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***NewTek Introduces Digital Video/Animation Solution for Windows NT (November 23)
NewTek announced Frame Factory a professional hardware and software Digital Video and animation product for Windows NT. NewTek, with it's Frame Factory, announced a complete hardware/software package for under $4,000. This suite allows 3D animation, real time video capture and playback, 2D animation, 2D and 3D video manipulation and video processing.
This package includes:
a full-featured uncompressed ITU-R-601 video I/O board
including support for component (YUV), S-Video and composite with
SDI optional,
File format support for other leading 2D and 3D software programs: (IFF, JPG, TIFF, TGA, PIC, SUN, Alias, RAW, BMP, Cineon, Pshop, RLA, SGI, YUV)
LightWave 3D 5.6, and
Aura a video paint tool that includes 2D animation, paint, video, rotoscoping, and compositing capabilities.
NewTek's Frame Factory for Intel is $ $3,995. and will be available worldwide through authorized dealers in Q4 1998.
Minimum System Requirements
Windows NT 4.0 with Service Pak 3 Pentium II 233MHz with MMX (BX
Motherboard) 96 MB RAM Drive System capable of 21MB/sec sustained
data rate with an available Bus-Mastering PCI slot .
***Compaq chooses Matrox Millennium G200 for Professional Workstations
Matrox Graphics announced that Compaq Computer Corporation has chosen the Matrox Millennium G200 graphics card for select models of its Professional Workstation AP product line. The award-winning Matrox Millennium G200 is available immediately as an option on the Compaq Professional Workstation AP200, AP400 and AP500.
***REALAX Cooperates with Swedish Architecture-Magazine MAMA to Organize Nationwide Competition for Architecture Visualization
REALAX Software AG, the Swedish magazine for modern architecture MAMA and G.R.A.F. of Stockholm, have teamed up to organize a nationwide architecture competition for the visualization of existing and planned architecture projects. The objective of the competition is to illustrate the use of virtual reality (VR) technology as an innovative and effective tool for architecture and urban planning.
***PC Magazine Posts 3D Benchmark Results on Web
http://chkpt.zdnet.com/chkpt/pcma981120/www.pcmag.com/features/graph_accel98/index.html
***MetaVR Gets DoD Award and Calls Out its Activities
MetaVR has won a contract to deliver to the US Army Simulation, Training, and Instrumentation Command (STRICOM) in Ft. Rucker, Alabama, an upgrade to the Aviation Testbed (AVTB) networked multiplayer Core DIS Facility.
The Ft. Rucker facility was one of the original SimNet training facilities pioneered by DARPA in the late 1980's. This facility provides DoD agencies and it's contractors with research, development, test and evaluation to support experimentation in three domains:
Advanced Concepts and Requirements (ACR),
Training, Exercises and Military Operations (TEMO), and
Research, Development and Acquisition (RDA).The AVTB uses the STRICOM rotary wing and fixed wing aircraft simulation models ported from the SimNet GT-111 IG coupled with the MetaVR ChannelSurfers to field eight networked immersive flight simulators. The MetaVR systems were delivered with 15 terrain databases at no additional cost.
This marks the movement from proprietary image generators (IG) to a PC-based solution based on the MetaVR ChannelSurfer multi-channel visual systems. MetaVR uses PC 3D game accelerators based on the 3Dfx Voodoo2 chipset and its own render engine based on Microsoft DirectX to provide multiple channel visual systems to the military simulation and training community at low price points. All the simulators are networked so the pilots can train against each other or artificially intelligent aggressor armies.
A high-end three channel ChannelSurfer system based on a Windows Intel PC platform costs less that $50,000 US with no annual maintenance fees.MetaVR technology is also able to assemble large worlds and demand page large amounts of textures and terrain. This enables the creation and use of high resolution environments. Using MetaVR Quick Immersion rapid terrain creation software, a terrain database was produced rapidly by the Australian Defence Science and Technology Organization with the following characteristics:
· 71 X 54 kilometer extents
· 2.2 million geographically referenced trees
· terrain levels of detail is at 30, 60, 120, 240 and 480 meter posts
· terrain texture levels of detail at 5, 10, and 20, and 40 meter resolution imagery
· 1.4 Gigabyte total terrain database texture imagery was derived from aerial photographs, landsat, and geographically typical bitmaps
· 20 kilometer far viewing horizon
· 1024X1024- pixel screen resolution
· frame rates between 30 and 60 Hertz.MetaVR visualization technology can be seen at the Chicago Museum of Science where a real-time fly through of the Chicago region will be on display.
http://www.metavr.com/core_DIS_upgrade.htm
http://www.metavr.com/
***Mercury Releases its Benchmark Test Results
3D results
Nvidia Riva TNT (AGP) 474
3DFX Banshee (AGP) 429
Intel i740 (AGP) 233
S3 Savage 3D (AGP) 215
Nvidia Riva 128ZX (AGP)173
Matrox G200(AGP) 1462D Results
3DFX Banshee (AGP) 170
Nvidia Riva TNT (AGP) 166
Matrox G200(AGP) 154
S3 Savage 3D (AGP) 147
Num. Nine Revolution IV (AGP)142
3Dlabs Permedia II (AGP) 142
S3 Trio3D(AGP) 132
ATIRage Pro Turbo (AGP) 128
Nvidia Riva 128 (AGP) 126
Intel i740 (AGP) 123
Nvidia Riva 128ZX (AGP) 105
Rendition V2200 101
Cirrus GO5465 90
SIS 6326 (AGP) 89
Trident 3Dimage975 85Futuremark 3Dmark Results
S3 Savage 3D (AGP) 2394
3DFX Banshee (AGP) 2375
Nvidia Riva TNT (AGP) 1926
Matrox G200(AGP) 1634
Nvidia Riva 128 (AGP) 1496
Intel i740 (AGP) 1367
Rendition V2200 1196
3Dlabs Permedia II (AGP) 1189
Nvidia Riva 128ZX (AGP) 1133
ATIRage Pro Turbo (AGP) 1060
Num. Nine Revolution IV (AGP) 1037
3DFX VooDoo 2 972
Trident 3Dimage975 678
Cirrus GO5465 472
S3 Trio3D(AGP) 305Mercury is careful to state the intent of these tests and how they are performed. We repeat, in order to be complete, their statements.
These benchmark results are intended for PC OEMs that perform testing in a restricted Windows Hardware Quality Labs (WHQL) environment. This is by intent on our part. These results correctly reflect the performance of all hardware testing in this environment under the fairest testing conditions possible. These are the same test conditions we've used for the past two years. These results do not represent the highest unrestricted performance possible, only the best performance possible under the WHQL restrictions. Additionally, the timing of testing was such to prevent any optimization for one of the benchmarks (Ziff Davis' 3D WinBench 99); as a result of this, a number of accelerators turned in very low scores or had no results at all. The following benchmarks reflect the use of the Ziff-Davis WinBench 99 benchmark, released October 30th, 1998, as well as the use of Futuremark's 3DMark benchmark. All controllers were tested with drivers and hardware as of October 29th, 1998. The latest test indicate vastly higher scores as a result of optimized drivers. The information shown here is only valid for the configurations shown for the accelerators and drivers tested, using a system described in the disclosure below, which were current on October 29th, 1998.
The benchmark results on this page are based on our testing of many graphics accelerators using Ziff-Davis' WinBench 99 Version 1.0 (used for 2D results, 2D Business WinMark reported) and 3D WinBench 99 Version 1.0 (used for 3D results, 3D WinMark reported.) The 3Dmark score is based on testing using Futuremark's 3DMark program.
The testing platform for this data series was a Pentium-II 400 MHz CPU running on an Gigabyte GA-686BX motherboard (Intel 440BX chip set).
***Xybernaut and Samsung Sign Agreement (November 16)
Xybernaut Corporation and Samsung have signed a Letter of Intent to jointly research the opportunities for developing an Alpha-based miniaturized wearable computer system.
The system would be marketed in the Year 2000 timeframe, and would offer unparalleled performance in terms of CPU speed, power utilization, miniaturization and ruggedness. The agreement also addresses market research and development, and deployment and sales opportunities both within Samsung and amongst Samsung's client base.
Details of the agreement will be finalized early next year. The Alpha architecture offers some opportunities and discriminators in the wearable paradigm that won't be realized in any other architecture for years to come.
These systems must be intended for use in very cold climates. The combination of the warming effects of the Alpha against the body and the battery pack required to support it imply that this would be a hot and heavy product.
***Sun picoJava Licensees Disclose Plans
(November 16)
Sun has recently outlined its picoJava Core Roadmap which includes that picoJava would be targeted for use in the development of embedded control devices; picoJava II for screen phones, set-top boxes and auto navigation; and picoJava III, a future core, will be targeted for lower level applications.
picoJava licensees including Fujitsu, NEC, and Siemens have also disclosed their strategies for incorporating the picoJava architecture into appliances for the home, automobile and portable markets.
Korean Governmental Organization, ETRI, is touting NetTheater, the Internet set-top box reference design it developed using a picoJava-based chip and all Java software. The Java-enabled set-top box, a product to embed LG Semicon's microJava processor, allows for execution of the Java applet/application through the World Wide Web.
Fujitsu disclosed that its Java solutions, using Fujitsu's advanced LSI technologies, will be targeted at digital consumers and the emerging networked personal computing and communications market, including smart, handheld devices, digital still communications markets, and car navigational systems. Fujitsu is offering Java system LSI solutions, including the picoJavca.
Fujitsu also revealed that its JavaOS evaluation board "J-StarterKit for Sparclite" with Java OS on SparcLite is available now. The "J-StarterKit for picoJava" evaluation board for the picoJava chip is expected to be introduced in 1999.
NEC disclosed that it will focus on a picoJava core for the embedded controller market. NEC is also focusing its product development on reducing power consumption and creating smaller cores that maintain good Java performance. NEC believes that the picoJava core is well suited for use as an IP core and said that it will focus on using the picoJava core as an IP core in its "System on a Chip," (SOC) concept which has enabled adding high functionality to controllers in embedded devices.
NEC revealed that it has also developed an evaluation chip of the picoJava core and run it on an evaluation board. By using the evaluation board, NEC will continue to develop the software environment, including an RTOS kernel and Java runtime.
Siemens Semiconductors disclosed its plans for developing the high-end controller 88-series of smart cards. Siemens' 88-series smart card chips accelerate the execution of the Java Card Instruction Set while addressing the needs of multi-application cards. Siemens' 88-series enables direct execution of Java Card byte codes. It also allows for implementation of cryptographic functions using native code.
Siemens also plans to develop chips which will be used in a variety of smart card applications including banking, electronic commerce, mobile communications and healthcare. One card has the potential of allowing consumers access to their bank accounts, loyalty programs, even access to the Internet MICROJAVA 701.
***ATI introduces the Xclaim 3D+ for Mac
(November 16)
ATI announced the XCLAIM 3D+, a graphics accelerator add-in board for the Mac computer.
XCLAIM 3D+ supports QuickDraw 3D acceleration, TV-quality QuickTime and MPEG playback and 2D acceleration as well as support for legacy cathode-ray tube (CRT) monitors.
XCLAIM 3D+, which features the Digital Flat Panel (DFP) 20 pin connector board, offers the advantages of the new digital flat panels, while remaining compatible with existing Apple and VGA monitors.
ATI's DFP support eliminates the need to convert graphics data from digital-to-analog and back to digital as with most current flat panel implementations.
With both the legacy analog VGA connector as well as the DFP connector included on the same card, the XCLAIM 3D+ enables end users to upgrade to a digital flat panel monitor without sacrificing the ability to use existing VGA monitors.
The XCLAIM 3D+ is based on ATI's RAGE LT PRO chip.
The XCLAIM 3D+ will ship in December 1998, with an estimated street price of $179 for the 8MB PCI board. Additional drivers provide 3D API support for QuickDraw 3D, RAVE and OpenGL.
***AOpen America introduces DVD-9632
(November 16)
AOpen America announced a third-generation 6X DVD drive, the DVD-9632.
With a maximum data transfer rate of 8,31O Kbps, the DVD-9632 runs faster than speeds achieved by a 55X CD-ROM drive. This minimizes the elapse time between the PC and DVD drive, thus giving users smooth video and audio playback.
AOpen DVD-9632 6X DVD-ROM has a 512KB data buffer size.
The DVD-9632 is compatible with the DVD-family and major CD-family media, including: DVD-ROM, DVD-R, DVD-movie, CD-DA, CD-ROM/XA, CD-R, CD-RW, CD-I, video CD, and Photo-CD.
DVD-9632 installs through "plug-n-play" functions in Windows 95/98 systems. It can also be mounted in either a horizontal or vertical position, thus making it compatible with most desktop or minitower PCs.
The DV-9632 is available now in the U.S. and Canada from AOpen authorized resellers. The estimated street price for the drive is $199.
***Avid Ships Avid Cinema for Windows
(November 16)
Avid Technology announced that it is shipping Avid Cinema for Windows. This is a video editing and publishing software that allows home, business and school users to digitally capture, edit and publish professional-looking movies on a Windows-based PC.
Using storyboard templates, users can design their own movies. Avid Cinema supports a variety of video capture cards which allows users to capture full-motion video, still images, audio or graphics from a VCR, camcorder, TV or the Web.
Using drag and drop techniques, consumers can manipulate their digital video and audio clips, apply special effects, and add voice-overs, soundtracks, animated titles and credits. The finished movie can be published to videotape, CD-ROM, QuickTime or AVI files as well as various file formats for the Internet including RealNetworks' RealVideo format for email or web streaming applications.
Avid Cinema software is available for the Windows 95 OSR2 and Windows 98 OS with a 200 MHz Pentium with MMX or Pentium II processors with 32+MB RAM , CD-ROM drive and AGP or PCI slot for video card. Avid Cinema requires a video capture card.
Avid Cinema software for Windows-based PCs is currently available in the US and Canada for a USMSRP of $139 through most US resellers and directly from Avid.
***Pinnacle Systems Adds MPEG Video Editing Solutions (November 16)
Pinnacle Systems announced Studio MP10, a product in the company's Studio family of consumer video editing products.
Studio MP10 allows users to capture MPEG-1 compressed video combined with audio, edit it, and then either write the finished program to an MPEG-1 file or output it to a VHS tape. Studio MP10 is an external (parallel port) MPEG-1 capture device which incorporates hardware MPEG-1 decoding for output of MPEG-1 files to video tape and on board audio capture and playback for accurate audio/video synchronization.
Studio MP10 comes bundled with Pinnacle Systems' Studio video editing software, which is based on Microsoft's DirectShow technology and allows full-featured, frame-accurate IBP MPEG-1 editing including transitions, titles, narration music and sound effects.
Studio MP10 Features:
· External parallel port device-no boards to install
· On-board audio capture for audio/video synchronization
· Captures and outputs in industry standard MPEG-1 format
· User interface with a choice of time-line or storyboard views
· Scene recognition-automatically detects the beginning and end of each video taped scene and creates a separate clip for it
· "Album" for holding video clips and other media
· Clip trimming-beginning and ending points of clips generated by scene recognition may be adjusted by clicking and dragging
· Drag and drop editing-use the mouse to arrange scenes and effects in any order
· Built in video titling application based on Pinnacle Systems TypeDeko titling system
· Superimpose titles or graphics over video scenes
· Variety of text styles and effects, including translucent, glowing and metallic text; and
· Animate text and graphicsStudio MP10 is compatible with Pentium PCs running Windows 95 and Windows 98, and will be available in early 1999, with an expected price of $299.
***@Work Launches Solutions Partner Program (November 16)
@Work announced an alliance program, "The @Work Solutions Partner Program," that enables value-added resellers to generate revenue, increase their sales and support and increase awareness of their products and services by offering customers @Work Internetworking products and services.
Resellers can generate revenues by reselling to or referring customers for Internet services that include Frac T-1 and T1 network connections, Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) connections, Web Hosting and Collocation services, remote access and Virtual Private Network services.
The program enables three categories of partners - Internet Referral Partners, Online Marketing Partners, and Internet Alliance Partners - to participate in a manner that best suits their market focus and compensates the reseller accordingly.
Partner participation ranges from a simple sales referral or Web link to @Work's Network Solutions Center to a sub-contracting partner approach in delivering complete Internetworking solutions to small- and medium-size businesses.
@Work Solutions Partner Program benefits include:
· Revenue opportunity: Revenue in the form of a "bounty" for each referral that signs with @Work
· Service discounts: Discounted pricing on @Work services
· Use of Cisco 1601 and 2500 series routers
· Qualified sales leads and referrals for resellers' valued-added-services
· LiveLine! Video conferencing for weekly sales training and remote customer presentations
· Dedicated regional channel manager support
· Joint Marketing Programs to promote bundled service offeringsInterested parties can contact
http://www.work.com/SPP
http://www.home.net
***ELSA Announces a Cable Modem
(November 16)
ELSA announced the ELSA cable modem to be available in the United States and Europe.
The cable modem developed by ELSA complies with the MCNS/DOCSIS standard. MCNS stands for "Multimedia Cable Network System" and is a cooperation between the U.S. cable operators Comcast Cable Communications, Inc., Cox Communications, Tele-Communications Inc. and Time Warner Cable with the aim of defining a worldwide standard for cable modems. DOCSIS describes this standard and stands for "Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification." This standard will for the first time ensure that cable modems from different manufacturers will be able to communicate with one another.
According to independent market researchers, forecasts for the North American market over the next five years exceed 15 million units-corresponding to 3.8 billion U.S. dollars-with annual growth rates between 30% and 100%.
ELSA cable modems will be commercially available in mid '99.
***PressPoint Introduces On-Demand Newspaper System (November 16)
PressPoint announced its partnerships with Xerox and some other publishers to produce OnDemand Global Editions of their newspapers.
PressPoint's print-then-distribute business model, which provides publishers with different delivery mechanism for their printed news and information, is another distribution channel to reach the global community.
PressPoint will launch its service by printing and distributing daily Global Editions of: Bloomberg News; The Times, London; The Miami Herald; El Nuevo Herald, as well as Austria's Der Standard; Spain's El Mundo and Poland's Gazeta Wyborcza.
PressPoint's Global Editions are delivered via Documents Direct, Xerox's print production network. Global Editions are written and edited by each news organization for their away-from-home readers and are published through PressPoint's Global OnDemand Newspaper System in an easy-to-read A3 (16.54" x 11.69") format comprised of news and advertising content.
PressPoint offers the a "distribute-then-print" newspaper system -- producing only the exact number of Global Editions that are ordered, eliminating waste.
Documents Direct enables organizations to produce business-critical documents, on demand, at major customer locations, commercial print shops, or at any of dozens of Xerox Document Technology Centers across five continents.
***PowerVR Series2 3D Graphics Chip to Drive PC-Based Arcade System (November 16)
NEC Electronics announced a relationship with Midwest Amusement Corporation to create the PC-based coin-operated arcade video game system using the PowerVR Series2 3D graphics accelerator.
A game was on the floor of COMDEX.
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