the Media Abstraction Layer. This feature ensures that
QuickTime's underlying media technologies can be enhanced or accelerated
without affecting compatibility with existing applications.
For example, QuickTime 3.0 introduces support for the DVCAM file format.
Through the Media Abstraction Layer, applications can immediately use
this important new media format without requiring software modifications.
This greatly reduces the cost of supporting emerging technologies. The
Media Abstraction Layer means that QuickTime-enabled applications are
ready to take advantage of the latest technology advances--including MMX
microprocessor technology and multiprocessing--regardless of the platform.
Here are some of QuickTime 3.0's other key features:
* Transparent support for both software-based and hardware-accelerated
rendering of visual effects
* A complete set of built-in software-based effects, including
cross-fade, chroma keying, SMPTE wipes, and color adjustments
* Standardization of effects descriptions within the media composition
* Expanded support for motion JPEG (M-JPEG)
You can find more information about QuickTime 3.0 in an in-depth white
paper, "QuickTime Technology Briefs: QuickTime 3.0," available at this
web site:
<http://www.quicktime.apple.com/>
Apple plans to make QuickTime 3.0 available toward the end of the second
quarter (Q2) of 1997. Developers can license QuickTime 3.0 for
redistribution with applications, titles, and media clip libraries that
support QuickTime. For additional licensing information, contact Apple
Software Licensing by phone at 512-919-2645 or by e-mail at
<sw.license@apple.com>.
The full press release is posted at this web site:
<http://product.info.apple.com/pr/press.releases/1997/q3/970408.pr.rel.quic
ktime.html>
mac.2464madamov,
[3] Personal Web Sharing 1.0 Ships
Apple just announced the shipment of its Personal Web Sharing 1.0 server
software. Designed for individuals and small workgroups, this new product
enables web publishing without dedicating a separate computer as a
server. Based on Internet standard protocols, Personal Web Sharing
extends Apple's traditional file-sharing capabilities to intranet-based
webs.
According to Jim Gable, vice president of Platform and Technology
Marketing, Personal Web Sharing is a natural evolution of something Apple
has always done. "Apple has offered networking capabilities with its
Personal File Sharing technology for years. Personal Web Sharing is the
same concept with Apple now supporting Internet standards," said Gable.
"We feel this product is an excellent multiplatform web-publishing
solution for groups that need to share information such as sales reports,
curriculum information, draft proposals, meeting minutes, and so
on--without having to work around the schedule of a dedicated server
administrator."
Based on technology licensed from Maxum Development, Personal Web Sharing
1.0 is a complete publishing solution for an intranet. Personal Web
Sharing includes Claris Home Page Lite, which allows customers to easily
create their own web pages. This version of Home Page masks the ability
to view HTML and is designed for customers who are unfamiliar with HTML
creation.
For Personal Web Sharing pricing and configuration details, visit either
of these web sites:
<http://applenet.apple.com/>
<http://product.info.apple.com/pr/press.releases/1997/q3/970409.pr.rel.web.
html>
Personal Web Sharing will also be integrated with the Mac OS 8 operating
system, scheduled for completion in July of 1997. Personal Web Sharing
can be purchased now at these web sites:
<http://www.software.net>
<http://www.buydirect.com>
mac.2467madamov,
[7] Small Business Power Macintosh Computers Announced
In conjunction with the Power Macintosh 6500 and 4400 models announced
this week, Apple unveiled the Apple Small Business Macintosh series of
computers. These configurations of the new 6500 and 4400 systems provide
users with a comprehensive small business solution right out of the box.
Initially, Apple will ship the Small Business Macintosh 6500/250 and the
Small Business Macintosh 4400/200. The computers are bundled with
industry-standard software and feature a built-in fax modem, 12x-speed
CD-ROM drive, digital answering system, and speakerphone. Small Business
Macintosh computers are preinstalled with leading business software,
including Microsoft Office, Norton Utilities, Now Up-To-Date and Contact,
Jian BizPlan Builder, MacPublisher, and others.
For the full press release, see this web site:
<http://product.info.apple.com/pr/press.releases/1997/q3/970408.pr.rel.sbm.
html>
mac.2466madamov,
[6] Apple Brings the FireWire Digital Video Standard to Market
Apple became the first computer vendor to provide operating system
support for FireWire. FireWire technology--developed by Apple and
approved as the IEEE 1394 high-performance serial bus standard--enables
fast, easy, and economical transfers of digital information between a
personal computer and peripheral devices such as digital video
camcorders. It will foster the development of new digital video editing
capabilities for the Mac OS. Apple will deliver this support through a
software extension to the Mac OS that developers can use to create
solutions for connecting FireWire-enabled peripherals to Mac OS-based
computers.
Developers can use the FireWire 1.0 API (application programming
interface), along with their own software and a FireWire PCI card and
cable, to offer customers a complete solution for connecting high-speed
peripherals to the computer. Companies such as Miro, Digital Processing
Systems, and Radius have announced solutions that allow a Power Macintosh
computer to work directly with a Sony or a Panasonic DV camcorder using
the FireWire interface. Customers can use these solutions for nonlinear
video editing or still-image capture of digital video data. Other
companies, such as Adaptec and Texas Instruments, have announced products
for development of FireWire solutions.
FireWire provides many advantages over other peripheral interconnection
technologies. The cables are as simple to connect as telephone
cords--they don't need screws or latches. And, unlike SCSI technology,
FireWire is autoconfiguring, so it eliminates SCSI device ID conflicts
and the need for terminators. FireWire is also a hot plug-and-play
technology, which means that a user can disconnect and then reconnect a
device without needing to restart the computer. FireWire is fast: It can
transfer digital data at 200 megabits per second, and an increase to 400
megabits per second is planned for later in 1997. In addition, the
FireWire technology supports expansion--up to 63 devices can be attached
on the same FireWire bus. Finally, FireWire includes support for
isochronous data transfer, which provides guaranteed bandwidth for
real-time video and audio streams.
FireWire 1.0 is available to developers immediately. Developers
interested in obtaining the API can make the request by sending e-mail to
<firewire@apple.com>. FireWire 1.0 is provided to customers through
FireWire solutions from third-party developers. Apple also plans to make
FireWire 1.0 available with the release of Mac OS 8.
FireWire PCI-card solutions are compatible with any Power Macintosh or
Mac OS-based computer with an available PCI slot and Mac OS 7.6 or later.
Additional information regarding FireWire is available on these web sites:
<http://www.firewire.org>
<http://www.firewire.apple.com>
The full press release is also available on the web:
<http://product.info.apple.com/pr/press.releases/1997/q3/970407.pr.rel.fire
wire.html>
mac.2468madamov,
[8] PC-Compatibility Power Macintosh Systems Unveiled
Apple just introduced two PC-compatible computers: the Power Macintosh
7300/180, which has a 180-MHz PowerPC 604e RISC processor and a 166-MHz
Intel Pentium processor, and the Power Macintosh 4400/200, which has a
200-MHz PowerPC 603e RISC processor and a Cyrix PR166 6x86 processor.
These solutions are primarily targeted to business and education
customers who want the power and ease of use of a Macintosh computer, but
who also need Windows compatibility. The 166-MHz Intel Pentium processor
PCI card is also available as an upgrade card, allowing PCI-based Power
Macintosh computers to run DOS and Windows applications.
Apple will also offer the PC Serial and Parallel Card, a new PCI card
that features both an RS-232 and a bidirectional ECP parallel port. This
card allows customers to connect legacy IBM-compatible or PC peripherals
to a PC Compatibility Card. Apple plans to make the new PCI card
available in June 1997.
The PC Compatibility Upgrade card is scheduled to be available sometime
in April, and the Power Macintosh 7300/180 and 4400/200 systems bundled
with PC Compatibility Cards are scheduled to be available in volume by
the end of May 1997. The PC Compatibility Upgrade cards are scheduled to
be available outside the United States beginning in May 1997.
For pricing and other details, visit this web site:
<http://product.info.apple.com/pr/press.releases/1997/q3/970404.pr.rel.pc-p
msys.html>
mac.2469madamov,
[9] Apple Announces First 300-MHz Desktop Computer
Apple is bringing unprecedented speed to the home desktop with the
introduction of the Apple Power Macintosh 6500/300 computer--the first
300-MHz system available today. Following less than two months after
Apple's introduction of the fastest laptop computer currently available,
the new Power Macintosh 6500 series gives customers a choice of systems
ranging in speeds from 225 to 300 MHz, all with accelerated multimedia
features; built-in Internet access capabilities; and advanced video
capture, editing, and publishing options. The announcement reflects
Apple's drive toward a simplified desktop series under the strength of
the Power Macintosh brand.
For pricing and configuration information, see the full press release:
<http://product.info.apple.com/pr/press.releases/1997/q3/970404.pr.rel.300m
hz.html>
mac.2470madamov,
---------------------------------------
OTHER DEVELOPER NEWS
---------------------------------------
[10] Sears and Apple Sponsor a School Rewards Program
Families that purchase an Apple Macintosh Performa 6360 computer, 15-inch
MultiScan Display, and Color StyleWriter 1500 printer from any U.S. Sears
Brand Central retail store will help their schools earn points toward
computer hardware and Internet products from Apple. This program, which
runs from April 1 to May 15, is designed to help parents and educators
provide students with greater access to computer and Internet technology
at school. Apple hopes that this will also help educational software
developers sell more products.
You can obtain program details at local Sears stores or by calling
1-800-937-2775. To read the full press release on this program, see this
web site:
<http://product.info.apple.com/pr/press.releases/1997/q3/970408.pr.rel.sear
s.html>
---------------------------------------
[11] Power Mac Takes Top Honors in Scientific Magazine
The March 1997 issue of Scientific Computing and Automation lists results
of the magazine's Sixth Annual Reader's Choice Awards. In the Desktop PC
category (page 28), Apple Power Macintosh computers were chosen by
readers over runners-up at Compaq and Dell. The ballot was run in two
issues last fall, and criteria for selection included "value for price,
technical support, ease of use, quality, and reliability." When this
issue is posted, you'll be able to read about it at this web site:
<http://www.scamag.com>
---------------------------------------
[12] The Ultimate Apple Evangelist--Prince Al-Waleed Bin Talal
During the last few weeks, Saudi Arabia's billionaire Prince Al-Waleed
Bin Talal became an honorary Apple Evangelist by buying 5 percent of
Apple's stock for about U.S. $115 million. According to a statement he
issued, Prince Al-Waleed said, "I have been following the technology
industry closely for quite some time, and Apple in particular for a
number of months, and I believe there is serious potential for Apple to
provide large returns to its stockholders once again, as it did in the
past."
To read more about this enthusiastic investor, see either of these web
sites:
<http://nytsyn.com/live/Latest/093_040397_002205_32447.html>
<http://www5.zdnet.com/zdnn/content/reut/0402/reut0004.html>