The OS/2 WarpFlash - 14

THE OS/2 WARPFLASH -  Issue #14 (May 22, 1995) IMPORTANT NEWS!!!!!!

The OS/2 WarpFlash is now available as a mailing list - but if you subscribed to the old dstrong@vnet.ibm.com address you will have to resubscribe.

Send e-mail to: netwarp@ibm.net with your e-mail Subject line = "SUBSCRIBE WARPFLASH"

You will then automatically receive the weekly OS/2 WarpFlash in your mail-box.

Important Note

I lost (or rather my hard drive lost) the list I was building from past cards and letters sent to me at dstrong@vnet.ibm.com. Please resubscribe to the netwarp@ibm.net address. Sorry for the inconvenience.

YES, I WILL STILL POST OS/2 WarpFlash to the USENET groups

BACK ISSUES of the OS/2 WarpFlash are now available on the following Web site: http://www.iceonline.com/home/duncans/warpflash.html

"IT'S A WARPED WORLD" TOUR
Join IBM for a FREE seminar about OS/2 and OS/2 products. Knowledgeable presenters will demonstrate the features and benefits of using OS/2 in both business and personal settings.

During this fun, exciting day, you'll learn about installation, running DOS and Windows applications, running OS/2 applications, using the BonusPak applications The day starts at 8:00am with coffee and a showcase of OS/2 applications, The main tent presentation begins at 8:30. The three-hour session illustrates the benefits of OS/2 available now, OpenDoc, Taligent, and the future of OS/2
 * including the Internet Access Kit
 * and using OS/2 in a network.

Afternoon Breakout Sessions

"Warp Connections" - Attach to your existing NetWare network, host system, or other LAN. You'll learn about IBM's new peer-to-peer networking product and s why LAN Server is the fastest-growing network solution. You'll also get an overview of Communications Manager/2 and IBM's system management tools.

"It's a Warped World" - How can OS/2 help you do more? During this session you'll see how to use the OS/2 desktop, work with some of the 30-plus BonusPak applications, and use OS/2 applications. You'll also get a look at some neat OS/2 tricks.

"Get with the Program" - For independent software developers (ISVs), retailers, consultants, and VARs. You'll learn about the many programs IBM has to assist you with developing and selling OS/2 applications. Get the information you need about the OS/2 marketplace and how you can be a success in it!

"Internet at Warp Speed" - Are you ready for the Internet? OS/2's Internet Access Kit makes it easy to create an Internet account and navigate the ever-expanding world of the Internet. Learn how to use the tools and utilities to find the information you need. And what kind of information is out there? We'll show you!

"Hot Stuff" - OS/2 is the platform for some of the neatest applications on the market today. During this session, you'll see hot new products from IBM and other vendors. Expect to see software and hardware for accessing information and data on your computer using voice, object-oriented technology, and visual front-ends.

"Warp 101" - You're convinced that OS/2 is for you. Now you need the information to get OS/2 on your computer and run the applications you already have. During this session, you'll explore the installation options, learn to set up and run your existing applications, and customize the OS/2 desktop. By the end of the hour, you'll know how to really take advantage of your new operating system.

Doors open at 8:00am, first session at 8:30 Cost: FREE

Call 1-800-766-4344 to reserve your seat or e-mail your name, address, and phone number to 74452.1633@compuserve.com

DAY TWO - VISUAL REVOLUTION

This day-long session with a main tent and breakout sessions is for large development houses. During the day, you'll see a variety of IBM development tools for all IBM platforms. Breakout sessions include focuses on COBOL, VisualGen RPG, CICS and MQSeries, VisualAge, and PL/1.

Second Quarter Dates and Places
 * April 18       Omaha
 * April 26-27    Detroit (First city for Application Development)
 * May 3-4        Boston
 * May 8-9        Ft. Lauderdale
 * May 11         Orlando (Application Development only)
 * May 16-17      Philadelphia
 * May 23         Houston (Application Development only)
 * May 24-25      Dallas
 * May 31-1       Washington DC
 * June 6-7       Chicago
 * June 14-15     Tulsa
 * June 20-21     Des Moines
 * June 28-29     San Francisco

Third Quarter
 * July 10-11     Columbus, OH
 * July 13        Charlotte, NC (Visual Revolution only)
 * July 19-20     Toronto, Canada
 * July 26-27     Seattle, WA
 * August 2-3     Vancouver, Canada
 * August 9-10    Los Angeles, CA
 * August 16-17   Hartford, CT
 * August 23-24   Des Moines, IA
 * September 12-13 Pittsburgh, PA

1995 ISSUE 5 OF IBM SDO DEVELOPER SUPPORT NEWS
Announcing 1995 Issue 5 of IBM SDO Developer Support News (DSNEWS), in ASCII format.

Produced monthly and distributed electronically by the IBM Solution Developer Operations (SDO) organization, DSNEWS gives members of IBM's Developer Assistance programs the latest information about all the IBM technical, business, and marketing programs in place to help them develop and market their software successfully.

DSNEWS is *only* distributed electronically; IBM is not producing printed copies for distribution.

The monthly DSNEWS files are ZIPped into the file DSNymA.ZIP, where y = last digit of year, and m = issue number represented as alpha (for example, DSN5BA.ZIP is the 1995 second issue). DSNymA.ZIP contains:
 * This announcement file, DSNyA1.ANN
 * The current month's contents list, DSNym.SMY
 * An annual cumulative list of contents, DSNy.CUM (except for Issue 1)
 * The current month's ASCII newsletter, DSNymA.ASC

The ZIPped files are posted on several e-mail and BBS systems:
 * America Online, in the OS/2 forum, in the Newsletters library
 * CompuServe, in OS2DF2 forum, *DAP library section 14 and in OS2DF1 forum, OPEN FORUM library section 15
 * Fidonet, in the OS2 Information file area, FWOS2INFO
 * GEnie, in OS/2 Software Library 16
 * Hitline mailbox (Switzerland), in file area 8
 * IBM Canada BBS, in file area 35, OS/2 Programming
 * IBM Europe/Middle East/Africa (E/ME/A) DAP BBS, in file area GENERAL.DOCS
 * IBM France OS/2 Developer Assistance Program BBS, in area PUBS01
 * IBM OS2BBS (TALKLink), in OS/2 Software Library, in Documents and Info
 * IBM Personal Computer Company BBS, in file area 11, OS/2 Programming
 * Internet, via anonymous ftp from software.watson.ibm.com, in directory /pub/os2/info; or via Gopher from index.almaden.ibm.com, in the OS/2 Information menu
 * NIFTY-Serve (Japan), in FOS2 forum, library section 4
 * OS2NET (Europe), on all OS2NET bulletin boards in Europe, usually in the DSNEWS download area
 * PRODIGY, in the OS/2 Club topic's download library, in IBM Files

Note: If you cannot find files named dsn... (in lower case), look for files named DSN... (in upper case).

We hope our newsletter serves your needs, and we'd like your feedback - please send it to DSNEWS@VNET.IBM.COM.

(R) IBM and OS/2 are registered trademarks of International Business Machines Corp. (R) CompuServe is a registered trademark of CompuServe Inc.

Mike Engelberg, Editor

IBM DELIVERS NETWORKING POWER WITH OS/2 WARP CONNECT
NEW YORK, May 17, 1995 ... With the theme, "Make Your Connections," IBM today used Grand Central Terminal as a backdrop to announce the availability of OS/2* Warp Connect.

OS/2 Warp Connect follows the commercially successful, technically acclaimed OS/2 Warp which began shipping in November 1994. OS/2 Warp Connect combines OS/2 Warp and its BonusPak of productivity applications with a full set of integrated networking capabilities and software that provides peer and remote connections along with TCP/IP for dial-up and LAN access to the Internet, access to the most popular online services, and Lotus Notes Express.

OS/2 Warp Connect includes built-in requesters for IBM LAN Server and Novell NetWare, and can coexist with IBM LAN Server, Novell Netware, Microsoft's NT** and Windows for Workgroups**, Banyan Vines**, and LANtastic from Artisoft.** It features easy and advanced installation options and Configuration, Installation and Distribution (CID) for efficient installation across a networked enterprise.

Single Box Business Network Solution for Small Businesses

OS/2 Warp Connect is a complete software solution for anybody who is starting or running a small business. The operating system, with its built-in peer-to-peer networking, combined with the BonusPak of productivity software and Lotus Notes Express gives a small business what it needs to get a staff connected and productive, in a single box. Notes Express will include seven productivity templates. Five of them consist of those that Lotus ships in the retail version: discussion databases, client/server mail, phone book, reference databases, news databases; plus two of Lotus' other most popular templates.

Peer Networks Made Easy

OS/2 Warp Connect comes with everything needed to set up a peer network right out of the box. The built-in peer capability gives connected users an inexpensive, easy-to-use way to share resources, such as files, printers, and modems. In addition, users can share resources around the office or on the road with OS/2 Warp Connect's remote access capabilities.

Customers can use IBM Peer for OS/2* in a wide range of network environments. The peer software interoperates with OS/2 LAN Server version 3.0 or later editions, Microsoft Windows for Workgroups, Microsoft Windows NT, Microsoft LAN Manager 2.x, PC LAN Program 1.3, and Artisoft LANtastic 6.0.

A Perfect Fit in Existing Networks

For customers in large enterprises, OS/2 Warp Connect seamlessly links desktop machines to each other and to all major network operating systems, including IBM OS/2 LAN Server, Lotus Notes, Microsoft NT Server, Novell NetWare, and a variety of Internet servers. The OS/2 Workplace Shell* offers a graphical view of LAN resources by server and a hierarchical view of resources within domains.

OS/2 Warp Connect demonstrates IBM's commitment to Open Blueprint by supporting communication via NetBIOS, TCP/IP or IPX on Ethernet, Token Ring, and FDDI networks, eliminating the need to purchase network transports or client code when attaching to the industry's leading servers.

OS/2 Warp Connect will ship with TCP/IP for OS/2 Version 3. This version lets users simultaneously connect to local/wide area networks and to the Internet with a complete set of applications for browsing the World Wide Web, mail and file transfer. Because of its multiprotocol support, OS/2 Warp Connect provides a client/server platform so that customers can install DB2 for OS/2, Lotus Notes and Oracle server, for example, without any additional software.

"By including connectivity to industry-leading network operating systems, full support for TCP/IP and the Internet, and remote access, IBM has made OS/2 Warp a solid network citizen," said Jamie Lewis, president of the Burton Group, a consulting firm in Salt Lake City, Utah. "Because OS/2 Warp Connect will be network-enabled right out of the box, managers will no longer have to scramble to get the network software they need. With OS/2 Warp Connect's streamlined install, customers can get connected quickly in a variety of environments."

IBM is planning a release this summer of an additional CD for enterprise customers that will contain advanced networking support, including mobile file synchronization that enables users to disconnect from LAN Server, perform network operations and resynchronize their work after a session is re-established. The enterprise features include IBM System Performance Monitor/2, that allows system resources to be monitored on a single workstation; Personal Communications/3270 for OS/2 - IEEE 802.2 Entry Level, which provides 3270 mainframe emulation capability for up to two sessions; Communications Manager/2 SNA Application Environment, that allows users to run Advanced Program-to-Program Communication (APPC) applications; NetView Distribution Manager/2 (NVDM/2) StartUp, which provides for connection to a NVDM/2 server for easy download of the full NVDM/2 client, that is licensed separately; and the OS/2 Distributed Computing Environment (DCE) client, which allows an OS/2 system to participate in client/server applications based on the Open Software Foundation (OSF) remote procedure call.

Connect Provides Network Access for Employees on the Road or at Home

OS/2 Warp Connect provides remote features that allow users to remotely connect to their LANs from anywhere by phone, providing real-time access to network resources. The remote features are based on LAN Distance*, IBM's comprehensive remote LAN access software solution. With the peer software included with OS/2 Warp Connect and LAN Distance, users can set up a simple peer network over a telephone line.

"Secure remote access to office networks is becoming a necessity for almost all business users," said Frank Dzubeck, president of Communications Network Architects, Inc., a consulting firm in Washington, D.C. "Whether it be for telecommuting from home or conducting business from your car or hotel room, OS/2 Warp Connect's rich remote access features will unequivocally help to create a true virtual office."

OS/2 Warp Connect Integrated Installation

Installation is made easy through the integrated installation options with OS/2 Warp Connect. Users can select between easy or advanced installation options depending upon the amount of customization they want to achieve. Network administrators can use CID to install OS/2 Warp Connect across the enterprise.

OS/2 Warp Connect will initially ship in a blue spine version that includes IBM WIN-OS/2*, also known as "fullpack".

OS/2 Warp Connect with IBM WIN-OS/2 is shipping this week and will be generally available in the United States and Canada through IBM dealers, superstores and a variety of general retail outlets by the end of May. A version of OS/2 Warp Connect that uses customers' existing Windows will be available this summer. OS/2 Warp Connect with WIN-OS/2 and OS/2 Warp Connect will be available in 20 additional languages. * Indicates trademark or registered trademark of the IBM Corp. ** Indicates trademark of the identified company.

USAC OFFICIALS USE OS/2 WARP
THE WOMEN OF INDY GET "WARPED": IBM SOFTWARE HELPS RUN 1995 INDIANAPOLIS 500

INDIANAPOLIS, May 13, 1995... Ann Grobe, Lisa Lengerich, Veronica Frost, Pat Johnson and Georgette Bundrant are just five of more than 450 USAC officials who depend on OS/2* Warp and a wide range of IBM PC software and hardware products to help time, score and officiate the Indianapolis 500. The technology they use influences who gets to race and how the drivers and pit crews prepare their machines and strategies for track conditions.

The crew makes sure that the race cars are safe and equally matched. Grobe inputs all of the technical data for each car into an IBM OS/2- and DB2 for OS/2-based database management system called the Integrated Race Information Systems (IRIS). The IRIS system is a collection of USAC-written client/server application programs running on an IBM local area network under OS/2 LAN Server. The IRIS system serves as USAC's own information superhighway at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Scoring technicians Lisa Lengerich and Veronica Frost, who work in Indy's Gasoline Alley, also use the LAN so they can supply race teams with detailed performance reports during the weeks of practice, qualification and the race. The reports provide teams with car lap times, corner speeds and other in-depth information generated by transmitters on the cars, which communicate with the IMS/USAC timing system via a series of antennas embedded in the track. * Indicates trademark or registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation.

Indianapolis 500, Indy 500, Indy, and Gasoline Alley are registered trademarks of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corporation, USA.

IRIS in this context is the acronym for Integrated Race Information Systems, a collection of proprietary USAC Timing & Scoring programs used only at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

IBM news releases are available on the Internet via the IBM Home Page at http://www.ibm.com.

The IBM Fax Information Service allows you to receive facsimiles of prior IBM product press releases. Dial 1-800-IBM-4FAX and enter "99" at the voice menu.

BENTLEY ANNOUNCES COMMITMENT TO IBM's OS/2 WARP
Huntsville, AL - May 8, 1995 - Bentley Systems, Inc., the leader in professional computer-aided design products and services to engineers, architects, drafters, and organizations whose overall success relies on CAD,today announced that its MicroStation(R) Version 5.5 product will support IBM's OS/2(R) Warp operating system. Demonstrations of MicroStation for OS/2, the first major CAD product for OS/2, are being held at this week's International Intergraph Graphics Users Group (IGUG) in Huntsville, where over 2,000 MicroStation users are expected to convene.

MicroStation and OS/2 are well-matched products whose users share similar enterprise-wide computing requirements. MicroStation for OS/2 is expected to strengthen Bentley's position at IBM stronghold accounts and to proliferate the use and standardization of OS/2 in engineering organizations. As IBM's award-winning 32-bit operating system, OS/2 offers existing MicroStation users an important choice in planning enterprise-wide automation strategies.

Bentley CEO, Keith Bentley, says, "The increasing popularity of OS/2 demonstrates that our users need and want platform choices." Mr. Bentley continues, "OS/2 offers companies and organizations important, enterprise-wide information capabilities. Information management of this type is fast becoming a top priority for our users, as they typically use MicroStation for large-scale engineering projects, such as designing and maintaining airports, telecomm and electrical utility networks, roadways and complex mechanical products."

MicroStation also offers applications developers "platform independence." MicroStation applications developed using the MDL environment can quickly support any of MicroStation's platforms. For instance, when MicroStation for OS/2 is released, an MDL(TM) application can support OS/2 after a simple MDL recompilation. Consequently, Bentley expects many existing MicroStation applications to be available on OS/2 without delay.

For demonstrations or more information on the MicroStation range of products, please contact Bentley at 800/778-4274, via the Internet at family@bentley.com, or on the World Wide Web at http://www.bentley.com/.

Press Contact: Michelle Allard Boston Communications 617/247-1112 E-mail: mallard@bcomm.com ###

MicroStation is a registered trademark; MDL is a trademark; and MicroStationCSP is a service mark of Bentley Systems, Incorporated. OS/2 is a registered trademark and RS/6000 is a trademark of International Business Machines Corporation. Windows and Windows NT are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Other brands and product names are trademarks of their respective owners.

NEW OS/2 INTERNET APPLICATION ANNOUNCED BY SOFTOUCH SYSTEMS
If you are looking for an excellent companions to OS/2 Warp's Internet Access Kit, look to SofTouch Systems. They just announced the release of GammaTech Internet Relay Chat (IRC) version 1.0. This multi-user, multi-channel chat applications lets people all over the world have real-time conversations.

Channels are the mechanisms by where people carry on public discussions. Users can also talk in groups or in private conversations by using a user-selected nickname.

Rich Jones, president of SofTouch Systems says "Many users are attracted to OS/2 by the superior connectivity features which a true multitasking operating environment provides. By taking advantage of OS/2 technology the GammaTech IRC lets users join and change channels even as they monitor a conversation in Windows. As a complete Presentation Manager (PM) application, GammaTech provides menus and customizable toolbars to easily issue the IRC commands. SofTouch provides full documentation including an introduction to the Internet Relay Chat facility.

OS/2 WARP IN THE MULTIMEDIA WORLD
Multimedia World Online, May, p. 76 writes IBM's OS/2 Warp version 3.0 may provide an alternative multimedia platform for users who are tired of fiddling with Windows to get multimedia to work and can't wait for what Microsoft may deliver in Windows 95.

IBM AND APPLE CREATE OPENDOC BASED TOOL SET
Apple and IBM Corp. created a Visual Basic-like programming environment based on OpenDoc. This new toolset, code-named Denali, will create compiled applications and OpenDoc parts. Users will be able to work with this new development environment on Mac, OS/2, Windows and AIX operating system.

In addition to the cross-platform support, the technology that is part of the tool set will be scalable from the workgroup to the enterprise. This scalability and flexibility makes Denali perfect for a wide range of users, from in-house programmers and value-added resellers to commercial developers.

Some of the features and capabilities of Denali include:
 * Integrate OpenDoc parts with a scripting language similar to Visual Basic
 * Import and run many Visual Basic applications, but some component will need to be changed.
 * Include a set of OpenDoc parts that will allow users to create custom applications.
 * Strong database-access capabilities.

IBM BBS - HALIFAX,CANADA - OPEN FOR BUSINESS
The newest addition to the IBM BBS family (IBMnet) is open for business...

Call 902-420-0300

MARKET STUDIES SHOW OS/2 WARP IS GOING STRONG
A Computer Intelligence InfoCorp (CII) study reported that OS/2 Warp sales have increased more than 300 percent since the product became available last fall. According to CII, Warp sales through US channels went from 11,000 in November '94 to over 46,000 in March '95. CII ascribes much of Warp's success to the large investment IBM made in marketing, particularly in advertising targeted at the consumer market. In fact, the most recent StoreBoard figures for the US retail channel indicate that Warp has edged out Microsoft's Windows 3.1 in market share during the first three months of 1995.
 * Share of Operating System Units Sold -- US StoreBoard Retail Channels
 * Includes PC Superstores, Office Superstores, Consumer Electronics Outlets

Product        Nov. 94   Dec. 94   Jan. 95   Feb. 95   Mar.95 MAC-OS            5.3%      4.3%      4.6%      2.0%     4.0% OS/2             12.7%      8.3%      1.6%      0.8%     1.5% OS/2 WARP        10.5%     16.4%     20.0%     19.5%    19.5% Windows NT        2.1%      1.9%      2.1%      2.3%     1.9% Windows 3.1      17.3%     18.9%     18.3%     18.3%    17.9% DOS              52.1%     50.2%     53.4%     57.1%    55.2% Source: CII StoreBoard Channel Tracking, March 1995

"We expect IBM to see continued gains coming from corporate purchases over the coming months, such as we saw in our March results, as IBM demonstrates its ability to provide multitasking and communications capability for both OS/2 and Windows users," stated Stella Kelly, Service Director for CII's StoreBoard Channel Tracking.

OS/2 WARP SPONSORING MAJOR CYCLE RACE
OS/2 Warp, by way of IBM Italy, is sponsoring the Giro D'Italia, a major European cycle race, lasting 23 days. As part of the sponsorship effort, PSM EMEA has put up a series of Web pages relating to the race and will, over the next month, be publishing the daily results as they happen.

The url is: http://www.europe.ibm.com/getdoc/psmemea/underground/warpgiro/

THE TECHNICAL CONNECTION CD-ROM
If you want to be less dependent on IBM Support and Service there's a perfect solution - The Technical Connection CD-ROM. This is the same Technical Connection CD-ROM that had OS/2 2.X, DOS and LAN information, now with the latest OS/2 Warp information as well.

Seven databases continue to make up the bulk of the Technical Connection information. These include AskPSP, closed APARs, Reference and Diagnostic Diskettes (compressed images), Product Information, Corrective Service (compressed images), Device Drivers, and Technical Bulletins.

AskPSP is an expert system tool using Casepoint 3.1 from the Inference Corporation. You simply type in the question or problem without regard for spelling and grammar considerations, and a series of questions are posed for you to answer. As you answer them, possible solutions are prioritized to review at any time. For Warp an entire casebase has been created specifically tailored to Warp which separates them from the other OS/2 information. You merely select the Warp casebase and proceed.

The list of closed APARs include everything available for Warp and the BonusPak apps. It's easy to check here to find if your problem or question has already been addressed.

The Corrective Service for Warp includes the latest available information. For example, the March edition included ThinkPad updates, install fixes, and some game fixes among others. Just insert a diskette or copy onto your hard file with a click of the mouse. It's that easy.

Device drivers beyond those provided with the operating system are always in demand. A recent version included device drivers for Warp like 586NPX, ThainkPad 350 and 750, PCMCIA for Compaq LTE Elite, LANStreamer, CD-ROM, and others. New ones are added each month as they become available.

There's also a Frequently Asked Question section which has a number of the questions the service reps see the most. Looking here may save you time and avoid a call into the center.

The best is that you can still access the information for all the other products as before, keep up-to-date on Warp, and many of the products you were using before you installed Warp.

All of this information is quickly accessible when you want it. There is so much information is has expanded to 2 volumes each month. In the US and Canada it is available as an annual subscription in either monthly or quarterly updates, or as a single issue. Other geographies have availability in quarterly subscriptions or a single issue. To order in the US and Canada call toll free 800 992-4777. Customers can use their credit card to place an immediate order.

Important Disclaimer

I do this newsletter in my spare time. Please respect that I will sometimes make typographical errors that result in in- correct phone numbers and/or e-mail addresses. I would appreciate it if you would contact ME and let me know before firing off e-mail to the general IBM in-box. This will help me continue to work at IBM and therefore, continue this informal newsletter.

Although notices within this newsletter may be IBM press releases, the OS/2 WarpFlash as a whole is not an official IBM communication and should not be treated or represented as such.

All efforts have made to internationalize the OS/2 WarpFlash where possible; however, it is entirely possible that certain information with OS/2 WarpFlash may be applicable only in the US and Canada.

If you know someone who might be interested in WarpFlash, feel free to forward this document, provided you forward it in it's entirety, as per the copyright notice below.

INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THIS DOCUMENT IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND FREEDOM FROM INFRINGEMENT. The user assumes the entire risk as to the accuracy and the use of this document. This document may be copied and distributed subject to the following conditions: 1) All text must be copied without modification and all pages must be included; 2) All copies must contain relevant copyright notices and any other notices provided therein; and 3) This document may not be distributed for profit.