Newsletter

1. In which months will the newsletter be published?
2. Who publishes this newletter?
3. What is the email address for iTzone?
4. What was the printed circulation?
5. Where can you pick up current issues of the newsletter?
6. When was the first issue launched?
7. When was eCNews (now called iTzone) first launched?
8. When did the newsletter first go online?
9. In which years were the printed copies printed in a smaller size?
10. How many masthead (logo) changes were there since 1985?
11. Which issue had a missing logo?
12. When did the newsletter go colour?
13. Who is the longest serving member of the Editorial team?
14. When did the current Director, IT Services, CITS (formerly known as Director of the Computer Centre, CC) first wrote an article in the newsletter?
15. What are the pseudonyms used in the newsletter so far?
16. Who is the most prolific writer in any single issue?
17. What is the new name for Computing News, launched in March 2000?
18. In which issue did the editor of the newsletter become someone else other than the Divisional Director (IT Operations) of CITS?

Answers:

1. In which months will the newsletter be published?
   Since 1992, the newsletter was published every quarter: in January, April, July, and October. However, since October 2003 the publication became a monthly affair. This is to bring readers more up-to-date information on computing-related news in NTU.
2. Who publishes this newletter?
   The NTU Centre for IT Services, and its NIE counterpart, the Computer Services Centre.
3. What is the email address for iTzone?
   iTzone@ntu.edu.sg
4. What was the printed circulation?
   Since 1992, the normal circulation is 2000 copies, while July has a bumper issue of 4000 copies. This is to cater for more giveaways to freshmen during the CITS conducted talks for newcomers. However, since the iTzone has gone totally and solely online in 2001, no hardcopies are printed.
5. Where can you pick up current issues of the newsletter?
   Since 2001, only online versions are generated and they are accessible from iTzone website.
6. When was the first issue launched?
   August 1985
7. When was eCNews (now called iTzone) first launched?
   1 September 1998
8. When did the newsletter first go online?
   The first experiment was done in 1987. eCNews was not the CITS' (then known as the Computer Centre) first attempt at online publication of the newsletter. Subsequently, in March 2000, eCNews was renamed to iTzone to coincide with the name change for the newsletter.
9. In which years were the printed copies printed in a smaller size?
   From September 1989 to September 1991 the publication was printed on B5 paper.
10. How many masthead (logo) changes were there since 1985?
    There were a total of 7 masthead changes: August 1985, January 1988, September 1988, July 1991, January 1992, January 1993, March 2000. Some were done to keep up with the times, but still there were some elements of an identity crisis :-P Check out Images of the Past to look at all the mastheads.
11. Which issue had a missing logo?
    Issue 11, released in June 1989
12. When did the newsletter go colour?
    If a coloured masthead constitutes "colour", then actually the very first issue (which had a blue masthead) was in colour. The front and back covers of the newsletters first went in full colour in issue 21, in January 1993. The covers have been printed in full colour ever since. Beginning in 2001, as only electronic copies are produced, there is no longer a cost issue for printing colour pages, and hence all pages are in full colour.
13. Who is the longest serving member of the Editorial team?
    Mrs Goh Cheow Miau from the Centre for IT Services has been a regular writer right from the very first issue. She has been (and still is) a part of the editorial team for more than a decade. Wow!
14. When did the current Director, IT Services, CITS (formerly known as Director of the Computer Centre, CC) first wrote an article in the newsletter?
    The current and first director of CITS, Mr Low Kin Kiong, wrote an article titled "Enhanced Graphics From IBM" in the first issue of Computing News way back in August 1985. He has contributed a few more articles in the next few issues, but he is less prolific in the later issues.
15. What are the pseudonyms used in the newsletter so far?
    Some writers are shy about disclosing their real identities, so they adopted certain pseudonyms. Though their identities are kept secret, perhaps their choice of pseudonyms give a glimpse to their personalities. See if you can guess who the writers are.
    [Clue: Most of them are CITS staff or are members of the editorial team.] The list includes:

    Arial Cornerstone CyberAbacus Dancer On Your Grave Info Net Jyera Kingfisher

    Netbeaver Network traveller NTUVAX shopper The Libra The Mustard Seed The Wanderer

16. Who is the most prolific writer in any single issue?
    Looking solely at articles that come with the author's name, Ms Lim Huey Bing bags the award for contributing three articles in each of these issues: 22 and 28. This included articles written under pseudonyms.
17. What is the new name for Computing News, launched in March 2000?
    Computing News ceased to exist after July 1999. The publication was renamed as iTzone from 2000. There was no October 1999 issue for Computing News.
18. In which issue did the editor of the newsletter become someone else other than the Director (IT Operations) of CITS?
    The Jan-Mar 2000 issue (No. 48 - the numbering continues from the old series) marked the first time when tradition was broken and the role of the editor was assigned to someone else other than the Divisional Director (IT Operations) of the centre. Mrs Chan-Sin Yoke Kheng, a Senior Assistant Director from CITS, had the honour of being that first editor who broke the tradition. The Divisional Director (IT Operations) then became the chief editor.