Apple's biggest leap in technology since 1984 is due in 1999: elements of its core (pun intended) Mac OS will be combined with elements of Rhapsody in the new Mac OS X. With the arrival of the iMac (see last week's Computimes), Apple is suddenly looking lively.
Sun Spat: Sun Microsystems has asked the US District Court in San Jose to require Microsoft to include a a version of Java fully compatible with the standard implementation in Windows98. Sun has also asked the court to bar Microsoft from shipping its software tools for the Java programming environment unless they generate only fully compatible Java software.
Direct By Satellite: Net Results has announced the availability of net.direct, a satellite based connection to the Internet, providing up to 400kbps download speeds. net.direct is the first satellite Internet connection to be commercially available in Ireland.
Adobe 5.0: The new version of the digital-imaging software includes features such as Multiple Undo, Editable Text, Enhanced Colour Management and Spot-Colour Channel Support.
Fab Intel: Intel's Fab 14, the new 0.25 micron microprocessor production factory at Leixlip, the first such plant in Europe, cost US$1.3 billion to build and equip. Intel has 3 other 0.25 micron plants in the US. Using the new technology, between 40 and 400 transistors could be placed in the width of a pollen spore. Pentium II, Xeon and Celeron processors will be produced for the worldwide market.
Shannon Development: Attachmate, the PC software company, will tomorrow open its International Technical Support Centre in Shannon; the new facility includes the first Automatic Call Distribution switch of its kind in the West of Ireland. Attachmate says that customers will be able to access database information via the Internet.
IONA: Iona Technologies' Orbix is Network Computer Magazine's Best ORB (Object Request Broker) Middleware Product of 1998, its 2nd. such award in succession.
Teachers Insite: A new Web site, created by teachers for teachers with the aim of providing a one-stop-site for the latest information on educational supplies and services. Educational suppliers can present their products directly to schools via the new site at www.teachers-insite.ie.
Wobegon Web: Author and radio star Garrison Keillor will write a twice-monthly Web column for trendy Salon Magazine (www.salonmagazine.com).
Opera Goes To The Amiga: Opera Software announces Amiga version of the popular browser. Planned in time for the Christmas market.
TechnoFutures: TechnoFutures, in partnership with Bank of Ireland, Siemens Nixdorf and Microsoft, claim they can make PC ownership a possibility for every 3rd level Irish student. From last Friday discounted, computing solutions for 3rd level students are available from TechnoFutures. Information at (01) 670 3782.
Our Own Trumpet: Irish Times On The Web had audited figures for March '98 (October '97 in brackets) of 5.99 million page impressions (4.25), 1.57 million visits (1.2) and 620,623 unique users (396,131). Join the converted at www.irish- times.com.
In Brief...C-Phone Corp. shares double when it announces a television-top Internet link over a 'phone line (look, no computer). . .Text 100, PR consultancy to the computer sector, has opened a Sydney office. . .ISOCOR's N-PLEX Global for Solaris is to be used by SimpleNet, the Web hosting service, to counter spamming. . .3Com announces new Web-based management features for its Layer 3 switching systems and has been selected by US-based TCI.NET to provide high-speed cable modems and broadband networking equipment . . .Oracle announces Designer/2000, a modelling tool with automatic appication generation. . .Network Associates (formerly McAfee) acquires Secure Networks Inc. . .Digital and Oracle, using AlphaServers break the 100,000 transactions per minute database limit. . .Ericssons has launched its 8th. African GSM 'phone network. . .