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449 lines
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HTML
<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 3.2//EN">
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<html>
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<head>
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<title> News Bytes #15 </title>
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</head>
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<BODY BGCOLOR="#EEE1CC" TEXT="#000000" LINK="#0000FF" VLINK="#0020F0"
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ALINK="#FF0000" >
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<H4>"Linux Gazette...<I>making Linux just a little more fun!</I>"</H4>
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<HR>
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<center>
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<table cellpadding=7><tr><td>
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<IMG SRC="../gx/bytes.gif" border=1 ALT="News Bytes">
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</td><td>
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<H3>Contents:</H3>
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<ul>
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<li><a HREF="./lg_bytes15.html#general">News in General</a>
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<li><a HREF="./lg_bytes15.html#software">Software Announcements</a>
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</ul>
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</td></tr></table>
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</center>
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<a name="general"></a>
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<p><hr><p>
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<!-- =================================================================== -->
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<center><H3> News in General </H3></center>
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<P> <hr> <P>
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<!-- =================================================================== -->
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<H3><IMG ALT=" " SRC="../gx/bolt.gif">
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New Computer Operating System Rides Space Shuttle
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</H3>
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20 Feb 1997 <BR>
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A radically different new computer operating system is controlling an
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experiment on a Space Shuttle mission in late March. The experiment
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tests "hydroponics", a way of growing plants without soil that could
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eventually provide oxygen and food to astronauts. The computer
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controlling the experiment runs "Debian GNU/Linux", an operating system
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built by a group of 200 volunteer computer programmers,
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who give the system and all of its source code away for free.
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Details are available on the group's web site: <A HREF="http://www.debian.org/">
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http://www.debian.org/</A>.
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<P>
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The space shuttle experiment will fly on mission STS-83 in late March
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and early April. Sebastian Kuzminsky is an engineer working on the
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computer that controls the experiment, which is operated by Biosciences
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Corporation. Kuzminsky said "The experiment studies the growth of
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plants in microgravity. It uses a miniature '486 PC-compatible
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computer, the Ampro CoreModule 4DXi. Debian GNU/Linux is loaded on this
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system in place of DOS or Windows. The fragility and power drain of
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disk drives ruled them out for this experiment, and a solid-state disk
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replacement from the SanDisk company is used in their place. The entire
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system uses only 10 watts", said Kuzminsky, as much electricity as a
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night-light. "The computer controls an experiment in hydroponics, or
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the growth of plants without soil", said Kuzminsky. "It controls water
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and light for the growing plants, and sends telemetry and video of the
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plants to the ground".
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<P>
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For additonal information: <BR>
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Bruce Perens, <A HREF="mailto:bruce@debian.org">bruce@debian.org</A>
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<P> <hr> <P>
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<!-- =================================================================== -->
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<H3><IMG ALT=" " SRC="../gx/bolt.gif">
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Linux Sponsored Penguin
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</H3>
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<P>
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SWANSEA, UK, January 29th, 1997 -- Linux users sponsor a penguin at Bristol
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Zoo. A bunch of UK Linux fans and Linux World magazine confirms they have
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sponsored Linus Torvalds a penguin for a christmas present.
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<P>
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"It has taken a bit of time for the paperwork to arrive but it has now been
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scanned and can be found on http://penguin.uk.linux.org and is now leaving
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for Finland." claimed Alan Cox, who leads the penguin sponsoring group.
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<P>
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"It's not a suprise given the rumours circulating at usenet" said a prominent
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Linux developer, "This has been on the cards for some time".
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<P>
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A plaque with the web site name on will also soon appear near the Penguin area
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at Bristol Zoo which has been selected as the place to sponsor the penguin.
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<P>
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According to Alan Cox, Linus who as well as creating the Linux OS is also
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responsible for the choice of a penguin as logo, also gets ten free tickets
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to the Zoo as a result of the sponsorship. "It's not clear how he gets to
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Bristol Zoo easily" admitted a spokesman who didn't wish to be named.
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<P>
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Linux is a high performance Unixlike OS that is winning major awards and
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accolades. More information on Linux and the Linux Market are available
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from <A HREF="http://www.uk.linux.org/">http://www.uk.linux.org/</A> and
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Linux International, <A HREF="http://www.li.org/">http://www.li.org</A>.
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<P>
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Bristol Zoo was founded in 1836 and is one of the oldest Zoos in europe. It
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has an international reputation for its pioneering work with endangered species.
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<P>
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A penguin is... oh come on you must know what a penguin is...
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<P>
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For additional information:
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Alan Cox, <A HREF="mailto:Alan.Cox@linux.org">Alan.Cox@linux.org</A>
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<P> <hr> <P>
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<!-- =================================================================== -->
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<H3><IMG ALT=" " SRC="../gx/bolt.gif">
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RSA 56bit challenge
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</H3>
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Fri, 21 Feb 1997 <BR>
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Some of you may now know about the attempt to break 56bit RC5 as part
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of the RSA challenge. 40 and 48 bits have been done. 56bit is a colossal
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challenge but has been started. Whichever group cracks the key gets $1000.
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<P>
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We are trying to get as many Linux folks as possible involved in the
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challenge and hopefully as one giant group using the id
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<P>
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<A HREF="mailto:linux@linuxnet.org">linux@linuxnet.org</A>
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<P>
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and the sheer number of Linux users to stick ourselves on the top
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of the stats page.
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[as of Feb 21, the linuxnet team is on the top of the charts with
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21million keys per second on 247 hosts.]
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In the unlikely event we do crack the key the money
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will go to the Linux Development Grant Fund (Linux International).
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<P>
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To join, ftp the clients from
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<A HREF="ftp://ftp.genx.net/pub/crypto/rc5">
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ftp://ftp.genx.net/pub/crypto/rc5</A>
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and run them with <BR>
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./clientname linux@linuxnet.org <BR>
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or for some clients <BR>
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./clientname -i linux@linuxnet.org <BR>
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<P>
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SMP folks should run one client per CPU.
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<P>
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Non US sites please be aware of the potential crypto export rules...
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<P>
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You might want to run it via "nice". It will then just soak idle CPU.
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<P>
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For more info see: <BR>
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<A HREF="http://zero.genx.net/">http://zero.genx.net/</A> -- info and stats - we want to be top!
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<A HREF="http://www.rsa.com/">http://www.rsa.com/</A> -- RSA - the RC5 creators and challenge setters
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<A HREF="http://www.cobaltgroup.com/~roland/rc5.html">
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http://www.cobaltgroup.com/~roland/rc5.html</A> -- linuxnet registry
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<P>
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Alan Cox, <A HREF="mailto:Alan.Cox@linux.org">Alan.Cox@linux.org</A>
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<P> <hr> <P>
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<!-- =================================================================== -->
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<H3><IMG ALT=" " SRC="../gx/bolt.gif">
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Yggdrasil approved by The World Wide Web Consortium to develop
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"Arena" Web Browser.
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</H3>
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<P>
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San Jose, CA -- February 17, 1997 -- The World Wide Web Consortium
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[W3C] has approved Yggdrasil Computing to coordinate future
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development of Arena, a powerful graphical web browser originally
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developed as the Consortium's research testbed. Under the agreement,
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Yggdrasil will undertake new development and support the developer
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community on the internet. Yggdrasil will issue regular releases,
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provide a centralized file archive and web site, integrate contributed
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enhancements and fixes, create mailing lists for developers and users,
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and facilitate widespread use of Arena by others.
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<P>
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Yggdrasil's additions to Arena will be placed under the "GNU General
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Public License", which allows unlimited distribution both for profit
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and not for profit, provided that source code is made freely
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available, including source code to any modifications. No exclusive
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rights have been given to Yggdrasil. Anybody could legally do what
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Yggdrasil is doing, although the Consortium now considers Yggdrasil
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the formal maintainer of Arena.
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<P>
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For additional information:<BR>
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<A HREF="./yggdrasil.html">Complete press release and Developer Information</A><BR>
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Adam J. Richter, <A HREF="mailto:adam@yggdrasil.com">
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adam@yggdrasil.com</A>
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<P> <hr> <P>
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<!-- =================================================================== -->
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<H3><IMG ALT=" " SRC="../gx/bolt.gif">
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Spreading news about great lists of Linux friendly applications
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</H3>
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Sat, 01 Feb 1997 <BR>
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From: Gary Swearingen, <A HREF="mailto:swear@aa.net">swear@aa.net</A>
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<P>
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I've found a GREAT list of applications compatable with Linux
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which I think should be announced to the wide audience of the
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gazette.
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<P>
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<a href="http://hydra.tamu.edu/~baum/linuxlist.html">
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a list of Linux software by Steven K. Baum</a>
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<P>
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It's a very comprehensive, alphabetized list of (mostly free)
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software, which is described in a couple paragraphs, mentioning
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weather it is available in binary or source, and a link to where
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it is available. A lot of the entries would be of interest only
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to someone doing scientific programming, but much is of general
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interest.
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<P> <hr> <P>
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<!-- =================================================================== -->
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<H3><IMG ALT=" " SRC="../gx/bolt.gif">
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Another Linux Group
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</H3>
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Date: Thu, 23 Jan 1997 21:25:46 -0600 (CST) <BR>
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From: Peter Lazecky, <A
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HREF="mailto:peter@linuxware.com">peter@linuxware.com </A>
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<P>
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Hi, I have been a long time reader of LJ and it has been a great help to
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me, and I am sure that applies to many in the Linux Community! Now, my
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friends on the Net and I have also done something as a contribution to
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Linux which I thought would be interesting to you and helpful to your
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readers. This is to create an On-Line Linux Users Group for people
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interested in learning more about Linux, providing help to other Linuxers,
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and promoting Linux.
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<P>
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Peter Lazecky, <A
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HREF="http://www.linuxware.com/">http://www.linuxware.com/</A>
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<P> <hr> <P>
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<!-- =================================================================== -->
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<H3><IMG ALT=" " SRC="../gx/bolt.gif">
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Linux in the News
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</H3>
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<I>Linux in a Gray Flannel Suit</I>, by Jim Mohr, <B>Byte</B> March 1997.
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A good article -- check it out.
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<P> <hr> <P>
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<!-- =================================================================== -->
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<H3><IMG ALT=" " SRC="../gx/bolt.gif">
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SmartList for Linux Women!
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</H3>
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February 26--A list for women who work and play in Linux is housed at
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niestu.com through SmartList. The list is called linux-women. If you need
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more information send a note to <A HREF="mailto:olw-info@niestu.com">
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lw-info@niestu.com</A> outlining what you have tried
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so far. Since there does not seem to be much out there in the way of women and
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Linux, it may be fun to check this list out.
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<a name="software"></a>
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<P> <hr> <P>
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<!-- =================================================================== -->
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<center><H3> Software Announcements </H3></center>
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<P> <hr> <P>
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<!-- =================================================================== -->
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<H3><IMG ALT=" " SRC="../gx/bolt.gif">
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Dotfile Generator 2.0 Now Available
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</H3>
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<P>
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Wed, 5 Feb 1997 <BR>
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This note is to announce the public relase of The Dotfile Generator
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version 2.0. Lot's of changes has been made, since last version, which was
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release for more than a year ago.
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<P>
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The Dotfile Generator is a tool to help the end user configure basic
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things as well as exotic features of his or hers favorite programs
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without knowing the syntax of the configuration files, or reading
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hundreds of pages in a manual. At the moment, The Dotfile Generator
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knows how to configure Bash, Fvwm1, Fvwm2, Tcsh, Emacs, Elm and Rtin.
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<P>
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You can get a FREE copy directly from our ftp-site: <BR>
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<A HREF="ftp://ftp.imada.ou.dk/pub/dotfile/dotfile.tar.gz">
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ftp://ftp.imada.ou.dk/pub/dotfile/dotfile.tar.gz </A> <BR>
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<A HREF="ftp://ftp.imada.ou.dk/pub/dotfile/dotfile.tar.Z">
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ftp://ftp.imada.ou.dk/pub/dotfile/dotfile.tar.Z </A> <BR>
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<P>
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For additional information:<BR>
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<A HREF="./dotfile.html">Complete press release</A> <BR>
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Jesper Pedersen, <A HREF="mailto:blackie@imada.ou.dk">
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blackie@imada.ou.dk</A>
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<P> <hr> <P>
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<!-- =================================================================== -->
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<H3><IMG ALT=" " SRC="../gx/bolt.gif">
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LASERJET MANAGER 2.5 Announcement
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</H3>
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<P>
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February 26,1997--an upgrade has been announced for LASERJET MANAGER. The version
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is 2.5. The major bonuses of LjetMgr 2.5 are the ability to directly modify
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the screen settings on Hewlett Packard printers, and a graphical user interface
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which is fully localizable and comes with documentation and help pages in HTML
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pages. The program is faster and used less resources. A single license of Ljet
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Mgr costs US-$65 and there is a discount for educational institutions and students
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at 10%. This price includes installation support and one year of free upgrades.
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You must have a printer that supports PJL.
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<P>
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For additional information:<BR>
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Richard Shcwaninger at softWorks, <A HREF="mailto:risc@finwds01.tu-graz.ac.at">
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risc@finwds01.tu-graz.ac.at </A>
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<P> <hr> <P>
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<!-- =================================================================== -->
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<H3><IMG ALT=" " SRC="../gx/bolt.gif">
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The BitWizard device driver service.
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</H3>
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<P>
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February 26, 1997 <BR>
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BitWizard is pleased to annouce that it is starting a Linux-device
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driver service. This means that you can concentrate on creating PC
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based systems, and we will make the required device drivers for
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the cards that you select. In general, the driver will be ready
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within a week or two after we get the hardware and the
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documentation.
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<P>
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For additional information: <BR>
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Roger Wolff, <A HREF="mailto:info@BitWizard.nl">info@BitWizard.nl</A>,
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<A HREF="http://www.BitWizard.nl/">http://www.BitWizard.nl/</A>
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<P> <hr> <P>
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<!-- =================================================================== -->
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<H3><IMG ALT=" " SRC="../gx/bolt.gif">
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Announcement of Thot structured editor
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</H3>
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<P>
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February 26, 1997 <BR>
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Announced-- the source code of the Thot structured
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editor is now available by anonymous ftp.
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Several binaries may also be downloaded for various Unix platforms.
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You can get Thot version 2.0b at the following URL:
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<P>
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<A HREF="http://opera.inrialpes.fr/thot/">http://opera.inrialpes.fr/thot/</A>
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<P>
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Thot Editor is a structured document editor, offering a graphical WYSIWYG
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interface under X-Windows. Thot offers the usual functionality of a
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word processor, but it also processes the document structure. It
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includes a large set of advanced tools, such as a spell checker and
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an index generator, and it allows to export documents to common
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formats like HTML and LaTeX.
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<P>
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For additional information:
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Opera project pages <A HREF="http://opera.inrialpes.fr">http://opera.inrialpes.fr</A><BR>
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Amaya pages <A
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HREF="http://www.w3.org/pub/WWW/Amaya/">http://www.w3.org/pub/WWW/Amaya/</A>
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<P> <hr> <P>
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<!-- =================================================================== -->
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<H3><IMG ALT=" " SRC="../gx/bolt.gif">
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ACTIVE TOOLS ANNOUNCES CLUSTOR 1.0
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</H3>
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<P>
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San Francisco, CA - February 10, 1997 - Active Tools, Inc. announced
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today the release of Clustor 1.0 (TM), a program for managing large
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computational tasks. Clustor greatly simplifies a common computationally
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intensive activity - running the same program code numerous times with
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different inputs. Clustor provides increased performance by distributing
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jobs over a network of computers and improved task management through a
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friendly user interface. Clustor provides an intuitive interface for task
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description and control. It supports all phases of running a computationally
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intensive task on a network or computers: task preparation, job generation, and
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job execution.
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Clustor 1.0 is currently available for computers from major workstation
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suppliers, including SGI Irix, Sun Solaris, DEC OSF, IBM AIX, HP HPUX and
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Intel Linux.
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Clustor 1.0 can be downloaded from:
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<A
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HREF="http://www.activetools.com/">http://www.activetools.com/</A>
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<P>
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For additional information:
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<A HREF="mailto:sales@activetools.com">sales@activetools.com </A>
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<P> <hr> <P>
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<!-- =================================================================== -->
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<H3><IMG ALT=" " SRC="../gx/bolt.gif">
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LinkScan
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</H3>
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February 26, 1997 <BR>
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Electronic Software Publishing Corporation (Elsop) today announced LinkScan,
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the first and only commercially available linkchecker that operates on UNIX
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servers. Designed to work on both internet and intranet servers, LinkScan can
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test over 30,000 links per hour because it uses
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multi-threaded simultaneous processing.
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<P>
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Elsop's LinkScan reports and SiteMaps may be viewed using any of the standard
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Web browsers such as Netscape Navigator 1.2 and up, and Microsoft Internet
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Explorer on any platform including Windows 3.1, Windows 95, Macintosh, and, of
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course, UNIX. LinkScan can be used by virtually anyone because it is designed
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to run on industry standard UNIX, LINUX, and Microsoft Windows NT web servers.
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<P>
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Free evaluation copies of LinkScan may be downloaded (less than 80K bytes)
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from the company's website at:
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<P>
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<A HREF="http://www.elsop.com/">http://www.elsop.com/</A>
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<P> <hr> <P>
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<!-- =================================================================== -->
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<H3><IMG ALT=" " SRC="../gx/bolt.gif">
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Mathworks release of MATLAB 5
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</H3>
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<P>
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January 6 The MathWorks announced the release of MATLAB 5.
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<P>
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In addition to the MATLAB 5 release, major new versions of SIMULINK, the
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Signal Processing Toolbox, the Control System Toolbox, and MATLAB 5
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compatible versions of many other products will also be available. New
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features in these products include:
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<ul>
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<li>new development and programming tools
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<li>expanded data handling support
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<li>new algorithms
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<li>online documentation
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<li>and visual interfaces
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</ul>
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that make MATLAB easier to use and learn, and better suited than ever for
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large analyses and application development.
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<P>
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For additional information: <BR>
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The MathWorks, <A HREF="mailto:info@mathworks.com">info@mathworks.com</A><BR>
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<A HREF="http://www.mathworks.com/">http://www.mathworks.com/</A>
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< P> <hr> <P>
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<!--================================================================-->
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<center>Published in Linux Gazette Issue 15, March 1997</center>
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<P> <HR> <P>
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<!-- =================================================================== -->
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<A HREF="./index.html"><IMG SRC="../gx/indexnew.gif" ALT="[ TABLE OF
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CONTENTS ]"></A>
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<A HREF="../index.html"><IMG SRC="../gx/homenew.gif" ALT="[ FRONT
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