User group Newsletter Editors: Utilize this content in your newsletter -- PLEASE ... reference The User Group Network _ / _ UG Network Channel _ / _ NEWS_/ _ Info Manager The Info Manager is looking for your rumors and tidbits... give him a post! ...or subscribe... see subscription notes below . Info Manager - 6/23/Y2K Woz; Microsoft; NewDeal; Hitchhiker; Bungie; 1 Gig Drive; Power-20 **** Woz goes into Inventors Hall of Fame Yahoo is reporting that Steve Wozniak along with 6 others was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. He was one of two living inventors added. The other being Helen Free who along with her husband produced a self-test for diabetics. Previous inductees have included Thomas Edison, the Wright brothers and Henry Ford. So he is in good company. And he deserves it. More http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/20000615/sc/inventors_honored_1.html **** Microsoft has setup "The Freedom To Innovate Network (FIN) as a response to the overwhelming correspondence we received from around the U.S. and overseas regarding the trial with the Department of Justice and other public policy issues." They go on to call it "a non-partisan, grassroots network". Haven't they learned anything from this trial? Bill, grassroots doesn't mean run by Redmond! If you want more http://www.microsoft.com/freedomtoinnovate/ **** NewDeal Fortune magazine is reporting on "cool companies with hot ideas" in their June 26th issue. NewDeal http://wwww.newdealinc.com is one. It seems that they have developed a new operating system that enables a 386 machine to do word processing and Internet surfing at a speed comparable to a new Pentium machine running Win98. You may remember that I reported earlier that Massachusetts is requiring more monitors, TVs and computers to be recycled. This is certainly one way to do it. (NewDeal is based in Sommerville, MA). They are also one of the companies that is doing the recycling for the state and selling those refurbished computers with their OS at $99-$199, which includes applications, hardware, modem and a monitor. So don't throw out that old 386 you have in the closet it is quite possible someone has a use for it. **** Hitchhiker Salon magazine is reporting that Douglas Adams is starting the effort to complete a true Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. On his web site at http://www.h2g2.com. By registering, you will be allowed to be a researcher for the guide. It is at its beginning stages, so don't expect it to come up with "42" with any reliability. The full story on Salon is at: <http://www.salon.com/tech/view/2000/06/12/adams/> **** Bungie Rumors were circulating last on June 15 & 16 that Microsoft was about to buy Bungie. Bungie is the developer of Myth and Marathon titles and started out as a Mac only game company. They added Wintel software after Marathon was the big hit on the Mac. Went to where they sales were. On Monday, June 19, Microsoft did in deed announce that they were purchasing Bungie and most of its software titles. The idea being to have a division that knows games for the development of such on their X-Box game and Internet station. The big question now is will the much anticipated Halo still be sold for Mac and PC or will Microsoft release only software for the X-Box. Only time will tell. Personally RM is sorry to see one more great company go into Microsoft's corner. (Nova was another one - but then Nova has been responsible for IE and Outlook on the Mac and they are outstanding products). **** 1 Gig drive I know, what is the big deal. Well, the big deal is that this drive made by IBM is about the size of a quarter. Additionally theyare compatible with the CompactFlash format so will work with many current and future cameras. IBM also says that it will hold 18 hours worth of music. (MP3, I assume). So look for it to appear a lot of places including smart phones and PDAs. Of course, they will need to get the price down. Currently that is estimated to be $500 when the drives hit retail in September. More http://www.insanely-great.com/news/00/6/21-ibm.html and http://www.storage.ibm.com/ **** Quote of the Week: "I've never been poor, only broke. Being poor is a frame of mind. Being broke is a temporary situation." . . . . . . . Mike Todd Its better, sometimes, to know some of the questions than all of the answers. -J Thurber **** Web site of the Week: This weeks web site and the "oldies" site from last week was brought to my attention by a e-newsletter called Neat Net Tricks. To subscribe to that newsletter go to: http://www.escribe.com/computing/neatnettricks/bb/ (Note: it is PC Centric) Want to experience older browsers or does your old computer require an older browser if you want to get on the Internet? It is all here at this extensive collection of old, obscure and current browsers. Go to: http://browsers.evolt.org. There really is a great assortment for nearly every platform and it includes some beta, so don't come crying to me if the one you try gives you a problem. **** Shareware of the week: Power20 -I am not sure how much nostalgia there is for the Commodore Vic-20, but there is a product that will emulate the Vic-20 on the PowerMac called Power20. I had a boss in 1982 that bought a Vic just because that was his first name. I never used one myself. I already had an Apple ][+ by then. Any way if your are interest you can get it at: <http://www.insanely-great.com/news/00/6/21-ibm.html> Don't forget, The Info Manager invites user groups to use his column in full or in pieces in their newsletter. He would appreciate word that you are doing so however and if you can please send a pdf version of the newsletter for his perusal. The address is: rumormangr@aol.com. pau **** Don't forget For User Group Newsletter Editors there's a TEXT version of this file available for use in your newletter. Any suggestions for topics and reports of rumors are always welcome. Please me know at the address below. Thanks ... the Info Manager invites you to use all or part of his column in your user group newsletter. Please let him know at rumormangr@aol.com and if possible send an electronic copy for the old scrapbook. Subscribe to Rumors@lists.user-groups.net DIGEST VERSION: rumors-digest@lists.user-groups.net (recommended) rumors-on@lists.user-groups.net for more information go to: http://www.user-groups.net/ugcommunity/subscribe.html The Info Manager is a veteran of the UGN (AOL User Groups Forum) and User Group Network. He's been a supporter and volunteer on many, many UGNet and User Group Academy projects. As a long time user group member, he's served as volunteer from Honolulu to Boston and many points in between. 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