EvangeList Digest Tuesday, June 23 1998 Volume 01 : Number 1216
In this issue:
Tidbit - PC Magazine Discusses G3 Superiority PR - Let's Go Read EvangeList posting PR - Hello wURLd 1.2 Simplifies Daily Web Access PR - Troi File Plug-in 1.2b2 Beta Available PR - TechLaunch 2010 Needs Mac Presenters Tidbit - MacNN Reviews Followup - Web Site for Young Evangelistas PR - NetChronometer 1.1.0 is Available Tidbit - RC5 Challenge Proxy Messages Tidbit - Insanely Great Mac Reviews X-Files Game PR - Vicom shows Mac T1 Solution at Macworld NYC
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Date: Mon, 22 Jun 1998 02:06:35 -0800 From: John Halbig <john@garage.com> Subject: Tidbit - PC Magazine Discusses G3 Superiority
This tidbit is from:
Terrence Ehlers, <tehlers@lclark.edu>
This month's online issue of PC magazine has an article on current processor families and admits the superiority of the G3 over current pentium designs. Here is the URL:
Date: Mon, 22 Jun 1998 10:48:57 -0700 From: Guy Kawasaki <Kawasaki@garage.com> Subject: PR - Let's Go Read EvangeList posting
Keyword: Market by market, Education
This announcement is from:
David Brady, davidb@mail.edmark.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT:
Rebecca Levy Edmark Corporation (425) 556-8825 rebeccal@edmark.com
Let's Go Read! An Island Adventure from Edmark(R) Now Available on Macintosh(R) Platform at a Special Introductory Price Powerful IBM(R) Speech Recognition Technology Helps Children Learn to Read
REDMOND, WA _ June 16, 1998 _ Edmark, an IBM company and developer and publisher of award-winning educational software, today announced the shipment of the Macintosh version of Let's Go Read! An Island Adventure, as part of a new series of titles to help children learn to read. The program features powerful IBM speech recognition technology that has been adapted to respond to children's voices. Also included are 12 original interactive books in which children apply reading and thinking skills.
"With more than 40 million Americans reported to be reading at the sixth grade level or below, the need to help children become readers is more vital than ever," said Donna Stanger, General Manager of Edmark. "Let's Go Read! An Island Adventure is the first Macintosh product for children to incorporate speech recognition technology. With this heightened interaction, children's' early reading experiences are positive and engaging. What could be more fun than talking to a computer and having it talk back?"
Special Offer:
And now, for a limited time, EvangeList visitors to the Edmark web site are eligible for special introductory savings on the Macintosh release of Let's Go Read! An Island Adventure.
Visit <http://www.edmark.com/offers> and enter the code 9806LAMA now through October 1, 1998, and you can purchase the Macintosh version of Let's Go Read! An Island Adventure for $41.20 (plus applicable taxes, shipping and handling), a savings of over $13!
More About Let's Go Read! An Island Adventure:
In Let's Go Read! An Island Adventure, children use their voices to interact in three ways: - Speech Recognition: Children speak, and the computer "listens" and responds - Voice Activation: Children direct computer actions with their voices - Record and Playback: Children can listen to their own voices as they read 12 interactive books
Let's Go Read! An Island Adventure offers a uniquely blended approach to the strengths of both the phonics and whole language methodologies to give children ages four to six a solid foundation for reading success. Designed to be a comprehensive program for beginning readers, An Island Adventure has over 175 lessons and introduces more than 400 vocabulary words. Children meet a lovable raccoon named Robby who "needs to read," and his pal Emily, a sprightly squirrel. Together, they embark on an interactive adventure in an incredible flying machine called the Reading Rover. They travel to Letter Island and meet the shy inhabitants_letters of the alphabet who won't come out to play unless children call out their sounds.
As children progress through the reading adventure, they are rewarded with a series of 12 books - each one original, beautifully illustrated, interactive, and appropriate for the skill level the child has reached in the program. By reading these special books, children can apply the skills they have learned and discover that reading is fun and interesting. They can record themselves reading any of the interactive books, and delight in hearing themselves read aloud. Each of the books can also be printed for independent reading. Once read, the book is displayed in the student's bookshelf, where it can be re-read at any time.
Let's Go Read! An Island Adventure offers both guided and self-directed learning opportunities through over 35 different playful activities found in the clouds, in the Reading Rover, or in one of four areas on Letter Island: the beach, the jungle, the farm and Vowel Village. Children can learn to recognize letters in both upper- and lowercase form, master individual letter sounds and identify letter sounds within words.
While flying from place to place in the Reading Rover, children encounter special "word clouds." Using speech recognition technology, children are asked to say each word they see. When the word is spoken, the cloud disappears with a "poof", and the flight continues. This engaging activity provides a playful way to acquire sight words (words that are difficult to sound out such as "the" or "and").
Mastering these frequently used words helps children to read more fluently and concentrate on understanding content.
Since the Reading Rover runs on the "power of words," children must visit the Word Power Station to re-fuel. There they are challenged to build simple words using the letters and sounds they have learned earlier in the adventure. Later, the adventure moves to sentence-building activities that strengthen comprehension, build vocabulary and help children view themselves as readers.
Macintosh(R) System Requirements: System 7.0.1 or higher; 68040, 68030 (25MHz or faster recommended) or PowerPC(R): Hard disk; 6 MB memory (RAM) unused, 7 MB PowerPC; 13" or larger monitor, 256 or more colors; Double speed (2x) or faster CD-ROM drive. For Speech Recognition: PowerPC; Hard disk with 11 MB free; 12 MB memory (RAM) unused; High/quality microphone. Optional: Macintosh-compatible printer; Edmark TouchWindow(R)
Windows(R) System Requirements: Windows 3.1, Windows 95 or later; 486/66 MHz Pentium(R) or better; Hard disk with 6MB free; 8 MB memory (RAM); 16 MB recommended; Super VGA graphics, 640x480, 256 colors: Double-speed (2x) of faster CD-ROM drive; Windows-compatible sound card. For Speech Recognition: Windows 95 or later; 90 MHz Pentium or faster; Hard disk with 21 MB free; 16 MB memory (RAM); 16-bit sound card with high-quality microphone input; High-quality microphone. Optional: Windows-compatible printer; Edmark TouchWindow.
Edmark Pricing Retail: Both Macintosh and Windows retail versions include microphone headsets. The Macintosh version also includes a special adapter. Retailer prices may vary. Retail Version (one CD) Mac CD-ROM - with Macintosh adapter and microphone headset - $54.95 Win CD-ROM - with microphone headset - $44.95
School market: School Versions include two CDs, a comprehensive Teacher's Guide with lesson ideas and reproducible activity sheets, and toll-free technical support and a lifetime warranty. Lab packs, site and district licenses are also available. School Version without microphone (two dual platform CDs) Mac/Win CD-ROM - $59.95
Microphone headsets (optional) Headset with Macintosh adapter - $35 Headset without adapter - $30
Edmark Corporation, an IBM Company, is a leading developer and publisher of educational software with more than 25 years of experience applying proven educational concepts to the development of educational products for children. The company develops products that run on Macintosh and Windows for both the consumer and education marketplaces. Edmark's award-winning line of educational software includes: Let's Go Read! TM An Island AdventureTM; the Thinkin' ScienceTM; KidDesk" Internet Save; the Early Learning Series, including Millie's Math House" and Bailey's Book House"; the Thinkin' Things" Series; Strategy ChallengesTM Collection 1 and 2; the Imagination Express" Series; and the Mighty Math" Series. Edmark Corporation is located in Redmond, Washington.
IBM Consumer Division, a leading manufacturer and developer of hardware and software solutions for the home, was established as a business unit within IBM in 1995. The Consumer Division's products have been widely recognized for technology innovation and product design. These products include the Aptiva" family of personal computers, Consumer Options and Solutions; the IBM"Brings You Crayola"family of software, the Edmark brand of educational software and IBM reference software products including the World BookTM Multimedia Encyclopedia.
* TERMS & CONDITIONS OF SPECIAL OFFER: This offer expires 10/1/98. This offer cannot be combined with any other offers and is available only direct from Edmark on consumer products. Offer subject to product availability. Resale of titles not permitted. We reserve the right to limit quantities purchased. Valid only in the US and Canada (except where taxed, restricted or prohibited by law). Shipping and handling extra. For Priority U.S. Mail delivery in the U.S. a shipping charge of $5 per order applies. Sales tax will be charged where applicable. No CODs accepted. Allow 7-10 days for delivery.
Edmark, the Edmark logo, Bailey's Book House, Calculating Crew, Destination Time Trip, USA, Imagination Express, Imagination Station, KidDesk, Mighty Math, Millie's Math House, Number Heroes, Oranga Banga, Sammy's Science House, Stanley's Sticker Stories, Thinkin' Things, TouchWindow, Trudy's Time & Place House and Words Around Me are registered trademarks of the Edmark Corporation. These names are trademarks of the Edmark Corporation: An Island Adventure, Astro Algebra, Carnival Countdown, Cosmic Geometry, Fripple, Kid-Safe Sites, Ignite the Curious Mind, Let's Go Read!, Millie & Bailey, Strategy Challenges, Thinkin' Science, True Network Versions, Virtual Manipulatives and Zoo Zillions. IBM and Aptiva are registered trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation. Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation. Pentium is a registered trademark of Intel Corporation. World Book is a trademark of World Book, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
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Date: Tue, 23 Jun 1998 02:06:14 -0800 From: John Halbig <john@garage.com> Subject: PR - Hello wURLd 1.2 Simplifies Daily Web Access
Keyword: Market by market, Internet
This announcement is from:
SoftHarbor Solutions
SoftHarbor Solutions today announced that Release 1.2 of its shareware application "Hello wURLd" is now available.
Hello wURLd is a shareware application that automates the opening of a person's favorite web pages.
Release 1.2 adds support for Apple's new Navigation Services extension for opening and saving documents, in addition to other new features and bug fixes. Hello wURLd is the first shipping productivity application to support Navigation Services.
Many people have a list of favorite web sites that they visit every day. And they can waste time selecting those pages, one at a time, from a bookmark or favorites list, and waiting for each one to download.
Hello wURLd makes Internet viewing more efficient. Just tell Hello wURLd which web sites you visit every day, such as MacCentral, MacInTouch, MacNN, the Mac Resource Page, ZDNet, and of course, Dilbert, and let your computer start the tedious downloads. Hello wURLd will open each page in a new browser window, so they will be waiting for you when you get back to your Mac.
Hello wURLd works with Microsoft Internet Explorer, Netscape Communicator, and other popular Macintosh Internet applications.
Download Hello wURLd 1.2 ($10 shareware) (available for Power Macintosh, 68K, or FAT) from:
The Navigation Services extension is available separately from Apple.
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Date: Tue, 23 Jun 1998 02:06:14 -0800 From: John Halbig <john@garage.com> Subject: PR - Troi File Plug-in 1.2b2 Beta Available
This announcement is from:
Peter Baanen, <peter@troi.nl>
Troi Automatisering announces the availability of Troi File Plug-in 1.2b2, for FileMaker Pro 4.0 both on Macintosh and Windows.
This file manipulation plug-in now also can list the contents of folders and open files with other applications. We've added some great examples demonstrating useful techniques (including how to import multiple images).
Peter Baanen, company president, states that "The ability to list files in a directory was requested by a lot of users, and opens a lot of new possibilities. We've also removed the startup flash screen, so that you can start up more quickly".
This 1.2b2 version differs slightly from the 1.2b1 version (of 12 June). The launch function returns more detailed error codes; you can now also detect if a disk is offline.
We invite you to test drive the new functions and see what _you_ can do with it! A fully functional version of this beta version of Troi File Plug-in 1.2b1 is available for downloading at Troi's Web site at: <http://www.troi.com/>. Please note that this is a beta version. On the site there is a Macintosh (.hqx) or a windows version (.zip) of the package. Each package contains BOTH the Macintosh version as well as the windows version of the plug-in. Only the compression and (text)formatting is different.
Troi File Plug-in 1.2 will cost $20. Upgrade for all current users of Troi FM Plug-in 1.0 and Troi File Plug-in 1.1 will be free.
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Date: Tue, 23 Jun 1998 02:06:15 -0800 From: John Halbig <john@garage.com> Subject: PR - TechLaunch 2010 Needs Mac Presenters
This action item is from:
Jody Gibson, <gibsonj@quest.witcc.com>
As Mac user of 10+ years and one of the organizers for TechLaunch 2010, a technology conference held each fall in Sioux City, Iowa, I am eager to get some representation for the Apple platform as part of our event. This year's conference is scheduled for Oct. 1-2.
Sponsored by Gateway computers and MCI, the conference highlights the future of technology in telecommunications, education, business, Internet, and operating systems. Guess what? There were no presentations submitted on the Mac OS! So, the committee, knowing what a Mac enthusiast I am, asked me to try and find a company that relies on Mac's OS for its entire function and to get a representative from that company to present on why Apple's platform is their operating system of choice.
I tried calling Apple's PR office for a list of Mac-using companies and of course got a polite recording, but I think it could be really beneficial to show the other side of the coin here in Gateway country.
Please visit the TechLaunch website at www.techlaunch.com to get information on the conference; disregard the past deadline for presentations (we are trying to complete the mailout brochure, which should be ready to go to print next week) and submit questions or presentation outlines to <pritchj@catalystsol.com> or to me at <gibsonj@witcc.cc.ia.us>.
Thanks, evangelistas!
P.S. Gateway's art department uses Macs but I figured they would decline an invitation!
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Date: Tue, 23 Jun 1998 02:06:18 -0800 From: John Halbig <john@garage.com> Subject: Tidbit - MacNN Reviews
This tidbit is from:
Misha Sakellaropoulo, <misha@macnn.com>
The MacNN Review has posted a handful of reviews in the past 10 days, including reviews of Micro Conversion's Video Wizard 4 MB, a comparative review of SpringCleaning 2.0 and YankPro 2, GoLive CyberStudio 3, the PowerBook G3 250/13.3", Norton AntiVirus 5.0, and RealPool. There are plenty more on the way, including Adobe Photoshop 5, Adobe Premier 5, Macromedia Director 6.5, TechTool Pro 2, and Alsoft's PlusOptmizer (some may have even been posted by the time this goes up).
The MacNN Review:
<http://www.macnn.com/thereview/>
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Date: Tue, 23 Jun 1998 02:06:17 -0800 From: John Halbig <john@garage.com> Subject: Followup - Web Site for Young Evangelistas
This follow-up message is from:
William Bellflower-Cocks, <netfreak@mindspring.com>
Well I've been on a mac since I was 12(I'm almost 17) and would be interested in making a website for young EvangeListas. I'd like this to be a group effort so if your interedted in helping send me an e-mail at <netfreak@mindspring.com>.
About Me: I've been on the Mac for almost 5 years and have done several web sites but my newest creation is Wilde Lake <Sports(http://wlsports.home.mindspring.com> which is a sports-themed site for my school. I am known as MacBoy at my school and most recently had to be forcefully pulled away when I saw an all-in-one G3 box(w/computer in it) being wheeled in by the IT manager through the school. I wasn't allowed to see it though :(
__________________________ Digital Guy Sez:
Meanie. ;-)
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Date: Tue, 23 Jun 1998 02:06:17 -0800 From: John Halbig <john@garage.com> Subject: PR - NetChronometer 1.1.0 is Available
This announcement is from:
Jeremy Kezer, <jbkezer@kagi.com>
You've probably noticed that the clock on your Macintosh drifts as time goes by. NetChronometer will synchronize your Mac's date & time to a highly accurate network time server.
You can use NetChronometer manually to synchronize your clock, or set it up to perform periodic updates.
NetChronometer requires an Internet connection using either Open Transport or "Classic" Mac TCP/IP. It is Appearance Manager-savvy.
Version 1.1.0 has the following changes:
- - Added ability to check time upon launch.
Shareware; $7 registration fee suggested. It can be downloaded from:
<http://www.kezer.net/shareware.html>.
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Date: Tue, 23 Jun 1998 02:06:19 -0800 From: John Halbig <john@garage.com> Subject: Tidbit - RC5 Challenge Proxy Messages
This tidbit is from:
Donnie Cambre, <donniec@nortel.ca>
Anyone that is participating in the RC5 challenge has probably seen some of the messages that the key proxies display when your Mac connects to them to get or submit key blocks. This is one of my favorites:
The proxy says: "Powerbook G3, the prefered weapon of your enemy (darkstar.net)" __________________________ Digital Guy Sez:
Hmm, I haven't had much time to look into the latest challenge stats...perhaps I need to wander over to <http://www.distributed.net>...
Oh wow, cool new look. A lot less forbidding. :)
A neat way to get to get the client, too:
<http://www.distributed.net/cgi/select.cgi>
Which automatically detect what platform you're using and serve up links to the correct clients. Sweet! Nice setup interface...but does anyone know why they've gone to a console display? Benchmark on my G3 266 -- 740 kkeys a second.
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Date: Tue, 23 Jun 1998 02:06:18 -0800 From: John Halbig <john@garage.com> Subject: Tidbit - Insanely Great Mac Reviews X-Files Game
Keyword: Market by market, Games
This tidbit is from:
Michael D Flaminio, <flaminio@insanely-great.com>
Just in time for the movie, Insanely Great Mac has finished its review for Fox Interactive's X-Files: The Game. The seven CD game proved to be quite a treat for both the fan and the casual follower.
Date: Tue, 23 Jun 1998 02:06:15 -0800 From: John Halbig <john@garage.com> Subject: PR - Vicom shows Mac T1 Solution at Macworld NYC
Keyword: Market by market, Internet
This announcement is from:
Bryan Keet, <bryan.keet@vicomtech.com>
Vicom Technology will be exhibiting at the MacWorld show in New York, from July 7-10 at Booths 1720 & 1724.
For the first time on show will be the "Mac T1 Solution" consisting of the VICOM Internet Gateway and the Keyspan Smart Serial Six Card - T1 Edition. This potent combination allows for a T1 connection to be shared for Internet access or used for interconnecting wide-area TCP/IP networks.
Vicom Technology staff will be on hand to demonstrate the flexibility of the solution, and the many other advantages of using the VICOM Internet Gateway together with other Vicom software products, such as the VICOM SurfDoubler, VICOM SoftRouter, VICOM DHCP Server and Vicom Terminal Emulation products.
Further information on the "Mac T1 Solution" can be found at:
<http://www.vicomtech.com/vig.t1.html>
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End of EvangeList Digest V1 #1216 *********************************
