MS, HP Boost Graphics

Hewlett-Packard and Microsoft says they have jointly produced new graphics software technology which they said boosts performance by 100 times over existing systems. With the technology, industrial designers will be able to display whole working parts of complex products, such as aircraft, and manipulate them in real time. The firms say the new technology will give personal computers the same power as powerful, custom-made work stations.

Encryption Bill Gains Ground

Congress is moving ahead with a plan to make it easier to export encryption technology. Legislation to significantly relax U.S. export restrictions on computer encoding technology gained the approval of the House Judiciary Committee. The measure, known as the Security and Freedom through Encryption Act, now goes to the House International Relations Committee where opponents hope to make their stand. Software industry officials and privacy advocates, who have strongly opposed the export limits, urged lawmakers to continue moving the legislation forward.

Silicon Graphics Buys ParaGraph

Silicon Graphics said today it agreed to acquire ParaGraph International, a company that makes three-dimensional Internet software for personal computers. Silicon Graphics also said it is establishing a new company, called Cosmo Software, to focus on the fast-emerging market for interactive 3-D Internet software, which runs on multiple computer systems. ParaGraph will be integrated into the new Cosmo unit, which will spearhead Silicon Graphics' Second Web initiative to bring more engaging multimedia content and applications to the World Wide Web.

Probe of GTE?

A published report says California regulators are investigating allegations that GTE destroyed or withheld documents involved in a false-billing probe. The California Public Utilities Commission's enforcement chief tells the Wall Street Journal that the allegations are serious and if they're true, it amounts to obstruction of justice. GTE is the target of a race-bias and whistle-blower lawsuit that accuses the company of charging Spanish-speaking customers for services that did not order.

Intel To "Defend Itself"

Intel says it does not believe its Pentium computer chips infringe on Digital Equipment's patents and reiterated that Intel will "vigorously" defend itself. "DEC has stated that technology is vital to its business," Intel said in a statement. "Technology is vital to Intel's business as well." Legal analysts say there is a strong possibility that Intel will file a counter suit against Digital, and that Digital's action in filing the suit is "risky." Digital sued Intel this week, claiming Intel's Pentium and Pentium Pro chips infringe on Digital patents.

ABC Offers Online News

ABC News today launched its new effort in the Internet news arena, taking the wraps off ABC.news.com, a 24-hour online news service. The new service puts the network in direct competition with MSNBC, the joint venture of NBC and Microsoft. Previously, ABC, a unit of Walt Disney Co., announced a few formidable partnerships as part of this move, including a deal with America Online and Netscape Communications, and invested $100 million in Starwave, acquiring a third of the firm which runs popular sites such as Mr. Showbiz and NBA.com. The service will be free and supported by advertising.

MS Releases Browser For Mac

If your computer is an Apple, you can now use Microsoft Internet Explorer 3,01. Microsoft says its Internet browser is now available for Macintosh computers. One upgraded feature automatically monitors user-specified sites and notifies users when those sites have been updated. The other feature automatically completes typed addresses based on the Favorites and History lists. Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.01 for Macintosh is available free of charge for immediate download. The browser also is scheduled to be available with the upcoming Apple operating system, Mac OS 8.

Amazon.com Goes Public

As expected, Amazon.com was the center of attention on its first day of trading on Wall Street. The offering has attracted considerable attention because Amazon.com has been one of only a handful of companies to successfully exploit the Internet as a vehicle for commerce. The company offers more than 2.5 million titles and bills itself as the earth's biggest bookstore, a claim that has drawn a law suit from Barnes & Nobel. Sales are rising exponentially -- the company posted $16 million in sales in the first quarter alone -- but the company warned in its prospectus that such growth rates are probably "not sustainable" and it expects to incur "substantial operating losses for the foreseeable future." The company lost about $3 million in the first quarter and $6 million last year.

Finding Cancer Info On The Net

The Internet is becoming a powerful tool for connecting cancer patients and their physicians to information regarding the latest in cancer research and treatment. "Web-based resources... can help both patients and clinicians answer even the most detailed questions," according to an article in this week's issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), entitled "Oncology ASAP: Where to Find Reliable Cancer Information on the Internet." They list a sampling of what JAMA consider the most reliable and comprehensive cancer-related sites on the World Wide Web.

Dell Cuts Prices

Dell Computer, the world's largest direct seller of computers, has cut U.S. prices up to 16 percent on its mid-range and high-end Pentium Pro processor-based PowerEdge network server computers. The price cuts, prompted by lower costs for industry components, make Dell PowerEdge servers 30 to 35 percent cheaper than rival products, Dell said. Servers are computers that manage networks. Dell said its PowerEdge computers would now range from $5,049 for the PowerEdge 4100, to $22,239 for the PowerEdge 6100.

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