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March 7, 1997 Announcements

Solution Technology Launches True Omni-forms Processing.

After quietly fielding initial systems to selected corporate and government clients, Solution Technology is now moving its modular Genie , omni-forms processing system into general release. These Genie systems accommodate different forms processing volumes, ranging from a single standalone system to multi-station, networked, parallel processing workflow environment systems. Typical client volumes range from a few hundred per day to 26,000 forms per day. Genie can be modularly expanded to accommodate nearly any volume.

Genie scans and imports images, recognizes forms, performs OCR/ICR, barcode and mark sense, does edit/repair, and exports indexed images and data to existing imaging and data base systems. Genie allows customers to build high performance, cost effective, omni-forms processing systems that do not require end-user or custom programming.

Form Recognition uses STi's unique omni-form "Form Fingerprinting" technology. Form fingerprints are generated automatically from a reference image. Images are corrected for distortions in both axises for precise registration. The registered image is converted into a compacted spatial abstraction. Unknown forms are similarly fingerprinted and then matched against known form fingerprints. The STi form recognition processors can discriminate forms with as much as 25% damage and a 5% scale difference between the reference and the image to be processed. Rejected unknown images are shunted aside for manual processing. The recognized candidates are organized into a list ordered by match criteria. Optional secondary recognition processors examine symbols, titles, barcodes and other form identifiers to discriminate between forms with otherwise similar fingerprints.

New form templates are easily added by scanning a reference form and selecting learn. You designate the areas of interest with a mouse, assign a field processor (Barcode, OCR/ICR, etc.) and name the field. Additional fields can be easily added or deleted at any time. There is no limit to the number of fields per form as well as no practical limits on the number of forms.

Edit repair stations correct and dispose of forms quickly. The editor displays original image and field data to be corrected to minimize operator fatigue. Fields without errors are auto-skipped, stopping on the next field to be corrected.

Genie's form reader servers support multiple OCR/ICR engines on the same form. Current engines include plug-ins from Nestor, Mitek, as well as STi's own engine. Other plug-ins include an "All Angle Barcode Anywhere ", field barcodes, patch codes, mark sense, signature detection and extraction, name and address block decoding, tabular data processing and multi-field data roll-up.

Genie is available on OS/2 with NT currently scheduled for release by 2Q97. TCP-IP and NetBIOS communication protocols are supported. STi's native 32 bit TWAIN for OS/2 and TWAIN for NT support desktop scanners from Hewlett-Packard through Kodak 900 at their rated speeds. Most industry and corporate image file formats are also supported including TIFF (i.e. CCITT-G3 and CCITT-G4), MO:DCA/IOCA, PSEG, GIF, PCX, DCX and many fax file formats. Genie supports direct export of indexed images to imaging systems (i.e. IBM ImagePlus) as well as user scripted ASCII transaction record files.

For more info see the STi web site.
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X File for OS/2 Released.

X File, "The Open File Dialog Fixer", is a desktop enhancer which adds major enhancements to the standard OS/2 microscopic "open/save as" file dialog. Nothing paranormal here - just real useful stuff.

X File runs under OS/2 3.0 or later, is small and non-intrusive, and will save you from the merrily-we-scroll-along syndrome. Works with many apps such as System Editor and SmallEd - see list below for more. Another must-have X utility from the company that gave you X it and Matrix.

This utility will enhance many existing applications, such as System Editor(E), Enhanced System Editor (EPM), SmallEd, Mesa/2, Home Page Publisher, PMMail, BackAgain/2, FM/2, HTML Studio, PhotoGraphics, Netscape/2, Program Commander/2, NeoN Grafix Lite, PMJpeg, Adobe Acrobat, PMuue, Iedit, Initor, PMMpeg, UNZip Shell, Compuserve Information Manager, Icon Editor, Icon Heaven, WebExplorer, Internet Adventurer, ZOC, GVPM, HexEdit/2, IniMaint, ISDN Watcher, ZIPme, Visual Age products, Borland development products, Compare, EquationEditor/2, PMpgp, RexxEdit, Maple V/2, BlueCad, Nota Musica, OS/2 Disk Catalog,LogoArt, PMSpy, Pastry Box, OS/2 Multimedia tools (Digital Audio, Video, etc), PMDMatch, Matrix, Mahjongg and many more.

X File for OS/2, the Desktop enhancement utility, is $15 US and is available at BMT Micro.
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New Resource - World's Largest Software Catalog.

Computer users have a powerful new tool to use in their quest for software at: http://www.filez.com. Filez, the leading software search site, has added a file catalog to its popular file search engine.

The Filez Catalog consists of over 10 million Macintosh and Windows files comprehensively categorized from worldwide sources. "FTP servers house an enormous amount of content virtually ignored by all the major search engines. We have leveraged the 75 million files collected by our search engine to create a Yahoo-type browsable catalog of that content," says Josef Block, VP of Marketing.

The best commercial, educational, shareware, freeware and personal archives are all combined to construct the Filez Catalog. Rather than visiting each individual site on the net, users can now browse many of the most popular sites all at Filez. Because the catalog contains directory listings (folders) as well as files, users can navigate even notoriously busy or slow sites quickly and easily.

Hundreds of file classifications covering all types of files make up the Filez catalog including Anti-Virus, Business, Games, Multimedia, Programming, System, and Utilities. While most software archives focus purely on programs, the Filez Catalog includes all types of files making it a comprehensive file resource. People interested in e-books, fonts, graphics, movies, and sound files will find the Catalog an ideal resource.

Designed for both Macintosh and Windows users, the Filez Catalog offers separate content areas for each platform. The server determines the platform of the user connecting to the site and then displays the applicable sections of the catalog. This insures that users are presented only with content suited for them and are not distracted by materials inappropriate for their computer.

Filez is the Internet's largest commercial file search engine and serves millions of search requests each month. Thousands of ftp sites around the world are indexed each week by a state of the art search system. The resulting database contains over 75 million files and is searchable for many types of files including Macintosh, Windows, games, sounds, graphics, movies, fonts and more. Searches can be executed on all servers or restricted to certain domains, countries, corporations or even individual servers.
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IBM's Upgrade Protection Option.

Because IBM Personal Software plans to release numerous, incremental feature enhancements for the OS/2 Warp products, even in between major version upgrades, now's the time to think about getting these enhancements for the lowest possible cost.

Do you purchase multiple copies of IBM-brand PC software? Would you like to save money on upgrades?

In summary, IBM's OS/2 Warp 4 and OS/2 Warp Server customers can purchase the Upgrade Protection Option (UPO) for 30% off regular prices, starting April 1. Upgrade Protection automatically provides you new versions of unannounced IBM software products, when available, during the length of your IBM Software Advantage contract. You are eligible for IBM Software Advantage if the total, non-discounted Suggested Retail Price (SRP) of your IBM software purchases is $20,000 or more.

For example, suppose you would like to purchase 75 new licenses of OS/2 Warp Version 4, with Upgrade Protection. The Suggested Retail Price is $219 per license, for a total of $16,425. The new Upgrade Protection price is $89 per license, for a total UPO cost of $6,675. (As a new IBM Software Advantage customer, putting your copies of OS/2 Warp 4 under Upgrade Protection automatically entitles you to any new versions for two years!) The total SRP is $23,100. A new Software Advantage contract at $20,000 or more qualifies for a 15% discount. So your final, Suggested Retail Price for 75 copies of OS/2 Warp 4, with Upgrade Protection, is $19,635.

In other words, for under $20,000 you get not only 75 OS/2 Warp Version 4 licenses, but also any and all new versions of OS/2 Warp (and incremental feature enhancement packages) for the next two years!

If you're not part of IBM Software Advantage, and you buy IBM-brand PC software (excluding Lotus and Tivoli software titles), you ought to take a look at Software Advantage and the Upgrade Protection Option. IBM's volume discount plan can save you more as you buy more. Purchase lots of IBM PC software, and your discount level could be as high as 45%. Now, thanks to lower pricing on Upgrade Protection for OS/2 Warp products, you can lock in the savings and get new versions and feature enhancements automatically.

Please contact your IBM PC software marketing representative or your favorite IBM software reseller for more information on the IBM Software Advantage and Upgrade Protection programs. Don't wait until April 1st! Ask about Upgrade Protection today.

Note that pricing and terms may vary outside the United States, but that IBM Software Advantage is a worldwide program. IBM Software Advantage is a contract with IBM authorizing you to purchase volume licenses of IBM software from your favorite IBM software reseller(s) at discounted prices. For all the rules, please consult the IBM Software Advantage announcement, available on the Internet at http://www.ibmlink.ibm.com/ibmlink/.

IBM OS/2 SOFTWARE ADVANTAGE UPO PROMOTION

 *-------------------------------------------------------------------*
  AT A GLANCE
    o   For a limited time only, the Upgrade Protection SRP of
        selected OS/2 Warp products will be discounted by
        approximately 30% for Software Advantage customers.
    o   The final order date is September 30, 1997.
    o   For ordering, contact your IBM representative or an IBM
        Business Partner.
 *-------------------------------------------------------------------*
For a limited time only, the Upgrade Protection Option (UPO) suggested retail price (SRP) of OS/2 (R) Warp 4, OS/2 Warp Server Version 4, OS/2 Warp Server Advanced, and OS/2 Warp Server Version 4 Use Based Features will be discounted by approximately 30% for new or existing IBM Software Advantage customers.

Orders must be placed on or after April 1, 1997, but no later than September 30, 1997.

This promotion is available only in the United States and Puerto Rico.

If you are a commercial, state or local government, or education customer, you can participate. If you are a federal government customer, call 800-333-6705 to determine eligibility.

IBM reserves the right to modify or withdraw this promotion at any time.

This promotion offers customers the opportunity to take advantage of IBM's plans for OS/2 Warp 4 and OS/2 Warp Server. They can purchase the Upgrade Protection Offer (UPO) of their Software Advantage Contract for approximately 30% off the suggested retail price and receive any new versions or releases during their contract period at no additional charge. By adding UPO for OS/2 Warp 4 and OS/2 Warp Server licenses, they will be ready to benefit from new functions as soon as they are available.

Questions pertaining to this promotion should be directed to Fred Behning at AUSNOTES(BEHNING).

ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Customers may order Upgrade Protection Option for OS/2 Warp 4, OS/2 Warp Server Version 4, OS/2 Warp Server Version 4 Advanced, and OS/2 Warp Server Version 4 Use Based Features under their Software Advantage Agreement using the part numbers shown in this announcement. During the promotional period, the suggested retail prices associated with those part numbers will reflect the promotion discount. The Software Advantage Administrative Center (SAAC) will update the customers' Software Advantage records in the usual manner. Software Advantage customers will receive revenue credit towards their Software Advantage contracts based on the discounted prices that they actually pay.

 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
 ELIGIBLE PRODUCTS
                                              PART      DISCOUNTED
 DESCRIPTION                                  NUMBER    SRP*
 OS/2 Warp 4 UPO
  (OTC)                                       84H1794   $ 89.00
 OS/2 Warp 4 UPO
  (Quarterly)                                 84H1795     11.13
 OS/2 Warp Server
  UPO (OTC)                                   28H0075    169.00
 OS/2 Warp Server
  UPO (Qtrly)                                 28H0076     21.13
 OS/2 Warp Server
  Advanced UPO (OTC)                          28H0079    265.00
 OS/2 Warp Server
  Advanced UPO (Qtrly)                        28H0080     33.13
 OS/2 Warp Server
  Use Based Feature
  UPO (OTC)                                   28H0077     11.00
 OS/2 Warp Server
  use Based Feature
  UPO (Qtrly)                                 28H0078      1.38
Note:  SRP = Suggested Retail Price
You may order Upgrade Protection Option for OS/2 Warp 4, OS/2 Warp Server Version 4, OS/2 Warp Server Version 4 Advanced, and OS/2 Warp Server Version 4 Use Based Features under your Software Advantage Agreement using the part numbers shown in this announcement. During the promotional period, the suggested retail prices associated with those part numbers will reflect the promotion discount. The Software Advantage Administrative Center (SAAC) will update your Software Advantage records in the usual manner. You will receive revenue credit towards your Software Advantage contracts based on the discounted prices that you actually pay.
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IBM Teleconference on Directory and Security Management.

IBM is sponsoring a teleconference in the U.S. to discuss issues relating to enterprise directory and security management. Most computer networks today are confusing, with several different security systems requiring different passwords. Also, it's hard to find information where you need it, and it's difficult to maintain security. All too often people who shouldn't get access do manage to break in. If you're involved in information technology management, you're a LAN administrator, or you plan or design LANs, you won't want to miss this call.

Consolidate and Secure Your Networks with IBM's DSS
---------------------------------------------------
March 11 1997
10:30 a.m. EST   Session number 286942
 2:30 p.m. EST   Session number 286943
For IT Management, LAN administrators and Strategic Planners Technical Level : Intermediate

Now even PC users can participate in multivendor networks and enjoy the benefits of distributed computing across global directories with the protection of Kerberos authentication, DCE access control, and DES/CDMF encryption. IBM recently moved DCE to the industry-standard PC platform and enhanced it by integrating industry-leading file/print sharing, application serving, an award-winning administrative interface, and much more.

You can consolidate all your LAN Server, Warp Server, NT Server and AIX networks into a single "cell." Network WAN as easily as a LAN, and end users can access any resource in any domain, if authorized.

DSS is based on industry-standard DCE technology, so application development and portability are simplified, and your networks can easily integrate offerings from heterogeneous vendors on disparate platforms.

Bruce Bogart, IBM Corporation, develops strategies and supporting plans and programs in the distributed system services market. He joined IBM in 1973 from a career in the publishing industry. He has held a variety of positions at IBM, both in product development and marketing, focusing on personal computer networking and systems management products. He was previously brand manager for IBM's family of systems management software products and IBM's family of DCE for OS/2 products.

To enroll, please call 1-800-289-0583 and mention the session number that you wish to attend. You will receive a call packet prior to the call with call-in information and presentation materials.
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Alternative Movie Database for OS/2 Released.

I'm proud to announce the availability of the Alternative Movie Database for OS/2, Version 1.04.

The Alternative Movie Database is a front-end for the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) and provides fast and easy local access to the IMDb. It consists of several command-line tools for creating and querying the database. A more comfortable way to query the database is the also supplied graphical user interface for OS/2 Presentation Manager.

The whole package is free software and released under the GNU General Public License.

I've uploaded the Alternative Movie Database 1.04 as amd1_04a.zip and amd1_04b.zip to HOBBES.

The most recent version of the Alternative Movie Database can always be found on the following ftp-servers:

  ftp://uiarchive.cso.uiuc.edu/pub/info/imdb/tools/os2/       (USA, main site)
  ftp://gatekeeper.digital.com.au/pub/imdb/tools/os2/         (Australia)
  ftp://ftp.fu-berlin.de//pub/misc/movies/database/tools/os2/ (Germany)
  ftp://ftp.funet.fi/pub/culture/tv+film/database/tools/os2/  (Finland)
  ftp://ftp.sunet.se/pub/tv+movies/imdb/tools/os2/            (Sweden)
The IMDb Movie-Lists, which are needed for the Alternative Movie Database to create the database, are also available on these ftp-servers.

For more information on the IMDb, look at its hompage: http://www.imdb.com/.

Visit my homepage at http://www.cs.tu-berlin.de/~siebert/ for information about other OS/2 programs written by me.

If you have no idea, what the IMDb is, here some facts about it:

The Internet Movie Database is an international organization whose objective is to provide useful and up to date movie information *freely* available on-line, across as many systems and platforms as possible. It currently covers over 65,000 movies with over 900,000 filmography entries and is expanding continuously.

The database includes filmographies for actors, directors, writers, composers, cinematographers, editors, production designers, costume designers, producers and a miscellaneous catch all section; plot summaries; character names; movie ratings; year of release; running times; movie trivia; quotes; goofs; soundtracks; personal trivia; alternative names; certificates; color information; country of production; genres; production companies; sound mix; reference literature; filming locations; sequel/remake information; release dates; advertising tag lines; detailed technical data; alternative versions; laserdisc availability; and Academy Award information.

The database aims to capture any and all information associated with movies from across the world, starting with the earliest cinema, going through to the very latest releases and even movies still in production. Many thousands of movies are covered completely from the major actors to the minor bit players and crew members. All the information comes from the users of the database so please continue to support it and help it to grow. The database is updated weekly and is available over the world wide web, an e-mail interface or for local installation on Unix, Amiga and MS-DOS machines.

In its five year history the IMDb has grown from a small informal project to a major Internet resource. The WWW interface to the database is one of the most popular and well-known sites of any class on the web. It is frequently cited as a model for how to create and organise a major web site and has received numerous awards and honours over the years.
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SM2ADDON for IBM SearchManager/2 Released.

I've written a DLL, which adds some important features to IBM SearchManager/2:

The DLL is free (but of course you need SM/2 to use it), you can download it via FTP from ftp://hobbes.nmsu.edu/incoming/sm2addon.zip at present, may move to /os2/diskutil).

Visit my homepage at http://www.cs.tu-berlin.de/~siebert/ for information about other OS/2 programs written by me.

What is IBM Searchmanager/2?

The IBM SearchManager/2 (SM/2) is a very powerful tool for easy finding a document which you remember being on your hard-drive, but have absolutely no idea, where it is or how it's named.

Just think of it as if you can use AltaVista to search your hard disk (in fact, AltaVista has released a similar program called "My Computer Private eXtension", but it only runs on Windows 95 and Windows NT).

Unfortunately the SM/2 is held secret by the IBM marketing and even support is hard to get (don't bother to search the Internet for fixes, just write to the support-staff on Compuserve, Forum IBMDES). At least there is some product information on IBM's WWW pages:

http://www.software.ibm.com/data/search/eyxn0mst.html
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Sound Scheme Manager Available.

Sound Scheme Manager is a freeware program to manage the Sound Schemes found in OS/2 Warp 4.0. It can add, edit or delete Sound Schemes.

The program is uploaded to ftp://ftp.cdrom.com/pub/os2/incoming/ssm100.zip , it is expected to be placed in ftp://ftp.cdrom.com/pub/os2/multimed soon. For more information enckevor@dds.nl.
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New Version of UNTGZ Released.

I'd like to announce the new version of UNTGZ, THE solution for extracting UNIX tar, tar.gz, tgz and gz files under OS/2, Windows NT/95 and DOS.

Why don't you have a look at the UNTGZ homepage, http://people.darmstadt.netsurf.de/tst/untgz.htm or download the program directly from ftp://garbo.uwasa.fi/pc/unix/untgz095.zip?

Of course, UNTGZ is free and comes with complete source.
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