3D --- Media Creation --- Shared Space
Published by 4th WAVE, Inc. Issue
#716 7/3/97
CONTENTS
716.1 Quick News By Christina Person
Plastic Thought Introduces QuickSpace Plug-in for Adobe Photoshop [July 1]
The QuickSpace plug-in for Adobe Photoshop was introduced by Plastic Thought. Photoshop will deliver photo-realistic rendering and output using LightWorks rendering engine from LightWork Design. Software users will be able to feature 3D models inside the Photoshop 2D compositions. QuickSpace will allow users to import and manipulate QuickDraw 3D (3DMF) models directly in Adobe Photoshop or Adobe PhotoDeluxe. More than 200 ActiveArt models in QuickDraw3D, VRML, JPEG and animated GIF formats are contained in the plug-in.
Compaq’s Presario PCs Launched with S3’s Multimedia Accelerators [July 1]
S3 has announced that Compaq Computer Corporation’s Presario PCs will be using their ViRGE/GX and Trio64V2 multimedia accelerators. The Presario 4500 series offers video playback and accelerated 2D graphics with the S3 Trio64V2, while the 4800 Series features real-time video playback and photo imaging with 3D graphics with the S3 ViRGE/GX multimedia accelerator.
Discreet Logic Announces Acquisition of Denim Software [June 30]
Discreet Logic Inc. has announced the acquisition of all the assets of Denim Software for $11.3 million U.S., as well as the assumption of certain assumed liabilities. The acquisition will bring two new effects products to Discreet Logic, Illuminaire Paint and Illuminaire Composition. Both products offer high resolution paint and effects creation capabilities for multimedia and web content.
Discreet Logic Launches Multi-Platform Software Initiative [June 30]
Discreet Logic has announced its multi-platform software initiative with the creation of two new product development groups: Discreet Logic Systems Group and Discreet Logic Software Group. The Discreet Logic Software Group will focus on developing digital imaging tools with platform-independent software for the manipulation, creation and finishing of computer graphics images, interactive and on-line content. Visual effects, editing and broadcast production markets will be the focus of the Discreet Logic Systems Group. In addition to the fully integrated real-time turnkey systems solutions, the company is developing a business model to sell software across Apple Macintosh OS, Microsoft Windows NT and UNIX platforms.
MetaCreations Ships Infini-D 4.0 for Power Macintosh [June 26]
Metacreations Corporations has released Infini-D 4.0, a new version of its professional 3D animation program, for Power Macintosh. Infini-D 4.0 features video integration, high-end special effects and 3D animation power for the video professional. New rendering features including, field rendering, full NTSC/PAL color correction and non-square pixels are offered. The suggested retail price for Infini-D 4.0 for Power Macintosh is $899 with an upgrade price of $199. Windows 95/NT versions are expected to be available before the end of the year.
Working Model, Inc. Ships Working Model 3D 2.0 [June 30]
Working Model, Inc., a division of Knowledge Revolution, has announced the shipping of Working Model 3D 2.0. Dave Baszucki, president of Working Model, explained the software "will support larger and more complex 3D mechanical assemblies than was possible in the past." Included in the product are 3D joints and constraints, such as motors, rods and ropes, which enable the user to model complex 3D mechanisms. Working Model 3D 2.0 supports OpenGL also. The software is currently available for Windows 95/NT with a suggested retail price of $5,000.
Symmetric Announces 2D/3D Graphics Board [June 30]
Symmetric, Inc. has announced the availability of the Glyder/MX, a 2D/3D accelerator which features enhanced rasterization and geometry performance. The Glyder/MX is equipped with 16 or 32MB of VRAM/DRAM and is capable of displaying up to 2048x2048 resolution and 1920x1080HDTV resolution. Graphics features included integrated 2D and 3D acceleration and 100% hardware 3D rendering. Glyder/MX is now available at OEMs, resellers and system integrators with an MSRP that starts at $2195. Interested vendors and customers can contact Symmetric at:
Matrox’s Millennium II Powers Compaq’s Professional Workstations and HP’s Vectra VL PC [June 16]
Matrox announced that their Millennium graphics accelerator will power the new Compaq Professional Workstation 6000 and 8000, as well as the HP Vectra VL PC. The Compaq Pentium II workstations are designed to offer advanced graphics performance for CAD, CAE and Digital Content Creation(DCC) applications. The combination of the Millennium II with the PCs offers ultra-high resolutions, color depths and refresh rates at a higher performance level. The Matrox Millennium II is available in 4 and 8MB WRAM base configurations and can be upgraded to 8, 12, or 16 WRAM. Other features include 3D Gouraud shading and fast hardware texture mapping.
http://www.hpcc920.external.hp.com/
Matrox and Hitachi/NSA Provide Display Solution for IBM EDMSuite
Matrox and Hitachi/NSA are teaming up to provide a high quality display solution for the IBM Enterprise Document Management Suite. The IBM EDMSuite is a portfolio of Web-enabled workflow and document management solutions. The combination of the Matrox Millennium PowerDoc Edition and Hitachi SuperScan provide EDM users with high resolutions, image clarity and high refresh rates.
VRML Consortium Elects Neil Trevett President [July 1]
The VRML Consortium, which includes over 60 internet, hardware and software companies, has elected Neil Trevett of 3Dlabs as the new President. The goal of the VRML Consortium "is to enable and promote VRML as an open ubiquitous standard for 3D on the Internet." 3Dlabs is a founding Charter Member of the Consortium which includes companies such as, Apple, IBM, Intel Microsoft and Sony. Mr. Trevett, and newly-elected vice-president Tony Parisi, will work on a volunteer, part-time basis. They will report to the governing board of directors which includes representatives from Black Sun Interactive, Intervista, Netscape and Silicon Graphics.
S3’s Acceleration Technology Used BY Compaq, Gateway, HT and NEC [July 2]
S3 Incorporated has announced that the new NetPCs from Compaq, Gateway 2000, Hewlett-Packard and NEC Computer Systems all use their acceleration technology. The Compaq Deskpro 4000N, Gateway 2000 E-1000N and the HP Net Vectra PC integrate S3’s Trio94V2 multimedia accelerator. The NEC PowerMate NetPC enhances 2D, 3D and video accelerations with the S3 ViRGE/GX multimedia accelerator. Compaq and Gateway 2000 plan to ship their PCs by the end of Q3 1997. The HP Vectra PC has a beginning suggested retail price of $999 and is expected to be available in August. $1000 to $1500 is the expected street pricing for the NEC PowerMate Net PC and should be available Q3 1997.
http://www.hpcc920.external.hp.com
Dataquest Projects Growth of PC Market Through 2001 [July 1]
The worldwide PC market is forecast to increase 19 percent in 1997. Shipments are expected to surpass 84.3 million units. Dataquest reports that the market will continue to grow through 2001, with shipments expected to reach 151.6 million units.
716.2 Update: Trocadero: Virtual World Entertainment
In WAVE Issue 714.7, it was reported that in April of 1997, Virtual World Entertainment's facility at London’s Trocadero Complex shut down. Chris Rago of VWE notified us last week that the closing actually occurred in January of 1997. Chris believes the closing was mainly "due to a lack of traffic because the center was located in the basement of the building."
WAVE learned from an anonymous source that the closing was actually a result of downsizing by the European company, Rank Organization, after it was taken over by a manger buy-out team. It was explained to WAVE that attendance had dropped substantially due to the 1.5 years of traffic and viewing obstructions from scaffoldings and construction for the SegaWorld complex upstairs.
VWE is currently working with a new European distributor, WorldGame, to establish new facilities in the European market. There are no plans presently to return to the Trocadero site.
716.3 What happened to the consumer HMD market? By Jonathan Sunberg
In February of 1997 virtually all the entire consumer Head Mounted Display (HMD) companies exited the business by either selling off their assets or declaring bankruptcy. Among these companies: Virtual i-o and Forte Technologies filed for Chapter 11,VictorMaxx suspended its shares and exited the marketing, attempting to enter the LBE business, and Virtuality filed for protection from its creditors and suspended its shares on Feb. 7th.
WAVE sought views from Arthur Zwern, President of General Reality (an HMD developer for government, university, industrial, and entertainment markets). We also spoke to Bob Seltzer, Director of Marketing for StereoGraphics (a stereoscopic display developer for research, commercial presentation, and consumer applications), and Mike Bevan, Managing Editor of VR News (the largest circulating VR publication).
Mr. Zwern feels the consumer HMD companies "tried to stimulate the market by entering with products between $799 to $899," but found that "consumers are actually only willing to pay up to $200 for computer add-ons." Unfortunately the companies did not take heed to the $200 price point and lowered their prices to around $450. This price was well below cost, but it was still too high to generate any consumer interest. According to Ingram Micro, one of the largest distributors of PC hardware and software, Forte only sold 420 VFX1s in 1996 and Virtual I-O’s I-glasses actually posted negative sales numbers (-5) during the same period.
Mr. Seltzer agreed with Mr. Zwern about pricing concerns, but added, "the technology is not right for the PC either." He feels that the PC is more suited for stereoscopic display, rather than HMDs, which require VGA resolution. He also stated that "HMDs can be quite heavy, which can be burdensome for users over a period of time, while stereoscopic glasses are extremely light, thus less burdensome. StereoGraphics offers a consumer-grade stereoscopic display, Stimuleyes, for gaming and online stereoscopic content. Stimuleyes are light (~3 oz’s.), compatible with most major 3D accelerator cards (Real3D, Rendition, 3Dfx, and more), and are under that $200 price point (currently ~$99 at most retail stores).
General Reality has sworn away from the consumer market, because of what Mr. Zwern terms "a black hole for cash." In order to succeed in the consumer market, Mr. Zwern feels one must deal with "retailer hassles, distribution challenges, and a huge cash investment." Thus he predicts the market will reemerge in 2-3 years when PC rendering improves and LCD display costs decrease, but the leaders will be big consumer electronic producers, like Sony and Sharp, who already have the distribution channels and the cash for long-term investments.
Both Mr. Zwern and Mr. Seltzer agree that Virtuality was unlike the other HMD developers. As Mr. Zwern stated, "Virtuality developed strong products and had many investors, but banked on Location-Based Entertainment (LBE) too much. The systems were priced high (around $30,000), but were only taking in revenues equivalent to machines half the price." Along with the expensive systems, Virtuality’s projections were too high. These projections led to excess inventory, but no incoming orders or cash. Virtuality ended up with a warehouse full of product, but no buyers.
WAVE also spoke with Mike Bevan, Managing Editor of VR News, to see if he agreed about the problems and current state of HMDs. We learned that he did not agree with the opinions of others.
Mr. Bevan doesn’t feel that the market died, but instead "it just wasn’t really ever alive yet, it wasn’t born." He believes that the companies who struggled, were really "just experiments that were ahead of the technology." He feels that "the prices were too high, but that it was really the quality issue that did not justify the prices." Mr. Bevan also stated that although he has "worn heavy HMDs, weight is not a big issue, because HMD companies will devise devices that will not be too cumbersome and/or heavy."
So what, when, and how will HMDs be able to enter the consumer market? Mr. Bevan feels de-pixelation technology will need to be at a point where users, can no longer count the number of pixels on the screen. "One way of decreasing pixel problems," Mr. Bevan explained "is to increase the content support." Thus if the images the user is watching are compelling enough, the user will be drawn into the action and will not focus on the images and graphics, but instead the story or action that is occurring." He feels that consumer level HMDs will win out in TV-like animation, where the action is continuos and fast-paced, over a research project or simulation where the user may focus more on the certain images in the display, rather than the whole-overall picture.
Mr. Bevan agrees with Mr. Zwern that the Japanese consumer electronic producers will be the first to enter the market. In the June 1997 issue of VR News, Mr. Bevan actually writes of Sony’s expected launch in the US of a sub-$500 Glasstron headworn personal TV this summer. Mr. Bevan stated that Sony has been test-marketing HMDs in Asia for quite sometime and has held a keen eye to the failed US HMD market. He sees Sony taking the higher-end consumer market selling its products in Sharper Image-like stores.
The article, "Virtuality sell-off nearing completion" in VR News also pointed to a new company in consumer HMDs. It will be formed through the efforts of Virtuality’s co-founder and former CEO, Dr. Jonathan Waldern. Dr. Waldern has signed an agreement to acquire the consumer HMD business and patents of Virtuality Ltd. Mr. Bevan believes that "the Waldern-led management buy-out team has raised over $5 million in initial funding, with Dr. Waldern himself as a substantial investor." The difference between Sony’s HMD’s and Dr. Waldern’s HMDs lie in the pricing and technology. Mr. Waldern will most likely sell an HMD that uses only a single LCD for approximately $200, where Sony will sell the dual LCD or binocular design for around $500.
WAVE agrees that price, technology, and timing led to the demise of the HMD producers. They entered at a time when the technology was not compelling enough or exciting enough and was too expensive for consumers too accept. The Japanese companies, like Sony, will lead the HMD market, because they have the channels, the market testing, the technology, and the financing to see it through. But truly the market will only take off when, as Mr. Bevan told us, "the user can say, Wow that’s cool!"
Although the HMD market currently appears stalled in the consumer market, higher-end HMDs for research, visualization, and simulation are doing well according to those we spoke to. Companies, like General Reality, are creating affordable HMDs (~$2,000 and up) which are being used for virtual manufacturing, medical applications, and immersive simulations. General Reality feels that this market will add museums and schools to its list, as immersive learning becomes more mainstream.
The URLs for the companies discussed, which remain active include:
Copyright 1997 4th WAVE Inc.
May be redistributed in full for individual readership and posted to newsgroups, Web, and FTP sites. May not be reprinted or redistributed for profit. Short quotes are permitted but must be attributed to the WAVE Report on Digital Media.