SHELL USERS CAN NOW JOIN THE GRAPHICAL WEB
The Internet Adapter (TIA) is a new WWW access utility that can let you use graphical software via a standard Unix shell account. Basically TIA lets you on the Web without an expensive TCP/IP connection, if you can convince your sysadmin to install the host software. Cyberspace Development publishes versions for SunOS/Solaris and BSDI (on 386/486) host machines; new ports are being worked on. Under most conditions, performance is comparable to that of a PPP connection. Understand, however, that this isn't a network connection; only suitably modified client applications can be run, no peer-to-peer or server applications can be run on the remote side. TIA on the client side gets you Web software and multiple levels of support by SoftAware. Host and site licenses are offered by Intermind Corporation. Single user: $25. Host: $495. Free, limited-time license copies available via FTP for trial users. E-mail: softaware@marketplace.com "ftp://marketplace.com/tia/doc" "gopher://marketplace.com/" "http://marketplace.com/"
Rumors from the ONEBBSCON convention in Atlanta indicate that Sirius Software has a module called "Game Connection" which enables multiplayer games to be played under MajorBBS 6.2. In addition to the maga-hit Doom, other games which reportedly may work with it are Empire Deluxe, Global Conquest, and Spectre VR, all with 4 or more simultaneous players. Apparently several four way Doom games may be played at once. Hang around in alt.bbs to get the latest scoop on this and other BBS related goodies coming out of ONEBBSCON.
HARDCOPY ROAD MAP TO INTERNET FROM PC COMPUTING MAGAZINE
Now you can actually see where the heck you've been going on the Infobahn. Well, sort of. Shrink-wrapped inside the September issue of PC Computing is an honest-to-goodness hardcopy map of the Internet. It's focused primarily on WWW, Gopher and FTP sites related to business, finance, education, government and technology, so if you're looking for MOOs or Usenet newsgroups, you won't find them here. Size is 24.75" x 37.25". The September issue also features some juicy tidbits about the net and online services. Word about the map got around and, not surprisingly, issues are hard to find.
S.J. MERCURY NEWS TO DEVELOP INTERNET NEWSPAPER
The San Jose Mercury News has signed a deal with Mosaic Communications Corporation of Mountain View, CA, for software that will result in an electronic newspaper on the Internet. The Knight-Ridder newspaper currently offers Mercury Center, an online newspaper service. According to S.J. Mercury News president and executive editor Bob Ingle, the company is "excited about the potential of the World Wide Web and about being the first newspaper to use Mosaic Communications' new software." Don't these executives get excited easily?
NET-HAPPENINGS USENET NEWSGROUP CREATED
The moderated Usenet newsgroup comp.internet.net-happenings has just passed the voting stage. Previously, the contents of this group existed as a mailing list moderated by Gleason Sackman. The list carried a high volume of Internet related announcements, and has been a good place to keep an eye out for new services and surfing sites. E-mail majordomo@is.internic.net with the body: subscribe net-happenings. Be careful of overflowing your mailbox though.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS TASK FORCE WANTS INPUT
If you publish online this is probably of interest to you. After just having issued a preliminary draft of a report entitled "Intellectual Property and the National Information Infrastructure," a White House task force is soliciting public comment. Copies of the report may be obtained by calling Terri Southwick or Michael O'Neil at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office at (703) 305-9300. Public hearings will be held in Chicago on Sept. 14, in Los Angeles on Sept. 16 and in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 22. Now if we could only access the report online...
SOME INTERESTING STATS ON YOUR AVERAGE WEB USER
He's overwhelmingly male (95%), between 20-30 years old, uses mostly Unix, spends way too much time in front of his computer, and is willing to pay for Web access. But don't take our word for it, try the Georgia Tech Graphics Visualization & Usability Center site which contains the contents of a recent Web user survey. The results also include such things as location, occupation, type of machine used, etc. It's all in nice GIF pie charts so be patient as you download. The GVUC home page also provides access to a variety of intimidatingly titled technical reports which make for interesting browsing for the techie types among us. Survey Graphs: "http://www.gatech.edu/pitkow/survey/survey-1-1994/graphs/results-general.html" GVUC Home Page: "http://www.cc.gatech.edu/gvu/"
TO HTML OR NOT TO HTML, THAT IS THE FAQ
The debate was started by claird@Neosoft.com, who posed the innocent question of whether FAQ (Frequently Asked Question) documents should be produced in HTML format as the new universal standard. The resulting lively debate can be followed on alt.culture-internet (Subject: "The Construction of FAQs") and in the comp.infosystems* hierarchy. The slowly developing consensus seems to be that this kind of move, while not out of the question, may be slightly premature. In general it appears that HTML versions should be encouraged, but not at the expense of plain ASCII text, which is still the most versatile universal medium of information exchange.
DO YOU REALLY LOVE YOUR TEDDY BEAR?
There's a new group for stuffed animal lovers, and we really do mean lovers. Alt.sex.plushies is the newsgroup for those who love their stuffed animals in a very physical way. If you're bonding with your bear and you want to consummate the relationship, get advice and support from these people. Admittedly, they spend much of their time fending off flames and ridicule from ignoramuses, but there are some valuable insights. For example, Barney is not a popular target for romance for some reason (I love you ... you don't love me?!?). Even those who like purple dinosaurs prefer Baby Bop. And you know those animals in costume at the mall, like the Easter Bunny? They may be having more fun than you think.
SILLINESS ON ALT.CULTURE-INTERNET
As long as we were looking at alt.culture-internet we thought we'd give you a couple of other reasons to hang out there. Aside from the FAQ question (see above) an equally lively if somewhat sillier debate swirls around the use of the term "the net" when referring to the Internet. (Should you, or shouldn't you?) Drop in and join the warfare, or just hang out and peruse the (plain text) version of the alt.internet.viking FAQ recently posted there. Better then laughing gas.
AIN'T WHISTLIN' DIXIE: GOOD MUSIC, GREAT CONCEPT
It's sites like this that highlight the true power of the Internet and make Netsurfing a joy. David Walker is an amateur musician to whom a record company would probably not give the time of day despite his obvious talent. But here he is presenting what may well be the first Internet music album featuring a great collection of traditional Irish and American tunes. There are 12 tunes here, performed with a penny whistle and ocarina, presented in a brilliantly simple Web page design. Three buttons per tune give you a choice of accessing AU or AIFF formats, or playing a short sample of the tune. The concept, and especially the basic design, deserve to be emulated. Very cool. "http://mothra.nts.uci.edu:80/~dhwalker/dixie/"
THROUGH LOVERS' EYES: MOODY AND EVOCATIVE ART EXHIBIT
We'd like to call your attention to this series of works by Linda Strauss of SUNY Potsdam now on exhibit via the Web. The 20 works available here are presented with a brief statement from the artist putting them in context and are broken down into several thematic series. These somewhat moody and autumnal works, available in 24 bit JPEG or GIF formats, would probably make fine background screens. The actual exhibit link from the home page includes one picture from each series in a preview inline image, but even so, be prepared for a few minutes of download. An interesting visual diversion. "http://www.potsdam.edu/art_expo/HOMEPAG.html"
TREAD LIGHTLY WHERE THE BUFFALO ROAM
Where The Buffalo Roam is a cartoon apparently produced with some regularity and posted on the Web. In itself this is a laudable idea, and while the humor of this work may or may not be considered dubious it is the technical end of things which really needs some attention. The scan and GIF conversion job on these text filled cartoon drawings is of very poor quality making them virtually unreadable. A cautionary example for budding Web artists. The collection is part of The Internet Plaza, yet another Web space provider, currently hosting an eclectic if somewhat short list of commercial links. Neat company logos though. Where The Buffalo Roam "http://xor.com:80/wtbr/" The Internet Plaza: "http://plaza.xor.com/"
BROWSING THROUGH THE INTERNET BOOK SHOP
Oh, brave new world: while you wait for the pizza you ordered via the Internet, why not browse through a book store? Online, of course... The Internet Book Shop displays detailed information about each book, including content, reviews, and suggested readership. The book shop features a complete mailing list service, which includes more than 1,000 subject areas; online ordering mechanisms; and searching tools that include suggestions for related titles when you are viewing a book. Not quite as fun as a real bookstore, but nearly as useful. "http://www.demon.co.uk/bookshop"
LI NEWSWIRE: NEWS, INFO & TASTEFUL PROMOTION
Learned Information in the U.S.. Is doing an interesting and tasteful job of presenting news and information as a form of subtle promotion for independent print publications. They present just the right mix of graphics and stories for each of their client publications and only when you read an article do you find a small link to the subscription information form for that publication. Follow the link to get info and you can then subscribe to the print edition. Departments in issue 4 of LI NewsWire were Information World Review, Electronic Documents, Expert Systems, Online & CD-ROM Review and The Electronic Library. "http://info.learned.co.uk" "gopher://info.learned.co.uk"
GRAPHIC MAGAZINE FOR IBM PC COMPUTER GAME LOVERS
Game Bytes is a cooperative effort of gamers on the Internet, a free text/graphic interactive magazine coming out quarterly with reviews of new PC action and strategic games. You'll need a PC to read it, and if you want to see pictures you'll need a video card that supports VESA. The interface is easy to use, reviews are short, pithy, reasonably well-written, and the screen shots of new games are always interesting. Other material includes editorial comment and an advertising section for computer game companies. Back issues are also available. So check it out for unbiased reviews before you waste your money on something that doesn't help you waste time. Get gbXX-gra.zip AND gbXX.zip, where XX is the issue number. "ftp://ftp.uml.edu/msdos/Games/Game_Bytes/"
WANT TO BE THE NEXT HEMINGWAY? VERBIAGE PAYS YOU TO TRY
If you're a writer of short fiction, Verbiage wants you. A magazine on the World Wide Web, Verbiage accepts stories (no poetry) up to 3,000 words in length, and prints about ten stories per issue. Upon publication on WWW, authors receive $10 per story. Submission guidelines and issues 1 and 2 can be accessed on the Verbiage home page. Help them out and send them your fine prose. "http://sunsite.unc.edu/boutell/verbiage/index.html"
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