-
SkyStream Announces Data Broadcasting Deal
Matrox Gets Design Win from Compaq
Satori Brings PhotoXL to Market
ATI Secures Wins from Compaq, Dell, HP, NEC and Packard Bell
3Dfx and Electronic Arts Continue Lock Up
E&S Gets German Prime Contract Win
Army Uses Simulators Based on Intergraph Systems 
878.2 Story of the Issue
878.3 Computers
878.4 Set Top
878.5 Motherboards
878.6 Design & OEM Wins
878.7 Fab
878.8 Videoconferencing
878.9 E-Commerce
Global Chipcard Alliance Unveils Netuser Identifier Project
Online Shopping Growth
878.10 Broadband
878.11 Markets
IDC study finds remote user activity within the Corporation Enterprise continues
Compaq Downgrades DVD-ROM Expectations
Worldwide Digital Camera Market to Reach $5.4 Billion by 2002
878.12 Companies --------------------------------------
878.1 Hot Topics***SkyStream Announces Data Broadcasting Deal
(September 9)SkyStream Corporation announced that it has partnered with Varuna
Software to create a data broadcasting solution aimed the
distribution of Internet and web-cached data content across DVB
satellite transmissions. SkyStream has tested the Jetstream Data
Broadcast System with its data and conditional access
encapsulation and injection products, including the DBN-26
Intelligent CAS Injector (ICI). The combined products serve as a
hardware and software data broadcasting solution for satellite
and cable service operators.The Jetstream package is a software tool to manage the
collection, preparation and broadcast of web content, software,
documents, movies, music and data to a home or business computer
user. The tool includes a group of software modules for the
broadcast head-end, as well as a program guide and receiver agent
for the set-top or PC receiver card. Jetstream, coupled with
SkyStream's DBN-26, allows broadcasters to scramble the data
content with the incoming video stream, providing them with a
robust conditional access system solution for data service
subscribers.SkyStream's family of Integrator products include the DBN-24 DVB
data encapsulator, the DBN-25 DVB data injector, and the new
DBNB-26 Intelligent CAS Injector. These products allow satellite
and cable service providers to create complete data and video
broadcasting systems using an open network architecture. The DBN-
25 and DBN-26 utilize SkyStream's Null Packet OptimizerTM (NPO)
software, which allows broadcasters to inject Internet and IP
data into the empty space of an incoming MPEG video bitstream.
With full multi-protocol encapsulation (MPE) software to create
industry-compatible streams of data, any DVB-compliant set-top
receiver or PCI card can receive satellite content created by
these products. Both the DBN-24 and the DBN-25 are available
today. The DBN-26 will be available in October.Varuna Software was founded in 1996 to pursue the development of
a Data Broadcast Management System. The company's vision is
based on meeting the need for an advanced scheduling and
management system for multi-media broadcasts, similar to the
current traffic systems currently in use by most broadcasters.
Varuna is focused on enabling broadcasters to create new, or
enhance existing, data broadcast operations.SkyStream Corporation is a data and video broadcast networking
company based in Mountain View, California. The company's line of
SkyStream Integrator products enable the integration of disparate
digital data sources into an industry-compliant digital broadcast
stream.http://www.skystream.com
http://www.varunasoft.com***Matrox Gets Design Win from Compaq
(September 8)Matrox Graphics announced that the Matrox Millennium G200 (8MB
and 16MB), Matrox Millennium G200 SD (8MB and 16MB) and Matrox
MGA-G100 (4MB) graphics accelerators are standard in select
models of the Deskpro EP Series and are available as an option in
the Deskpro EN Series.***Satori Brings PhotoXL to Market
Spaceward Graphics has announced Satori PhotoXL, a professional-
level painting, design and photo manipulation software for
Windows '95, Windows '98 & Windows NT but with an expected price
of under $150.PhotoXL is an object-oriented editing environment focused on
entry level drawing, photo-editing and 2D graphics. PhotoXL is a
resolution independent 2D graphics package.A GUI has been designed for PhotoXL that provides access to a
design tools which have object-based flood fills, perimeter
fills, magic wand, and logo auto-trace and support for user
editable CanvasFX filters.CanvasFX filters (includes traditional photographic filters)
allow users to apply complex effects to layers and object shapes
in one step. These scaleable effects can be composited and/or use
a layer as a source input. Any combination of Satori operations
can be stored and then re-applied at any time, providing a large
range of custom user effects.Over 40+ CanvasFX filters are installed with PhotoXL and includes
styles for film effects, photography, drawing / sketching and
templates for buttons, title bars and plinths.Spaceward Graphics Ltd
Denmark House
3b High Street
Willingham
Cambridge, CB4 5ES
UK
Tel:+44 (0)1954 261333
Fax:+44 (0)1954 261666http://www.satoripaint.com
***ATI Secures Wins from Compaq, Dell, HP, NEC and Packard Bell
(September 8)ATI Technologies has announced that the RAGE PRO TURBO graphics
accelerator chip has been selected by Compaq, Dell, Hewlett-
Packard, NEC and Packard Bell. The systems include Compaq's
Presario 5050 and 5660 Series (with ATI Digital Flat Panel Port);
Dell OptiPlex GX1P; HP's Pavilion 8390 and 8395; the NEC Ready
and Ready Office PCs (with a selection of Pentium II, Celeron and
Cyrix MII processors); and Packard Bell Multimedia 800 and 900
series, as well as Platinum 7800 (also shipped with Pentium II,
Celeron and Cyrix MII processors).http://www.atitech.com.
***3Dfx and Electronic Arts Continue Lock Up
(September 8)3Dfx and Electronic Arts have announced that they have renewed
and extended their exclusive strategic marketing agreements for
3D graphics games and development relationship. The relationship
calls for exclusive marketing activities and game titles
specifically optimized for Voodoo2, Voodoo Banshee, dual board
Voodoo2 SLI technology and the Glide 3x software environment from
3Dfx Interactive. All of the games will utilize 3Dfx hardware and
software features including multitexturing and high- resolution
imagery to achieve a more complete gaming experience. The
marketing arrangements include exclusive 3Dfx logo representation
on game boxes, inclusion in television advertising campaigns,
special website programs and retail opportunities.http://www.ea.com.
http://www.3dfx.com.3Dfx has been separating itself from DirectX and this
announcement only reinforces that position.***E&S Gets German Prime Contract Win
(September 8)Evans & Sutherland Computer Corp. announced that its German
subsidiary has been selected to serve as the prime contractor for
materials procurement, systems integration, and construction
management for a complete air traffic control (ATC) training
facility. The Bundesamt fur Wehrtechnik (BWB), Division FE I,
selected Evans & Sutherland GmbH in Munich to build a new ATC
tower simulator in Kaufbeuren, Bavaria, as the core element of
the German Airforce's new training center for military air
traffic control.To be housed in an existing Airforce hanger, the training center
will be outfitted with a 14-meter diameter, 360-degree, high
resolution visual system; instructor and student training
consoles; networked computers; a database and scenario generation
system; pseudo pilot stations; a debriefing center, and
associated equipment.The simulator will feature one of the largest display systems
ever designed for an ATC training application.All computers, including the real-time visual system, will be
Windows NT-based systems. The visual system will use E&S's
RapidScene visualization and database generation system, and
E&S's REALimage graphics technology will power system graphics.Completion of the training center is expected in September 1999.
While specific financial details were not disclosed, total
contract value including options is approximately US$5 million.http://www.es.com
***Army Uses Simulators Based on Intergraph Systems
(September 14)Intergraph Computer Systems announced that the US Army has used
the Intergraph TDZ 2000 ViZual Workstations with RealiZm II 3D
Graphics for future-oriented, simulated battlefield experiments
held at the Mounted Maneuver Battlespace Laboratory of the US
Army Armor Center in Ft. Knox. The exercises, dubbed the "Battle
Command Reengineering" (BCR) experiments, deployed Intergraph's
Intel/Windows NT-based workstations and VTree software from CG2,
Inc. (Huntsville, Al) to determine the requirements of a high-
tech fighting force for next-century military conflicts.
Intergraph workstations were used at all levels of the
experiment, from 3D model development to real-time stealth views
to after-action data reduction/analysis, as well as for
production of the final report, which will include a video
presentation captured on Intergraph's StudioZ Media Production
Workstations.The virtual battlefield had over 1000 entities including 3D
models custom-built for the experiment. The 3D models included
futuristic military vehicles as well as vehicles used in today's
battlefield. Intergraph's TDZ ViZual Workstations were also used
for real-time mapping of satellite imagery to terrain models,
creating stunningly realistic battlefield terrain and real-time
battlefield simulation, providing true-to-life interactive
training scenarios.The Mounted Maneuver Battlespace Laboratory in Ft. Knox is one of
four core Distributed Interactive Simulation (DIS) facilities
maintained by the U.S. Army. The results of the Battle Command
Reengineering experiments are currently being analyzed and will
be delivered in a final report to the commander of Training and
Document Command (TRADOC) for the US Army in late September.http://www.intergraph.com/ics
***Diamond Multimedia Includes Portola Dimensional Systems
Fremont in Bundle with Viper V550The Viper V550 Software Bundle includes Motorhead by Gremlin
Interactive Ltd., Fremont SE by Portola Dimensional Systems,
Microsoft's Game Sampler for Windows 98, CrystalGraphics 3D
Sensations, Software DVD (AGP only), MGI's Photosuite SE,
PLATINUM's WIRL and VR Creator, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Diamond
InControl Tools 98, Back Web Software.***Compaq Extends Professional Workstation AP Line
(August 31)Compaq Computer announced enhancements to AP line of Professional
Workstations. Key changes include:--Professional Workstation AP500. Both a rack-mountable minitower
workstation with support for single and dual 450 MHz Pentium II
processors, new PowerStorm 300 graphics and 10,000 rpm hard
drives.
--The Professional Workstation AP200 and AP400 are also now
offered with Intel's new 450 MHz Pentium II processor with 100
MHz front side bus.
--New PowerStorm 300 graphics controller. Compaq's first
internally developed 3D graphics controller on the AP400 and
AP500.
--Compaq now offers 10,000 rpm Wide-Ultra SCSI hard drives on the
AP500.Professional Workstation AP500 is starting at approximately
$2,820, the AP500 provides up to two 450 MHz Pentium II
processors with 100 MHz front side bus, up to 1 GB of 100 MHz ECC
registered SDRAM, robust 2D and 3D graphics capabilities and a
choice of Wide-Ultra SCSI or Ultra ATA hard drives with internal
storage capacity up to 72.8 GB.The AP500 is the first Professional Workstation to incorporate
the new PowerStorm 300 graphics controller, Compaq's first
internally developed 3D graphics solution. Based on the REALimage
2100 graphics chipset from Evans & Sutherland.The PowerStorm 300 provides 15 MB of frame buffer memory and 16
MB of texture memory on the card. PowerStorm 300 also supports
dual-display capability with the addition of a second PowerStorm
300 card.Professional Workstation AP500 is available starting at
approximately $2,820 (U.S.) -- with 400 and 450 MHz Pentium II
processors, up to 1 GB of 100 MHz SDRAM, an ELSA GLoria Synergy+
graphics controller, 6.4 GB Ultra ATA or 4.3 GB Wide-Ultra SCSI
hard drive, integrated Compaq Fast Ethernet NIC, 32X MAX CD-ROM,
three-button mouse and preinstalled Windows NT Workstation 4.0. A
configuration with the PowerStorm 300 graphics controller will be
available early in the fourth quarter.http://www.compaq.com
***Cisco joins venture to develop set-tops for Europe
(September 1)Cisco Systems said it was joining forces with Pace Micro
Technology Plc to develop set-top boxes to deliver cable-based
TV, Internet data and telephony services to homes across Europe.The UK digital expert and U.S. Internet technology group said the
new system, to be rolled out later this year, would integrate
both digital TV and Internet technologies within one compact
system based on open, compatible standards.Cable & Wireless Communications Plc, Britain's biggest cable TV
and telephone group, is the first company to place an order for
the combined Cisco-Pace solution, which it plans to deploy
throughout its UK digital cable network.CWC stole a march on satellite broadcasting giant BSkyB earlier
this month by launching an interactive TV service that offers
real-time, high-speed, 24-hour access to home shopping and news
and information ahead of BSkyB's rival joint venture.CWC said the Cisco-Pace alliance provided an impetus towards
interoperability, or adaptable systems, based on Internet
Protocol-based standards across Europe.Pace is one of Europe's leading makers of satellite TV receivers
and one of four companies also commissioned to make set-top boxes
for BSkyB.***Diamond Enters Motherboard Market
(September 1)Diamond Multimedia announced Pentium II-based system boards
specifically targeted to the sub-$1000 PC market with the
Micronics C300 and C400.The Micronics C300 is a single Pentium II and Celeron desktop
solution based on the Intel 440LX AGPset. Features include two
ISA, five PCI, (one is a shared ISA/PCI slot), and one AGP slot,
increasing the end-users flexibility for add-on's in a variety of
configurations. Other features include 66MHz SDRAM, EDO and ECC
memory up to 384MB and Wake-On-LAN, which provides a method to
access a local-area or a wide-area network with the ability to
remotely turn on desktop PCs. Optional enhancements include
Microprocessor System Hardware Monitor support with CPU and
chassis fan speed monitoring.Utilizing the Intel 440BX AGPset, the Micronics C400 is an ATX
solution capable of processor acceleration up to 450 MHz. The
C400 features PC-100 SDRAM support and EDO memory up to 768MB,
Wake-On-LAN, Ultra DMA/33 IDE hard drive protocol (up to 33
Mbytes/sec. transfer rate) and support for both 66MHz and 100MHz
front side bus speeds. Features include two ISA slots, five PCI
slots (one is a shared ISA/PCI slot), and one AGP slot for added
configuration versatility. The Micronics C400 also offers an
optional Microprocessor System Hardware Monitoring device as well
as fan speed sensors for the chassis and CPU.Diamond Multimedia's Micronics C400 is now shipping to system
integrators, VARs, OEMs and retail outlets at a U.S. estimated
retail price (ERP) of $139.00. The Micronics C300 is scheduled to
ship in mid-September at a U.S. ERP of $109.00.http://www.diamondmm.com
***Diamond Multimedia's Stealth II G460 Graphics Accelerator
Selected by Fujitsu Ltd.
(August 31)Diamond Multimedia announced that its Stealth II G460 graphics
accelerator, based on the Intel740 controller, has been chosen by
Fujitsu Ltd. for various models of their Deskpower series of
personal computers available in Japan.Diamond's Stealth II G460 8MB AGP graphics accelerator is
included in Fujitsu's FMV-Deskpower TVII357, TVII357M, TVII359
and TVII407 Pentium II desktop systems as its standard graphics
accelerator.The Stealth II G460 is available for a U.S. estimated retail
price (ERP) of $129.95.http://www.diamondmm.com
http://www.fujitsu.com***IBM Delivers Copper Chips
(September 1)IBM announced the shipment of the copper-based microprocessors,
including a PowerPC 740/750 operating at 400MHz. The company also
announced several other initiatives associated with copper,
including availability of the 400 MHz embedded PowerPC chip.IBM also announced it will incorporate copper into its S/390,
RS/6000 and AS/400 server families, with prototypes planned for
1998 and production systems planned for 1999. In addition, the
company stated it will immediately broaden the use of copper in
the marketplace by building copper chips for other companies
through its standard foundry services. This leadership CMOS 7SF
technology at industry standard .18 microns is planned for
prototypes in the first quarter of 1999 and for production in the
second half of 1999.The 400MHz microprocessors are available in versions for both
desktop and mobile computing and are being incorporated into a
variety of consumer and business products. The attributes of
copper increase the versatility of the PowerPC 740/750 and will
continue to provide performance improvements in the future.www.chips.ibm.com
***Intel Introduces Desktop Video Conferencing Product for $799
(August 31)Intel introduces ProShare Video System 500, which is priced at
$799 (U.S. dollars) MSRP. Designed to use PCs in businesses
today, Intel ProShare Video System 500 provides audio and video
quality over both ISDN and LAN transports. The standards-
compliant product delivers up to 30 frames per second video
performance as well as integrated data sharing via Microsoft
NetMeeting.The Intel ProShare Video System 500 includes:
-- Intel ProShare software with integrated Microsoft NetMeeting
and Photo Exchange
-- Language Installation Options: English, French, German,
Italian and Spanish
-- One PCI ISDN/audio/video capture card
-- Headset with microphone
-- Composite color video camera
-- Boom microphone
-- Dual video input cable for two camera inputs
-- Quick install guide
-- NT-1 (optional)The minimum system requirement is an Intel Pentium II processor,
80 MB of hard disk space with Microsoft Windows 95 or Windows NT.
A free Windows '98 software upgrade will be available in late
1998 for those Intel ProShare Video System 500 units purchased
prior to that date.The product is available in North America and Europe through
computer product resellers. For more information on the Intel
ProShare Conferencing Video System 500, visitwww.intel.com/proshare/conferencing/vs500.htm
***Netscape to Sell E-commerce Services
(August 24)Netscape's Applications Products Division is planning to offer
software applications and possibly sell e-commerce services.
Netscape already licenses e-commerce software to several
institutions and will now compete with MSFDC, Visa/CheckFree and
Integrion in the bill payments business.The company will offer banks an alternative for e-commerce.
Working through its Netcenter portal site, its bill payments
program could run on top of its PublisherXpert functionality,
meaning that companies could present invoices to customers and
receive payments without the need for an Internet consolidator.The service is being developed as part of Netscape's 'Project 60'
campaign to turn Netcenter into a major portal site.Netscape is also exploring the viability of teaming up with an
existing bill consolidation company to provide additional options
to its client base.http://www.netscape.com
***Global Chipcard Alliance Unveils Netuser Identifier Project
(August 21)The Global Chipcard Alliance (GCA) has announced its Netuser
Indentifier Module (NIM) project, an effort by the GCA member
organizations around the world to design a universal system for
smart card recognition.The aim was to develop a software/firmware application for smart
card terminals to allow them to identify and grant access to
"foreign" application providers. A parallel to this would be disk
drives. An Apple Mac floppy drive can recognize a PC floppy
despite the fact that the Mac uses a different floppy disk
formatting system. When the Mac drive encounters the PC floppy it
can not only recognize it but also take the appropriate actions.The NIM will work similarly and will link terminals and
application providers across networks worldwide.When a local terminal does not recognize a smart card it will
notify the NIM application. After querying the NIM, the network
will contact the home application provider, which will link the
smart card's application information back to the user. The result
will be an interoperability for multiple applications.According to the GCA, GCA-based network providers that support
NIM will deliver, at minimum, connection services between the
card's applications and the application's home provider.
Therefore the successful implementation of NIM is dependent on
commercial roaming agreements between various GCA based
providers.http://www.chipcard.org
***Online Shopping Growth
(August 14 & 28)According to Jupiter Communications, in 1996 consumers spent $707
million online. Mediametrix estimates that in 1997, 19.7 million
Americans visited retail websites and spent $2.6 billion.According to an LJR Redbook Research report, it is projected that
e-commerce will generate $5.8 billion in 1998 and $34-37.5
billion in 2002.According to NetSmart's research report entitled, E-Commerce:
Internet Users Mean Business, 43 million people are using their
credit cards online today. Seventy percent of online consumers
reported completing their transactions last year, up from 25% in
1995. The report shows that although online consumers typically
do not purchase high-ticket items, nearly 63% of them decide what
to buy online.The report also stated that women are driving this surge in
online shopping. Nearly 50% of Internet users will be female by
the year 2001 and 70% of women are currently paying all the
monthly bills for their households.The number one reason for this growth, according to Forrester
Research: convenience.http://www.forrester.com
http://www.mediametrix.com
http://www.jup.com
http://www.netsmart-research.com***High-speed Internet Access to Reach 16 Million U.S. Households
by 2002 According to Forrester
(September 1)A Report from Forrester Research predicts that 16 million U.S.
households -- a quarter of all on-line homes -- will use
broadband connections to the Internet by 2002. These connections
will change the way consumers use the Internet and create new
opportunities for service and content providers.Cable companies will be the leading provider of residential
broadband services, capturing more than 80% of the market by
2002. Cable data services are poised for significant growth over
the next 18 months, surging from 350,000 subscribers in mid-1998
to more than 2 million by the end of 1999. This growth will be
driven by falling cable modem prices and rising consumer
awareness. At the same time, the major cable operators will seek
to expand their subscriber base in existing markets while
simultaneously exploring service offerings in new cities.The remaining 20% of the residential broadband market will be
served by the local telephone companies using digital subscriber
line (DSL) technology. Held back by competing technologies, a
lack of standards, and high equipment costs, the telcos will be
slow to roll out their broadband offerings, while consumers will
be disappointed by the initial price/performance ratio and
service limitations."Forrester believes that the telcos won't take residential
broadband seriously until AOL pressures them to deliver," Mines
added. "Forced to create its own premium broadband offering to
compete with cable services from @Home and Road Runner, AOL will
require its network suppliers to provide DSL connections. Lured
by the potential of AOL members turning to broadband, the local
telephone companies will start to accelerate their DSL efforts."In addition to faster and easier access to Web sites, broadband
holds the key to new applications and content services. On-line
banking and investing, for example, will take advantage of the
always-on connection to provide a steady stream of information
and account updates. Retailers will offer enticing sales videos,
demos, and product samples. Entertainment giants like Viacom and
Sony will deliver their wealth of content through broadband
portal sites featuring interactive games and video advertising.
Virtual reality and video e-mail will also benefit from
broadband's data-carrying capacity.While broadband services are more expensive than current dial-up
offerings, Forrester's Consumers & Technographics Technographics
'98 Field Study of 120,000 North American households found that
early broadband consumers have higher average incomes and are
willing to pay premium prices. Meanwhile, as cable and telco
offerings begin to achieve economies of scale, broadband services
will present a far better value in terms of price/performance.HTTP://www.forrester.com
***IDC forecasts U.S. return on Investment in the Internet
Economy
(August 31)Although the U.S. Internet Economy will hit $124 billion this
year, U.S. companies are still in investment mode, spending a
dollar and a half for every dollar of benefit received in 1998
from the deployment of Internet technologies. This is according
to preliminary estimates by International Data Corporation (IDC)
.IDC defines the Internet Economy as spending on technology
deployment, marketing and sales, content creation, professional
services, and education and training to support Internet
technology based applications. Benefits are a combination of
commerce conducted over the Web and productivity savings from
Internet applications.President John Gantz. "Within five years, every dollar of
Internet investment in the U.S. will be paying back a dollar
fifty, and the size of the total investment will be four- to
five-times bigger. It looks like the U.S. cross-over point --
from investment to payback economy -- could come as soon as the
year 2000."In addition to the U.S data and analysis, work is still underway
finalizing the forecast of the worldwide Internet Economy. The
Western Europe economy will be $44 billion this year -- about a
third of the U.S. Internet Economy -- and $170 billion in 2002.
Europe's lag in adopting Internet technologies will mean a
commensurate delay in turning into a payback economy.http://www.idc.com/ief.htm
http://www.idc.com***IDC study finds remote user activity within the Corporation
Enterprise continues
(August 31)The percentage of employees accessing LANs remotely is growing
steadily, according to the results of a new survey-based study
published by International Data Corporation (IDC). This research
reveals the number of employees accessing LANs remotely grew from
27.6 percent in 1997 to 32 percent in 1998. In 1999, respondents
to the IDC survey predicted 38.6 percent of employees will access
LANs remotely. The increasing role of the remote user within the
enterprise is related to the insurgence of intranet deployment.
It is the intranet that provides an environment conducive to
delivering corporate resources to remote and mobile users.Companies supporting more than 500 remote users are further along
in the deployment of intranets than companies with fewer than 500
remote users, the IDC study found. More than 50 percent of the
remote-centric sites agreed that extending applications to remote
users is driving their company toward using Web interfaces for
new applications.Remote-centric sites also demonstrated more specific requirements
within the enterprise than the total population. Top priorities
for remote-centric survey respondents included increased spending
in key networking areas (WAN equipment management, management of
remote access, remote desktops, Internet access, and Internet
application servers), and providing remote users with a reliable
network, minimizing slowdowns at the remote user desktop, and
removing bandwidth bottlenecks in the LAN backbone.This study, IDC 500 Report Series: Remote Access Solutions for
Corporate Intranets analyzes the remote-centric results from the
1998 IDC 500 Census of Network Executives in the United States
and Europe and the results from InfoWorld's 1998 Remote Access in
the Enterprise Study.http://www.idc.com
***Compaq Downgrades DVD-ROM Expectations
(August. 31)Multimedia Week reports that David Obelcz, software solutions
technologist with Compaq Computer Corp. [CPQ], expects the
installed base of DVD-ROM PCs to hit 5 million by year's end,
down from the 6 to 8 million he predicted last May.He cited PC manufacturers' emphasis on driving down costs - and
leaving DVD-ROM out of desktops to do so - as the reason for the
revised expectations.There are approximately 1,600 DVD-Video titles on the market
compared to less than 100 for DVD-ROM, most of which are not
available at mass-market outlets.***Worldwide Digital Camera Market to reach $5.4 Billion by 2002
(August 31)Digital cameras are becoming a serious alternative to traditional
photography in a number of different environments, including
personal, business communications, and business/Internet
publishing. According to a new research study published jointly
by International Data Corporation and Future Image, as desktop
systems become increasingly more powerful, quality and
affordability of photo/near-photo quality inkjet printers gain
prominence, and Internet bandwidth steadily increases, the
worldwide digital camera market will reap tremendous rewards,
reaching $5.4 billion by 2002.Numerous external inhibitors have impeded the adoption of digital
cameras, and now internal changes are needed for this market to
reach its full potential. From the beginning, high sensor costs
have posed a serious hurdle for digital cameras. Now as fierce
price wars drive sensor prices down, megapixel digital image
capture has dropped well below the $1,000 price point.
"Simplified conversion of DRAM manufacturing plants to CMOS
manufacturing sites in Ireland, Korea, and Taiwan will drive
price points well below $500 in 1998," said IDC's Ron Glaz.
"Customers will no longer have to sacrifice image quality, which
defines the usability of images, for a lower price." Cost
reductions are also being spurred by the proliferation of
advanced chipsets solutions pioneered by LSI Logic's DCAM-101,
which integrated numerous previously discrete components onto a
single chip. As the need for additional chips diminishes, so does
price.Digital cameras range in price from $130 to $45,000 and capture
anywhere from 77,000 pixels to 49 million pixels per exposure.
Beginning in 1999, however, the market will be dominated by the
megapixel (more than one million pixel resolution) camera and
this segment will capture 95% percent of worldwide shipments by
the year 2000, and 98% percent by 2002. "Megapixel class cameras
are breaking through previous barriers to adoption, in terms of
image quality and features-for-dollar. The next generation of
products will do even better," said Alexis Gerard of Future
Image. "Now the industry needs to focus on issues of usability
and standardization. There is tremendous momentum behind solving
those challenges before the end of the decade, which in turn will
drive the market's next stage of growth."Key Findings
-- Internet penetration of SOHO and home markets will help drive
the digital camera market and is already at almost 80 percent
penetration of PC households
-- The megapixel category, which featured six models in the fall
of 1997, reached 35 models by July 1998
-- The worldwide digital camera market will experience a 67.8
percent CAGR in shipments from 1997 to 2002
-- Worldwide revenues will grow from $1.2 billion in 1997 to $5.4
billion in 2002
-- Soft display cameras continue to fade in popularity, while
photo quality units experience tremendous growth
-- Mobile prepress-class cameras are intended to replace film
cameras in professional applications with high-output quality
requirements where rapid on-location image capture is the rule
-- In 1998, 23 percent of point-and-shoot cameras were shipped
into the home and 65 percent were shipped into the business
environment
-- In 1998, 15 percent of point-and-shoot cameras were shipped to
camera dealers and 12 percent were shipped to computer
superstores.The Digital Camera Market Review and Forecast, 1996-2002 contains
worldwide forecasts and detailed analysis for five digital camera
segments. It also presents shipments by application, distribution
channel and user segment.http://www.idc.com
***Chrysler, Mercedes to retain design uniqueness
(August 31)Reuters reports that Chrysler Corp. and Daimler-Benz AG's
Mercedes-Benz division will retain the unique designs of their
different vehicles but may exchange designers once the two firms
complete their $40 billion merger later this year, a Chrysler
executive said Monday.The companies have discussed sending designers to each other's
studios, said Neil Walling, Chrysler's design director. While
ideas will be exchanged, the look of the companies' vehicles will
not be blurred and their design departments will remain
independent."We're going to try ... to make sure we continue to have
differences in design," he said. "Our intent is not, at least as
far as I know, to meld those two departments. We want to keep
separate corporate identity between Mercedes-Benz vehicles and
Dodge and Jeep and Chrysler and so on."Chrysler employs 350 people in its design department.
There are similarities between the design styles at Chrysler and
the German company, Walling said. Both use a computer design
system called CATIA, which will facilitate the exchange of
information.Both automakers also have examples of evolutionary and
revolutionary design, Walling added. At Chrysler, Jeep vehicles
evolve from one model to the next just as some Mercedes cars do
not change their look radically."Mercedes design and Jeep design have a lot in common to the
extent that Jeep has got a very strong design heritage and design
identity, and as the new (Jeep) Grand Cherokee is very
evolutionary from the previous Grand Cherokee, so each Mercedes
is evolutionary from the previous Mercedes," he said.On the other hand, Chrysler is known for its willingness to
change its car designs, and Mercedes has taken risks with such
vehicles as its M-Class sport utility vehicle and A-Class small
car."Both companies have areas where they're evolutionary and both
companies have areas where they're very revolutionary," Walling
said. "That's a combination that tends to bode well for a good
fit."One worry about the merger is the potential competition between
the M-Class and Grand Cherokee, but Walling and Ernie Barry,
Chrysler's pre-production design chief, agreed the vehicles
appeal to different consumers. "Our philosophies have been
different, but the markets we sell in are different," Barry said.--------------------------------------
Copyright 1998 4th WAVE, Inc.
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