---------------------------------------------------------
***ELSA SYNERGY II
(November 16)
ELSA announced ELSA Synergy II, an AGP 2D/3D graphics accelerator with OpenGL support. ELSA Synergy II expands the Synergy brand with a NVIDIA RIVA TNT using 16 MB of RAM.
The ELSA Synergy II will be available for OEM and channel distribution in Q1 '99 with an expected retail price of $299.00.
ELSA OpenGL technology achieves a CDRS-03 score surpassing 70.
A number of ELSA technologies supplied with the card include the following. There is POWERdraft for both AutoCAD R13 and R14. MAXtreme for 3D Studio MAX R2 and VIZ R2 gives users 3D graphics performance with a customized driver combining OpenGL, HEIDI, and ELSA technology. ELSAview 3D is a real-time 3D editor and viewer tightly integrated with AutoCAD R14, AutoCAD R13, MDT and ADT.
***STB Systems Introduces DesktopTV
(November 16)
STB Systems announced its DesktopTV Television Tuner family. The DesktopTV takes standard television and FM radio signals and allows them to be received on a personal computer. DesktopTV combines the power of the desktop PC, the programming choices of television and the Internet.
DesktopTV is a 125-channel cable-ready tuner that allows users to view TV on their desktop PCs. Another model features a FM tuner to play FM radio through PC speakers. DesktopTV is a plug-and-play PCI device that requires no additional video cables and is certified by Microsoft Hardware Qualification Labs (WHQL) to work with Windows.
VisualReality software allows one to adjust major television controls-from the channel and volume control to special features-using on-screen virtual remote controls. VisualReality features include the ability to scale the TV viewing area up to full-screen size, the ability to magnify a section of the TV screen, an on-screen TV active channel selection menu, full closed captioning, channel-blocking for parental controls, and adjustments for on-screen brightness, tint, color and contrast. FM Tuner features supported by VisualReality include on-screen controls, seek/scan/tune controls, channel presets, volume and audio controls and a TV/FM fast-switch dial.
DesktopTV uses Rockwell Semiconductor Systems' Digital Infotainment technology in the Fusion family of video and broadcast audio decoders. Integrating video and broadcast audio capture into a single chip, the Rockwell Bt878 provides support for TV and FM radio decoding in stereo to STB's DesktopTV.
Bundled Software with DesktopTV includes Intel Intercast software, Asymetrix Digital Video Producer, and Wavetop from Wavephore.
DesktopTV has a suggested retail price of $79.99 for the TV tuner and $129 with the addition of FM stereo.
***STB Announces DesktopVCR MPEG 2 Encoder/Decoder (November 16)
STB Systems announced DesktopVCR, an MPEG 1 and MPEG 2 video capture board. The DesktopVCR combines an onboard TV tuner and DVD player with the ability to support external video and audio sources.
Signals from external video sources can be imported for editing via the DesktopVCR's composite or S video ports. Footage can be saved to a computer's hard drive or a DVD RAM drive for editing or playback. DesktopVCR gives users the ability to add special effects to their own videos. Transition effects like wipes, fades, and dissolves or visual effects like fade-to-black and fade-to-white can be added to any video imported into the PC. The DesktopVCR has the ability to decode two simultaneous MPEG 2 streams, adding to the number of special effects that can be applied to the footage. Two videos can be tiled and viewed simultaneously or one can be layered over the other for movie quality transitions. After the effects are applied, the new video footage can be saved as a single stream and played back using the DesktopVCR's MPEG 2 decoder.
***Microsoft Research Announces ClearType (November 15)
Microsoft has announced ClearType font technology. ClearType improves display resolution by as much as 300 percent and works on existing LCD devices, including desktop flat panels, laptops and smaller devices such as Handheld and Palm-size PCs. By improving the on-screen reading experience, ClearType font technology enables new product categories such as electronic books (eBooks).
ClearType was developed at Microsoft Research.
***ELSA VICTORY II is Now Shipping
(November 16)
ELSA announced the extension of its product line of high-performance consumer graphics boards to include the Voodoo Banshee 3D processor from 3Dfx.
Retail shipments of ELSA VICTORY II are available now.ELSA also offers an OpenGL ICD (Installable Client Driver) for Windows 95 and Windows NT.
***ELSA Announces Desktop Videoconference Systems for IP-Network (November 16)
ELSAvision II allows for cooperation between workstations and remote locations using desktop videoconferencing. The product supports videoconferencing over ISDN (H.320) or local network via an IP address (H.323). In addition to Windows 98 and Windows 95, ELSAvision II also supports Windows NT 4.0.
ELSAvision II offers the function of an ISDN-PC card. All ISDN and fax functions can be used during the video session, as well as independently of the video communication.
ELSAvision II's product includes all hardware and software for video communication and it will be available in December of '98.
***WavePhore Acquires eWatch
(November 16)
eWatch Inc, a provider of monitoring online public discussion and web sites, has been acquired by WavePhore. eWatch is used to uncovering insider trading, stock manipulation, rumors and anti-corporate activism originating on the unregulated stock message boards, Internet Usenet groups, online service forums and activist web sites.
eWatch custom filtered content will be integrated into WavePhore Newscast's web-based business information services.
More than 600 companies are using eWatch to track what appears on the Internet. The intelligence uncovered by eWatch is used to safeguard shareholder value, improve customer service, protect corporate reputation and brand integrity, monitor competition, and pinpoint corporate activism. eWatch monitors more than 50,000 public electronic
http://www.ewatch.com
http://www.newscast.com
http://www.wavephore.com
***Macromedia Unveils Director 7 Shockwave and Shockwave 7 (November 16)
Macromedia announced a Director 7 Shockwave Internet Studio upgrade. Macromedia Director has been re-architected for the Internet, enabling developers to build Websites. The company also announced Shockwave 7, an upgrade to the Web interactive multimedia player.
Director 7 features a redesigned playback engine and a set of Internet features. Support for various media types as well as effects-such as alpha channels and dynamic scaling and rotation-allow developers to create content that are intended to have the appeal of television with the interaction of the Internet.
The Studio includes Macromedia Fireworks, a tool for creating and producing Web graphics, as well as Sonic Foundry's Sound Forge XP4 or BIAS Peak LE for sound editing. Customers also receive a multi-user server for creating distributed Shockwave experiences such as multi-player games and online chat rooms.
Shockwave 7 features include optimized event processing, smart media streaming, and faster startup. Shockwave 7 downloads quickly and updates automatically.
Director 7 Shockwave Internet Studio for Windows 95/98, Windows NT 4.0 or later, and MacOS 7.6.1 or later, will be available in December 1998 for an estimated street price of US $999 in North America. Registered users can upgrade to the Director 7 Shockwave Internet Studio for US $499 or the standalone version of Director 7 for US $449.
***NEC Announces High-Resolution LCD Module (November 16)
NEC Electronics announced a 15.4-inch panel targeted at the high-end desktop market.
A version of the panel is offered with an internal CRT interface board, providing plug and play connectivity in desktop applications.Display Features:
· offers a brightness of 200 candelas per meter squared (cd/m2)
· supports full color, or a range of color shades which is similar to what the human eye sees.The module is available in two versions and is targeted at workstation, high-end graphics and financial applications where image quality and clarity is critical. Other features are outlined below:
CRT Interface Viewing
Module NL128102AC23-02
Brightness 200 cd/m2
Color full
Board NO
Angle +/-55. H +/-50. Up +/-45.down
Resolution SXGA
Weight 1750 gramsModule NL128102AC23-02A
Brightness 200 cd/m2
Color full
Board Yes
Angle (internal)
Resolution SXGA
Weight 1900 gramsNEC also announced panels for the industrial market, including two 10.4-inch and one 12.1-inch modules. Both products are available immediately in sample quantities and are all slated for mass production in Q4 1998. Pricing for the modules is expected to be as follows:
NL128102AC23-02 $1500/unit in sample quantities
NL128102AC23-02A $1750/unit in sample quantities
***Canopus Ships DVRaptor
(November 16)
Canopus announced that it has begun shipping DVRaptor. DVRaptor is a DV and i.LINK PCI capture and editing solution with a high performance software DV CODEC.
The company has developed DVRaptor to deliver software CODEC-based DV editing solution to provide full-screen, full-motion video preview and batch capture.DVRaptor lets users capture digital video and still images from DV camcorders directly to the hard disk. Users can capture, edit, and output without loss in video quality. DVRaptor is a software CODEC-based capable of real-time preview using the hardware CODEC of the DV camera.
Video can be monitored in real-time while it is being captured through the i.LINK connector. The video can also be previewed simultaneously on a video monitor.
DVRaptor features:
· the ability to capture up to 180 minutes of video into one .AVI file, overcoming the 2GB file limitation of .AVI.
· advanced DV deck control, which lets users control the DV deck directly from the PC.
· batch capture, jog and shuttle controls when using a Microsoft Intellimouse, and support for DV and DVCAM.DVRaptor is available for a suggested retail price of $649 and includes Canopus Raptor Video and Raptor Navigator software, and full version of Ulead MediaStudio Pro 5.0.
The DVRaptor is available from Canopus and authorized distributors, VARs and mail-order suppliers.System requirements include a Pentium 200 MMX or above, Windows 95, 98 or NT, 32MB RAM, a video rated hard drive, and a VGA card that supports hardware DirectDraw overlay.
***Canopus Introduces Rex f/x
(November 16)
Canopus announced Rex f/x for Windows 95 and 98. Rex f/x is an AGP-based 3D video transition effects engine which provides the hardware performance at a price of $699.
Rex f/x, available in December, includes a set of 3D effects, such as tumble, spin, fly, explosion, flips, doors, and environment effects including haze and lighting.
Rex f/x comes with 16 MB of memory to provide near real-time rendering times. On a Pentium II, 400 MHz system, the company has recorded rendering a one-second "tumble with haze" transition in 5.5 seconds.
Rex f/x plugs into RexEdit 2.0. Compatability for Adobe Premiere and Ulead MediaStudio Pro will be added in January 1999.
***3Dfx Uses COMDEX to Announce Next Generation Voodoo3 Family (November 16)
3Dfx Interactive announced the Voodoo3 product family. These are evolutionary parts which represent the integration of what had been 7 parts before - a 6 part Voodoo SLI and 1 part Banshee. At the same time by tuning these existing designs the performance has been improved.
The two parts announced at this time include the pin-compatible Voodoo3 2000 for the PC-OEM market and the Voodoo3 3000 for the retail add-in-board market. Another part in the product family is targeted for the first half of 1999 which is an AGP 4X version.
Features and Performance Include:
The parts have 8.2 million transistors using at .25 micron with a five-metal layer process;
A fill rate of greater than 7 million triangles per second (this is 2X the performance of Voodoo2 using SLI);
Dual 32-bit rendering pipelines. Internal processing is done in 32 bits but compression is done to result in a 16 bit dithered output which is similar to the Voodoo2 image handling;
Rendering is Single-cycle, single-pass multi- texturing, which includes bump- mapping and trilinear mip-mapping which includes projected textures and lighting maps;
The 2000 has a maximum fill rate of 2000 of 250-megatexels per second, and the 3000 is capable of 366-megatexels;
The RAMDAC operates at 350MHz and achieves resolutions of up to 2048 x 1536 at a 75Hz screen refresh rate.
API support includes: Glide, Direct3D and OpenGL.
There is support for hardware DVD MPEG2 acceleration.Another chip was also announced the LCDfx which supports high- resolution LCD flat panel displays. LCDfx features sub-pixel image scaling technology that provides image quality improvements over conventional two-tap scaling filters.
TSMC provided first silicon within 19 days which included mask creation and silicon fabrication. First silicon was received last Friday and was shown on Monday at the press event. The demo was with Quake II running at 1600 X 1200 at 30f/s.
TheVoodoo3 products will be sampling in December and are scheduled to be in volume production the second quarter of 1999. Pricing for the Voodoo3 2000 is expected to start at $35 in quantities of 10,000 units, while pricing for the Voodoo3 3000 is expected to start at $45 in quantities of 10,000 units.
***MUSIC Semiconductors Announces Multimedia Media Switch on a Chip (November 12)
MUSIC Semiconductors announces the first multimedia capable switch on a chip. The multilayer EPOCH Switch allows data and multimedia flows to coexist on IP networks with Quality of Service (QoS) prioritization. Utilizing MUSIC's integral pipelined multi-protocol processor, the EPOCH Switch can identify and prioritize up to 1.4 million flows per second. It supports up to 16 ports at wire speed through a non-blocking architecture.
For Layer 3, the EPOCH Switch fully supports IPv4, IPv4 CIDR best prefix match, multicast and IPX at wire speed. IPv6 and other protocols are also supported through the processor interface. EPOCH also provides for Layer 2 IP/MAC address translation. Layer 4 also performs flow recognition at wire speed; an 8 priority level scheduler allocates the right bandwidth and level of QoS to each stream. Differentiated Services (DS) are available on a per-port basis. Finally, destination and/or source port monitoring as well as firewall assistance are executed on a per-packet or per-flow basis.
EPOCH's TDM bus architecture connects easily to most of the Layer 2 devices including Ethernet, Frame Relay, ATM, Token Ring and FDDI. EPOCH switch could be used as the core of a multimedia system within WAN edge routers, remote access servers, DSLAMs, multiservice platforms, as well as group switches and routers.
The EPOCH Switch will start to ship in January 1999. The package is a small 456PBGA; pricing in production volume is $40 per unit MUSIC Semiconductors is a subsidiary of MUSIC Corporation, a holding company focused on networking, telecommunications and the Internet. MUSIC Corporation is listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange, and publicly traded in Manila under the ticker symbol MUSX.
***ALi Pentium Chipsets to Support Enhanced Memory PC-133 ESDRAM DIMM Modules (November 12)
Acer Laboratories (ALi) and Enhanced Memory Systems have jointly announced that future ALi Pentium chipsets will support ESDRAM running at 100 and 133 MHz bus speeds. ALi's chipset products will support the Intel Pentium-II microprocessors with 133 MHz local bus speed and PC-133 ESDRAM modules from Enhanced Memory Systems.
Enhanced began shipping its high performance 4MB EDRAM product in 1992 and announced the development of an advanced 133 MHz synchronous ESDRAM in November 1996.
***Chip Express and Mentor Graphics Simplify Reuse and Speed Time-to-Market (November 10)
Chip Express and Mentor Graphics announced the availability of four new test chips as part of their continued efforts with the CorExpress program.
The CorExpress program enables designers to use Mentor Graphics Intellectual Property (IP) soft cores and Chip Express production technology to rapidly design and fabricate reliable systems-on-a-chip (SoC) for a broad range of markets. Mentor Graphics and Chip Express have created test chips for four of Mentor Graphics' most popular IP soft cores: M8051WARP, M80186, M8251A and M85C30.
Through an agreement between Chip Express and Mentor Graphics, the CorExpress program enables designers to use Mentor Graphics silicon-proven IP cores and Chip Express production technology to rapidly build and fabricate reliable systems-on-a-chip for leading-edge electronics products. Chip Express uses its Laser Programmable Gate Array (LPGA) technology to create test chips from Mentor Graphics cores, validating each one in silicon. Currently, these test chips are being implemented into silicon in a matter of weeks. Today's announcement marks the availability of the first four test chips. Test chips for following cores are currently available though the CorExpress program:
The M8051WARP is an 8-bit microcontroller and the newest addition to the Mentor Graphics Inventra Soft Cores library. The M8051Warp is a fast 8051. It is binary-compatible with the industry standard 8051 8-bit microcontroller and can achieve a performance of up to 50 million instructions per. Intended for high-speed or low-power single chip solutions, the M8051WARP allows devices to run up to six times faster than the industry standard for the same power consumption, or to reduce power supply by over 80% for a similar speed.The M80186, a 16-bit microprocessor, is a fully integrated M8086 core and peripheral set that comprises Peripheral Interface Logic, Programmable Chip-Select, Ready Generation Logic, 4 DMA channels, 3 Programmable 16-bit Timers and an Interrupt Controller. Mentor Graphics M80186 improves instruction execution by up to 50% and increases the instruction pre-fetch queue to 8 bytes while improving the bus interface timing and reducing the effective address calculation times.
The M85C30 serial communications controller has two independent full-duplex channels which support asynchronous and synchronous communication modes, the NRZ/NRZI and FM data encoding/decoding and the SDLC loop-mode. Mentor Graphics M85C30 is programmable through its 8-bit system interface and can be linked with other interrupt controllers.
The M8251A Universal Synchronous Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter (USART) communications interface, supports synchronous and asynchronous operations, has full-duplex channels and double buffered transmitter and receiver. Mentor Graphics' M8251A is fully programmable through its 8-bit CPU interface, has 1x, 16x and 64x clock modes and a framing, parity and overrun error detection.
Chip Express' unique LPGA technology is a high performance gate array fabricated by the QuICK laser micro-machining system. Product offering includes one-day laser prototypes, one-week pre-production/low quantities, one-month mid-volume and two-month high-volume production.
***Asymetrix Announces ToolBook II Instructor 6.5 (November 10)
Asymetrix Learning Systems announced ToolBook II Instructor 6.5, scheduled for customer shipment on 11/16/98.
ToolBook II Instructor, allows delivery of interactive courses over the Internet, corporate intranet, Local Area Networks, or CD-ROM. With this release, Instructor 6.5 introduces enhanced deployment of applications to the Internet using native HTML and Java, compression technology for faster course delivery over the Internet, new multimedia learning objects, and templates.
Developers choosing to use the ToolBook II plug-in, Asymetrix Neuron, can take advantage of new compression technology resulting in online training courses that are 70% smaller and can run up to 300% faster over the Internet.
The template driven interface allows the user to create courses more easily, without spending excess time and resources, resulting in lower development costs and faster training throughout the enterprise.
ToolBook II Instructor 6.5 Features
· Cascading style sheets-Improved file compression allows for faster Internet delivery using Neuron
· Support for JavaScript-Instructor 6.5 developers can create objects that use JavaScript. When these objects are exported for the Web they will provide their JavaScript to the browser and allow interactivity on the Web.
· Templates-templates are targeted at common training needs, including employee handbooks, sales product training, sales skills training, and product knowledge quizzes.Learning Objects and Catalogs
· The Video Synchronizer allows users to easily synchronize text with video
· The Pop-up Video Player defines the location of a video player.
· Pop-up page object acts as an Index for your book.
· RealNetworks RealMedia, Windows Media (NetShow), and Microsoft PowerPoint Internet placeholders allow users to access these popular Internet Media typesDigital Video Producer and Digital Video Recorder-Coach - the online advisor
ToolBook II Instructor 6.5 ships on November 16, 1998 and is priced at $2,495 for first time purchases. Upgrade information for ToolBook II customers is available upon request. Instructor 6.5 may be purchased through Asymetrix Learning Systems, Inc. or through the Asymetrix network of value-added resellers.
***ICE Ships ICE'd Motion Tracker for Commotion (November 10)
ICE announced the availability of ICE'd Motion Tracker for Commotion, a add-on module for owners of Puffin Designs' Commotion realtime playback, paint and rotoscoping tool developed by Industrial Light & Magic visual effects supervisor Scott Squires. For professionals who create TV commercials, video, film or HDTV projects, ICE'd Motion Tracker for Commotion brings high-end workstation performance to motion tracking on the desktop.
ICE'd Motion Tracker for Commotion is available now for $299 from
ICE resellers or directly from ICE .Motion tracking is the means of following an object or an area of an image with a computer, such as a baseball thrown in the air, as the object moves across multiple frames. ICE'd Motion Tracker for Commotion works by offloading the motion tracking to ICE's BlueICE PCI hardware board. Tracking data created with ICE'd Motion Tracker then can be exported to After Effects, Flame, A/W Composer, or Stratasphere for further finishing.
Commotion offers realtime paint, rotoscoping, motion tracking and playback for the moving picture.
***Matsushita Electric Industrial Co.Selects Sigma Designs' REALmagic DVD Decoder for PC Peripherals (November 9)
Sigma Designs announced that Matsushita Electric Industrial Co.is selling a PC DVD/MPEG-2 decoder card in the Japanese market as a DVD playback solution for its Panasonic DVD-RAM drive.
The card uses Sigma's EM8300 REALmagic DVD/MPEG-2/MPEG-1 decoder IC.
http://www.vertexlink.co.jp
http://www.panasonic.co.jp
http://www.sigmadesigns.com
***Iwerks Continues Move into China
(November 13)
Iwerks Entertainment announced the signing of two TurboRide theater contracts totaling $3.2 million, at two separate Chinese venues. These new contracts represent Iwerks' ninth and tenth theaters in China, bringing the company's installations to more than 80 theaters in the Asia Pacific region.
Fujian Chang Tai Amusement Co. Ltd., the owner of a Chinese amusement park, has ordered a 100-seat Iwerks TurboRide theater, featuring the Iwerks Linear Loop 8/70 Projection System. The TurboRide will serve as an anchor attraction at the amusement park, which is located in Fuzhou, PRC. The theater is scheduled to open in February of 1999.
The Haier Group, a Chinese-based manufacturer, will install a 36-seat Iwerks TurboRide 3D! theater, also featuring the Iwerks Linear Loop 8/70 Projection System, at the Qingdao Haier Museum. The museum will feature Haier's latest products as well as an electronic gaming center, bowling center, dance hall, shooting games and retail stores. The theater is located in the city of Qingdao and is scheduled to open in February of 1999.
***Handheld Computing Leader Receives Venture Capital Funding (November 10)
Concept Kitchen announced it has received $1.5 million in equity capital financing from Kettle Partners and Perfect World Technologies, L.L.C. of Chicago, Ill.
Concept Kitchen is committed to extending the capabilities and "personality" of PDAs by designing, developing and delivering innovative software and accessories that allow on-the-go users to do more with less and live a truly mobile lifestyle. With software and accessories currently available for the PalmPilot, Windows CE and PSION Series 5, Concept Kitchen also created PDA Dash), a family Web sites for PDA owners and prospective buyers.
***CompUSA Inc. Reports Financial Results for the First Quarter of Fiscal 1999 (November 10)
CompUSA announced financial results for the first quarter ended September 26, 1998.
Net sales for the first quarter of fiscal 1999 increased 17% to $1.39 billion from $1.19 billion for the comparable period ended September 27, 1997. Comparable store sales were negative 1.7% in the first quarter of fiscal 1999 for the 134 CompUSA stores open one year or more.
As announced in its press release dated November 2, 1998, the Company sold its seven Computer City supercenters located in Canada. The September sales results for these stores were included in the first quarter sales results released on October 7, 1998, but these sales results and the results of operations of these stores have been excluded from the Company's results of operations reported in this release. In addition, the Company has closed 55 Computer City stores for which liquidation sales have been completed. The Company's net sales for the first quarter of fiscal 1999 include sales for the month of September for the 39 former Computer City stores the Company is continuing to operate in the United States. Computer City store sales are not included in the comparable store sales calculation.
The Company reported net income for the first quarter of fiscal 1999 of $8.1 million, or $0.09 per share, compared with net income of $23.5 million, or $0.25 per share, for the first quarter of fiscal 1998. These results included a negative $0.05 per share impact related to the Company's acquisition of Computer City. Included in this $0.05 per share reduction were duplicate overhead costs incurred at the Company and Computer City related to the winding down of the operations at Computer City's corporate headquarters, September operating losses of the ongoing former Computer City stores, interest expense associated with the $136 million, 9.5% note payable to Tandy Corporation, and amortization of goodwill. The negative $0.05 per share impact also includes a charge for the anticipated closure of three CompUSA Computer Superstores in connection with the Computer City acquisition.
"Although we are disappointed with our overall financial results for the first quarter of fiscal 1999, we are pleased with the improvements we have made since the fourth quarter of fiscal 1998," said James F. Halpin, president and chief executive officer.
The Company noted, however, that it remains cautious as to business conditions for the second quarter of fiscal 1999. The Company is currently expecting low-single digit negative comparable store sales for the second quarter due, in part, to anticipated lower average selling prices as compared to the same period of the prior year and the continued softness in corporate sales. In addition, the Company currently expects its gross margin percentage for the second quarter of fiscal 1999 to approximate the gross margin percentage achieved in the first quarter of fiscal 1999.
CompUSA is one of the nation's leading retailers and resellers of personal computers and related products and services. The Company currently operates 207 CompUSA Computer Superstores in 77 major metropolitan markets across the United States, which serve retail, corporate, government and education customers and include technical service departments and classroom training facilities.
***Imax Corporation Reports Third Quarter Results (November 10)
Imax reported record third quarter earnings and record IMAX theatre system signings for the quarter ended September 30, 1998. The Company reported earnings of $0.23 per share on a diluted basis for the third quarter, a 27% increase over $0.18 per share in the third quarter of 1997. For the nine months ended September 30, 1998 the Company earned $0.57 per share on a diluted basis, a 30% increase over $0.44 per share in the prior-year period.
During the quarter, the Company established a new record for the value of theatre system signings in any quarter in the Company's history. The Company signed contracts for 14 IMAX theatre systems valued at $41.9 million in the third quarter exceeding by 3% the previous record of $40.6 million signed in the third quarter of 1997. For the nine months ended September 30, 1998, the Company signed contracts for 35 theatre locations valued at $102.3 million, a 15% increase over the $89.1 million value of the 40 contracts (including seven theatres in which the Company had an equity interest) signed in the prior-year period. As a result of the record theatre signings, the Company's sales backlog grew 3% in the quarter to a new high of $195.6 million.
As a result of the Company's focus on international growth of the IMAX theatre network, during the quarter the Company signed contracts for a record 12 theatre systems to be located outside of North America. The international signings include nine theatre systems to be located in Europe and one theatre system to be located in each of Australia, South America and the Middle East. IMAX theatres are scheduled to open in 15 new countries by the end of 2000.
In the third quarter, the Company's revenues increased 22% to $43.8 million from $35.9 million in the prior year as strong growth in systems revenue offset a decline in film revenue. Systems revenue increased 59% to $35.8 million from $22.5 million in the prior year as the Company recognized revenues on nine theatre system deliveries in the third quarter of 1998 versus five theatre systems in the third quarter of 1997. Film revenue decreased 51% in the quarter to $5.2 million from $10.5 million in the prior year primarily as a result of a decline in film distribution revenue due to the timing of film releases. Earnings from operations increased 37% to $16.7 million in the third quarter from $12.2 million in the prior year due to an increase in higher margin systems revenues.
For the nine-month period ended September 30, 1998, the Company's revenues increased 18% to $122.8 million from $103.9 million as a result of higher systems revenue. Systems revenue increased 54% to $93.0 million from $60.5 million in the prior-year period as the Company recognized revenues on 25 theatre systems as compared to 14 theatre systems in the prior-year period. Film revenue decreased 43% to $19.0 million from $33.5 million in the prior- year period due to decreases in film production and film distribution revenues. Earnings from operations increased 33% to $41.3 million in the nine- month period from $31.0 million in the prior-year period.
The Company's sales backlog at September 30, 1998 represented contracts for 84 theatre systems including the upgrade of two existing theatres to IMAX 3D. The Company's sales backlog was $195.6 million at September 30, 1998, a 3% increase from $189.2 million at June 30, 1998 and a 12% increase from $175.4 million at December 31, 1997. Most of the 41 IMAX 3D SR theatre systems in backlog represent theatre systems contracted for under multi-theatre exhibitor agreements and may be replaced in backlog by larger IMAX 3D theatre systems when specific theatre locations are determined in the future. There are 13 theatre systems in backlog which will be located at theatres in which the Company has an equity interest and therefore have no value ascribed to them in the Company's sales backlog.
***Dell Computer Working With Kodak
(November 10)
Two of the most popular high-tech items for the holidays this year are expected to be PCs and digital cameras. Dell and Kodak are working together. They announced a marketing agreement that will enable Dell to sell and ship one of Kodak's digital cameras with Dell Dimension desktop PCs for home and small business customers. Dell will also include the camera under Dell's standard system three-year limited warranty and 24-hour, toll-free hardware phone support.
The Dell edition of the Kodak DC210+ digital camera is available now with Dell Dimension PCs for an optional $499 upgrade. A sample configuration and price for a Dimension XPS R400 with camera is $2,786, which includes an Intel Pentium II processor at 400MHz, 96MBs of memory, 17-inch (15.9 viewable) monitor, 12.9GB hard drive, 8MB of video memory, high-end audio, USB-controlled speakers, 56K v.90(b) modem, 100MB internal Iomega Zip drive and color printer.
The system also includes Microsoft Windows 98, MS Home Essentials, Kodak Picture Easy software and Adobe™ PhotoDeluxe imaging software. Entry-level Dimension configurations with camera begin at $1,698.
The Kodak DC210 plus camera offers 2X (29-58 mm equivalent) focus-free optical zoom lens, 8 MB storage card and an AC adapter. The camera captures a million (1152 x 864) pixels per image for photo-realistic prints up to 5 x 7 inches.
***Corel and Trellix Announce Worldwide Licensing Agreement (November. 9)
Corel and Trellix announced the signing of a worldwide licensing and marketing agreement under which Trellix will be included in the next version of Corel's office suite.
Trellix breaks a Webmaster "bottleneck" currently experienced by organizations of all sizes, by enabling users of word processors to create and maintain rich, linked Web documents. With Trellix 2.0 users do not need to know HTML coding or graphic design, which makes it a simple, easy-to-use tool for a wide range of users from home offices to large corporations.
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