At the Microsoft Professional Developer's Conference last week,
Paul Maritz, vp of platforms and applications,
"introduced Windows DNA (Distributed Network Applications) as the next
generation of Windows." However, when WAVE asked
Maritz what Windows DNA consisted of, he responded vaguely that it
is both a response to Java and has some new
elements: user interface and navigation, business processes, and integrated
storage. No other details about DNA were made
available to conference attendees.
Windows 98 (nee Windows 97) has been officially delayed until
mid-May 1998. Based on comments made by Microsoft at
the conference, Windows NT 5.0 may be delayed until late 1998 or early
1999. More info from http://www.fourthwave.com
"Post-WIMP interfaces don't use icons, menus, or forms, but rely on
techniques such as gestures, speech recognition,
and haptic feedback for interactive control. Now our controls are part
of the 3D scene and range from 3D widgets
such as handles that provide the ability to rotate, scale, and translate
3D objects, to gesture-based sketching, voice-
driven command and object specification, and haptic feedback modalities.
These direct manipulation modes help decrease
cognitive distance by more closely modeling the way human beings actually
work."
To attend a talk on the gestural user interface research currently underway
in the Brown University Graphics
lab, attend the SIGGRAPH/Boston Meeting on Wednesday, 8 October 1997,
at 7:00pm, at Brown University, Providence RI
USA. More info from http://www.siggraph.org/chapters/boston
The latest version of the full commercial package, WebDGN Server, includes
redlining, reference file support,
and raster/vector hybrids with CIT and JPEG. Price is US$4500 per server;
the client side plugin is included free.
Download from http://www.pcscad.com
Future conference topics include:
JavaWorld also reports, "Sun CEO Scott McNealy has threatened to pull
Microsoft's license for apparent
violations, but Microsoft contends it has adhered to the agreement.
(No one but Sun Microsystems and Microsoft are
privy to the terms of the Java licensing agreement signed by Microsoft.)"
Being interpreted pseudo-code, conventional thinking is that Java must
run much slower than compiled languages. Cats
Software ran a computing speed test that consisted of calculating partial
differential equations. The result
showed that using JSK v1.1.3, Java's performance was just 4% - 10%
slower than Microsoft C++ v5.0.
Fujitsu Software has released NetCOBOL (US$750), a COBOL compiler that
outputs Java applets. More info from
http://www.fsc.fujitsu.com
It seems that several Delmar Publishing staff have migrated from Albany
NY USA for warm New Mexico sun to work
for OnWord Press/High Mountain Press. Dale Bennie is the new vp of
publishing, while Liz Bennie (nee Moslander) is
marketing director.
CAD vendor gone book publisher: Steve Schroff of Schroff Associates,
in Mission KS USA developed the
SilverScreen CAD software. More recently, he has moved into book publishing,
as well. For more info: +1 (913) 262-2664.
Cadalyst magazine's editor-in-chief, Gene Smarte, calls the Oct'87
issue "the biggest in Cadalyst's history."
[Sorry, Gene. At 154 pages, your October issue holds a distant second-place
to the 176-page Dec'90 issue. -- Ed.]
HumanCAD Systems
HumanCAD is adding Spatial’s 3D ACIS into its ergonomic CAD software.
This'll help out HumanCAD’s data interoperability
with other 3D CAD software. HumanCAD Systems of Toronto ON Canada is
a subsidiary of BCAM International.
ICEM
ICEM Surf v2.3 is shipping. This new version focuses on collaborative
tools including greater flexibility when using
ICEM Surf with other CAD systems. NURBS surfaces from other systems
can now be converted to Bezier representations so
that features like Global Modeling can be applied to existing designs.
More info from: http://www.icem.com
Intel
The Wall Street Journal says Digital Equipment Corp will sell its Alpha
RISC CPU technology to Intel at a price of
US$1.5 billion.
Intel has decided to go with interactive TV technology from Network
Computer (owned by Oracle and backed by
Netscape, Cisco Systems, Scientific-Atlanta, and tv-maker Thomson/RCA).
Microsoft had hoped Intel would favor its
Windows CE-based system. [Can you imagine watching a TV that uses a
Microsoft operating system? You'd probably have to
reboot the TV just to change the channel :> -- Ed.]
The American FTC (Federal Trade Commission) is investigating alleged
unfair trade practices by Intel, since
it now controls 85% of the CPU market.
Internet
From Newsbytes, we hear that "the Swedish National Post Office has
announced ambitious plans to give every citizen
in Sweden, as young as age 6, their own e-mail address."
Just weeks after buying and selling bits and pieces of CompuServe and
AOL, WorldCom plans to acquire MCI
Communications for US$30 billion. Recall that MCI is planning to merge
with British Telecommunications.
A study by Interactive Media Study found the following uses for the
Internet:
#1. Gathering news and information.
#2. Email.
#3. Research.
#4. Surfing.
Kinetix
Hyperwire software now supports the Whip v2 DWF file viewer.
Microsoft
Shipment of Internet Explorer v4.0 caused Microsoft shares to fall
5/8 while Netscape shares rose 2 (up 5.8%).
www.autodesk.com/ltlearn
Use the Learning Assistance software for free to get familiar with
the AutoCAD LT 97 product before purchase --
or if you're traveling and didn't bring the CD-ROM with you but need
help.
http://graphicscity.intergraph.com/
Graphics City, where "a pixel is worth a thousand words." Actually,
it's a gallery of computer-generated images and an
on-line sales outlet for Intergraph products. By filling out the user
survey form, you can get a free T-shirt.