Microsoft(R) WinNews Electronic Newsletter Vol. 2, #6, May 1, 1995 ********************************************************* This WinNews comes on the heels of a very successful Windows World show in Atlanta. Windows 95 won Byte's Best of Show and Best Operating System. Bill Gates delivered a keynote address, and demonstrated Windows 95 as part of the speech. I will provide details in the next issue on where the transcript of the speech will be posted. Bill also introduced Microsoft Plus! (covered in this issue), an add-on product for Windows 95. The Windows 95 booth gave demonstrations on mobile capabilities, system administration and networking, multimedia and the Microsoft Network. We were very pleased with the reactions to Win 95. Some people have written that the length of WinNews issues can be a bit long. The main objective of WinNews is to provide all the recent, relevant information we have on Windows. I will try to keep the issues from getting too large though. Included in this issue: 1. "Microsoft Releases Beta Version of Windows 95 Game Software Developers Kit at Computer Game Developers Conference" This article discusses the features and support for the Games SDK, and how Microsoft is committed to having Windows 95 be a premier games platform. 2. "Microsoft Announces Microsoft Plus! for Windows 95" We officially announce our Microsoft Plus!. This is an add-on package for Windows 95 and it comes with great new graphics, games and Microsoft's Internet Explorer. It's well worth checking out. 3. "Microsoft Licenses OSM Technology From Henter-Joyce" Microsoft has licensed Off-Screen Model (OSM) technology so that individuals with disabilities can use Windows. The technology will be provided to developers who make computers more available to users with disabilities. 4. "'Supporting Microsoft Windows 95' Training" provides information from Microsoft's Solution Provider Group on helping people who will train other people to use Windows 95. This course is based on the M8 beta. 5. The Windows 95 World Tour: "The Sky's the Limit" This is a reminder on the schedule for North American cities. Please note the World Tour will come to the rest of the world this summer. Details will be provided here as they are finalized. QUICK-NOTES - I received mail from people who are receiving two (or more) copies of issues. They tell me one is more than enough. Our list server only sends one copy per subscriber, but the some gateways misread the code and send multiple issues. To correct this, please send the entire issue that you receive so we can read the path and correct the problem. - Some people wrote in to say they were not successful in contacting the Microsoft sales U.S. 800 number to get information on seminars. The number was in the last issue of WinNews. The number is correct, but the information is included as part of the general information on Microsoft that is sent out. To get the information call 1-800-727-3351, enter your fax number, and you will receive the general sales information - included how to sign up for the seminars. Jay Goldstein WinNews Editor ******************************************************** SUBSCRIPTIONS If you know someone who might be interested in WinNews, please have them send mail to: enews@microsoft.nwnet.com The message should be in the text and it should read: SUBSCRIBE WINNEWS. You may also feel free to forward this document, provided you forward it in it's entirety, as per the copyright notice below. If you wish to stop receiving WinNews, send mail to enews@microsoft.nwnet.com with the text UNSUBSCRIBE WINNEWS in the body of your message. ******************************************************** 1. Microsoft Releases Beta Version of Windows 95 Game Software Developers Kit at Computer Game Developers Conference April 24, 1995 SANTA CLARA, Calif. - April 24, 1995 As part of a broad initiative to help make the Microsoft(R) Windows(R) 95 operating system a premier game platform, Microsoft Corp. today announced the beta release of the Windows 95 Game Software Developers Kit (SDK). The SDK delivers tools and technology that will enable game developers to create high performance games for Windows 95 quickly and easily. As a sign of early game-developer momentum behind Windows 95, top game-industry companies, including 3DLabs Inc., 47-Tek, Acclaim Entertainment Inc., Accolade Inc., Activision Inc., Advanced Micro Devices Inc., Alliance Semiconductor Corp., ATI Technologies Inc., Brooktree Corp., Cirrus Logic, Creative Labs Inc., Crystal River Engineering, Deep River Publishing, Interactive Magic, Matrox Graphics Inc., MicroProse Software, Mindscape Inc., S3 Inc., Spectrum Holobyte Inc., Viacom New Media, Virtual i-O Inc., Worlds Inc. and Yamaha System Technology, announced their intent to support Windows 95 as a game platform. "Microsoft is committed to making Windows 95 the hottest game platform," said Brad Silverberg, senior vice president of the personal systems division at Microsoft. "The tools and technology we are delivering to developers will result in new levels of fast, action-packed game play." The Windows 95 Game SDK contains tools, sample code, documentation and a new game subsystem designed specifically to enable high performance and more engaging game play on Windows. The game subsystem provides a new set of game application programming interfaces (APIs) including the following: - DirectDraw APIs for hardware-accelerated display performance, which enable better graphics for animation - DirectSound APIs for high-fidelity, low-latency sound and sound mixing, which enable more realistic sound effects - DirectPlay APIs for simple multiplayer game connectivity, which enable game players to compete against each rather than against the computer - DirectInput APIs for digital joystick support and control, which enable effective game control Currently, the Windows 95 game subsystem is available only as part of the Windows 95 Game SDK. The game subsystem is royalty free and the run time will be redistributed by game developers with their Windows 95-based games. The game subsystem will be built into future versions of Windows. "Mindscape has made a long-term commitment to the Windows platform," said Bob Lloyd, chairman and chief executive officer of Mindscape Inc. "Our product, The San Diego Zoo Presents ... The Animals!, was the first commercial product to support Video for Windows, and we are proud to be among the first to support Windows 95." Fast, Easy Game Development, Lower Support Costs The Windows 95 Game SDK makes developing games for Windows 95 faster and easier than for the MS-DOS(R) operating system by providing game developers a standard set of system services they previously needed to implement and maintain themselves. The Game API provides device independence and broad hardware support for a wide range of game peripherals to game developers. Additionally, releasing Windows 95-based games will result in lower support costs because Windows 95 will make installing and configuring games and game peripherals dramatically easier. Windows 95 also provides AutoPlay support for automatic startup of CD-based titles and legacy device detection, further reducing installation difficulties. Consumers will benefit from Plug and Play-enhanced easy installation and from scalable performance as they upgrade their hardware. "We see a great opportunity to reach a new community of gamers by developing for Windows 95," said Stephen Gass, senior vice president of product development at Viacom New Media. "Using the tools in the Windows 95 Game SDK should make development faster and easier than before. We look forward to delivering Windows 95-based games." Game peripheral vendors and hardware manufacturers will benefit additionally from the Game SDK. Peripheral vendors supporting the Game subsystem automatically will be compatible with a large number of Windows 95-based games. "The game market has been ready to embrace new technological advancements," said Henry Quan, vice president of marketing at ATI Technologies Inc. "We’re pleased to be working with Microsoft to deliver the new generation of fast-action, arcade-like games by providing game-acceleration features in our products, including the GRAPHICS XRESSION board and the mach64 accelerator chips." The Windows 95 Game SDK is the most recent offering that is part of Microsoft’s initiative to make Windows 95 a leading PC game platform. In February, Microsoft acquired RenderMorphics Ltd. and announced its intention to incorporate the Reality Lab real-time 3-D rendering engine into future versions of Windows. Reality Lab enables world-class, real-time 3-D games and other applications. Its APIs bring developers advanced 3-D features, reduced development cycles, a royalty-free development environment for Windows, and cross-platform capabilities, making it a powerful and cost-effective tool for a broad range of games and multimedia products. The Win32(R) Reality Lab version 2.0 SDK beta is expected to be available later this spring. Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ -MSFT-) is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day. ######### Microsoft, Windows, MS-DOS and Win32 are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries. ********************************************************** 2. Microsoft Announces Microsoft Plus! for Windows 95 April 24, 1995 Add-on Software Package Improves Looks and Performance of PCs; Includes Bonus Internet Jumpstart Kit REDMOND, Wash., April 24, 1995, Microsoft Corp. today announced Microsoft(R) Plus!, a companion software package for the Windows(R) 95 operating system. Microsoft Plus! is designed to enhance the look and performance of Windows 95-based personal computers and includes a bonus Internet Jumpstart Kit. The software package will enter beta testing at already-selected beta sites in early May and is expected to ship simultaneously with the release of Windows 95. Microsoft Plus! consists of System Agent technology and disk utilities that work behind the scenes to keep the user’s PC running at peak performance; Desktop Themes that incorporate sounds, fonts, color schemes, wallpaper, screen savers, photo-realistic icons and animated cursors to improve the looks of a user’s computer; and a bonus Internet Jumpstart Kit that provides easy sign-up and one-button access to the Internet. "Microsoft Plus! is mag wheels and chrome trim for Windows 95," said Brad Chase, general manager of the personal systems group at Microsoft. "This product will be a must-have for Windows 95-based 486 and Pentium PC owners." Microsoft Plus! System Agent and Disk Utilities The Microsoft Plus! System Agent and disk tools automate PC maintenance, making it faster and easier to keep a computer in top shape. Microsoft Plus! disk utilities are part of the regular recommended "care and feeding" of a computer and include functions many users neglect or rely on information-services managers to take care of. Microsoft Plus! includes DriveSpace 3.0, Compression Agent, and System Agent-aware upgrades to the Scandisk and Defrag utilities that will ship with Windows 95. The Microsoft Plus! System Agent is a 'smart' assistant that works in the background to keep a system optimized for top performance. While the system is idle, the System Agent works with the disk utilities to compress data to free up hard disk space and to clean up the hard disk, correcting any disk errors and defragmenting the hard disk. Microsoft Plus! also can be configured to back up files automatically. All these functions keep a computer running at peak performance. DriveSpace 3 is an enhanced version of the DriveSpace disk compression that will ship with Windows 95. DriveSpace 3 supports large compressed volumes (up to 2 GB) and greater compression ratios. DriveSpace 3 is also optimized for improved performance on Pentium processor-based systems. The Compression Agent is an intelligent offline compression utility for DriveSpace 3 that automatically chooses the most appropriate compression algorithm for each file on a system. When used in conjunction with the Microsoft Plus! System Agent, the Compression Agent allows users to maximize compression levels as well as PC performance by automatically compressing data when their PCs are not in use. Microsoft Plus! Desktop Themes Microsoft Plus! Desktop Themes provide sounds, fonts, color schemes, wallpaper, screen savers, photo-realistic icons and animated cursors. Each Desktop Theme sets more than 75 different desktop parameters for Windows 95, using a common theme to guide the choice of selections. Microsoft Plus! Desktop Themes include Travel, Nature, Mystery, 1960s USA, Leonardo da Vinci, Science, Dangerous Creatures, Sports, Moderne, Inside Your PC and Windows 95. Customers can coordinate and switch easily among elements, adding fun and variety to their computing experience. Microsoft Plus! includes themes designed for customers with 8-bit or 16-bit color capability. Additional Microsoft Plus! features include Multimedia Pinball, a game that takes advantage of built-in multimedia support in Windows 95 to look, sound and play like an authentic pinball game, and full-window drag and font smoothing. With full-window drag, windows are dragged as solid blocks rather than outlines. Font smoothing is performed using anti-aliasing techniques and "hinting" of fonts, making them smoother and easier to read. Microsoft Plus! Bonus: Internet Jumpstart Kit Microsoft Plus! Internet Jumpstart Kit provides easy sign-up and one-button access to the Internet via the Microsoft Network. Microsoft Plus! Internet Jumpstart Kit includes a Set-Up Wizard to assist customers in signing up with an Internet service provider; the Internet Explorer, which is Microsoft’s Windows 95-based World Wide Web browser; and an Internet mail reader for the Windows 95 Exchange mail client. In addition, Microsoft Plus! Internet Jumpstart Kit extends the Windows 95 'shortcut' functionality, so customers can create shortcuts to favorite Internet locations and then reach these locations with a single mouse click. The Internet Jumpstart components also will be available for downloading from The Microsoft Network, other online services and Microsoft’s FTP server. System Requirements Microsoft Plus! requires a Windows 95-based PC with a minimum of a 486 processor and 8MB of RAM. Depending on which Desktop Themes are installed, disk requirements vary from 25 MB to 40 MB of disk space. A sound card is recommended for Desktop Themes and Multimedia Pinball. A modem or LAN-based connection is required to access the Internet. Pricing has not yet been determined. Microsoft Plus! is expected to be available wherever Windows 95 is sold. Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) is a worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day. ######### Microsoft and Windows are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries. Pentium is a trademark of Intel Corp. ********************************************************** 3. Microsoft Licenses OSM Technology From Henter-Joyce April 24, 1995 Makes Windows Easier to Use for Computer Users With Disabilities; Furthers Microsoft’s Commitment to Make Windows the Most Accessible Operating System REDMOND, Wash., April 24, 1995, Microsoft Corp. today announced it is licensing core Off-Screen Model (OSM) technology from Henter-Joyce of St. Petersburg, Fla., developers of JAWS* (Job Access With Speech) for the Microsoft(R) Windows(R) operating system, a screen-access program that makes Windows accessible to people who are blind or visually impaired. Microsoft will use the OSM as the basis of an open component architecture to provide individuals with disabilities access to the information displayed on Windows-based computer screens. Microsoft plans to provide this technology to developers working on technologies that make computers more accessible to users with disabilities (such as blind-access, screen-magnification and voice-input technologies) to help reduce time to market and increase robustness of such key products while requiring fewer system dependencies. "Microsoft’s efforts to provide an Off-Screen Model further demonstrates our commitment to make Windows and Windows-based applications easier to use for everyone, including individuals with disabilities," said Brad Silverberg, senior vice president of the personal systems division at Microsoft. "Our licensing agreement with Henter-Joyce is a key step in that process. Microsoft plans to work with accessibility vendors to build a common, shared interface around the OSM code we are licensing, helping to ensure compatibility with other accessibility technologies. We are very excited about the potential it will bring to the Windows environment." "This is one of the most important events in the history of computing for blind individuals," said Ted Henter, president of Henter-Joyce and a blind user of computers for 15 years. "Microsoft leads the world in computer software, and now its view of the world includes blind people. Steps like this ultimately will result in making computing access better for all people." Off-Screen Model is the term for a database of a computer screen’s contents, including text, graphics, controls and other elements. This technology primarily has been used for blind-access products, which allow users to browse the contents of their computer screen using synthesized speech or a Braille display. Some capabilities of OSM also are useful for speech-recognition utilities that need to determine what commands are appropriate at a given time and screen-magnification utilities that must track a user’s focus as he or she works. Microsoft will incorporate Henter-Joyce’s OSM technology into its own open architecture to help make Windows accessible to individuals with disabilities. Numerous features specifically designed to make computers easier to use for people with disabilities are being incorporated into the Windows(R) 95 operating system, with additional enhancements planned for the future. The company plans to release the first set of accessibility enhancements as soon as possible after Windows 95 ships to help independent software vendors (ISVs) port their existing products to the Windows 95 and Windows NT operating systems. This will be followed by adapting and distributing the OSM technology for Windows 95 and further integrating the technology into future versions of Windows and Windows NT. Future plans also include incorporating the accessibility technology into OLE, allowing mainstream applications to communicate and cooperate with accessibility aids. Benefits of OSM Technology for Windows The open component architecture Microsoft is building with the Henter-Joyce OSM technology ultimately will make accessibility products more readily available to individuals with disabilities, since time-to-market demands will be decreased for ISVs. The technology will reduce engineering time and costs, allowing ISVs to reduce time to market with new products and for new releases of the Windows operating system. It also will help them improve the quality of their core products by allowing them to focus their time and resources on their areas of expertise. In addition, with the component architecture, ISVs will be able to replace or extend the functionality of the OSM easily, share components or enhancements with other types of products, or simply use the underlying libraries that provide system 'hooks' required by these types of products. Microsoft’s licensing of OSM from Henter-Joyce is part of an overall effort to make Windows the most accessible operating system available. Microsoft is committed to ensuring that accessibility is addressed in Windows 95 by providing the following: · Guidelines for accessible software design that will be promoted throughout the software industry · Published guidelines for accessible software design · The necessary application programming interfaces (APIs) and libraries to allow ISVs to develop high-quality accessibility aids, including blind-access products · Documentation for Windows 95 and other Microsoft products in an accessible ASCII text format at no additional charge for people who have difficulties reading or handling printed materials · An audio tutorial designed for users who are blind · A set of utilities, including Dvorak single-handed keyboard layouts and other low-end accessibility aids Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ -MSFT-) is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day. ######### Microsoft, Windows and Windows NT are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries. JAWS is a trademark of Henter-Joyce. ************************************************************** 4. "Supporting Microsoft Windows 95" Training Microsoft's Business Systems Division (BSD) Training Development group is pleased to announce that the M8 version of "Supporting Microsoft Windows 95" is now available from licensed Training Partners. Train-the-Trainer sessions have been successfully taught by our trainers in Bellevue, WA over the past two weeks. The course is being offered commercially by training partners starting this week. This is a full 5 day course with over 1000 pages of course materials, PowerPoint presentations and hands-on labs designed to help the Technical Support Coordinator, MIS Manager and Network Administer plan, support and deploy the Windows 95 M8 beta. The course covers topics ranging from the concepts of the new UI to tips for migration in a large organization. The M8 course will be followed up with a version of the course synchronized with the release of the retail version of Windows 95. Certified Professional testing will commence shortly after the retail product release. For more information in the U.S. please call 1-800-SOL-PROV (1-800-765-7768). Outside the U.S. please call your local country office or call Microsoft's headquarters in the U.S. at 1-206-882-8080 and ask for the Solution Provider Group. ********************************************************** 5. The Windows 95 World Tour: "The Sky's the Limit" This is a reminder of the cities, dates and times for the Windows 95 World Tour in North America. The World Tour will continue later this summer outside of North America. Will will provide information once cities and dates are confirmed for all other countries. The World Tour features an exciting preview of Windows 95. Demonstrations will show the major new features in Windows 95, including the new user interface, performance and ease-of-use enhancements, Plug and Play, and dial-up networking. You'll learn the differences between Windows 3.1 and Windows 95 and have the chance to see some of the 32-bit applications that are being developed to run on Windows 95. This 2 hour event will be filled with demos and video presentation. There will also be drawings for prizes including a computer system from the sponsoring hardware manufacturer loaded with a pre-release version of Windows 95. Please call 1-800-685-0951 for more details and to indicate your interest in attending. Space for each event is limited. The North American schedule is as follows: DATE TIME CITY OEM SPONSOR 8-May 7:30pm Minneapolis NEC 10-May 7:30pm Louisville Compaq 15-May 7:30pm New York Compaq 16-May 7:30pm Boston NEC 18-May 7:30pm D.C. NEC 22-May 8:00pm Dallas Compaq 23-May 7:30pm Houston Compaq 31-May 7:30pm Columbus Compaq 1-Jun 7:30pm Detroit Compaq 4-Jun 7:30pm Seattle Compaq 5-Jun 7:30pm Toronto Compaq 13-Jun 7:30pm Sacramento NEC 15-Jun 7:30pm San Diego NEC 19-Jun 7:30pm Orange County Compaq 22-Jun 7:30pm Chicago NEC 26-Jun 7:30pm Vancouver NEC 29-Jun 7:30pm Pasadena Compaq 10-Jul 7:30pm Oklahoma City NEC 11-Jul 7:30pm St. Louis Compaq 12-Jul 7:30pm Atlanta NEC 17-Jul 7:30pm Philadelphia NEC 19-Jul 7:30pm San Francisco NEC 24-Jul 7:30pm San Antonio Compaq ********************************************************* This document is provided for informational purposes only. The information contained in this document represents the current view of Microsoft Corporation on the issues discussed as of the date of publication. Because Microsoft must respond to change in market conditions, it should not be interpreted to be a commitment on the part of Microsoft and Microsoft cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information presented after the date of publication. 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 Microsoft's copyright notice and any other notices provided therein; and 3) This document may not be distributed for profit. Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation. All Rights Reserved.