Last updated:Wednesday, June 25, 1997, 8:30 a.m.
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Freedom's not just another word: A cutting-edge genetics company yesterday gave up millions of dollars and parted with its commercial partner in order to achieve freedom to publish its work. Now, the research is on the Net. The work will be useful to scientists worldwide who are working on malaria, cholera and tuberculosis research.

No joke: Rodney Dangerfield can't get any respect. So he's suing Epoch Networks Inc., an ISP in Irvine, California, for illegally using his image for promotional purposes.

Coming soon: A new report on Internet commerce will be released from the U.S. government next week. It will cover issues including taxation and tariffs, a uniform commercial code, electronic payments, technical standards, contracts, privacy, content, inter-operability and encryption.

Bone up on your Portugese, Smedley: Motorola is racking up the clients for its international cell phone infrastructure. This week alone, the suburban Chicago-based company announced three deals in China and a big one in Brazil.

Watch carefully: Both Netscape and Microsoft said yesterday that they've received government permission to export 128-bit encryption technology.

Adventures in supercomputing: Students are actually using computers to compute at an exposition sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy. That's how it all starts...

Change of IPO plans: Do you recall Digital Equipment Corp. saying last August it would spin off AltaVista? Never mind. DEC has decided to integrate it instead.

Follow the money: U.S. mayors are against a moratorium on Internet taxes because -- well, where do you suppose the money to run cities comes from?

Why backing up is important: In case you need a reminder as to why your work matters, the main computer used for air traffic control in Indianapolis crashed yesterday. Lots of people are glad it's only a computer that went down.

In the year 2000: The millenium bug has provoked all kinds of hysteria, but the threat is real. Here's a decent overview of the problem, and a few calming words for most users.

Upgrade: Microsoft will announce later this week a major upgrade to its Internet Information Server, which patches the hole found last week in IIS 3.0.

The earning of the green: Ireland is developing quite a reputation as one of the computing centers of Europe as companies note lower taxes, lower wages and a young workforce.

You have to bargain: Yesterday we told you about webmasters' wages. Today, those who work in networking say they're underappreciated.

Fear of the NC: We must stop the NetPC is the title of a column by a fellow over at ABC. He's more afraid of the bosses, and giving up control, than the technology, though. He'd get an argument from Larry Ellison, too.

Speaking of Larry: He's pulled the plug on Sedona, a development tool that isn't yet ready for prime time.

But can it correct for bloodshot eyes? In a development that may leap over the smartcards, passwords and existing teller technology, NCR is going to introduce ATMs that scan your eyes for identification purposes.

Never say never: Programmers cracked the 56-bit Data Encryption Standard last week, winning a $10,000 prize and adding a bit more insecurity to the Net.

MSIE 4.0: Microsoft is demonstrating version 4.0 of its Internet Explorer browser up in Redmond this week. They say they've got 50 percent of the browser market in Japan already. They're also spending more on research and development for Internet technologies.

NT versus UNIX: LANTimes says that the Windows NT server now now outsells UNIX OSes.

Pretty heavy going today: So here's a random Dilbert link.

Oracle, Microsoft's competing donations
Treybig: Tandem sale inevitable
"Zero tolerance" urged on software piracy
Idea thieves: How to outwit copycats