success of
 their fax and data transfers."
 
 The Sportster 28.8 PCMCIA with DataView is priced at $399.
 
 
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 The U.S. Justice Department's antitrust investigation of Microsoft Corp.
 now reportedly has been extended to look into the software giant's plan to
 bundle software for navigating the Internet's World Wide Web.
 
 The federal agency for months has been investigating the publisher's plan
 to bundle access to its new Microsoft Network online service with its new
 Windows 95 operating system to be released Aug. 24. (Online competitors
 contend the tactic gives Microsoft an unfair advantage.)
 
 And, write G. Christian Hill and Jared Sandberg in The Wall Street Journal
 this week, "according to people familiar with the investigation, the agency
 is now concerned about a new development, a plan by Microsoft to bundle
 software with Windows 95 to access and browse the Web, a fast-growing
 network that may become the main forum for electronic commerce." Some
 suggest a Microsoft web browser could hurt the many start-up companies
 providing Internet access, the paper says.
 
 As noted, Microsoft announced 10 days ago it plans to bundle its Internet
 Explorer with a version of Windows 95 that will be installed by computer
 makers on new machines.
 
 "It won't be bundled, at least initially, with the standard Windows 95
 version to be sold in stores directly to consumers," says the Journal, "but
 will be offered at retail in a version called Windows 95 Plus. Windows 95
 will run other Internet browsers, but if it is already installed in new
 machines and is optimized to run on the new operating system, other
 Internet access providers will be at a significant competitive
 disadvantage."
 
 Reporters Hill and Sandberg comment, "Bundling the Web browser could
 provide a sort of imperfect end-run around any successful attempt by
 Justice to force Microsoft to unbundle access to MSN. All of the so-called
 'content' slated for MSN might be best displayed using Microsoft's Web
 browser, providing consumers with an incentive to ignore other on-line
 providers and Internet access providers."
 
 A Microsoft spokeswoman told the paper her employer's online and operating-
 system competitors all are including free Web browsers in their products,
 and that Microsoft has the right to also offer a browser.
 
 But, says the Journal, "people familiar with the investigation indicated
 they may feel the browser issue provides the agency with more and new
 ammunition," adding, "The move shows that the issue of bundling products

  9



 with Microsoft's dominant operating systems won't go away, and has to be
 dealt with one way or another."
 
 The paper, still citing people familiar with the investigation, said
 Justice Department lawyers spent part of last week "intently investigating"
 the potential impact of bundling the Internet access software.




 Frankie s Corner STR Feature
  

 Louis Cat Orze

 separate CD-ROM versions for Windows and Macintosh
 for ages 10 to adult
 approximate retail $30
 IVI Publishing
 7500 Flying Cloud Drive
 Minneapolis, MN 55344-3739
 1-800-432-1332

  Program Requirements

 IBM  Macintosh
 CPU: 386-25
 OS: Windows 3.1 Not available at "press time"
 RAM:  8 mbs
 Hdisk: 1 mb
 Video: 640 by 480, 256 colors
 CD-ROM:  Double-speed
 Misc.: Mouse, sound card, speakers


 The Kids' Computing Corner

 by Frank Sereno


 "Louis Cat Orze" is probably the most unique educational title I have
 reviewed to date. The program is a historical mystery adventure based upon
 the disappearance of the Queen's Necklace from the Versailles palace of
 King Louis XIV. The player's mission is to find the missing jewelry and to
 arrest the thief. To solve the mystery, he must learn about the peoples
 and customs of the Sun King's court.

 The year is 1697 and the player only has six days to solve the crime. Each
 day, he may visit several locations to gather clues and to learn about late
 Seventeenth Century France. The King's cat, Louis Cat Orze, will serve as
 a guide and provide clues about palace intrigue.

 Even in the Seventeenth Century, visiting a royal palace is very expensive. 
 The player must spend money to gain access to the various clues. He will
 be given a small stake to begin his quest but he must replenish his cash
 resources. The program provides three methods of earning money. 

 First, the player can play the Palace Games. The Games are multiple-choice

  10



 questions of three difficulty levels. The values of the correct answers
 are twenty-five, fifty and one hundred lives. Players do not lose money
 for incorrect answers. Another way to earn money is by correctly answering
 the Palace Challenge which is hidden within each scene. These multiple
 choice questions are based upon information which can be found in each
 scene. A player can choose to search the room to find clues rather than
 answer the question immediately. The final method for earning money is
 through good investigating. Each scene has a hidden hot spot which
 provides an instant cash reward when discovered.

 Be careful when clicking though, for some hot spots can land the player in
 the Bastille. The only escape is to answer four of five questions
 correctly. Failure leads to life in prison without parole and the end of
 the game.

 Each scene is filled with hot spots which link to a book of interesting
 facts and biographies of the royal family and many important courtiers. 
 All the information must be carefully reviewed for clues to the crime of
 the missing necklace and for answers to later trivia questions. I found
 many facts to be quite interesting. I never knew that Versailles had no
 bathrooms!

 The game uses only five icons for gameplay. A question mark represents the
 Help feature of the game. The game is explained here. A volume slider
 allows the player to control the sound levels. The Save feature is
 available from within the Help section also.

 The G icon is the player's key to the Gallery, which includes the Palace
 Games, the Library, the Hall of Portraits and the Map Room. The last three
 choices offer the player many opportunities to learn about the history and
 culture of late Seventeenth Century Europe.

 The fleur-de-lis icon is used to exit a scene, or to end a conversation or
 text display.

 A portmanteau is a traveling bag. Clicking on this icon reveals the
 player's cash reserves. It also includes a notebook containing links to
 information about subjects from conversations which the player has
 overheard.

 The Q icon is for quitting the game. Players can choose to save their
 place in the game when exiting.

 As you can see, the interface is very simple, yet it has many excellent
 features. The program comes with a concise user manual which includes game
 hints and a troubleshooting guide. Technical assistance is available toll
 free.

 The graphics are simply beautiful. The scenes are like fine color
 illustrations from the finest children's books. All characters are shown
 in proper historical dress. The sound portion of "Louis Cat Orze" is
 excellent also. The voice characterizations are well-acted. The only voice
 with a French accent is that of the cat! Classical music of the period is
 used throughout the program and it is quite enchanting.

 Play value is difficult to rate on this program. If your child enjoys
 learning, he should enjoy "Louis Cat Orze." The program does include some
 humor, but most are in the form of puns or word games. This is a very

  11



 cerebral piece of software.

 Educational value is very good. The program covers many details of life in
 Seventeenth Century France and presents these facts in a very entertaining
 way. The only problem is that this program will have limited appeal. 
 Those who are interested in history or France will enjoy "Louis Cat Orze"
 very much.

 Bang for the Buck is very conditional. Before purchasing this program, one
 must be familiar with the tastes of the intended user. If the person does
 not enjoy mysteries or history, then the program may get little use. If
 the person can be persuaded to try it, he may find himself enjoying the
 game despite his prejudices against the subject matter because the
 presentation is excellent.

 Ratings

 Graphics 9.5
 Sound 9.5
 Interface 9.0
 Play Value  8.0
 Educational Value  9.0
 Bang for the Buck  9.0
 Average  9.0  



  Muppet Reading & Phonics II

 dual format CD-ROM for Mac and Windows
 for ages 3 to 7
  approximate retail $30
  from American Education Publishing
 150 E. Wilson Bridge Road
  Suite 145
 Columbus, OH 43085
 1-800-542-7833

  Program Requirements:

 IBM Macintosh
 CPU: 386 CPU: Color Mac
 OS: Windows 3.1 OS:  System 7
 RAM:  4 mbs RAM: 4 mbs
 Video: 256-color VGA Video:  256 colors
 Hdisk: 1 Mb Hdisk:  1 Mb
 CD-ROM:  Single speed CD-ROM: Single speed
 MISC: Mouse, sound card (optional)  MISC: Mouse

 Kermit, Piggy, Rowlf and the rest of the Muppet gang are back once again to
 entertain and educate your child. This assortment of programs provides
 important lessons using tried-and-true teaching methods.

 Muppet Reading & Phonics II consists of three programs on a single CD-ROM. 
 These are Sound Patterns, Sorting and Ordering, and Thinking Skills. Each
 program uses the same user-friendly interface and features many of our
 Muppet friends. The interface has five control buttons along the bottom of
 the screen. The Previous and Next buttons allows the child to move back

  12



 and forth among the twenty exercises included with each program. The
 Contents button shows the list of contents. Clicking on the name of any
 exercise will start it immediately. The Show Answer button is self-
 explanatory. The Exit button will end the program.

 Each exercise is presented with an explanation written in a text box at the
 top of the screen. This text is read at the start of the exercise and will
 be repeated if it is clicked on. The problem to be solved is in a large
 window and the child must click on the answer or drag it to the proper
 location.

 Sound Patterns features the sounds of -at, -et, -ot, -ig, -up, -an and -en. 
 Many exercises involve identifying an object and then clicking on the
 correct first letter or word. 

 Sorting and Ordering presents twenty exercises involving the sorting of
 items by various criteria, recognizing patterns, ordering steps in a
 procedure, and ordering numerically and alphabetically.

 Thinking Skills teaches sorting items by group, associating certain places
 with certain items or activities, deductive reasoning and word association.

 Phonics II has good graphics. The Muppet characters are very appealing. 
 The graphics seem better in some exercises than others. I am assuming that
 several artists were involved in each program. The animation s are much
 better than in earlier American Education Publishing programs. The sound
 portion of the program is disappointing. The vocals have excellent
 clarity, but music isn't used at all. Another disappointment is that none
 of the Muppet characters speak. This doesn't hurt the program's
 educational value, but it does diminish the fun of the program.

 The interface is very simple and elegant. It doesn't have a lot of the
 flourishes provided by other programs such as on-line parent guides or
 troubleshooting tips. The manual is only two pages long. These extras 
 just don't seem necessary for Phonics II. Free technical assistance is
 available via a toll call. The programs could benefit from better positive
 encouragement to the user. The musical ditties used to signify correct
 responses are extremely understated and staid.

 These programs are fun. Jim Henson's Muppets seem to have a magical
 quality only rivaled by Mickey Mouse. Kids simply love these characters. 
 The exercises are enjoyable and varied enough that they do not become
 boring. Unfortunately, some exercises are static in that the problems and
 answers are always the same and will not be challenging enough for more
 experienced children. Replay value will suffer over time.

 Educationally, this program set covers many concepts. The Sound Pattern
 program could benefit by featuring more sounds. The many thinking skills
 exercises are excellent. Also remember that American Education Publishing
 makes a fine line of Brighter Child workbooks that can be used to
 complement the computer programs.

 With a street price of $30, Muppet Reading and Phonics II is a very good
 buy. Flashier programs abound, but they won't be more effective as
 learning tools than Phonics II.

 Ratings


  13



 Graphics 8.0
 Sounds  6.5
 Interface 8.5
 Play Value  8.0
 Educational Value  8.5
 Bang for the Buck  8.5
 Average  8.0


 Sanctuary Woods and NFL Team Up
  for
  Educational Software

 On July 24, Sanctuary Woods Multimedia, NFL Properties, Inc., and NFL
 Players Incorporated announced an agreement which will allow Sanctuary
 Woods to use NFL logos and player photos in educational software titles. 
 The first title, NFL Math, is expected to ship this fall.

 Since sports produce so many statistics, it is natural to develop a math
 education program based on football. And since so many fathers love
 football, an NFL Math game will help develop their interest in their
 children's educational software. Parental involvement is one of the most
 important aspects for children's educational development.



  ACTIVISION'S MECHWARRIOR 2 WORLD WIDE WEB
  SITE DRAWS MORE THAN 37,000 VISITORS

 One of the First Web Sites Ever Launched to
  Promote a CD-ROM Game

 One of the first World Wide Web sites launched exclusively to promote the
 release of a CD-ROM game, Activision's MechWarrior 2 home page has had over
 37,000 visitors and more than 700,000 hits since it premiered just one
 month ago. 

 By logging onto interactive," added Skapinker.

 "Delrina's vision is to deliver powerful yet simple PC
 communications, in essence, PC communications at your command," says
 Skapinker. "Delrina will achieve this vision by delivering high-quality
 solutions encompassing the four key elements of communications -- types,
 functionality, integration and intelligence."

 Skapinker explains, "Delrina will focus on all communication types
 including messaging types such as fax, e-mail, voice/telephony and paging
 as well as on-line/interactive such as the Internet and terminal
 applications like bulletin board systems."

 In terms of functionality, Skapinker sees people using each of
 these communication types in different ways. Yet each type has its own
 unique requirements in terms of functionality. "Delrina's strength is to
 leverage its expertise in application development and end-user simplicity 
 to establish a balance between 'sophistication' such as an application's
 features, capabilities and power, and 'simplicity' like usability and ease-
 of-learning," says Skapinker.

 "To achieve powerful PC communications, we must address the last
 two elements: integration and intelligence," adds Skapinker. "For
 integration, Delrina will provide users the ability to share and access
 common elements between the different messaging types like fax, e-mail,
 voice, and paging. And finally, Delrina will deliver capabilities for
 people to automate certain tasks using the computer rather than having to
 do each task themselves -- this is the intelligence element," says
 Skapinker.

 When you bring these key elements together -- types, functionality,
 integration, and intelligence -- all in one package, all from one vendor,
 you have the formula for very powerful yet simple PC communications,
 according to Skapinker.

 At ten million copies sold, and with 70 per cent of the fax
 communicatit bad considering! :-) They were purchasing
 products too. I made a good profit.

 Yes, we released 3.00 at the show. Folks seemed quite interested in it and
 were anxiously awaiting the chance to get their hands on a copy. Some of
 these folks had attended the TAF show in Toronto and had been
 given a sneak preview there. All told, it was a good show! Back to work
 now...

 John T.


 There's been some discussion about ZIP drives for the ST; and whether or
 not the latest ICD hard drive utilities would support it. From the U.K.
 comes this report:



 STR Mail Call  "...a place for our readers to be heard"



 STReport's MAILBAG
 

  Messages * NOT EDITED * for content
 




 I have bought a Iomega for my Falcon. It works great!

 It doesn't require any new driver. Just the ICD Pro SCSI 6.5.5 works. And
 it works like floppy, I mean like removable media, the system recognized
 the change. And it is fast also, just half the speed of my Quantum LPS
 540S.
 Thought, without new driver, I can't get functions like: password write
 protect. I think you can include this email with your next issue.

 Malcolm 
 
 (1668) 30 Jul 95 00:38:52
 By: Troy H. Cheek, Inner Circle (1:362/708.4)
 To: Streport, The Bounty BBS (1:112/35)
 Re: ATTN: D. P. Jacobson, Atari Section Editor
 St: Pvt Kill

 @FMPT 4
 @MSGID: 1:362/708.4 301ac692
 (In the event that this message goes astray, I am attempting to reach the
 offices of ST Report, particularly D.P. Jacobson of the Atari section.)

 > Jaguar Easter Eggs/Cheats/Hints STR InfoFile - Solving Those Riddles!

 >  We've been promising game tips and cheats for what seems like an
 > eternity. I apologize for not getting these put together as rapidly as
 > I would have liked, but our compilation of game tips, cheats, etc. is

  43



 > just about complete. In this week's issue, we're providing you with
 > just some of the game cheat codes for Hover Strike. We'll have more
 > for this enjoyable game, next week. We also have an "invincibility"
 > cheat, but we'll only send this to you if you request it, unless
 > there's an overwhelming demand from our readers!

 Consider this a request for the "invincibility" cheat.

 In fact, I'd be interested in your entire compilation. If it's too big to
 send through Fidonet, would a blank floppy and a SASE do the trick?

 Troy H. Cheek Internet: Defunct  
 Rt. #1, Box 409  Fidonet: 1:362/708.4  
 Benton, TN 37307 FAX line: by request only



  Steel Talons! STReport NewsFile!  New Game for Falcon030 Released!

 Lexicor Software Corporation is the US distributor for 16/32 Systems Atari
 Falcon adaptation of Tengen's coin-op STEEL TALONS. The game was favorably
 reviewed by such magazines as ST FORMAT. Llamazap and Pinball Dreams is
 also available for the Falcon.

 The game is a fast and colorful 3-D helicopter action simulation; full use
 of the Falcon's hardware results in an impressive
 polygon landscape and great speed and scrolling. Anyone who has played the
 original Tengen coin-op will not be disappointed with STEEL TALONS for the
 Falcon. There are a number of missions to complete, enemies to harry, and
 numerous attacks to avoid.

 STEEL TALONS is available from Lexicor Software, retailing at U$D 49.00.

  To order a copy, write to:

  Lexicor Software Corporation
 108 Peterborough Street, 3rd floor, suite H
  Boston, MA 02215

 or call (617) 437 0414 or fax (617) 437-9413
 email: games@lexicor.com

 Other games available are: Llamazap and Pinball Dreams. Currently all
 games, Steel Talons included, are going for a holiday special of only 35
 U$D!
 


 Branch Always News STR InfoFile



 PC Xformer 3.2 Atari 130XE Emulator for MS-DOS


 July 28, 1995

 Price: $34.95 U.S. ($29.95 until August 31)

  44



 Available: immediately
 Requires: any MS-DOS compatible 486 or Pentium based PC

 For additional product information contact Darek Mihocka at:

 Branch Always Software
 14150 N.E. 20th Street, Suite 302
 Bellevue, WA 98007, U.S.A.

 Phone: 206-236-0540
 Fax:  206-236-0257
 America Online:  BRASOFT
 Compuserve:  73657,2714
 GEnie: BRASOFT
 MSN:  BRASOFT
 Internet: brasoft@halcyon.com
 World Wide Web:  brasoft/


 Introducing PC Xformer 3.2, the newest and fastest Atari 130XE which allows
 any 486 or Pentium based PC to run Atari 800, Atari 800XL, and Atari 130XE
 software as fast or faster than a real 130XE. PC Xformer 3.2 is fully
 backward compatible with earlier versions of PC Xformer and ST Xformer and
 supports disk files created by the SIO2PC cable, ST Xformer, and PC
 Xformer.

 The three biggest features in version 3.2 are SPEED, SPEED, SPEED! Unlike
 earlier versions of PC Xformer which were optimized for use on 386 based
 computers, PC Xformer 3.2 has been optimized for the 486 and Pentium and
 runs an average of about 40% faster than the earlier versions.

 What this means for users is that PC Xformer 3.2 now runs about 9 times
 faster than a 130XE (equivalent to a 16 MHz 6502) on a 90 Mhz Pentium, and
 about 5 times faster on a 486/66. Even the slowest 486SX based PC now runs
 PC Xformer faster than a real 130XE giving faster smoother graphics in
 games and faster Atari BASIC programs, without having to upgrade your PC.

 For compatibility with programs that run best at the normal 1.8 MHz speed
 of the Atari, PC Xformer 3.2 has two speeds of operation: NORMAL (1.8 MHz
 mode) and TURBO (as fast as possible mode). All of the options, such as
 selecting normal or turbo speed, whether to run with Atari BASIC, whether
 to run in Atari 800 or XL/XE mode, etc. can all be set from the MS-DOS
 command line.

 By popular demand PC Xformer now has a built-in 6502 debugger which allows
 you to examine and modify the Atari memory, disassemble 6502 code, and even
 single step 6502 code. For die hard hackers PC Xformer 3.2 also supports
 the ability to customize the Atari OS and BASIC.

 PC Xformer 3.2 has full support for emulating Player Missile Graphics with
 collision detection, GTIA graphics modes, ANTIC display lists and DLIs, 256
 color support, joystick support (as well as joystick emulation via the
 cursor keys on the keyboard), sound, printer, modem, and more. Atari BASIC
 as well as the Atari 800 and XL/XE operating systems are built-in.

 PC Xformer 3.2 can also be run from the MS-DOS prompt in Windows 3.1, 
 Windows 95, OS/2 2.1, and OS/2 Warp. Run it directly from MS-DOS for
 fastest speed.

  45



 PC Xformer 3.2 also includes a copy of the shareware SIO2PC software, and
 about a megabyte of sample Atari 8-bit software.


 How to order

 Brand new users can purchase PC Xformer 3.2 by contacting Branch Always
 Software directly. To order by VISA or MasterCard, call us at 206-236-0540
 and have your card ready, or send your order in by mail.

 During the month of August we are offering PC Xformer 3.2 at an
 introductory price of only $29.95. After August 31 the price is $34.95.

 Registered users of PC Xformer can upgrade for only $15. All prices include
 shipping to anywhere in the world.

 PC Xformer 3.2 will also be available by September 1 from major Atari
 dealers including American Technavisions, B & C Computervisions, and Toad
 Computers. Call your local Atari dealer for pricing and availability.

 Add-on products

 There are several products and services available from other Atari
 developers which are of benefit to PC Xformer users.

 The SIO2PC cable is a cable which connects your PC to your Atari 8-bit
 computer and allows you to transfer over entire disks of Atari 8-bit
 software to your PC. SIO2PC works on any MS-DOS based PC and creates "disk
 image" files which PC Xformer uses. SIO2PC can also be used to transfer
 files from the PC back to your Atari 8-bit computer.

 SIO2PC is available fully assembled or in kit form from:

 Nick Kennedy
 300 South Vancouver Street
 Russellville, AR
 72801

 Users who do not have access to an Atari 8-bit computer or an SIO2PC cable
 can have their disks transferred from Atari 8-bit 5.25" floppy disks to IBM
 PC 3.5"floppy disks for a small fee by contacting Rob Satonica at:

 Creative Software Systems
  7775 Scottdale Rd.
 Berrien Springs, MI 49103

 phone: (616) 473-3904

 Also available from Creative Software Systems is the Atari Emulator
 Manager, an inexpensive MS-DOS utility which allows you to manage your
 Atari 8-bit files, configure your PC Xformer settings, and run PC Xformer,
 all by using your mouse to click on the various options and files on the
 screen. A must have for any PC Xformer user who juggles a lot of different
 Atari files! For example, you can have one configuration that runs your
 Atari BASIC software in turbo speed Atari 130XE mode. You could then have
 another configuration that runs your games disks in normal speed Atari 800
 mode. Do all this by just pointing and clicking with the mouse.


  46



 To order or to find out more about the Atari Emulator Manager, contact Rob
 Satonica at Create Software Systems.

 Atari Shows

 Once again we are hitting the road to demonstrate our products at Atari
 shows around North America. If you missed us at the Toronto and Sacramento
 shows in April, you can drop by our booths at the Indianapolis Atarifest on
 July 29th and the Dallas Atari show on October 7.

 At both shows we will be demonstrating and selling the PC Xformer 3.2
 emulator as well as our new Gemulator 4.0 Atari STE emulator for Windows
 95.

 If you cannot attend the shows, send us your name and address to receive
 future product announcements, show dates, our authorized Atari dealer list,
 product order forms, and more. If you are on the Internet, drop by our Web
 page.

 Benchmarks

 Ok, just how fast is PC Xformer? We believe it to be the fastest 6502
 emulator available for your 486 or Pentium. We put a real 130XE computer
 side-by-side with a 486/66 computer and a Pentium P5-90 computer then ran
 some benchmarks in Atari BASIC. We found the 486/66 runs at least 4 times
 faster than the 130XE, while the 90 MHz Pentium runs at least 8 times
 faster, and sometimes faster!

 Benchmark #1 is a simple FOR NEXT loop:

 10 FOR X = 1 TO 10000:NEXT X

 Atari 130XE: 22.5 seconds
 66 Mhz 486:  4.6 seconds (5 times faster)
 Pentium/90:  2.4 seconds (9 times faster)

 Benchmark #2 is a screen scrolling benchmark:

 10 FOR X = 1 TO 10000
 20 ?X;
 30 NEXT X

 Atari 130XE: 109 seconds
 66 Mhz 486:  29 seconds (4 times faster)
 Pentium/90:  14 seconds (8 times faster)

 And finally, Benchmark #3 is a graphical line sweep:

 10 GRAPHICS 8
 20 COLOR 1
 30 FOR X = 0 TO 319
 40 PLOT X,0
 50 DRAWTO 159,159
 60 NEXT X

 Atari 130XE: 32 seconds
 66 Mhz 486:  8 seconds (4 times faster)
 Pentium/90:  4 seconds (8 times faster)

  47



 Now you can understand why for games we needed to supply a normal speed
 option!



 STR News TidBits

  CompuServe Launches Upgrade


  CompuServe Inc. has announced a $125 million overhaul, a new low-cost
 service for novices and a price change. It also says it is
 beginning an extensive marketing push and will nearly double its support
 staff.

  "We are moving from being a sleeping giant to really revitalizing the
 organization," CEO Robert Massey told reporter Jared Sandberg in this
 morning's Wall Street Journal.

  And Richard Brown, new CEO of CompuServe parent H&R Block, told the
 paper, "New competition and new challenges demand that we reinvent our
 products and services." (Sandberg points out the CompuServe announcements
 come three weeks before the launch of Microsoft Corp.'s Microsoft Network.)

 The paper notes CompuServe's plans include:

 An appeal to modem newcomers with the launch next spring of a service
 code-named Wow! It is designed to be easy to use and to let users
 customize it to their liking.

 Introduction of a new look within 45 days.

 Simplifying pricing structure by eliminating multiple tiers. It will
 charge a monthly fee of $9.95 for the first five hours and $2.95, down
 from $4.80, for each additional hour. Eliminated are surcharges for
 extended services, such as participating in forums, in a move to
 straight hourly fees.

 Beefing up the CompuServe network by doubling the number of local dial-
 up points to 105,000 from 50,000.

 Adding some 400 people to the support staff and tripling the marketing
 spending to $115 million in the current fiscal year ending next April,
 including a tripled advertising budget of $35 million.

 "This announcement represents a significant shift in focus," Massey told
 business writer Evan Ramstad of The Associated Press.


  Ad Industry Discourages Net Regs 

 A U.S. Commerce Department task force has been urged by advertising
 industry executives not to restrict marketing campaigns on
 the Internet. The execs say advertising dollars are the best way to fund
 the growth of the global network. 

 United Press International reports Norman Lehoullier, co-director of Grey
 Interactive, told a meeting of the Telecommunications Policy Committee of

  48



 Information Infrastructure Task Force, "Regulating new media advertising
 will not only retard its growth and technical potential, it will retard new
 media's ability to increase this country's competitiveness."

 UPI says the executives pointed out advertising dollars played a crucial
 role in the development of broadcast TV and that today annual spending on
 TV advertising is an estimated $35 billion per year. 

 John Sarsen Jr., president of the National Association of Advertisers, says
 agencies hope to play a similar role in the
 development of the global data infrastructure, but will not be able to if
 regulators impose broadcast-style rules on electronic commerce.

 "Advertisers consider the Internet and online services a lucrative market
 which attract affluent, well-educated consumers," says UPI,
 noting that a recent Commerce Department study found that 58.1 percent of
 urban households earning $75,000 per year or more own a computer. Among
 urban computer owners, 50.7 percent have attended four years of college or
 more.

 While online advertising still is in its infancy, the ad executives say
 they expect the medium to grow exponentially. Roughly 9 percent to 11
 percent of online consumers age 25-54 already peruse online classified ads. 
 The wire service noted the Clinton administration currently has not
 proposed to regulate advertising online.


 Chip Markets to Double by 2000

 Texas Instruments' chief economist predicts that if present trends
 continue, the worldwide semiconductor market may more than double in size
 in the next five years to more than $300 billion. Speaking at the annual
 Robertson Stephens & Co. Semiconductor
 Conference in San Jose, California, Vladi Catto said the semiconductor
 market is experiencing unprecedented growth for the 10th year in a row and
 the outlook is for growth to continue through the decade.

 According to the Reuter News Service, Catto said, "For the past 15 years,
 the worldwide market has grown an average of 15 percent per year. If that
 growth rate continues, the market will reach about $275 billion over the
 next five years. If the market grows at 20 percent annually, the industry
 could exceed $300 billion." He said that influencing the industry's
 unprecedented growth are four major factors:
  
 The increasing use of semiconductors in electronics.

 Emerging market growth.

 Computerization of the workplace.

 The growth of cellular phones.

 Reuters reports the economist predicted the geographic diversification of
 the semiconductors market will act as a buffer to a slowdown in any
 particular region and that the world economic outlook remains positive,
 lessening the possibility of recession. Catto also said that over the next
 five years, the semiconductor industry will require more than twice as much
 capital spending as
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