IBM RELATED NEWS & PRESS RELEASES



NETSCAPE COMMUNICATOR FOR OS/2 WARP UPDATED

IBM released a new service update for Netscape Communicator 4.04 for OS/2 Warp on February 12, 1999. The service update is now available for download from IBM Software Choice at http://www.software.ibm.com/swchoice.

The following Netscape products have been updated:

- Netscape Communicator 4.04 for OS/2 Warp
- Netscape Communicator 4.04 for OS/2 Warp with Strong Encryption
- OS/2 Plug-In Pack Version 2.1

The Plug-In Programmer's Toolkit is not being updated as part of this service release.

Enhancements in this service update include:

- Official support for the Java 1.1.7 release
- Support for 16-color display adapters (e.g. VGA)
- Fixes for known defects. >p> This "4.04b" release can be distinguished from other releases by selecting "Help" and then "About Communicator" from the Netscape menu bar. The title bar will then display the service release date. This new service release is dated 990212, and the original release of Netscape Communicator 4.04 was dated 980928.

ANSWERS TO FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q1. Netscape changes the version number with each new release (4.04, 4.05, ...) Why doesn't IBM?

A1. There are contract restrictions on changing the version number. So this service release is being dubbed "4.04b," and the date code has been added to the "About Communicator" information to help distinguish service releases. (See above.)

Q2. Is IBM keeping pace with Netscape fixes?

A2. Generally yes. For example, the original 4.04 release for OS/2 Warp included the long name file attachment security fix incorporated into 4.06 on other platforms. However, due to platform differences an exact comparison is sometimes difficult. As another example, Netscape Communicator for OS/2 Warp takes advantage of the newer IBM-delivered Java VM.

If you have a support contract with IBM, you can open a problem incident for Netscape Communicator for OS/2 Warp just as you would with any other IBM software product. Defects need not be present in other platform versions before being addressed by IBM.

Q3. I thought Java 1.1 (and higher) requires 256 colors. Why is IBM adding 16-color support to Netscape Communicator?

A3. Java will run on 16-color systems, but the results may be unpredictable. However, since Netscape Communicator can be used to install new software components on OS/2 Warp (with the IBM Feature Installer), and since some of those systems may be running in 16-color mode, IBM has added this capability to Netscape Communicator. A 256-color (or better) display is still recommended for most applications.

Q4. The original service release seems to work fine with Java 1.1.7. Why do I need the update?

A4. IBM may ask you to install the Netscape Communicator service update before troubleshooting problems with Java applets when using Java 1.1.7. Additional testing has been performed with this combination of releases.

Q5. Is there any charge for this service release?

A5. No. If you hold a valid license for any Version 4 release of OS/2 Warp (including OS/2 Warp Server), or a license for WorkSpace On-Demand, then you are also granted a license for Netscape Communicator for OS/2 Warp. See the README and LICENSE.NET files accompanying the Netscape Communicator download package for details.

- Timothy Sipples
IBM Network Computing Software
Chicago, Illinois
February 13, 1998

FIRST JAVA 1.1.7 FIXES POSTED

The first set of fixes for Java 1.1.7A were posted at the IBM Hursley site on January 11th at:
ftp://ncc.hursley.ibm.com/pub/java/fixes/os2/11/117/

They were also posted January 12th at IBM's Boulder FTP site: ftp://service.boulder.ibm.com/software/java/fixes/os2/11/117/

The fixes are in the usual format of runtime.exe, samples.exe and toolkit.exe. Approximately 10.5 MB altogether.

The base Java 1.1.7A must be first installed before you attempt to install these fixes. If you haven't already installed base Java 1.1.7A via FI v.1.2.3, do it now. Java 1.1.7A and FI 1.2.3 are both free downloads from IBM's Software Choice catalog site (see POSEIDON.088 message of November 26th for details).

Installation raises Java 1.1.7A to build level of January 8, 1999. Type "java -fullversion" and you should see:

"JDK 1.1.7A IBM build o117-19990108 (JIT enabled: javax)"

- Larry Lavins
OS/2 SIG Leader
Philadelphia Area Computer Society
January 12, 1999

SMARTSUITE FOR OS/2 WARP 4, REL 1.1
Scheduled ship date 12/16/98

SmartSuite for OS/2 Warp 4 Release 1.1 will ship on 12/16/98 in English. Local language versions will follow shortly thereafter.

SmartSuite for OS/2 Warp 4 contains the 5 primary suite applications:

Word Pro for OS/2 Warp 4
1-2-3 for OS/2 Warp 4
Freelance Graphics for OS/2 Warp 4
Approach for OS/2 Warp 4
Organizer for OS/2 Warp 4

These applications contain all of the features outlined in the SmartSuite for OS/2 Warp 4 Overview Spec Sheet.

SmartSuite for OS/2 Warp 4 R1.1 Maintenance Release Highlights

Microsoft Word 97 and Excel 97 Import filters

Microsoft Office 97 filters are available in 1-2-3 and Word Pro. The File - Open and File - Save functions in 1-2-3 and Word Pro maintain as much data and functionality as possible.

Additional Y2K Support

SmartSuite for OS/2 Warp 4 Release 1.1 is designed to be year 2000-ready. It has been fully tested and meets the Lotus guidelines for Year 2000 readiness, which means that when used in accordance with its associated documentation, SmartSuite Release 1.1 is capable of correctly processing, providing and/or receiving date data within and between the 20th and 21st centuries, provided that all products (for example, hardware, software and firmware) used with the product properly exchange accurate date data with it.

Euro Support

You can insert the Euro symbol into any SmartSuite for OS/2 Warp 4 application, Release 1.1, if you are using:

To insert the symbol, press ALT+213 and then press Enter. The Euro symbol will appear in the document.

In SmartSuite for OS/2 Warp 4 Release 1.1, the Euro symbol is defined as a currency format in 1-2-3, Word Pro, and Approach.

IBM WorkSpace on Demand installation documentation

Installing in WorkSpace On-Demand 2.0 is different than installing on a file server. Complete instructions for installing Release 1.1 in the WorkSpace On-Demand 2.0 environment are available in the READWSOD.TXT file located in the root directory of the SmartSuite CD-ROM.

For more information on Lotus Smartsuite for OS/2 Warp 4 please visit http://www.lotus.com/smartsuiteos2.

SmartSuite for OS/2 Warp 4 R1.1 Operating System and Memory Requirements:

Notes:

1. The disk space shown above is for a "Default" install of each of the SmartSuite for OS/2 Warp 4 applications. A Custom install option allows for the selection of optional product features that require additional disk space or de-selection of default install features to reduce the disk space required.

2. The OS and Memory requirements above reflect two changes; (A) FixPak 6 or higher is now required and (B) The SmartSuite Shared Component disk space requirment has increased from 38 to 41Mb.

3. FixPak 6 is NOT included in this release. Customers must obtain and install FixPak 6 (or higher) before installing SmartSuite.

- Timothy Sipples
IBM Network Computing Software
Chicago, Illinois
December 23, 1998