---------------------------------------------
***QNX Unveils Analysis Tool for Realtime Embedded Developers (November 2)
QNX Software Systems has announced Deja-View for QNX which is a realtime analysis tool which allows software developers to eliminate the trial-and-error methods traditionally used to fine-tune complex embedded systems. Deja-View provides a detailed picture of how all the software components in a live system interact. As a result, developers can pinpoint deadlocks, timing conflicts, modules that require optimization, and a variety of other difficult conditions.
Deja-View records every kernel event in the system - every message, signal, interrupt, context switch, and so on - with nanosecond accuracy. It then provides tools to filter out the "noise" of less important events, allowing the developer to focus on areas of interest.
Developers and third parties with special requirements can create custom extensions to Deja-View itself. The kernel-event data used by Deja-View is in an open format, allowing developers to perform analyses using tools already on their desktops.
The Deja-View Realtime Analysis Tool for QNX 4 has been released to beta sites; commercial release is slated for 2Q99.
***Vertigo Merges with Plastic Thought
(December 10)
Vertigo Software has announced that it has merged with Plastic Thought, formerly a division of ThinkCorp, has 3D models and a post production studio.
Vertigo Technology is a developer of software for the Windows, Power Macintosh and Silicon Graphics platforms and its products include Vertigo Dizzy, Vertigo Words, Vertigo HotText and Vertigo PopArt.
***Superscape Improves 3D Benchmark Site (December 11)
Superscape announced that its free public utility, 3D Benchmark, has now been automated, courtesy of sponsorship by Computer Shopper magazine. 3D Benchmark (available free at http://www.3dbenchmark.com is designed to give an assessment of a PC's 3D performance. The product measures the speed of a PC specifically in relation to interactive real-time 3D graphics by calculating and displaying in real-time a series of 3D graphics sequences. Six key aspects of real-time 3D graphics: lighting, translucency, transformation/collision, z-buffering, fog and texturing are all measured.
3D Benchmark has now been automated so those viewers submitting their results see them added to the Results Database immediately. A new advanced search feature allows the viewer to search the Results Page by PC manufacturer, processor type and speed, clock speed and graphics card.
The fastest DirectDraw result is currently 39.0 fps and the fastest Direct3D result is 195.2 fps using an STB V4400 graphics card. Computer Shopper now includes the 3D results in its hardware tests and reviews.
***Equilibrium Adds Mac Os 8.5 Compatibility To Debabelizer 3 For Macintosh (December 9)
Equilibrium announced the availability of a free Mac OS 8.5 updater for DeBabelizer 3 for Macintosh. The updater revises DeBabelizer's interface to comply with Mac OS 8.5 standards, extends DeBabelizer's support for pre-press files and enables the use of Photoshop 5 filters and plug-ins. The DeBabelizer Mac OS 8.5 updater modifies the DeBabelizer 3 interface and brings the version number to Equilibrium DeBabelizer 3.0.2.
MAC OS 8.5 Interface Enhancements
Many DeBabelizer buttons have been enlarged to facilitate the display of key command equivalents. Users can now also use keyboard shortcuts in all DeBabelizer dialogs.Pre-Press File Support
DeBabelizer now supports both binary and ACSII image data in EPSF/DCS files. Users can select the type of data DeBabelizer writes in the new EPSF Save Options dialog. DeBabelizer 3 can read EPSF/DCS files that use binary or ASCII data, with either PICT or TIFF previews. When saving DCS files, DeBabelizer 3 now produces separate plate files for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black, as well as a master .dcs file. The master dcs file contains a preview of the image (if there is one) and reference information for the C, M, Y, and K plates.Enhanced Photoshop 5 Plug-In Support
This version extends DeBabelizer's support for Adobe's Photoshop plug-in architecture. Changes have been made to support a wider variety of Photoshop 5 import, export, and filter plug-ins.The Equilibrium DeBabelizer 3 for Macintosh Mac OS 8.5 updater is available for free download from
In North America, Equilibrium DeBabelizer 3 for Macintosh ships at an estimated street price of $399.
***3Com Brings Internet Content to the Palm VII Organizer (December 2)
3Com has announced the Palm VII connected organizer, a handheld solution for wireless Internet access and two-way personal communications. Secured by technology from Certicom, the organizer can be used for high-level applications such as electronic purchases, online banking, and over-the-air stock trading.
Palm VII, which work on two AAA batteries, will enter into a national field trial in early 1999 and is expected to be available in late 1999 for less than $800, with a $10/month Internet access service fee.The company also introduced a new model for accessing Internet information called "web clipping", a means of extracting only a specific set of needed information from a web site. 3Com has developed a set of tools to provide an interface for building these Palm query applications that can be downloaded from the desktop to the Palm VII. The applications are forms that Palm VII device owners can use to request specific data such as flight schedules/fares or the latest sports/stock market headlines from a specific site on the Internet.
Currently, 22 Internet content providers have made their web content available for web clipping including ABCNEWS.com, Bank of America, ESPN.com, E*TRADE, Fodor's, MasterCard, The Wall Street Journal Interactive Edition, The Weather Channel, and Ticketmaster.
The tools are based on standard HTML and can be downloaded in early 1999 for free at
They will include a style guide, quick start guide, FAQ, code samples, utilities, a Palm OS software emulator and full documentation.
In addition to the web clipping features, the Palm VII will include an iMessenger application for instant, wireless Internet messages, two-way radio with integrated antenna, and bundled Palm.net service.
***Spatial Technology To Acquire InterData Access (December 10)
Spatial Technology announced that it has signed a non-binding letter of intent to acquire InterData Access Inc. (IDA) of Westchester, Illinois. IDA products include product data viewing, data translation and digital prototyping software and consulting services.
IDA's products and services are to optimize engineering processes by providing methods of sharing and accessing product data throughout the design and manufacturing process.
IDA employs individuals in enterprise interoperability, including IGES- and STEP- based 3D model viewing, model translation, PDM integration, and software development. IDA's products include IntraVISION, CALSVIEW, VisionShare, Data Exchange Manager, and IGES/STEP development tools.
The proposed transaction will provide Spatial Technology technologies, products, personnel, and expertise to expedite its development and deployment of CAD model interoperability solutions for its OEM and industrial customers, building on the success of Spatial's recently announced ACIS Model Healing and IGES Translator products.
Spatial Technology has determined that CAD model interoperability is of strategic importance to its existing OEM customer base, and to medium and large manufacturing companies.
The letter of intent contemplates that Spatial would issue IDA shareholders between 1,350,000 and 1,500,000 shares of Spatial Common Stock in consideration for the merger depending on certain adjustment mechanisms tied to the average sales prices of the Company's Common Stock. Until the execution of a definitive acquisition agreement, neither party is obligated to proceed with the acquisition. Thereafter, the proposed acquisition will be subject to a number of conditions and there can be no assurance the acquisition will ultimately be consummated. It is intended that the acquisition of IDA will be accounted for as a pooling of interests. IDA would be operated as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Spatial Technology.
***Journal Of Internet Banking And Commerce Reaches 3rd Year of Publication (December 11)
The Journal of Internet Banking and Commerce (JIBC) has marked the end of its third successful year of publishing. JIBC is a quarterly publication dedicated to Internet banking and commerce (iCommerce).
http://www.ARRAYdev.com/commerce/JIBC
JIBC is published by ARRAY Development of Ottawa, Canada.
http://www.ARRAYdev.com
***Loral And Fantastic To Offer Broadband Satellite Services (December 11)
Loral Space & Communications announced that it has licensed technology from The Fantastic Corporation that will enable it to bring satellite-based, broadband multimedia services to market on a worldwide basis. Specific terms of the multimillion-dollar transaction were not disclosed. Service rollout is expected in early 1999.
The services, which will be managed and distributed by Loral Orion, will provide broadband infrastructure for multicast delivery of multimedia products and services to corporations, content developers, broadcasters, Internet Service Providers (ISPs), and other enterprises that have time-sensitive and complex data requirements. The services use the Internet Protocol (IP) and Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) open standards, thus allowing multiple forms of data, including video, audio, text and animated graphics, to be broadcast to computers and televisions via set-top boxes.
Fantastic's software enables customers to book, track and subscribe to sets of broadband multimedia services. Using Fantastic's software, customers can control when and where their content is distributed and pay for the distribution on a per-transaction basis. Content can be organized by the customer and then scheduled for package delivery, real-time feed or video/audio streaming. All of this is accomplished with screen prompts on a personal computer or television using a set-top box. The first broadband content channels using the Fantastic software will provide businesses with news, weather and financial information. Ultimately, these services, which are designed to transmit data efficiently to multiple locations worldwide, will support the creation and reception of a wide range of broadband multimedia content channels. Loral sees that Fantastic's software, in combination with Loral's worldwide satellite-based distribution capabilities, will allow it to respond to the demand for customized broadband data delivery systems.
Loral Orion, provider of various Internet and multimedia services to customers around the globe, will send the content through its ground infrastructure to worldwide locations using Loral's global network of high-powered satellites. This will give customers the ability to send multimedia information to all of these regions using one provider.
Loral Orion, based in Rockville, Md., is a subsidiary of Loral Space & Communications. Loral provides global Internet access, data networking and content delivery services. In addition to offering a variety of satellite-based Internet services to ISPs and multinational businesses worldwide, Loral Orion provides managed network services to corporate customers around the globe. Services include data networking, voice, video, teleconferencing and news distribution to multiple points worldwide.
Founded in February 1996, The Fantastic Corporation is a provider of IP-based, broadcasting software designed for high-speed, broadband distribution of multimedia to PCs and set-top boxes. Fantastic's combines the reach, efficiency and television quality of broadcasting with the targeted, interactive and globally standardized nature of the Internet and personal computing.
http://www.LoralOrion.com
http://www.loral.com
http://www.fantastic.com
***QNX To Offer Citrix ICA Software Client for Windows Application Portability to Embedded Systems (November 24)
QNX Software Systems Ltd. (QSSL) has introduced QNX RTOS support for the Independent Computing Architecture (ICA) from Citrix Systems. As a result, businesses can now use QNX and Citrix ICA to distribute their existing Windows applications to virtually any type of embedded system or thin client in the enterprise - be it a network computer, handheld device, or realtime control system.
QNX Software Systems represents that the combination of QNX and the Independent Computing Architecture, there are virtually no limits to where a business can distribute its enterprise applications on various platforms. That is devices that were previously too small, too slow, or had rigorous realtime requirements can now access Windows-based applications without regard to available bandwidth.
With the ICA software client for QNX, users see and work only with the application's interface; the application executes 100% on a Citrix WinFrame or MetaFrame server. QNX has stated that the ICA software client for QNX is being designed into devices like the MTX Network Computing Terminal (NCT), a thin-client/server that provides full access to both legacy mainframe applications and Windows-based applications. Using NCT, mainframe organizations can provide their terminal users with Windows applications, email, and access to the web - without deploying a PC on every desktop.
With over two million concurrent user licenses, the Citrix Independent Computing Architecture (ICA) is a thin-client computing approach already in use. Citrix's ICA thin-client/server technology includes a server software component, a network protocol component, and a client software component. On the server, ICA separates application logic from the user interface and executes 100% of the application on the server. The ICA network protocol transports keystrokes, mouse clicks, and screen updates over standard protocols to the client, consuming less than 20 kilobits-per-second of network bandwidth. On the client side, users see and work only with the application's interface.
The Citrix ICA Software Client will be available for both the QNX 4 and QNX/Neutrino OSs. The QNX 4 version is scheduled for commercial release in 1Q99; the QNX/Neutrino version will be available after the release of QNX/Neutrino v2.0.
***3Dlabs and MaxVision To Extend GLINT GMX Workstation Graphics Into Aplha and PCI Markets (December 10)
3Dlabs announced that it is coordinating board, software engineering, and marketing efforts with MaxVision Corporation (Huntsville, AL) to extend the market coverage of workstation graphics cards based on the 3Dlabs GLINT GMX 2000 chipset to include the PCI and Alpha-based markets.
MaxVision offers the TITAN II card on the PCI bus to deliver workstation-class professional 3D graphics for the upgrade and Alpha markets. Furthermore, 3Dlabs' PowerThreads drivers have now been certified to run on MaxVision's TITAN II including PCI and Alpha-based systems.
The results of supporting 3Dlabs' PowerThreads drivers on TITAN II can be seen in several recent benchmark scores in which the TITAN II achieved a CDRS-03 score of 132.5. Further, the CDRS-03 performance of TITAN II on Alpha went from 54 to102.
***Technical Insights Provides Assessment of Nanotechnology
Technical Insights Nanotech Alert intelligence service has written a report on recent developments in the emerging field of nanotechnology.
Nanotechnology encompasses research and development of systems of molecular-scale machinery and electronics. The ultimate goal of scientists and engineers in this field is to develop the tools that will enable them to move and combine individual molecules into useful structures and machines, and then to control those structures and machines.
According to Technical Insights the field of nanotechnology is based more in potential than reality. But it has moved into the realm of engineering challenge from that of visionary pipe-dream. Many experts compare the current state of nanotech with that of computer science in the 1950s: we don't quite know how we'll get these ideas to work, but we're pretty sure we can. Some tools, such as the scanning-tunneling microscope (STM) and atomic force microscope (AFM), have already been developed. These instruments allow researchers not only to see the molecules they want to manipulate, but also to move them where they want. One approach to constructing nanomachines is to build 3D structures by stacking one molecule or a layer of molecules at a time. Researchers at Rockefeller University are using optical tweezers to do exactly this. Laser tweezers, developed by Bell Labs 20 years ago, use the forces that arise from the way light intensity varies within a laser beam to move molecules along a substrate. And a physicist at Australia's Queensland University has built upon the tweezer concept to develop a laser wrench, which uses a swirling laser beam to move tiny things into specific orientations. Equipment and techniques are improving all the time.
Some micro-and nanoscale devices are already on the market. For example, automobile air bag actuators are actually micro machines, or MEMS (micro-electromechanical systems). And the bumps on stamping dies for compact disks are around 130 ' 600 nm, compared to 100,000 nm for record grooves. Already in production and coming soon to market are Labs-on-a-Chip. Engineers at Oak Ridge National Labs have put together a "Nose on a Chip," an array of microsensors that can detect multiple chemicals, and is about the size of a grain of rice. At the University of Michigan, biochemists have developed 100 nm plastic biosensors that can be shot into living cells without harming the cells, in order to monitor changes in their biochemistry.
Governments worldwide are now spending $430 million a year (United States, Japan, and Europe each accounting for about $120 million) on nanotechnology and nanoengineering, and it is suspected that companies doing major amounts of nano R&D are spending much more than that.
Examples where nanotechnologies will surface include permanent magnets for miniature motors and actuators in such devices as camcorders, cellular phones, and automotive components. A method for manufacturing the most powerful permanent magnet will soon be commercialized. Products are under development that require such magnets. It is expected that today's $250 million market for isotropic bonded magnets will grow more that 25% a year into the next century.
Technical Insights also reports that most experts in the field believe that progress towards full-fledged molecular nanotechnology will be made in a series of gradual steps, each one of which will generate sufficient financial return on investments to allow funding for the next step. The earliest market opportunities will probably be in electronics, coatings, ceramics, magnetics, simple micromachines such as actuators, and pharmaceuticals.
***Buzz 3D - Help for the Hesitant PC User
(December 4)
Buzz 3D is a virtual reality desktop for hesitant Windows users that graphically represents a computer's drives, files, and folders. The program uses a 3D hotel to illustrate the user's computer.
The program begins through a 3D foyer with wall tapestries illustrating file choices such as vital system information about the PC, access to the user's files, and a computer exit. Each story of the hotel represents a different computer drive and the lobbies on each floor represent the PC nerve center where all files/folders in that particular drive can be accessed.
The hotel rooms and corridors help familiarize users with:
· Layout of the hard disks
· Rules Windows uses to determine how/where files and folders are to placed
· Tutorials and help files
· Control panel environment
RealTime Features:
· Guardian that protects user from harming the PC.
· Help to give step-by-step tutorials/walk throughs.
· Preview option to view documents/picture files in the form of posters on the wall of the 3D world.
· Workspace to create virtual floors in which user can place all commonly used files for easy access.
· CatPack that categorizes/sorts the files on the hard disk into custom databases. Sorted by type, date, or names.
· MultiClip that stores up to 20 individual clips even after restarting the PC.
· Filter to cut out all file types user doesn't want to see at the moment.Minimum System Requirements:
Intel Pentium 133MHz (Pentium II 233MHZ recommended)
32MB RAM (64MB rec.)
SVGA Graphics (3Dfx/PowerVR 3D Accelerator rec.)
50MB Hard Drive Space (80MB rec.)
Win 95/98 (98 rec.)
Pricing for Buzz 3D PC is $32.48 for members and $36.09 for non-members. Membership is free of charge. Version 1.1 was issued December 7th and Version 1.2 will be available December 12th.Version 1.1 offers the users the ability to see the screen changes that a 3D card would allow and Version 1.2 provides DX6 optimizations and an option to show lobbies as 2 floor arrangements, with balconies. There is also a Sharewave demo available at http://www.buzz3d.com/Buzz_3D_DM.exe which includes a Data Manager that allows users to experiment with a 28-day demo.
***Multimedia Greeting Web pages From Big Net (December 4)
Big Greetings, a service developed by Big Net Inc., offers an easy-to-use, updateable Web page, including audio, for families and individuals to communicate their holiday messages worldwide.
Pages can be set up in minutes on the Big Greetings Website or by calling 1-888-BigNet-1. After subscribing, customers are provided a password and user ID to call a message line and record their audio.
Photos can be submitted via the Internet or directly to Big Greetings for scanning/placement.
The pricing for the Big Greetings Holiday Package is $59.95 each and greetings are accessible until January 8, 1999. The package includes an audio message up to one minute, a text message up to 200 words, and a photo/graphic file up to 100 KB.
Pages will also be available for future holidays, such as Valentine's day and Mother's day. To hear audio messages, users must have a RealPlayer plug-in for their browser which can be downloaded at http://www.real.com/products.
***Kaydara Launches FiLMBOX Version 1.5 (December 7)
Kaydara announced the shipment of version 1.5 of its real-time production software FiLMBOX. FiLMBOX is an advanced suite of motion capture, animation, and interactive rendering tools.
Version 1.5 provides enhancements that simplify motion capture mapping and editing. It is designed to integrate into the production workflow for game, television, and film productions, and provides seamless integration with all major 3D packages.
Features Include:
*HumanIK - tool for automatically attaching motion capture data to skeletons. Saves time by automating the process of connecting capture data with character joints.
*Motion Sculpting - new control curves allow animators to apply offsets to captured animation, providing a secondary level of animation control.
*Open Reality - a cross-platform C++ developer kit designed specifically for creation of real-time plug-ins for FiLMBOX.Version 1.5 is available on Microsoft Win NT (Intel and Alpha) and Silicon Graphics IRIX operating systems. Pricing starts at $4,995.
***Thomson Interactive Media and Advantage Video Productions Launch HomeStretch (December 3)
Thomson Interactive Media and Advantage Video Products announced the release of HomeStretch, an online tool developed to connect buyers and sellers of real estate. The product unites TIM's Internet commerce suite with AVP's advanced streaming video and 360-degree immersive digital photography.
HomeStretch's parsing capabilities allow customers to search listings using multiple criteria to find text, photos, and video describing the listed properties that match the desired search. The listings can also contain voice and scripted sound tracks due to AVP's multimedia content.
HomeStretch is compatible with SiteCrafter, TIM's real-time Web development tool that enables realtors to create their own customized Websites with links to listing and other sites. The solution also works with all Web browsers and does not require plug-ins, stitching images, or licensing agreements.
Pricing for HomeStretch video services ranges from $50-85 per listing depending on the volume and level of service. The Web-based content will cost pennies per listing.
***SkyBridge Partners Roll Out $4.2 billion Satellite System for 2001 Launch (November 30)
Although SkyBridge still needs an FCC license, it has offered launch and construction details and a financing update on its planned $4.2 billion, 80 low-earth-orbit satellite system set to begin operation in late 2001. Construction is set to begin in Q1 1999 and the first satellite launch is expected in early 2001.
SkyBridge plans to contribute $2 billion to the construction of 200 terrestrial gateways. Its partner, CNES will design and construct the satellites. Other supporters include Alcatel who will be the main supplier of component systems that Space Systems Loral will use to assemble the birds, Mitsubishi Electric Corp., Sharp who will develop user terminals and supply solar cell panels for the venture, Spar, and Toshiba.
SkyBridge will offer high-speed, wireless, local access to multimedia interactive service providers and plans to hold an initial public offering in 2000.
http://www.skybridgesatellite.com
http://www.alcatel.fr
http://www.mitsubishi.com
http://www.toshiba.com
http://www.sharp-usa.com
http://www.loral.com
http://www.cnes.fr
***SoftNet Systems Announced 13 Internet Services Partnership Agreements (December 1)
SoftNet Systems Inc.'s ISP Channel announced that it has established relationships with 13 partners for E-commerce, advertising, management, national and local broadband content, and local communication tools including community chat, conferencing and calendars.
The resulting broadband product, LOCALE, is a branded online E-commerce and community information service supporting local merchants, municipalities, educational institutions, and other community interests.
Partners include:
Excite
SegaSoft Networks
Inktomi
DoubleClick
CityAuction
AccuWeather
Prevue
Tribal Voice
Spinner.com
Zip2
JamTV/Rolling Stone NetworkThe program will receive revenue from online advertising, payments by merchants for transactions generated by the system and premium services ordered by subscribers. Subscribers will be offered free web-based e-mail, free Web pages and ZT.com's online authoring tools, and web-based calendars. Services will also include online conferencing for local interests such as education, government, and health-related online support groups.
LOCALE will be available to anyone with a computer and access to the Internet but the first communities to be deployed will be the more than 100 communities whose cable systems have signed exclusive agreements with the ISP channel to offer high-speed Internet access. The first launches of LOCALE will be offered by Palo Alto Cable Co-op, Advanced Cable Communications, CableVision of Lake Havasu and Cable TV of the Kennebunks.
***Broadcast.com and Amazon.com Announce E-Commerce Agreement (December 1)
Broadcast.com and Amazon.com have signed an agreement in which Amazon will become Broadcast's exclusive merchant for books and music.
Under the terms of the agreement, Amazon will be integrated throughout Broadcast's Web site to enable visitors to purchase books and music relevant to their favorite Broadcast audio/video programming. For example, a user could click on an Amazon icon while watching a concert to go directly to Amazon's CD or book details page for that band and make a purchase.
Amazon will also advertise its book and music retail services through Broadcast's interactive multimedia Web advertising services. These include multimedia and traditional banner ads, audio/video gateway ads, and an array of button and text links.
Broadcast.com has an audience of more than half a million daily users. They provide over 2,400 full-length CDs, hundreds of live and on-demand concerts, interviews, chats, and special events.
***Satellites to Emerge as the Dominant Broadband Access Provider (December 1)
According to a report by Pioneer Consulting, Global Broadband Access Markets: xDSL, Cable Modems and the Threat from Broadband Satellite, Wireless and All-Optical Solutions, the global broadband access market is on the verge of a major expansion.
The report predicts that although no one technology will be a clear leader, broadband satellites will have an advantage as a result of their ability to address global availability, uniform technology, and a tiered pricing structure for various classes of service.
Cable modems will lead the market in terms of total subscribers, but Pioneer states that satellites will gain a larger revenue stream because of their broad reach.
Global Broadband Access Subscriber Summary 1998-2007 (millions)
LMDS Satellite Cable Modem xDSL1998 0.00 0.03 0.57 0.20
1999 0.07 0.03 1.52 0.69
2000 0.26 1.07 4.24 2.20
2001 0.85 0.20 8.54 5.32
2002 1.54 1.90 13.72 9.93
2003 2.56 4.58 19.99 15.57
2004 4.00 10.49 26.86 21.45
2005 5.95 18.48 34.33 27.20
2006 8.34 27.64 41.00 33.00
2007 11.16 39.62 6.78 38.49Because satellites can provide service on a global or continental basis, they are well-positioned to address the access market and possess unique advantages. Pioneer predicts that satellites will, in the future, create space-borne Internets that will improve on the current terrestrial Internet and provide a global broadband backbone and access infrastructure.
Pioneer Consulting's report costs $4,000.
***Proprietary Technology from The Password (December 1)
Talk City and The Password have announced an extension of their partnership in order to grant visitors access to Web personalization and custom content on Talk City's pages. Using ECHO, proprietary technology provided by The Password, visitors to Talk City will be able to create their own passWorlds - online 'zines that search the Web for information on their specific areas of interest.
The build your own feature will be located in Talk City's communities area and will allow users to create a continually updated view of the Web that reflects their personal interests. The pages will use ECHO, a retrieval and filtering technology agent that constantly generates and updates Web content in response to specific queries set by each user.
***InterSense Raises $4.7 million in Venture Capital Funding (December 7)
InterSense has raised $4.7 million in the first round of venture capital funding. The funds will be used to develop products based on the company's existing portfolio of patents and to expand its international sales/marketing efforts.
InterSense is recognized for the development and manufacture of motion-tracking systems that enable human interaction with computer-generated environments. In the last year the company has launched the IS-300 PRO and IS-600 MARK 2 for high-end simulation customers as well as a business unit called InterTrax Business to target the professional 3D market.
Sales for 1998 are forecasted at $2.5 million, compared with $675,000 in 1997.
New Companies involved:
Claflin Capital, LP
Dominion Ventures, Inc.
Zero Stage Capital
Original Investors involved:
Anchor Capital
Furneaux & Company, LLC
Hambrecht & Quist
***Soros Fund Management Leads $15 Million Private Placement For Digital On- Demand (December 1)
Digital On-Demand announced the completion of a $15 million private equity placement with Quantum Industrial Partners, the principal private equity fund of Soros Fund Management LLC, as the lead investor.
Digital On-Demand intends to use the proceeds from this offering to continue its aggressive investment in the company's business strategy for the entertainment industry, which includes expansion of its sales and marketing efforts.
Digital On-Demand has a patented full e-commerce platform with encryption, accounting and payment processing for the sale of music, films and software. The company's system went on-line at Disneyland in May 1998.Installed in Tomorrowland, Digital On-Demand's system allows customers to preview and select music from their favorite Disneyland theme park lands and create their own CDs while viewing integrated videos. In 1997, the company acquired all of the patents and intellectual property of NewLeaf Entertainment, a Blockbuster and IBM joint venture and since then has significantly expanded the scope and capabilities of the original system. To date, more than $25 million has been invested in developing the patented intellectual property. The company's patents cover the use of Internet and other electronic distribution means for the purpose of duplicating digital media such as CDs and DVDs.
***WavePhore Launches of Online Mall and Electronic Commerce (December 1)
WavePhore announced the launch of the WaveTop Store electronic commerce channel, and establishment of 9 initial merchants in this new "broadcast mall". Consumers will be able to take advantage of WaveTop's broadcast delivery of multimedia content to receive offers and place orders for merchandise and services. Vendor's product offerings and catalog-like content will be delivered to their desktop, without the hassle of going on line, and for free. Clearance of the actual transactions will be completed using the consumer's existing Web connection and the secure methods implemented by each of the respective vendors.
With WaveTop's broadcast capability, vendors can now distribute multimedia presentations of their product offerings directly to the consumer's PC with no limitations due to slow connections, servers or Internet traffic.
Vendors involved in the launch of the WaveTop Store include the Wall Street Journal, Barnes and Noble, Audio Book Club, CompUSA, The Fragrance Counter, NextCard, Shop-at-Home, and VideoMaker magazine.
WaveTop has partnered with PBS National Datacast to broadcast data over the television signals of its 264 PBS member stations. Using a simple browser interface and a broadcast ready PC (a standard PC with a built-in TV tuner or equipped with an add-on TV tuner card), users will interact with automatically downloaded information, entertainment and software. Computers equipped with TV tuners and WaveTop software transparently receive, decode and cache content without the bottleneck of the Internet or tying up a phone line. WaveTop is compatible with Microsoft Windows 95 and is part of the Microsoft Windows 98 operating system.
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