The Sydney Morning Herald from Sydney, New South Wales, Australia • Page 55

THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD Tl'ESDAY, 27. 1W, 4c COMPUTERS Apple's long journey to the future Traps in store for unwary Net browsers Pulse v. -A IBM's deal with Apple means it can supply Mac OS licences to accompany its PowerPC chips. IBM Microelectronics vice-president Kenneth Kin said the company wants to foster a Mac clone and PPCP industry by providing royalty-free reference designs, finding partners to supply chipsets and firmware, and recommending motherboard suppliers to system builders. The AppleIBM sub-notebook to go on sale in Japan in the next few months may be used as the mobile reference design.

Motorola, on the other hand, is focusing on the systems and motherboard business. It will ship an Apple-optimised design late this vear, followed bv the first PPCP design in 19971 The company is catering for companies that want to enter the Mac market without a big investment, says the vice-president, Kevin Meyer. So by this time next year, Mac users will still be waiting for Mac OS 8. But they will be more than compensated by varied hardware from Apple and other vendors, new data management techniques and pace-setting multimedia and Internet -J From Page 1c synthesised from the phoneme string with intonation, pitch and pronunciation superior to normal speech synthesis. SPIDI supports tags to control an accompanying animation, and this feature was demonstrated with a "talking head" sequence.

Project Apple's Meta Content Format visualiser, which provides a 3D representation of Internet and local data, has now also been implemented as a Netscape plug-in. A Windows version will be available shortly. QuickTime 2.5 shipped recently, but the innovation continues. An MPEG extension is due later this year, allowing most Macs to deliver MPEG video at 25 frames per second or better. The usual QuickTime features are available when viewing MPEG tracks, and the extension also enables playback of MPEG-based CD-I titles.

Further ahead is QuickTime 3.0, which is also known as "QTi" (QuickTime interactive). QTi movies include actions as well as content, allowing fea- From left, George Scalise, Wayne Meretsky, Frank Casanova and Kevin Meyer business is stabilising. ous actions such as adding the item to a database, dialling the phone or opening a letter template in a word processor and inserting the address. Casanova said that it can find a couple of dozen data types, and users can write their own scripts (around five lines) to identify other structures. Any discussion of Apple's future must include.

mention of the licensing plans of its partners, IBM and Motorola. types. The V-Twin search engine includes a document summary feature slated for follow-up releases of Mac OS 8. By analysing the words used in the text, the summariser identifies and ranks the importance of each sentence and will display those most relevant to the central theme of the document. Data Detectors identifies structured data such as URLs or postal addresses within a document and then automates vari Advanced Prototyping Laboratory, demonstrated some technologies that should appear as products in the near future, explaining that his remit was not just to innovate but to determine when the waiting world would be most receptive to the release of those innovations.

The technologies relate to Casanova's concern to manage the "data cloud" that surrounds us, allowing computers to discriminate among different data tures from different authoring packages to be combined- into one movie. Users interact directly with objects via mouse rollovers or clicks in place of the familiar movie controller, and one object's behaviour can also be triggered by that of another. QTi is due in early 1997 and will be closely followed by a Windows implementation. Frank Casanova, director of engineering at Apple's Magic wand of Merlin Dial for cash and carry YOU probably MOVIES like The Set and Sneakers make hackin" look glamorous. After all, someone has to protect us from tech no-corporate fascism, even if it is a spotty 13-year-old and doesn't Jeff Goldhlum's Apple Powerbonk save us from the aliens by hacking into the invaders' computers in Independence Day? In this era of icy firewalls.

128-bit encryption and C2 level security, you would have thought it was harder for the wannabe hacker to get juicy hits. Only a fortnight ago, however, the I Justice Department started serving up on the Web swastikas, sexual snapshots and criticism of the Communications Decency Act after a weekend intrusion. That sort of thing is public, embarrassing and undoubtedly just the tip of the iceberg. But between the high-tech genius sluicing funds off the top of the international banking system and the political propagandist humiliating governments and corporations Tails the shadow of a new kind of hack. And this involves you.

But why would anyone he interested in coming back up the telephone line to crack into the computer of little ol' me, you ask. Well, the point is, malicious folks intent on destroying your hard disk may not need to try that hard; in fact, they could just wait for you to come to them. Take the security problem with Microsoft's recently released Web browser, Internet Explorer 3.0 (IE3). A message swept the Internet from the Department of Computer Science at America's Princeton I niversity late last week saying that where IE3 runs on a Windows 95 computer, an attacker might exploit the flaw to run any DOS command on the machine of an Explorer user who visited the attacker's page. The Princeton researchers verified their discovery by creating a Web page that deleted a file on the machine of any Explorer user who visited the page.

They found that more than a million IE3 users had no chance to avoid the risk of malicious content in documents in some circumstances, because their technique allowed an attacker to deliver a document without triggering a dialogue box which normally warns that a file might be dangerous. by Sue Lowe JASON ROMNEY Now, it's true that Microsoft tackled the problem very quickly and a patch fixing the security flaw and other problems with IE3 has been available at http:www.microsoft. comie since last Saturday. But the real lesson to be learnt is indeed ironic. One of the features in IE3 that Microsoft is most proud of the browser's ability to open documents using special Microsoft protocols such as OLE and ActiveX has the potential to be both a wonderful benefit unda disturbing threat.

At Fred McLain's site called "ActiveX or how to put nuclear bombs in Web pages" mclainActiveX) the American computer consultant provides an ActiveX app that will reach out and turn off the power on computers that have a power conservation BIOS. IE3 now comes with a higher security setting than the level which lets McLain's page function and Microsoft's Authen-ticode technology should help to repel malicious ActiveX controls. But perhaps the future will see a shift away from the trusting Web experience we now take for granted. At present, most of our effort goes into enabling our chosen browser. We work hard to keep Netscape bulging with the latest plug-ins (including the ActiveX plug-in) and expect glamorous technology showcases like the surround video at www.msn.com.au to work automatically.

If we need even a gigantic plug-in like Shockwave v5 (which now offers streaming audio as well available from www.macromedia.com) the results seem a worthwhile and safe investment. Yet in the era of the Network Computer running cut down applets served up across the Internet as needed, or in coming years when we will welcome back to our PC a legion of intelligent agents after they have gone out to do our bidding and returned with their results, we will need to be much more vigilant and wary. ho can predict what malevolent agents our team has consorted with and what iral contagion they might have picked up along the wax? already know, Merlin will be available on CD-ROM only there OS2 WARP will be no diskette version. This means, of course, that you are going to need a CD-ROM drive if you want to install Merlin on your computer. Or will you? There is a utility included in Merlin it's there in OS2 Warp as well named the Remote Install utility.

Its basic function is to allow you to install Merlin (or OS2 Warp) once on a computer, and then use that system's CD-ROM drive to act as a server so that you can install the code on to other systems over a LAN. The target systems do not require CD-ROM drives since they are using the server's drive. The Remote Install utility acts installed" in the target system and loads the correct driver on to the Remote Install diskettes. If you want to use a parallel port to install Merlin, just select the entrv entitled SSW PARALLEL PORT NIC-LESS ADAPTER, which is major tech-speak for saying that you want to fake a LAN connection using a parallel cable. You will need to use the ADAPTER on both the server and the target system, so the Remote Install utility knows which port to use.

Boot the target system using the Remote Install diskettes, and if your connection is established correctly, you will see the Welcome screen for Merlin installation. From this point on, you can carry out the installation exactly as if vou were installing from a local'CD-ROM drive. The speed of a remote installation is a little slower than installing from a local CD-ROM drive, and depends on the speed of the connection. A remote installation over a fast LAN link can take no longer than a local installation, but installing over a parallel port connection will be slower. But it's still faster than building a truckload of diskettes and installing with them.

Neil Stokes is an OS2 specialist with IBM. Microbank, which has a small keypad, a slot for the stored value card and a flip-top lid with an acoustic coupler that allows data to be sent and received over a phone line, would cost less than SI 00. Connection to a PC is also possible via a small serial port, enabling electronic cash transactions over the Internet. Intellect chief executive officer Graeme Inchley was also showing off a slim ATM-style device destined for the Dutch market. The "ChipKnip" will issue stored-value cards and replenish spent cash.

He says Chipknips have been ordered for the initial roll-out. One of the benefits of Intellect's devices is that they support all of the leading, but incompatible, stored-value card technologies, including the I'K-based Mon-dex systems and those from Visa and Mastercard. Inchley says that 500 million stored-value cards were issued in Europe in 1995, but he expects similar uptake in Australia, where he says 40 per cent of retail transactions are conducted via EFTPOS, compared with only 1 per cent in the I'nited States. NEIL STOKES What if you don't have a LAN or even a network adapter? You can still use the Remote Install utility in Merlin, because Merlin adds support for parallel port installation. If you have a parallel cable, you can use it to connect two systems together and run the Remote PIZZA delivery staff will be able to conduct EFTPOS transactions at your front door and individuals will be able to use their home phone to download money to stored-value cards instead of using main-street automatic teller machines.

Prototype devices to allow both types of electronic transactions were demonstrated last eek by Intellect, one of Australia's leading manufacturers and exporters of EFTPOS terminals and card readers. Intellect expects to deliver its new Mobile Payment Solution this year, allowing tradespeople, couriers, taxi-drivers and market stall holders to conduct secure credit or debit card transactions on-line. The device, which uses either of Australia's two mobile data radio networks, will support current magnetic stripe cards and be compatible with the numerous emerging smartcards plastic cards with embedded computer chips. Intellect's MicroBank Personal Terminal effectively a pocket calculator-sized per- Install utility to install Merlin on as a server only tor remote installation and all the software Hold the phone instant payment is coming. sonal ATM that can be used to download money to a stored-value card at home or over any phoneline is a bit further back in the pipeline.

The device, designed to manage cash on stored-value eards, is dependent on wide acceptance of these emerging card technologies. Product manager Brett Tyson predicted that the one system using the others CD-ROM drive. When you start the Remote Install utility on the server system, it asks you to create a set of Remote Install diskettes. These contain just enough of an OS2 system to boot up and access your LAN (or parallel port). The Remote Install utility asks you what network adapter you have needed is included in OS2 Warp and Merlin.

The utility runs as a normal application on your OS2 Warp (or Merlin) system and does not stop you from running other applications on the server while an installation is taking place. The only limitation is that you cannot remove the CD-ROM from the drive without interrupting the installation. Relocation Kasparov lines up for a rematch with Deep Blue Original RRP .1 OurWmllahru branch is relocating to our ntwh expanded centre at HuMville. I'Mmmm On Fricby September we will be otien -1 Current RRP from 10amto6pmat 123 Road swanvo.tr old comnuter forauew irma 5260 8 XOOCD and gaa I guaranteed 5500 trade kl' i illahra t( clear excess sti x.k if both st and hardware. Stock list will be available on Fricby morning.

Call 9S0 i 1 1 to register your fax umber before Frichv Trade in Offer ends Sept. 6th by Grant McCOOL WORLD chess champion Gary Kasparov will play IBM's supercomputer Deep Blue next year in a $1.1 million rematch of last February's historic contest, IBM has announced. An IBM spokeswoman said the six-game match would be played at the Millennium hotel in New York on May 3-10, with going to the winner and to the loser. In Philadelphia last February, the powerful machine capable of looking at 200 million possible moves a second created chess history when it became the first computer program to defeat a grandmaster in classical chess format, in which games can last several hours. Kasparov recovered from the First-game defeat and eventually won the contest and the manufacture of new drugs for the pharmaceutical industry and air traffic control.

Kasparov, who characterised the match as a battle between human intuition and the brute force of a huge calculating machine, said he welcomed the prospect of a rematch. "I look forward to taking on IBM's new and more powerful machine and hope to prove that human knowledge, intuition, creativity and imagination can overcome the incredible capacity of the new machine," Kasparov said in a statement. Kasparov, 33, has previously played in the theatre. In 1990, the first half of his world championship match against fellow Russian grandmaster and arch-rival Anatoly Karpov took place there. Reuter $400,000 with three wins and two draws in the remaining games.

The IBM team of scientists and programmers were awarded $100,000. The Philadelphia match, part of the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Association of Computing and Machinery, drew hundreds of spectators and an estimated one million "hits" on a Web site retrieved by fans all over the world. "The first match was to test the Deep Blue technology," said C. J. Tan, the manager of the IBM team.

"Scientifically, our experiment was extremely successful. We learned a lot from duelling Kasparov. We have now refined our technology and are in the process of strengthening our game." IBM's purpose in the first match was to test parallel computing systems intended for use in such diverse areas as IC Technologies Melbourne Sydney BrtsDane Launceslon Hobart Canberra Computer solum jn tor home, eiluiation. hiwnofv publishing, ottenni an extensive of hardwire, software. jnpheriK and aacssi tries.

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The successful applicant will manage and develop the computer systems within the School of Chemistry. Essential: A degree in computer science (or equivalent): experience in UNIX system management in a multi-user environment including electronic mail and networking; familiarity with major computer languages (including C); the ability to communicate effectively with staff and students. A working knowledge of PC's andor Macintosh computers and experience with managing a world wide web site are desirable. The position is available from September 1996 for three years. There is the possibility of further offers of employment for up to a further three years, subject to funding and need.

Membership of a University approved superannuation scheme is a condition of employment for new appointees. For further information and a copy of the duty statement contact Dr Harrowell on (02) 9351 4102; fax (02) 9351 3329; email: P.Harrowellchem.usyd.edu.au Salary: Level 7 p.a. Closing: 9 September 1996 $1129 Umax Vista S6E Photoshop FE StyleWriter 1500 Colour kJ StyleWriter 2500 Colour $385 2 StyleWriter 1200 BETTER Apple CD 600e 1 1 naflninnrriTTirinr firf riirr 1 I'- $495 V. PriZiMai Imaging with Photoshop Wed evenings 1 8 Sept 23 Oct 4 day intensive 30 Sept 3 Oct Authorware CBT Saturdays 21 28 Sept Introductory Seminars Imaging Design 6.30 8.30pm Thurs 1 2 Sept Multimedia CD ROM 6.30 8.30pm Thurs 1 9 Sept Internet the Web 6.30 8.30pm Thurs 26 Sept Foundation Skills Macintosh Basics 6 9 pm Wed 4 Sept Advanced Mac 6-9 pm Wed 18 Sept The University of New South Wales Tel 02 9385 0693 Fax 9385 0757 mmcunsw.edu.au http:hepworth.cfa.unsw.edu.au Tons of Software In Stock New Entertainment Software S2 66 CLARENCE STREET IT 9367 8585 Cash Cheque Bonkcard Mastercard Visa Accepted Applications must address the selection criteria including: Reference No, curriculum vitae and the names, addresses and phone nos of two confidential referees to: The Personnel Officer, (Sciences Group), Carslaw Building, (F07), The University of Sydney, NSW, 2006. 'tit- ism'- C'H 2 srx.

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