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***C-3D Headed for a January Roll-Out of 3D Television (November 25)
Satellite Today reports that Chequemate Technologies, trading as C-3D Digital, has secured transponder capacity for the launch of its satellite-transmitted 3D television network. C-3D entered into an agreement with Space Link for its January launch of what the company claims will be the first 3D network on a C-band satellite. No financial details were disclosed, but C-3D revealed that it chose C- band because it allows coverage of all 50 states, the most populous areas of Canada and of Northern Mexico. Since the adoption of its 3D channel business plan, Chequemate Technologies is conducting business under the name C-3D Digital. Chequemate is an acquisition-oriented holding company. Its wholly- owned subsidiaries emphasize innovation and advanced technology in the communication and entertainment industries.
***NVIDIA Gets NEC Win
(November 16)
NVIDIA announced that NEC Computer Systems Division has chosen NVIDIA's RIVA TNT 3D graphics processor for their Direction SPB line of personal computers. The Direction SPB line is focused on power users and the SOHO (Small Office/Home Office) market.
***ATI's RAGE PRO TURBO again chosen by Fujitsu
Fujitsu has selected the ATI RAGE PRO TURBO for the FMV and DeskPower series.
***ATI RAGE PRO TURBO chip selected for Sun Microsystems' Ultra 5 (November 24)
ATI Technologies announced that the ATI RAGE PRO TURBO graphics accelerator chip has been selected by Sun Microsystems, Inc. for its Ultra 5 and Ultra 10 workstations. SUN'S Ultra 5 and Ultra 10 workstations are targeted towards a wide variety of technical markets including software and Java platform development, electronic design automation (EDA), MCAD, financial applications, 2-D content creation, 3-D content creation (Ultra 10) and animation.
***Thomson Entertainment Adds More 3D Films (November 18)
Thompson Entertainment has expanded its number of 3D ride films to 12. New titles will be coming from Ilfo of Germany, NWave International and Dynamax.
The list of new titles is:
Astro Cops
Team up with the Astro Cops in this space adventure.
Action Race
Spin your wheels on the race track as you take on the craziest drivers.
Glacier Run
Nerve tingling Arctic ice race.Aqua Ride
Hold your breath on an underwater extravaganza.
Magic Carpet
Fly on the magic carpet with the genie of the lamp and attempt to rescue the imprisoned princess.
Kid Coaster
A child's bedroom comes to life in the roller coaster with a difference.
Aladdin
Relive the famous Eastern tale.Conan the Barbarian
Cult movie action transformed into a CGI adventure.
Astro Cops and Action Race from Ilfo will be available later in 1999, along with Aladdin and Conan the Barbarian from Dynamax.Available during the second quarter of 1999 will be Glacier Run, Aqua Ride, Magic Carpet and Kid Coaster from NWave International.
When released, all the new rides will also be available for switchable 2D/3D simulation theatres. Thomson Entertainment has also announced that the first Venturer theatre equipped with both 2D and 3D capability will open at the V&A site on Cape Town's waterfront for the South African summer season.
The addition of the new 3D ride films brings the number of experiences available in total to more than 80.
Thomson Entertainment is a part of Thomson Training & Simulation, based in the UK, France and the USA, a 100% owned subsidiary of the French Thomson-CSF group.
***TGS Announces Beta of 3Space ClipArtist (November 27)
TGS announces the public beta of 3Space ClipArtist. This product creates art and animation from 2D text, 2D WMF and EPS clipart and 3D VRML and DirectX files. It allows the user to customize via a visual gallery of colors, images, textures and artistic styles. Utilizing TGS' ActiveStyles technology, users can select from pre-made artistic styles, and customize drawing effects (pencil, chalk, detail, and draft), glow effects, color, and fill effects and more.
ActiveStyles uses 3D to create visual results that can be saved in 2D image formats. One feature is the ability to use a "foreground image" to achieve realistic surface effects. Further, 3Space ClipArtist has a drag & drop timeline animation interface which is a simple form of animation.
3Space ClipAritst is free during the beta period. The product will be available for just $19 for a download version and just $29 for a complete CD ROM - with over 500 3D clipart objects included.
***OPTi Demonstrated ChromaCast LCD Panel Controller (November 16)
OPTi Inc. announced its ChromaCast LCD Panel Controller technology.
OPTi's ChromaCast LCD Controller series 82C200 represents the latest flat panel monitor technology designed into a single chip. The ChromaCast system offers a one-chip solution for LCD panel control, integrating the analog front end (A/D and PLL) and digital back end on a single chip. ChromaCast technology also includes on-screen display, scaling, power management, an NTSC/PAL digital interface, and can be used with a PanelLink/LVDS transceiver.
System interfaces include analog RGB input to an on-chip, three-channel A/D converter (8-bit); digital data input (8/16-bit) from an external NTSC/PAL decoder; 8051-compatible controller interface (8-bit); SDRAM or EDO DRAM memory controller interface (64-bit); wide panel interface (up to 48-bit); and input from optional PanelLink/LVDS receivers (24-bit).
Panel support includes TFT or DSTN, single and multiple pixels per clock, panel resolution ranging from 640x480 through 1280x1024, and panel refresh rate up to 90 Hz. The VESA Flat Panel Display Interface standard (FPDI-1) is supported.
Incoming video support includes on-chip line-locked PLL, on-chip video amplifier and clamping, and dynamic scaling for full-screen display. The input circuitry accepts 15-70 kHz horizontal scan frequencies, and 40-85 Hz vertical refresh frequencies. Incoming video resolution ranges from 640x480 through 1280x1024.
***Atmel Introduces DreamSound PCI Audio Accelerator (November 16)
Dream S.A. of Semur, France, a wholly owned subsidiary of Atmel Corporation announced introduction of a PCI Audio Accelerator to the Dream sound synthesis integrated circuit (IC) product family.
The SAM9777 IC delivers up to 64 streaming audio voices at up to 48 KHz sampling frequency. Interactive full bandwidth sound positioning on two to six speakers.
A wide range of audio effects are offered from Atmel's Dream products; Reverb, chorus, echo, pitch shifting, 4 band equalizer and surround sound 3DMIDI have been combined with a GS compliant sound set under Roland license.
The SAM9777 device supports the current PC audio standards as DirectMusic, DirectSound, Direct3Dsound and is compatible with Microsoft PC98 and preliminary PC99 standards. It also provides full DOS legacy support.
The SAM9777 device will be sampling in January and begin shipping in volume Q199.
***Atmel Enters Digital Media Industry With Multi-Channel Decoder (November 16)
Atmel will soon announce the release of a single-chip Dolby Digital (AC-3) 5.1 channel audio decoder to support Dolby Digital surround applications for advanced audio consumer products. The audio-processing chip is Atmel's second generation of multi-channel digital decoders.
Atmel's digital decoder (AT76C2XX) uses a high-performance 24-bit DSP with architecture optimized for high-quality audio data. The AT76C2XX integrates all the program code and data memory required onto a single chip, eliminating the need for external SRAM. Together with custom peripheral hardware and over 45 MIPS of 24-bit DSP processing power, the AT76C2XX is capable of providing and precisely reproducing 5.1 channels of AC-3 audio or Pro Logic. Further developmental efforts to provide Digital Theatre Systems (DTS), Advanced Audio Coding (AAC) and MPEG-2 are in progress.
The AT76C2XX is able to handle encoded bit streams at rates up to 640 Kbps, generating audio samples at rates of 32, 44.1 and 48 kHz per channel, as defined in the AC-3 standard. The AT76C2XX can also be programmed to accept digital audio data transmitted in many different formats in accordance with the IEC-958 standard. Its highly flexible data interface allows data to be accepted from an optical interface, an Audio Engineering Society/European Broadcasting Union (AES/EBU) interface, or S/PDIF (Sony/Philips Digital Interface) input. This input flexibility facilitates the simultaneous decoding of an AC-3 compressed audio bit stream while receiving and mixing a separate PCM input stream of up to 96 kHz.
Available in a variety of industry standard packages, the AT76C2XX will begin sampling in Q199 with full production in Q2.
***Concept
Kitchen announces Small Talk Deluxe for Windows CE.
(November 16)
Small Talk Deluxe for Windows CE will provide sentences organized into situation-based categories such as: Lodging, Emergencies, Food, Entertainment, Money, Business, Travel, and Social. Simply tapping on a phrase will instantly translate it into one of six international languages including English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, and Japanese. Users can set Small Talk to communicate between any two installed languages such as Japanese to German. Customers can install two or more of the language modules at any time, and may add or delete languages as needed.
Small Talk Deluxe for Windows CE is due to be available from major resellers as well as directly from Concept Kitchen in the first quarter of 1999 for a suggested retail price of US $79.99.
Concept Kitchen, founded in 1993, is a recognized leader in the handheld/PDA industry, providing end users, VARs and OEMs with innovative software and accessories designed to enhance, simplify and improve the performance of mobile computing platforms.
***3Com & Epigram Team On 10Mbps Home Networks (November 16)
Newsbytes reports that 3Com Corp. and Epigram Inc. have signed a deal to develop and deliver next generation HomeConnect products that provide 10 megabits-per-second (Mbps) networking.
The products use existing home phone lines which let users and home-based businesses with multiple PCs share Internet access, peripherals and multimedia applications "without having to install any new wires in the home." The technology was developed by Epigram.
The two companies plan to jointly develop and integrate Epigram's technology with 3Com's Ethernet, modem, and broadband technologies. 3Com also plans to make a minority investment in Epigram, and intends to introduce a line of products that include internal and external interfaces for desktop and mobile computers, shared- access cable, DSL (digital subscriber line), and analog modems, and other network-attached devices.
The companies add that all HomeConnect phone line networking products "will be compatible with the recently completed HomePNA 1.0 specification.
***OLAP Council Releases Analytical Processing Benchmark (November 16)
The OLAP Council, a nonprofit consortium of industry leaders in the On-Line Analytical Processing (OLAP) market, announced Release II of the Analytical Processing Benchmark (APB-1).
This benchmark specification is a result of a nine-month collaborative effort of the OLAP Council's Benchmark Subcommittee, consisting of the following companies: Applix/TM1 Software, Hyperion Solutions, Dimensional Systems, IBM Decision Support Solutions, NCR and Oracle Corp.
Release II of the APB-1 OLAP benchmark measures an OLAP server's overall system performance by simulating a realistic business situation-an analytic application for sales analysis. Release II of APB-1 benchmark will make it easier for OLAP customers to compare performance results from different vendors, by providing more meaningful measurement criteria and increasing the amount of information vendors disclose.
Release II of APB-1 contains enhancements which include:
· data generators for multiple operating systems;
· support for larger data sets and larger numbers of query streams;
· a primary performance metric; and
· revised implementation and disclosure guidelines.The data generation programs used to implement the benchmark are available for multiple operating systems, including Windows NT and several versions of Unix. Additionally, the new benchmark generator programs have been modified so vendors can more create larger databases for analysis-benchmark sets in excess of 100 gigabytes in size. Release II of APB-1 also increases the maximum allowable number of query streams to 10,000.
A new metric called AQM (Analytical Queries per Minute) incorporates data loading performance, calculation performance, and query performance into a single easy to understand measurement. AQM is intended to give customers a better perspective on query throughput and overall system performance, and to facilitate comparisons among different combinations of hardware and software.
Release II of APB-1 also includes a number of updates and clarifications to the implementation and certification requirements. These are intended to provide OLAP customers with an objective evaluation framework that is neutral and unbiased toward any vendor, product or technology.
Release II of APB-1 is generally available and in effect immediately. The complete specification for the Release II of APB-1 and new benchmark generation programs are available on the OLAP Council Web site.
***Jazz Speakers Surround Sound System Features MedianiX 3D Audio Chip (November 17)
MedianiX Semiconductor announced that JAZZ Speakers is using the MedianiX MED25007 VMAx 3D digital audio decoder/virtualizer chip in a new Virtual Dolby Surround speaker set.
The new J-7902 Virtual Dolby® Surround System is now available directly from retailers carrying JAZZ Speakers products.
The new speaker set uses the MedianiX chip to create the effect of a full 5.1-channel surround sound system coming from just two satellite speakers and a subwoofer. The MED25007 contains an on-chip Dolby Pro Logic decoder and a VMAx "virtualizer." The chip decodes Dolby-encoded signals that normally drive five speakers and a subwoofer and uses the virtualizer to create the impression that the listener is encompassed by multiple speakers when only two front speakers and a subwoofer are actually in use. The high-quality audio produced makes the J-7902 ideal for use in variety of applications in which multiple-speaker configurations are not practical, including home theater systems and audio/video (A/V) receivers.
The procedure for creating Virtual Dolby Surround sound entails two steps: decode a digital surround audio signal with a Dolby Pro Logic decoder, then apply a post-processor "virtualizer" algorithm to create the "phantom" surround channels. The algorithm digitally varies signal frequency, phase, and other characteristics to change the manner in which the human ear perceives the sound, resulting in the impression that the sound comes from multiple sources within the listening environment.
The VMAx 3D surround sound technology was created by Harman Interactive Group, which has the exclusive rights to the Cooper-Bauck patents that are the cornerstone of 3D audio technology. The Cooper-Bauck virtualizing algorithms use Head Related Transfer Function (HRTF), Inter-aural Time Delay (ITD) and Crosstalk Cancellation technologies to create the illusion of multiple speakers surrounding the listener. The VMAx implementation does not alter the timbre of the real or virtual speakers, or otherwise color the sound. Instead, it provides the most realistic three-dimensional sound possible from two loudspeakers.
The MED25007 is an all-digital implementation based on proprietary 24-bit digital signal processor (DSP) technology that converts two-channel audio containing 5.1-channel encoding into two-channel 3D virtual surround sound that contains the original information. The IC has both a Dolby Pro Logic decoder and VMAx virtualizing algorithms contained in on-chip memory.
If desired, the chip can also be used in a speaker configuration using five physical speakers and a subwoofer.
The JAZZ Speakers J-7902 system consists of two satellite speakers and a subwoofer. The satellite enclosures contain both a 3-inch midrange speaker and a 1-inch tweeter, and the subwoofer cabinet has a 6-inch woofer for accurate low-frequency reproduction. Separate main and subwoofer volume controls are provided. The system has a total system power output of 25 watts RMS and a frequency response of from 50 Hz to 20,000 Hz.
***HP
Delivers Multimonitor Solution
(November 18)
Hewlett-Packard announced a multiple-display technology for its dual-processor-capable HP Kayak XA-s PC Workstations.
Based on the HP Kayak XA-s PC Workstation and equipped with the Productiva G100-Quad graphics card from Matrox Graphics, this solution supports up to four monitors in a single-PCI-slot graphics board. Featuring 16MB of video memory, the system provides outstanding 2-D performance and business-class 3-D graphics. It uses a high-speed 230MHz RAMDAC to ensure flicker-free displays and supports true 24-bit color at resolutions as high as 1,280 x 1,024 pixels per channel. With this solution, users can view a maximum desktop size of up to 7,680 x 1,200.
The HP Kayak XA-s PC Workstation, featuring a 450MHz Pentium II processor, a Matrox Productiva G100-Quad multimonitor graphics card, 128MB ECC RAM and a 9.1GB/7,200 rpm wide UltraSCSI hard-disk drive in a desktop form factor is available beginning of December for an estimated street price of $3,638. The Matrox Productiva G100-Quad graphics card also will be available on the HP Kayak XU Xeon PC Workstation upon request.
***Immersion
and Logitech Join Forces
(November 16)
Immersion and Logitech announced that the two companies have been working together to develop additional force feedback products for consumer markets, such as mice that allow users to "feel" their onscreen actions.
These products will allow users to physically interact with anything the cursor touches, by adding the sense of touch to aspects of user interaction. They have the potential to impact a variety of software environments, including web navigation, education, graphic design, gaming, engineering and others.
The types of effects that users could perceive with a "feeling" mouse include the variety of textures, surfaces and other physical sensations on a Web page; tactile button clicking, or a sense of weight associated with dragging an icon in Windows, big files feeling heavier than small files. Each choice of a pull-down menu could register as a distinct physical snap to inform and assist.
The potential of feel is significant, from making e-commerce a "hands-on" experience that rivals real shopping, to making educational software more physically intuitive, to making gaming more realistic and enjoyable.
http://www.immerse.com
http://www.logitech.com/Mice+Trackballs/index.html
***Online Retailer Study Identifies Framework for Future of Web Retailing (November 18)
Shop.org Report, a study conducted by The Boston Consulting Group on 127 online retailers found that online retailing is experiencing exponential growth in excess of 200% per year. It also showed that the top 10 publicly traded online retailers have experiences year-over-year revenue growth of approximately 160%.
The study did conclude though that:
Only 5% of unique visitors to site became customers and only 1.6% of visits resulted in purchases.Online revenues in North American retailers for the first 6 months of 1998 were $4.4 billion - less than 1% of overall revenue in the area. Full year revenues will surpass $13 billion.
Multichannel retailers like Dell, Schwab, Eddie Bauer, and Lands End account for 59% of revenues, and experience better customer loyalty.
The 10 largest sites account for 50% of revenues.
Computer goods, entertainment, travel and discount brokerage account for over 80% of the online market.
Advertising plays a large part in online retailing:
65% revenues generated by the retailers polled are reinvested in marketing and advertising, compared with 4% for most traditional stores.Online retailers' marketing/advertising spending per order generated is $26, compared with $2.50 for traditional stores.
In this way, the report concludes that the Internet poses a challenge to existing retail business models. For more information about the Shop.org report go to:
***IPNet Develops Object.link
(November 17)
IPNet Solutions, Inc. announced the availability of IP.Object.link, a product that allows companies to exchange data/business objects created by their ERP system with ERP systems used by their trading partners.
The product is part of IPNet's Enterprise eCommerce solution, IPNet Suite, which allows businesses to handle object and corresponding object-based rules transfer between trading partners. IP.Object.link helps companies leverage real-time ERP processing options to include trading partners and dynamic extraprise systems. The product works with any type of data, standards, and/or network requirements.
Object.link is a part of IPNet Suite but can be sold as an individual component as well. Pricing is scalable by trading partner.
***Television and PC Get Equal Time In American Households (November 16)
Media Metrix reports that nearly half of all Windows PC households (47 percent) have a television in the same room as the PC, with both running simultaneously according to Media Metrix' 1998 HardScan Volume II report, compared with 40% in 1997.
Media Metrix' HardScan report indicates that out of the 35 million households that own Windows PCs, 17.3 million have their PCs and television set in the same room. Furthermore, 16.4 million Windows PC households have the television turned on at the same time the PC is in use in the same room. In fact, 12 million households use their PC and have the television on at the same time more than 25% of the time.
Media Metrix PC Meter Report Series includes the HardScan report, which covers hardware ownership, peripheral ownership and branding information data. The SoftScan reports provide software ownership information application and system software, and the SoftUsage reports contain software usage data. Media Metrix also provides Linkage reports which combine any two of the technology reports or link with Media Metrix' World Wide Web Audience Measurement Reports. Linkage reports provide information on the relationships between hardware, software, media, ownership and usage.
The PC Meter Report Series is derived from the Media Metrix At Home sample of 28,000 PC users.
***7th
Level Reports 3rd Quarter Results
(November 16)
7th Level announced results for the third quarter ended September 30, 1998 and new product, distribution and marketing developments related to the Company's interactive Internet animated character technology. The Company announced its strategy for its new business effort late in 2Q98 and released its first product, Agent 7 1.0, late in 3Q98.
For the 3Q98, net revenues increased to $251,345 compared to $72,388 in 2Q98 as a result of increased technology royalties from previous agreements and early revenues from Agent 7 1.0 and new custom character agreements. Net loss declined more than 50% to $2.3 million compared to $5.0 million in 2Q98, reflecting the lower cost structure of the Company's new business. In the year ago third quarter, net revenues of $3.3 million, which resulted in a net loss of $5.2 million, related to the Company's former multimedia CD-ROM content development business.
As previously reported in the Company's 10Q for the 2Q98, loss per common share was impacted by a non-recurring, non-cash accounting adjustment of $15 million or $0.86 per share. In the view of the Company's accountants, this adjustment was required in accordance with the SEC's current position and recent discussions of the Financial Accounting Standards Board's Emerging Issues Task Force on Topic D-60 (Accounting for the Issuance of Convertible Preferred Stock and Debt Securities with a Non-detachable Conversion Feature). As advised by the Company's accountants, Topic D-60 requires an adjustment to loss per common share based on the difference between the conversion price of preferred stock related to the Company's $10 million financing earlier this year and the price of the underlying common stock on the date the preferred was actually issued-even though the conversion price was higher than the price of the common at the time the financing was committed. The adjustment did not affect 7th Level's cash position, net equity or operating results prior to the adjustment.
***Sega reports 47.3 Percent drop in interim pretax profit (November 19)
Kyodo News reports that Sega Enterprises said it posted an unconsolidated pretax profit of 6.39 billion yen in the April-September first half of fiscal 1998, down 47.3% from a year earlier.
Sega's net profit dropped 75.9% to 1.21 billion yen, working out to 12.06 yen per share, on a 20.4% fall in sales to 100.93 billion yen.
The leading maker of arcade and home-use game machines attributed the weak performance to feeble personal consumption amid Japan's prolonged economic slump and slowed exports caused by Asia's financial crisis.
The steep fall in net profit reflects an extraordinary loss of 5.28 billion yen including a valuation loss of 3.70 billion yen on stockholdings resulting from stock price falls, Sega said.
The Tokyo company will pay an interim dividend of 16.00 yen per share, up from 15.00 yen a year earlier, as it will add 1 yen to commemorate the launch on Nov. 27 of the "Dreamcast" new game machine.
For fiscal 1998, Sega targets unconsolidated pretax and net profits of 12.00 billion yen and 4.60 billion yen respectively, on sales of 245.00 billion yen.
The company plans to pay an annual dividend of 39.00 yen per share, including the interim dividend of 16.00 yen.
In fiscal 1997, Sega registered a pretax profit of 11.03 billion yen and a net loss of 43.30 billion yen on sales of 271.47 billion yen.
***Price Cuts Hurt Nintendo
(November 18)
Multimedia Wire reports that the delay in the Japanese launch of Color Game Boy (from September to October) and price cuts on the N64 deflated Nintendo's first-half operating profit and caused it to lower its expectations for the fiscal year, which ends in March. While pretax profit rose 29% year- on-year to $520.4m for the half-year ended Sept. 30, operating profit fell 5.2% to $405m on sales down 1.4% at $1.67b, Dow Jones reports.
Nintendo sold 3.29m N64 units in the first half of '98, of which only 360k were domestic sales. It has shipped a total of 16.28m N64s worldwide to date.
The company forecasts a 6.5% rise in sales to $3.84b for the year, down from its previous expectation of $4.00b.
***Scitex Announces Third Quarter and First Nine Months 1998 Results (November 4)
Scitex Corporation announced results for the third quarter of 1998. The loss from continuing operations for the quarter ending September 30, 1998 totaled $9.8 million or $0.23 per share compared with a profit of $6.5 million or $0.15 per share in the third quarter of 1997. Including the $6.2 million loss incurred by Scitex Digital Video (SDV) in the third quarter of 1998, losses from operations were $16.0 million or $0.37 per share, consistent with the anticipated loss previously indicated by the Company.
In addition, the results for the quarter ending September 30, 1998 include an estimated loss resulting from the Company's exit from the digital video business in the amount of $62.7 million. This amount is comprised of a $49.7 million provision for the writeoff of Scitex Digital Video (SDV), and a $13.0 million write down of the investment in Truevision Inc. to market price. Therefore, the total net loss reported for the quarter is $78.7 million or $1.83 per share, compared to net income of $2.2 million or $0.05 per share for the corresponding period last year.
As previously reported and in line with the Company's strategy of focusing on its core Digital PrePrint and Digital Printing businesses, the Company is in discussions with certain parties for the sale of Scitex Digital Video. There can be no assurance that any such transaction will materialize. However, if successful, the transaction is expected to close by year-end. The digital video business is presented in the third quarter and nine month results as "discontinued operations". Therefore, the results from continuing operations presented for the current period and for the corresponding periods last year, exclude SDV.
Revenues (excluding $6.5 million of SDV) for the third quarter of 1998 were $150 million compared to revenues of $156 million (excluding SDV) in the third quarter of 1997. Gross profit was $62 million (41% of sales) compared to $64 million (41% of sales) for the third quarter of 1997. The operating loss from continuing operations was $5.2 million compared to an operating profit of $7.3 million in the third quarter of 1997. Operating expenses for the quarter were $67 million, up 18% from a year ago, due primarily to the Company's intensive new product development activities and an aggressive marketing plan to introduce new products, as well as participation in major trade shows. The Company also recorded expenses associated with headcount reduction.
For the third quarter of 1998, revenues in the Americas represented 46% of the total, compared to 47% recorded for the third quarter of 1997. European revenues in the quarter were 37% of the total, compared to 34% last year.Japan accounted for 11% of total revenues, similar to last year, while Asia Pacific was 4% compared to 6% last year. Revenues from other areas were constant at 2% of the total.
For the first nine months of 1998, the Company reported a net loss of $117 million, including the $62.7 million estimated costs associated with exiting the digital video business described above and the $44 million one-time charge for in-process R&D associated with the acquisition of Idanit Technologies Ltd. This is compared to a net loss of $5.1 million for the first nine months of 1997.
Revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 1998 were $463 million, up 2% from $452 million recorded for the same period in 1997.
The Company's Digital PrePrint business reported revenues of $107 million in the third quarter of 1998, up 2% from the $105 million recorded in the same period last year. Strong sales of PrePrint products in the U.S. and Europe were largely offset by a significant decline of sales in the Far East. The slow down in Japan drove a restructuring program in our Japanese joint venture - Nihon Scitex, designed to bring the company back to profitability. Our share in the losses of Nihon Scitex for this quarter was $4 million, most of which resulted from the restructuring program.
The Digital Printing business recorded revenues of $43 million in the third quarter of 1998 compared to $51 million in the same period last year.
Commenting on the results, Yoav Z. Chelouche, President and Chief Executive Officer said, "During the third quarter, we continued to concentrate on implementing our new products release plan for Digital PrePrint with the successful launch of the new computer-to-plate Lotem 800V™ platesetter. We also had a very successful showing at IPEX, a major industry trade show in the UK, where we received very enthusiastic reviews and trade press coverage. The 74 Karat™ digital offset press was particularly well received at the show and we are currently preparing for our first beta site. The Digital PrePrint Output division had a strong quarter driven by the success of both the Lotem™ and the Dolev products.
"As previously announced, Scitex Digital Printing experienced a shortfall in revenues and profits derived from delays in closing a number of large purchase orders. We still expect those sales to be consummated in the fourth quarter, although obviously there can be no assurance that they will occur. At the same time, we completed the integration of our wide format printing activities which caused revenues to deviate from plan. We expect our wide-format activities to be back on track in the fourth quarter."
Mr. Chelouche concluded, "With the anticipated sale of our digital video activities, Scitex becomes a far more focused company. We continue to develop and deploy our extensive pipeline of new products. We are delighted with the strong vote of confidence from our customers and from the industry. We are also excited about the prospects for Vio™ - the global digital graphic arts network launched together with British Telecom. This endeavor has the potential to revolutionize the way the printing and publishing industries communicate. We continue to intensify our efforts so that all of these activities will result in a better financial performance."
***Intel to invest US$500m in venture capital - Including in Asia (November 17)
Intel Corp is prepared to invest next year some US$500 million in venture capital - half of it in countries outside the US, including Malaysia - in technology start-ups specializing in Internet- related products and services.
Intel hopes to bring the Internet to a wider spread of the global population and thus help the company realize its vision of a billion connected PCs, all connected through the Internet.
Last year Intel made about 15 venture capital investments internationally. Intel had previously concentrated on venture capital investments in the US and now, is ready to internationalize its investments.
Those who believe they have what it takes can contact the local Intel unit or e-mail their proposal direct to Intel.
e-mail: proposals@intel.com
***VLSI Licenses RSA Technology
(November 17)
RSA Data Security announced that VLSI Technology has incorporated RSA's security technology into a new Internet Protocol Security (IPSEC) coprocessor chip.
The VLSI chip will be used in networking hardware for Internet commerce applications. VLSI licensed RSA's implementation of the MD5 message digest security algorithm for its new chip.
VLSI began its involvement in the data security market supplying cryptography integrated circuits to U.S. government agencies and data security-conscious private companies. With the rise of digital information transmission as the lifeline of worldwide economic activity, VLSI now actively applies its data encryption and access control technologies to commercial and consumer applications.
Commercial applications for VLSI security chips include electronic commerce, cable modems, satellite data transmission, voice and data communications and consumer video.
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