- WAVE Comments
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***Computer Associates Acquires Viewpoint Datalabs and 3Name3D (October 29)
Computer Associates (CA) has announced the acquisition of privately-held Viewpoint DataLabs (Viewpoint). At the same time CA announced it acquire 3Name3D. Viewpoint will take responsibility for 3Name3D when both companies become a part of CA. Financial terms were not disclosed for either deal Viewpoint will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of CA, and will continue to operate with its existing management team and employees in its Utah, Los Angeles, San Francisco and United Kingdom offices. CA plans to use Viewpoint's technology to further advance the capabilities of leading edge products such as Unicenter TNG and Jasmine through the use of sophisticated 3D technology. Viewpoint will also continue to offer and evolve its technologies, products and services for its existing customers in the entertainment, advertising and visual simulation industries CA had taken an equity stake in 3Name3D in April of 1997. The success of the working relationship led to the decision by both companies to move forward with a full acquisition. As part of Viewpoint, 3Name3D will continue to operate with its existing management team and employees in California.
This is the first major commitment to 3D on the part of an enterprise software company. It marks beginning of the movement of 3D beyond games. CA has been a leader in its use of 3D with Unicenter TNG and it will be important to watch how it takes these 3D companies and expands its use of the technology into the critical needs of business
***Silicon Motion Brings 3D Chip to Mobil Market (October 29)
Silicon Motion has announced the Lynx3D, a display controller for notebook PCs.
The Lynx3D supports 2.5MB of embedded memory, and an external 64-bit SGRAM memory bus provides an additional 2MB or 4MB of memory. A two-memory controller architecture permits the embedded memory and external memory to run in parallel. This allows up to 192-bit memory architecture and up to 2.4GBytes of memory bandwidth. The 2.5MB of embedded memory can also be used as a dedicated texture cache, while front and back display buffers may be placed in external memory.
The Lynx3D also includes a 200MFlop IEEE Floating-Point Setup engine in addition to a full-featured 3D rendering engine. The rendering engine supports key features such as Mip Mapping, Bilinear/Trilinear Filtering, Alpha Blend, Anti-Aliasing, Specular Highlights, and Fog. Combined with the independent dual memory architecture, Lynx3D can achieve non-interrupted single cycle rendering. The Lynx3D also has support Motion Compensation hardware for DVD. There is also a Video Processor that handles translations of different video formats, and alpha blends the sub-title onto the screen.
Lynx3D support direct attachment to an LCD, CRT, or TV. Not only does Lynx3D contain all the DACs for the common CRT, but also a separate Macrovsion enabled Digital Encoder and 10-bit Y/C DAC for TV.
The Lynx3D currently has samples available at a price of $49.50 each in quantities of one thousand. The device is available in a 272-pin or 316-pin BGA package.
This could be an important announcement by a company that could challenge ATI in the mobile market. Today ATI is the leading supplier of 3D display controllers and as Chips and Technologies gives up in the market it is increasingly being left to ATI. It was a disappointment that Silicon Motion said nothing about performance. In 3D it is all about performance. The mobil market is a difficult one to combine leading performance with power consumption minimization and heat dissipation handling. It is not clear how well Silicon Motion has addressed these issues.
***Lucent Technologies and Cognicity Collaborate in Audio Market (October 23)
Lucent Technologies and Cognicity have worked together to develop digital audio and watermarking technologies. Lucent Technologies recently unveiled its audio compression technology called PAC (Perceptual Audio Coder), and Cognicity's AudioKey watermarking technology.
PAC delivers high quality audio at low bit rates by using psychoacoustic modeling which is based on a representation of how humans hear sound. Using this technology music is compressed at a rate of 15 to 1. Lucent Digital Radio, a wholly-owned venture of Lucent Technologies, will use PAC for digital audio broadcast (DAB), and Lucent is working on other products and services that incorporate the technology.
Cognicity's watermarking solution enables artists and recording labels to actively protect and promote their work. Like PAC, AudioKey uses psychoacoustic models of human hearing to provide truly imperceptible watermarks. AudioKey can embed large amounts
of data in an audio clip while preserving its fidelity. The embedded data is persistent and survives editing, compression, streaming and format conversion. AudioKey is a tool for copy and copyright protection. In addition, it provides one-to-one persistent links between the music industry and its customers.
***Futuremark Corporation Launches Another 3D Benchmark: 3DMark 99 (October 26)
Futuremark has announced 3DMark 99 - The Gamers' Benchmark - which is focused on Microsoft's DirectX 6.0. It uses Remedy Entertainment's proprietary 3D engine, MAX-FX, for testing a commercial version, 3DMark Pro is also available.
This was a near worthless announcement. Laden with quotes and useless dribble it said nothing about what the benchmark does and why it is any better than all the other benchmarks available. Maybe next time.
***Microsoft Announces Smart Cards for Windows (October 27)
Microsoft has announced a standards-based platform that provides secure storage for security, loyalty and ePurse solutions in the Microsoft Windows operating system. Smart Cards for Windows is focused on delivering benefits of Windows-based development and
run-time environments to the smart card industry.This addition to the Windows family extends the benefits of the PC software development model, including a common run-time environment, a language-neutral development environment and familiar tools such as the Microsoft Visual Basic® and Microsoft Visual C++ development systems, to smart card developers. This will enable card issuers and designers to employ their existing expertise in Windows to develop and deploy a broader range of smart card usage and applications than with smart card systems.
Typical solutions enabled via these smart cards include secure network authentication, secure corporate transactions (such as online banking, and debit and credit), electronic cash and customer loyalty programs.
Features include:
- Multipartition file system. Physically separates data files so that multiple applications can safely run on a single card
- Access Control Rules. Tightly controls who has access to all the files on the card, as well as files off the card.
- Pluggable cyptographic algorithms. Allows developers and customers to specify and design their own levels of cryptographic support
- Support for existing smart card standards. Includes support for ISO 7816-4 commands.Smart Cards for Windows software is scheduled to be available on various leading processors in the first quarter of 1999.
***Microsoft Renames Windows NT 5.0 Product Line to Windows 2000 (October 27)
Microsoft announced that the next major release of the Microsoft Windows NT operating system line of products will be named Windows 2000. With this announcement Windows NT Workstation 5.0 becomes Windows 2000 Professional and Windows NT Server 5.0
becomes Windows 2000 Server.Windows 2000 server products now include Windows 2000 Server, Windows 2000 Advanced Server and Windows 2000 Datacenter Server, a new packaging option being discussed for the first time today.
The following products now make up the Microsoft Windows 2000 line of products:
· Windows 2000 Professional (formerly Windows NT Workstation 5.0) will be the Microsoft mainstream desktop operating system for businesses of all sizes
· Windows 2000 Server (formerly Windows NT Server 5.0) will offer support new systems with up to two-way SMP. Targeted to small to medium-sized enterprise application deployments, Web servers, workgroups and branch offices, this version of Windows 2000 is expected to be the most popular server version. Existing Windows NT Server 4.0 operating systems with up to four-way SMP can be upgraded to this SKU.
· Windows 2000 Advanced Server (formerly Windows NT Server 5.0 Enterprise Edition) will be a more powerful departmental and application server, and will also provide NOS and Internet services. Supporting systems with up to four-way SMP, this product offering is suited for database-intensive work and integrates clustering and load balancing -- support to provide excellent system and application availability. Existing Windows NT Server 4.0 Enterprise Edition servers with up to eight-way SMP can install this SKU, which is expected to be priced below today's Windows NT Server Enterprise Edition product.
· Windows 2000 Datacenter Server (new) will be the most powerful and functional server operating system ever offered by Microsoft. It supports up to 16-way SMP and up to 64 GB of physical memory (depending on system architecture). It provides both clustering and load balancing services as standard features.It is optimized for large data warehouses, econometric analysis, large-scale simulations in science and engineering, OLTP, and server consolidation projects.
The name changes are effective immediately. Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 98 products will retain their current names.
***Avid Uses Pinnacle Systems for Digital Video Effects Technology (October 29)
Pinnacle Systems announced that AVID has elected to use Pinnacle Systems' real-time Genie DVE (Digital Video Effects) technology in its recently released Avid Xpress digital video system for the Windows NT computing environment. Avid Xpress for Windows NT is Avid's latest addition to its Xpress family of nonlinear editing systems, and is based on the Company's Meridien video subsystem.
***Macromedia Financial Performance Improves Significantly (October 29)
Macromedia announced record revenues of $35,226,000 for the second quarter ended September 30, 1998, a 21% increase as compared with $29,166,000 in the same period a year ago. Gross profit increased 34% to $31,997,000 as compared with $23,859,000 in the second quarter a year ago. Net income rose to $4,172,000, or $0.10 per share, during the second fiscal 1999 quarter, compared to net income of $313,000, or $0.01 per share, a year ago.
Revenues for the six months ended September 30, 1998 totaled $67,561,000, a 20% increase over $56,495,000 in the six month period a year ago. For the six months ended September 30, 1998, gross profit increased 31% to $61,213,000 as compared with $46,620,000 in the same period a year ago. Net income for the six- month period reached $7,131, 000, or $0.16 per share, as compared with a net loss of $926,000, or $0.02 per share, a year ago.
During the second quarter, Windows and cross-platform product revenues represented 57% of total product revenues. Macintosh-related revenues increased 17% over the same period a year ago, representing 43% of total product revenues. North American revenues represented 59% of revenues during the quarter compared with 46% a year ago and 57% in the previous quarter. Revenues in Europe were strong during the quarter due to strong demand for the Company's new Web products.
During the second quarter Macromedia repurchased 830,000 shares of its common stock under the stock repurchase program. The Company has repurchased a total of 1,340,000 shares of its common stock year to date. In July 1997, Macromedia announced that the Board of Directors had authorized the repurchase of up to 2,000,000 shares of its common stock, or approximately 5% of the Company's total outstanding shares, to partially offset the dilutive effects of the company's Equity Incentive Plan.
***IMAX Theater Opens in Tech Museum of Innovation (October 27)
The Hackworth IMAX Dome Theater at the new Tech Museum of Innovation in downtown San Jose, CA has opened.
Hackworth IMAX Dome Theater Named for donors Mike and Joan Hackworth, the theater is a hemispherical dome 82-feet in diameter covering 12,000 square feet. Unlike traditional flat-screen IMAX theaters, the Hackworth IMAX features a giant dome screen and six-channel, digital wrap-around sound with 13,000 watts of power from 44 speakers. The theater seats 295 people in reclining chairs that help create the feeling of being part of
the action.The Tech Museum of Innovation will open to the public on October 31, 1998. The new 132,000-square-foot museum, at the corner of Market Street and Park Avenue in downtown San Jose, is made possible through a partnership with The Redevelopment Agency of the City of San Jose.
The new museum will include galleries exploring four themes:
--Innovation-Silicon Valley and Beyond;
--Communication-Global Connections;
--Life Tech-The Human Machine; and
--Exploration-The New Frontiers.Also new to The Tech is the Hackworth IMAX Dome Theater and the Robert N. Noyce Center for Learning.
***Deer Hunter's Success Continues
Deer Hunter from WizardWorks (a division of GT Interactive Software) was the top-selling PC game for the month of Sept., according to PC Data's just released charts. It was also in the top-five selling software for Sept. at #5. Deer Hunter has been a top-five selling PC game since its release last Oct. and was the #1 selling PC game for four months (Jan., Feb., March, Sept.).
Deer Hunter II has also been the top-selling PC game, according to PC Data,for the first two weeks in October. For the week of Oct. 11 it was also the top-selling software, outselling the likes of MS Windows 98.
***Venturer T4 to Rollout in South
Africa
(October 29)
A site on Cape Town's waterfront in South Africa will be the first location for Thomson Entertainment's new Venturer T4 four-seat simulation theatre motion platform.
The order, through Thomson Entertainment's distributor, Nu Metro Entertainment is for four platforms to create a 16 seat theatre attraction within a popular waterfront area which houses a variety of entertainment experiences including a multiplex cinema.It will feature a switchable 2D/3D projection system, and will offer a selection of 2D and 3D film experiences, including Thunder Drive and The Curse of Tutenkhamun.
The Venturer T4 is designed for seating flexibility and for venues that have restricted ceiling height, down to less than four metres, or 12 feet. It utilises a three axis, electric motion system supported on a ballasted base to avoid the need for permanent floor fixing. Access stairs are built into either side of the motion base surround in order to save space and reduce additional capital expenditure.
***Work Begins on $1.4b Movie Theme Park in Japan (October 29)
Reuters reports that a consortium co-led by Hollywood's Universal Studios broke ground on a 170 billion yen ($1.4 billion) theme park project in Japan in an expression of optimism amid the nation's economic gloom. The movie theme park, in the central city of Osaka, is the studio's first outside the United States and promises a boost for local businesses struggling to turn back the tide of recession.
"Timing is good," Universal Studios Japan (USJ) executive vice-president Robert K. Gault, Jr, told Reuters in an interview. "Due to the depressed economy, we are taking advantage of some good deals and values as we buy things we need to build the park." USJ is led by the city of Osaka as well as Universal, a subsidiary of Canadian drinks and entertainment company Seagram Co Ltd, and is due to open in 2001.
Eight million visitors a year are forecast to visit the 54-hectare (140-acre) park, in Osaka's west waterfront district. The park will feature 18 attractions, including popular rides and shows from Universal's U.S. parks such as a "Jurassic Park" ride and "The E.T. Adventure".
Universal must have gotten some deals to open this park. It is one of the few signs of optimism in the Japanese economy.
Reuters reports that its first-half profits were battered by a double punch of sagging prices for electronic products and a global economic downturn. It added that things would get worse in the second half of the business year, and that it would fall into the red on a parent operating basis for the first time in six years.
Sony's group net profit for the six months ended Sept. 30 sagged 5 percent from the same period a year earlier to 86.05 billion yen ($729 million). The results were calculated under U.S. accounting rules. Sony slashed its group net profit estimate for the full year ending next March to 170 billion yen ($1.44 billion) from its earlier forecast of 215 billion yen ($1.82 billion). The estimate compared with a record group net profit of 222 billion yen ($1.88 billion) last business year, when it enjoyed solid sales of electronics products and its PlayStation game console.
Sony said prices for its audiovisual products fell both in Japan and overseas due to tough competition from Asian manufacturers, who slashed prices as their currencies slumped. During the April-September period, Sony's operating profit in its key electronics business-which accounts for 60 percent of its total sales-fell 29 percent to 63.13 billion yen ($535 million).
Sony said the high yen, which in theory cuts its dollar-based export returns and makes it less competitive, and a slowdown in the global economy had cast a long shadow over the second half of this business year.
It said it would plunge into the red in the second half on a parent operating basis for the first time since the second half of 1992/93. Senior Vice President Masayoshi Morimoto predicted a parent operating loss of 37 billion yen ($314 million) for the second half.
***3Dlabs Reports Third Quarter 1998
Results (October 28)
3Dlabs announced unaudited financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 1998. Total revenues for the quarter were approximately $4.1 million and, as anticipated, the Company incurred operating losses of approximately $5.7 million, or ($0.33) per share, excluding the acquisition related charges and write-off of acquired in-process research and development, described below, resulting from the acquisition of Dynamic Pictures Inc. which was completed on July 10, 1998.
The Company also announced the appointment of Hildy Shandell as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Ms. Shandell, who will be joining 3Dlabs during the fourth quarter of 1998, has been with the international law firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and has served as an advisor to the Company since its initial public offering. Tom Donohue will relinquish his duties as Chief Financial Officer, but will continue as Vice
President of Finance and Chief Operating Officer."The third quarter marked the beginning of our transition as a vertically-integrated board company in our PC workstation business," said Osman Kent, President and CEO of 3Dlabs. "I am happy to report that we now have a number of design wins with tier-one system OEMs who have chosen our recently introduced Oxygen GMX board for their high-end workstation offerings. We expect these products from the OEMs to start shipping in the fourth quarter which we anticipate will complement our growing channel business and produce sequential revenue growth in the fourth quarter of this year. We also made good progress with the development of our highly-anticipated PERMEDIA 3 product which we expect to start sampling before the end of the year."
As announced previously, in the third quarter the Company is recording acquisition related charges of approximately $3.2 million which include severance and consolidation costs incurred in connection with the acquisition and a write-off of acquired in-process research and development of approximately $2.2 million. When these charges are reflected, the Company's net losses for the quarter totaled approximately $11.2 million, or ($0.66) per share.
Continuing, Kent said, "Our recent OEM design wins and increasing channel presence with the Oxygen GMX product so far seem to vindicate our decision to become a vertically integrated board company in our PC workstation business. Looking forward, we expect our new business model, new products, enhanced focus and expanded product development resources to restore our profitability for the 1999 fiscal year. For the remainder of 1998, we intend to focus our resources on continuing to rebuild our business and on completing the development of our new products."
The string of losses in the 3D industry continues. The next critical watch point for 3Dlabs is the market acceptance of the Permedia III chip. This is a mainstream part that will compete
with ATI's Rage 128 and NVIDIA's TNT. It will be very interesting to see where it ranks and what design wins the company is able to secure
***3Dfx Interactive Announces 3rd Quarter 1998 Financial Results
3Dfx Interactive released its financial results for the third quarter of 1998, which ended on September 30, 1998. Revenues for the third quarter were $33,206,000, an increase from total revenues of $10,018,000 for the third quarter of fiscal 1997. Net income for the third quarter was $3,118,000, or $.20 per diluted share when 15,819,000 shares were used in the per diluted share calculation. This compares with a net loss of $872,000 or $.07 per diluted share in the third quarter of fiscal 1997 when 12,454,000 shares were used in the per diluted share calculation.
Included in the statement of operations for the quarter ended September 30, 1998 is a one-time recognition of income as a result of the recent Sega litigation settlement, partially offset by an increase in inventory reserves due to an exceptionally rapid rate of product lifecycle obsolescence combined with the previously announced greater than expected seasonal slowdown in the retail channel.
Revenues for the first nine months of 1998 were $141,858,000 as compared to $21,772,000 for the first nine months of 1997. Net income for the first nine months of 1998 was $19,613,000 or $1.22 per diluted share as compared to a net loss of $3,787,000 or $.37 per diluted share for the same period in 1997. Shares used in the
diluted per share calculation were 16,024,000 and 10,169,000 respectively, for the first nine months of 1998 and 1997.
The profitability is masked by the Sega settlement. We estimate this to be between $8 - $10m. This being the case 3Dfx would not have made a profit in this quarter. It is clear that the Voodoo bandwagon has come to a grinding halt. The company must show that Banshee is a revenue winner. The jury is out on this one
***SP3D - New Company Enters the High End 3D Chip Market
In an exclusive to the WAVE Report, a new company has emerged in the competitive high end 3D chip market. SP3D has as its heritage the company Spea in Germany. The cards that Spea originally produced went to Diamond. However, the core technology, in the individuals, is now at SP3D. The company has been working on advanced 3D designs for over 2 years and Philips is a majority investor.
SP3D has as its targets the mid to high end NT workstation markets. It architectural approach is based on modular chips components focused on high quality graphics. The business model is to sell chips to key board companies who in turn target the workstation OEMs. Contrary to the increasing trend to vertically integrate chips with boards, SP3D intends to remain an independent supplier of chips. Its chip solutions are based on three components: Comet, Star and a 3rd party Geometry Engine. Comet is a triangle set up engine which can feed up to two Star chips. Included in its output are 2 64bit high speed buses which operate at 100MHz. Star is a unique chip which has a dual personality. It can operate as a texture engine or a render engine or, in fact, both. A basic configuration is one Comet and two Star's in what is called a 1X2. It is possible to combine chips to support up to a 2X9 configuration which includes a geometry engine.
SP3D claims two proprietary technologies. One for the precise rasterization of polygon edges so that there are no gaps. The second is a high quality single pass edge antialiasing method.
The performance and other technical characteristics include:
32bit RGBA
32bit Z
32bit Texture
Resolutions to 1600 X 1200 at 85Hz
VGA on Comet
Star Memory - SDRAM or SGRAM
from 16 to 128MB including DDR
RAMDAC External
Video Texture
OpenGL Focus with D3D CompatibilityA full up configuration is capable of 1Gp/sec pixel fill rate
10M Texels/sec (All Features on)The SP3D chips have been released to fab. Demos will be begin in Q1 1999 and with delivery to OEMs in H1 1999
Contact:
Sales@sp3Dtech.com
SP3D is entering the already crowed high end market. Based on our review of the technology there are indications that the IP is capable of migrating down market. Although the company is reluctant to address any other than their target market, at this time, we see some potential that the extensive 3D development experience at SP3D could migrate well beyond the high end. SP3D differs from many other startups because of its backing. There is a significant commitment by Philips to SP3D and as such to 3D technology. This is a company to watch.
***ESS Technology Raises $22.5 Million by Selling Shares in UICC (October 19)
ESS Technology announced that it has raised $22.5 million dollars by selling shares in United Integrated Circuits Corporation (UICC) to United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC), the parent corporation of UICC. ESS and UMC agreed that it was in both companies' mutual interest to enter into this transaction.
Concurrently, as part of its global strategy to join forces with leaders in technology and service, ESS announces its intention to utilize UMC Group fabs as one of the primary foundry sources for ESS business.
ESS Technology, Inc. is a leading supplier of audio, modem and digital video solutions for the PC and consumer markets. ESS designs, develops, and markets highly integrated mixed signal semiconductor and software solutions for multimedia applications.
***Autodesk ships Architecture-Specific Design Software (October 19)
Autodesk announced that Architectural Desktop has begun shipping. The product is a version of AutoCAD Release 14 developed to support the architectural design process from conceptual 2D and 3D models, through design development to 2D production and construction documentation.
AutoCAD Architectural Desktop software has an architecture-focused user interface and provides 3D design tools and "intelligent" AEC Objects, based on Autodesk's ObjectARX programming environment. The software lets users create a "building model" that ensures data integrity within the conceptual design, design development and documentation phases of a project. Also being announced, is the availability of Autodesk's free, downloadable AEC Object Enabler for AutoCAD Release 14, that lets design team members who use AutoCAD software utilize the intelligence of the coordinated building model created in AutoCAD Architectural Desktop.
AutoCAD Architectural Desktop software incorporates architectural production drafting features, such as layer grouping, schedule generation, a symbols manager, and AEC content. Some of the productivity features include drafting tools that maintain a firm's standards or industry standards, such as the American Institute of Architects (AIA) layering guidelines. Now using standard AutoCAD software commands, AutoCAD Architectural Desktop users can place, stretch, move, copy and schedule "intelligent" AEC objects, maintaining a single object model throughout the design process. The display manager lets users automate drafting tasks and generate plans, elevations and sections. Users can
draft in 2D, and use the camera object to visualize designs in 3D easily.AutoCAD Architectural Desktop software is a single solution (not an add-on product) that includes all of the functionality of AutoCAD Release 14 software plus many new architectural features. AutoCAD Architectural Desktop software delivers on the International Alliance for Interoperability (IAI) vision for a common data model. Users can develop intelligent building models, which can be shared by all members of the design team, thus improving coordination between disciplines and providing better consistency of information across a full set of documents derived from the model. AutoCAD Architectural Desktop software provides users with interoperability among Autodesk products, next generation productivity and efficiency, and security by providing data continuity from concept to production. The new product also supports the IAI's Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) standards.
AutoCAD Architectural Desktop software users will be able to exchange object models using a free IFC import/export utility that will be available via the web later this year. AutoCAD Architectural Desktop is currently available in the United States and Canada. An International English version will be available for shipment worldwide within thirty days. The U.S. suggested retail price (SRP) for AutoCAD Architectural Desktop software is US$4,795, with introductory pricing at US$4,395. Upgrades from AutoCAD Release 14 software are priced at US SRP $695. Softdesk 8 Architectural product customers can upgrade for US SRP $195. Attractive upgrade prices for Softdesk 7 and AutoCAD Release 11 through AutoCAD Release 13 software customers are also available. Available in the United States and Canada, the VIP Subscription Program for AutoCAD Architectural Desktop is priced at US SRP $395. Pricing, availability and product features outside the US and Canada will vary by country.
***New Members Display Support for Home Phoneline Networking Alliance (October 19)
The Home Phoneline Networking Alliance (HomePNA) announced that the following companies have joined the alliance:
· ActionTec
· Analog Devices
· Boca Research,
· Davicom Semiconductors,
· Dell Computer Corp
· GlobeSpan Semiconductor
· Motorola
· Ramp Networks
· Texas InstrumentsValidation of HomePNA Specification 1.0 is under way in a 1,000-home field trial throughout the United States. HomePNA expects to finish these trials and publish the complete specification by the end of October 1998. Alliance members continue to push for timely publication to ensure end-user products are available by year's end.
HomePNA is open to any company interested in adopting the home phoneline networking specifications for use in their own home networking offerings. The Home Phoneline Networking Alliance is an incorporated, non-profit association of industry-leading companies working together to help ensure adoption of a single, unified phoneline networking industry standard and rapidly bring to market a range of interoperable home networking solutions.
***Learning Company launches Total 3D Home Deluxe (October 19)
The Learning Company has announced Total 3D Home Deluxe developed by Broderbund.
Total 3D Home Deluxe is aimed at the first time or novice user interested in home design, renovation and interior decorating.Total 3D Home Deluxe integrates remodeling, decorating, shopping and budgeting-into a single software program. It also includes brand-name products from over 45 of the country's premier home design manufacturers.
With Smart-RoomBlocks, users can start and create a plan without using drawing tools. By simply clicking, a user can drag-and-drop entire rooms into a floorplan design, then stretch and shrink these rooms to create the room shape desired. Users can also create multiple story plans, add complex staircases, or generate a roof with a single keystroke. Users can implement changes simultaneously in 2D and 3D.
SmartObjects provides images of over 20,000 premium home furnishings, finishes and accessories from over 45 premium, name-brand manufacturers. Users can find their favorites by filtering their search by manufacturer, color, style, or type. The program will count the number of items that meet search specifications. Most objects have detailed manufacturer specifications and a direct link to the company's web site. All objects are fully customizable to fit the users needs.
The 3D viewing technology is available in the product's InteractiveShowrooms which provide actual photos of brand name items. Brand-name items can be mixed and matched with a mouse click.
InteractiveShowrooms include living room, bedroom, home office, kitchen, bathroom, family room, dining room and baby room. In addition, users can create their own, personally customized, interactive showroom based on a floorplan design they've created. The ColorCoordinator automatically recommends paint, borders and wallpaper patterns based on user's choices. In this section, users can shop for and instantly try-on fabrics, paint, wallpaper and more with the click of a mouse.
Users have the ability of dynamically linked 2D and 3D editing in multiple design views at any time. 3D Walkthru View provides a first person, 3D viewing of the plan for assessment of actual perspective. Aerial View delivers a unique 3D perspective from the outside, looking into a plan and can even be adjusted to view plans without walls, floors, and any other SmartObject, to gauge and compare esthetic balance of doors, stairways, hallways,
windows, furniture and more. Elevation View is a traditional front 2D view of inside and/or outside of home plans; it allows users to adjust the height of items such as windows and cabinets.The Smart-Estimator automatically generates a budget estimate of each option created so users can make the choice that's right for them. It offers flexible ways to view budgets, enabling users to sort by their total home, single room, single level, type of product (i.e. windows, doors, etc.) or costs.Total 3D Home Deluxe is available nationwide at computer retailers for an estimated street price of $49.95. System requirements include: Windows CD-ROM, Windows 95 or Windows 98; 100MHz Pentium or faster; 16MB RAM required; 32MB recommended; minimum 70MB hard disk space to install; minimum 60MB hard disk space to run after install; 4X CD-ROM drive or faster; 800x600, 1024x768 and higher display, High and True Color supported; Windows compatible sound device; Video and sound cards compatible with DirectX; Printer support: works with most popular printers (monochrome and color) supported by Windows.
***Adobe FrameMaker Now Supports Word '97 files (October 14)
Adobe Systems announced FrameMaker 5.5 and FrameMaker+SGML 5.5 which now supports the ability to export documents to XML, easy import of Word '97 files, and the ability to place Adobe PDF files within a FrameMaker document.
The ability to export to the Extensible Markup Language (XML), the next generation standard for Web content, allows customers to create and publish searchable content to the Web. For example, a customer could export content from FrameMaker 5.5.6 to create electronic product manuals that could be searched or sorted by product feature, part number or price. Because XML is designed to make electronic content easier to search, reuse and exchange with other applications, it gives FrameMaker customers a more effective way to publish critical information within large documents.
Adobe FrameMaker's filter architecture has been updated to enable customers to more easily reuse content. Customers can now import text from Microsoft Word '97 documents and place Adobe PDF files as graphic elements of a FrameMaker document.
FrameMaker and FrameMaker+SGML also support the Open Document Management API (ODMA), an industry standard API used with Document Management Systems (DMS). ODMA enables Adobe to provide FrameMaker users with a solution to manage structured documents while reducing the cost of integration to a DMS. FrameMaker 5.5.6
will ship with a plug-in that will provide a connection to an ODMA compliant DMS, allowing FrameMaker users to check-in, check-out and search documents.FrameMaker 5.5.6, which now includes support for XML, Microsoft Word 97 and placed PDF, is available today. The suggested retail price in the U.S. and Canada is $895 for the Macintosh and Windows platforms, $1495 for the personal Unix edition and $2595 for the shared Unix edition.
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