WHATSNEW.TXT: New WinU Features

WinU Version 3.1, released December 2, 1996

   License Meter Management: if your organization has, say, ten licenses
   for a particular program, you can ensure that no more than ten users
   are accessing that program simultaneously.
   
   Dynamic configuration update: if desired, WinU will look for config
   data files at startup in whatever directory you designate (perhaps
   on a server).  If found, they will replace the current configuration
   with whatever setup data they contain, allowing you to add or change
   all desks, buttons, passwords, or options dynamically and remotely.
   
   WinU now disables the Delete key and right-click context menus in 
   File | Open and other Common Dialogs, and in Explorer's right-side
   pane.  This prevents using the Delete key to delete files from 
   Common Dialogs, or using right-click context menus as a backdoor way 
   to run unauthorized programs.

   Strengthened "third-party window" processing, to more vigorously 
   remove such windows when they are not allowed.  Exceptions can now 
   be specified, windows that are allowed to remain visible even when 
   "third-party" windows are prohibited.

   "Third-party" windows can now be disallowed for individual desks, in
   addition to allowing or disallowing them systemwide as before.

   Button label text is no longer required.  A WinU button can now be
   just an icon in a button border.  This is set in the Button Style
   section of the Appearance And Sound tab.

   Added the PrevDesk button type.  If created on the desktop by the
   administrator, user can go back to the previously-visited desk by 
   clicking on the button.  The last 100 visited desks are available.
   Like all buttons, a PrevDesk button can be password-protected.

   New wallpaper option: display background bitmap at its actual size
   (not stretched to fit available space).  This is good for text and
   other finely detailed images.

   New wallpaper option: tile the background bitmap.  This option will
   copy the bitmap as many times as required to fill the space.

   New sound option: loop (play repeatedly) the desk logon sound when
   no program is currently running.
   
   New desk icons for DeskLink, PrevDesk, Exit, and Shutdown buttons.

   Modified the method of tracking time used in a desk so that it is
   saved when exiting for MS-DOS mode or an unanticipated shutdown.  

   Saving of parameters when returning from system setup or desk
   setup is now much faster.

   New interface for the Clone Setup Builder which requires the
   password for the computer being cloned.  This is a security 
   measure to ensure that one WinU user can't clone another WinU
   user's computer.

   Many elements are now encrypted and double-checked in various
   ways to help ensure that they are not abused.

   Password dialog times out and vanishes if not used in 30 seconds.  

   New error-message dialog times out and vanishes in 20 seconds.

   Now doing the keyboard/mouse inactivity monitor in a more reliable way.

   Can now deny use of the boot-time startup menu when disabling boot-time 
   function keys.

   Now doing remote password management in a more reliable way.  Changed
   password file format to accomodate this.  Added "usable once only"
   remote passwords.
   
   Previously, using a particular remote pasword could indicate the minutes
   per logon session.  Now you can also indicate minutes per day or minutes
   per week to be associated with a particular remote password.

   Previously, per-computer cumulative time limits could indicate minutes per
   day, per week, or simply total minutes (when they're used up, they're gone).
   Now you can also indicate minutes per logon session as a per-computer
   cumulative time test.

   Previously, the desktop's cumulative time counter only lost time when a 
   program from that desk was actually running.  If no program was running, 
   the clock didn't lose time.  In this version, the desktop timer keeps 
   running whether a program is running or not.  So, regardless of whether 
   the time limits are imposed by the password file parameters or from the 
   local machine's setup, they work the same way.  

   Remote file passwords are no longer case sensitive.  Passwords set up
   locally are case sensitive only if the new "case sensitive" box is checked.
   

WinU Version 3.0, released September 16, 1996

   Easier system administration, especially when managing a number of WinU 
   machines on a network: clone-able buttons, desks, or entire installations, 
   centrally managed password and timeout control, more detailed event 
   logging, built-in usage reports and graphs.  Inactivity timout.  Cleaner 
   tabbed-dialog interface.  Status bar.  More flexible visual interface 
   options (wallpaper, button styles, show/hide the menu and status bar).  
   Attach sound to WinU events.  New navigation elements: DeskLink, Exit, and 
   Shutdown buttons.  Button options to AutoRun a program at desk logon, keep 
   program running until desk logoff, and allow a program to continue to run 
   after exiting from the desk it was started from.  Can now run Shortcuts, 
   including shortcuts to printers, Dial-Up Networking, or other Win95 
   components.  Ultra-robust Kiosk Mode for the most demanding public-access 
   situations.  Built-in Explorer window for when you need access to the full 
   computer (with password control of course).  Much better when tracking 
   modem-using apps.  Blockout periods: times when nothing on that desk will 
   run (for example "Every Tuesday 9 pm to 11 pm" or "Every weekday 7:30 pm 
   to 8:30 pm").  Can disable CD-ROM autorun.  QuickNotes, so you can attach 
   a little message to a logfile record when exiting a program (perhaps for 
   billing purposes).  And the proverbial Much More.  


WinU Version 2.0, released January 31, 1996

   Numerous new features including Super Security mode, multiple
   desktops, Administration Maintenance mode, settable background
   color, keyboard control, highlighted focus button, right-click
   Properties screens for buttons and desktops, can run multiple
   programs concurrently, per-button password protection, improved
   Help system, more.


WinU Version 1.0, released August 24, 1995

   Initial release, on the same day that Windows 95 was released.
