Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!news.media.mit.edu!americast.com!usa-post Newsgroups: usa-today.tech From: usa-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: usa-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: tech Mon, May 4 1992 Date: Mon, 4 May 92 05:17:38 EDT Message-ID: 05-04 0000 DECISIONLINE: Technology USA TODAY Update May 4, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network ENDEAVOUR GOES UP THURSDAY: Work continued at Cape Canaveral Sunday toward space shuttle Endeavour's first launch, set for 7:06 p.m. EDT Thursday. The orbiter replaces Challenger, which blew up during a 1986 launch. Kathryn Thornton, a 39-year-old physicist, is slated to become the second U.S. woman to walk in space when she practices techniques for building the U.S. space station Freedom. POWERBOOK HAS PROBLEM: Some of Apple Computer Inc.'s PowerBook portables have loose battery packs that can short out, Computerworld reports. If a piece of metal comes in contact with the negative and positive poles, a fire could result. Only two cases have been reported, but Apple is notifying all owners and is offering owners who call (800) 377-4127 a free protective case for the batteries. GIGETREND OFFERS HELP IN L.A.: GigaTrend Inc. is offering disaster recovery assistance to businesses in the Los Angeles County area whose computer systems or local area networks have been damaged by fire, vandalism or other means. The firm will provide assistance to any of its customers who require on-site technical help restoring their computer systems to full operation. The phone number is (619) 931-9122. EXPERVISION UPGRADES SOFTWARE: ExperVision said it has upgraded its TypeReader Optical Character Recognition software. It is compatible with Microsoft Windows 3.1 and AccuPage technology from Hewlett-Packard Co. OCR Version 1.01 has improved file export formats and has wider range of scanner support. The upgrade is available free to registered users directly from ExperVision by calling 800-READ-TYPE. NINTENDO WINS SUIT: A federal court jury Friday returned a verdict in favor of Nintendo in the Nintendo of America vs. Atari Corp. antitrust case. Following an 11-week trial, the nine-member jury unanimously found that Nintendo's video game licensing program had not caused Atari any damages. Atari filed suit in 1989, claiming it was injured because of Nintendo's alleged violation of the antitrust laws. MARKET POWER CALLED LEGAL: In deciding in favor of Nintendo of America in a suit filed by Atari, a federal court jury Friday found that Nintendo did not have any intent to monopolize the U.S. home video game market, as alleged by Atari. While the jury found Nintendo did have market power, such power is perfectly legal if Nintendo's success results from its superior products and performance. MICRONICS GETS NEW CEO: Micronics Computers Inc. said Friday Chuck K. Chan has been named the firm's new CEO. He replaces Frank W. Lin, who will retire at the end of May. Micronics Computers makes system boards for IBM compatible personal computers. A system board contains the microprocessor and supporting circuitry and memory components that form the core of a personal computer. E-SYSTEMS GAINS CONTRACT: E-Systems said Friday it has been awarded a multi-year contract from the Department of Education to provide data processing and other services related to the Guaranteed Student Loan program. The multi-year contract has options which run through the year 2000 and is expected to exceed $70 million. Initial funding is valued at $16.5 million. TAIWAN GOVERNMENT OKS DEAL: The Taiwan government has given qualified approval to Taiwan Aerospace Corp. to begin negotiations to buy up to 40% of McDonnell Douglas's commercial transport division, Aviation Week & Space Technology reports Monday. The government would finance up to 49% of the cost. The move clears the way for Taiwan Aerospace to invest up to $2 billion in McDonnell Douglas's transport business. U S WEST UNVEILS FAXMAIL: Fax Mail, a new service that is like voice mail, but for faxes, was unveiled in Seattle Friday by U S West and will soon be available in the Seattle area. Fax Mail electronically stores incoming faxes until a subscriber chooses to print them. Fax Mail subscribers can print fax messages on any available fax machine. It also works with computers equipped with fax modems or fax cards. TECHNOLOGIES TO COME TOGETHER: In the near future, cable, cellular, telephone and computer technologies will be combined, says Peggy Laramie, spokeswoman for the National Cable Television Association. That will provide for new business opportunities for cable operators, equipment suppliers and programmers, she says. "We must be positioned to both compete and to cooperate where new technology is concerned," she says. MCDONNELL DOUGLAS GETS CONTRACT: The Houston Division of McDonnell Douglas Space Systems Co. has been selected by NASA as the technical support contractor for the Space Exploration Initiative. The contract is valued at $20 million. McDonnell Douglas will provide engineering support for mission analysis and systems engineering tasks and will assist with integration of space transportation, orbital nodes and robotics. Technology Editor: Ed Kelleher. (1-919-855-3491) Making copies of USA TODAY Update (Copyright, 1992) for further distribution violates federal law. This article is copyright 1992 Gannett News Service. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM