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/ __) | | Dateline: April 8, 1994
/ / _ _ | |__ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ __ ___
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\ \__| |_| || |_) || _) | | \__ \| |) )| (| || (_ | _)
\___)\__ ||____/ |___)|_| (___/| _/ \___( \__||___)
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(___/ |_| REPORT WEEKLY
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Multimedia, Desktop Video, and Virtual Reality RoundTable on GEnie.
(C) Copyright Peggy Herrington 1994. Freely Distributable If Intact.
__________________________________________________________________________
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Stories in THIS issue -- DateLine: April 8, 1994
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1. Observations from Cyberspace: Multimedia Meets TV at NAB
2. PC Data Releases List of Top-Selling Software for 1993
3. Twelve Vendors Recognized at Seybold Editor's Awards for Excellence
4. Davidson & Associates Ships The Cruncher for Windows
5. VIDI's Presenter Professional 1st for 3-D Visuals and 3-D Audio
6. Media Vision's New Sound Boards Feature SRS Labs 3-D Sound
7. Media Vision Launches 3-D Sound Boards
8. More DareWare ShareWare in the Cyberspace Library
Observations from Cyberspace: Multimedia Meets TV at NAB
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
by Malcolm Charlton GE Mail: MAC-NEWS
____
/ _ ) Cyberspace, Earth -- April 3, 1994
/ ___/
/ /
(_/articipants at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Convention
held late last month in Las Vegas, Nevada, added a new component to its
deliberations. For the first time -- but I suspect not the last -- the
Multimedia and Interactive Television community joined with the NAB to offer
their own conference in parallel with the traditional mega-event.
They even had their own exhibits with the latest hardware and software in the
Multimedia/Interactive field. (The strangest part of the whole affair was a
demonstration of 3-D television -- in a throwback to the late fifties, we all
had to put on special glasses. Definitely a low-tech development.) They also
offered seminars and workshops.
Multimedia and Interactive Televison
Each seminar started with glowing reports and predictions on the future of
multimedia and interactive television. There was constant reference to the
Electronic Super Highway -- so much so it was almost a cliche by day two. One
moderator said the challenge that afternoon was to get through the entire
ninety minutes without once referring to the electronic super highway. The
challenge crumbled five minutes later.
What became abundantly clear almost immediately is while the gurus have a
relatively clear vision of where the industry will be ten and fifteen years
from now, they are far less dogmatic of where we'll all be in two years. This
is frankly a polite assessment. In all honesty, I don't think they have a clue.
What became clear is the problems yet to be solved and the agreements yet to be
reached. Interactive television is plagued with a whole panoply of standards
problems. Half a dozen companies -- and more -- are vying for control of the
set-top market. All have different standards and different protocols and even
different purposes.
There is basic question of video compression. What will be it be -- MPEG?
MPEGII? JPEG? -- or some as yet unknown standard?
Is the signal going to be over the air, fibre optic, twisted pair? Is it going
be delivered by the phone companies or by cable companies?
And where does HDTV fit in the picture?
Interactive television IS happening. But it is sporadic and hesitant. Videotron
in Canada is probably one of the more agressive participants in the Interactive
scene. The largest cable operator in French Canada with well over a million
subscribers and growing, its Videoway system offers Interactive Sports events,
TV Game Shows, and even Newscasts. But, its technology is now archaic by modern
standards and it relies on a set-top unit that is not up to modern standards.
But they do offer an interactive component. In sports, hockey fans can select
from regular game action, a specially designated isolation camera (everyone who
selects isolation camera gets the same isolation camera) and a "replay" feed
which is actually the main game delayed 10 seconds. In baseball, alternate
selections involve detailed statistical information and the mandatory "replay"
feed.
Other interactive moves were underway. But hesitancy and a testing of the
waters is generally the rule.
PC Multimedia
The Multimedia part of the exhibition was taken up less with standards and more
with applications. Unfortunately, I heard nothing new or startling in this end
-- but then again I did not attend every multimedia session.
[Editor's Note: Details about new products and upgrades for both Windows and
Macintosh owners are published in this and last week's CYBERSPACE REPORT.
April's REPORT compilation will be availble in the Multimedia RoundTable
Library in early May.]
There was a great deal of talk on the re-use or, as they call it, RE-PURPOSING
of conventional material and its adaptation into the multimedia milieu. Most of
this was show and tell, with producers showing how they accomplished the
transition from straight video or hardcopy into the multimedia mode.
The general concensus here was that don't just dump your material onto CDs.
Generally speaking the material has to be substantially re-worked. Bitter
experience has shown that under-budgeting in this area is the rule rather than
the exception.
The whole question of rights and copyright are to be carefully considered.
Don't under-estimate the rights search issues. Frequently photos were taken
with express rights limited to magazine publication. Additional multimedia
rights must be sought before producing.
It is clearly a growing field, but where Multimedia fits in on the Electronic
Super Highway is less clear and less obvious. All the producers and
manufacturers expect to be a part of it, but exactly how is up in the air.
Backseat Drivers
In all, what transpired at NAB was a good first start and opened a lot of
issues for discussion and debate especially in the technical/standards end.
Yet, one can't help but be left with the impression that the industry is not
market-driven, but trying to drive the market. The attempt, in television at
least, to convert the viewer from a passive participant to an active one is a
valiant one and one whose outcome is not all that certain.
And then there's the question of ease of operation. One company actually
bragged that it took only six hours to teach an adult how to work their remote
control. That may be, but the common man's frustration with the simple
operation of a VCR is going to be eclipsed by these set-top components almost
akin to a NASA flight deck.
A lot is uncertain. A lot is yet to be decided. But, it is going to be an
exciting time, a challenging time, and a time of change at an ever accelerating
rate. It's also a time of opportunity.
-*-
PC Data Releases List of Top-Selling Software for 1993
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Education and CD-ROM Software Make Huge Inroads
___ ___ Business Software Prices Plunge
(_ )( _)
/ /_/ / Reston, VA -- March 29, 1994
/ __ /
_/ / / /
(___)(__)ome Education and CD-ROM software were the big winners of 1993,
according to software sales data released today by PC Data.
Overall, software sales for the home market exploded as hardware prices
plummeted. This was especially apparent in the significant sales increase of
CD-ROM software as CD-ROM drives became more affordable to consumers and as
CD-ROM titles proliferated.
Educational software was the fastest growing software category of 1993,
primarily because they were the first to produce CDs for the retail market. By
December 1993, educational software on the CD-ROM format accounted for 18% of
unit and 25% of dollar volume, far greater than in any other software category.
Educational publishers were also the first to create products -- electronic
books and encyclopedias -- solely for the CD market.
In 1993, CD games became best-sellers for the first time. Seventh Guest by
Virgin, the top-selling CD title of 1993, was also the third best-selling game
of any format. Star Wars Rebel Assault by LucasArts, which was not released
until late November, was the second best selling CD title of the entire year,
and the eleventh best selling game overall.
Home finance software was also a significant player in 1993. Four of the top
five personal productivity titles were home finance and tax software by
Intuit/Chipsoft. Quicken, on all platforms, continues to be a top seller.
"As hardware prices decreased, the number of software titles on store shelves
significantly increased, which made cunsumers the real winners in 1993," said
Nocole Field, PC Data Director of Operations. "In the long run, both the
software industry and the consumer will benefit from the proliferation of
computers in the home as consumers continue to upgrade and look for the 'latest
and greatest' software."
Substantial activity took place in the business software arena in 1993. The
database market, which had been stagnant for five years, came alive in 1993
with the introduction of Windows products. As a sresult, two of the top ten
business applications of 1993 -- Microsoft Access and Paradox for Windows --
were databases.
In 1993, price wars among business software firms dramatically affected the
retail market. The average price of business software sold at retail dropped
from approximately $130 in 1992 to less than $70 by the end of 1993.
"Software publishers continue to explore new and exciting uses for PCs, which
were unthought of only a few years ago. Innovation and ingenuity are the
essential elements in the software industry's current success," said Ann
Stephens, President of PC Data.
PC Data, a market research firm based in Reston, VA, specializes in tracking
software sales at the retail and distributor level.
PC Data Hits List of Top-Selling Software
For Calendar Year 1993
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PC Games (MS-DOS/Windows)
Rank Title Manufacturer
---- -------------------------------- ---------------------
1. Microsoft Flight Simulator Microsoft
2. X-Wing LucasArts
3. Seventh Guest Virgin
4. Sim City Maxis
5. Wolfenstein 3-D/Spear of Density Formgen
6. Links-386 Pro (SVGA) Access
7. Wing Commander Origin
8. Strike Commander Origin
9. Commanche: Maximum Overkill Nova Logic
10. Star Wars Rebel Assault LucasArts
11. Tony LaRussa Baseball II Strategic Simulations
12. X-Wing Mission Disk #2, B-Wing LucasArts
13. HardBall III Accolade
14. Alone in the Dark Interplay
15. Beat the House Spirit of Discovery
16. Aces Over Europe Sierra On-Line
17. Front Page Sports: Football Sierra On-Line
18. Privateer Origin
19. Police Quest Sierra On-Line
20. Links - Mauna Kea Access
Macintosh Games
1. Prince of Persia Broderbund
2. Microsoft Flight Simulator Microsoft
3. Sim City 2000 Maxis
4. Civilization Microprose
5. Kings Quest V/Red Baron Bundle Sierra On-Line
Amiga Games
1. 68 Attack Sub Electronic Arts
2. AD&D Gateway to Savage Frontier Strategic Simulations
3. Overlord Virgin
4. Operation Combat Merit
5. Medieval Warriors Merit
Home Education (MS-DOS/Windows)
1. Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego Broderbund
2. Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing Software Toolworks
3. Where in the USA is Carmen Sandiego Broderbund
4. Oregon Trail MECC
5. Reader Rabbit 1 Learning Company
6. Algeblaster Plus Davidson
7. Reader Rabbit 2 Learning Company
8. Mario Teaches Typing Interplay
9. Playroom Broderbund
10. Dinosaur Adventure Knowledge Adventure
Home Education (Macintosh)
1. Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego Broderbund
2. Kid Pix Broderbund
3. New Math Blaster Plus Davidson
4. Playroom Broderbund
5. Reader Rabbit Learning Company
6. Where in the USA is Carmen Sandiego Broderbund
7. Oregon Trail MECC
8. Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing Software Toolworks
9. Kid Works 2 Davidson
10. Just Grandma & Me Broderbund
CD-ROM
1. Seventh Guest Virgin
2. Star Wars Rebel Assault LucasArts
3. King's Quest VI Sierra On-Line
4. Microsoft Encarta Microsoft
5. Return to Zork Activision
6. Just Grandma & Me Broderbund
7. Compton's Int'l Encyclopedia Upgrade Compton's New Media
8. Cinemania Microsoft
9. Dracula Unleashed Viacom
10. Street Atlas USA Delorme
Business Software (MS-DOS)
1. MS-DOS 6.2 Microsoft
2. QEMM Quarterdeck
3. WordPerfect 6.0 Upgrade WordPerfect
4. Stacker Stac Electronics
5. OS/2 IBM
6. Norton Utilities 7.0 Symantec
7. Quattro Pro Borland
8. ProComm Plus Datastrom
9. QuickBooks Intuit
10. WordPerfect 6.0 WordPerfect
Business Software (Windows)
1. Microsoft Windows 3.1 Microsoft
2. WordPerrfect for Windows Upgrade WordPerfect
3. Microsoft Access Microsoft
4. Quattro Pro for Windows Borland
5. After Dark 2.0 for Windows Berkeley
6. Paradox for Windows Borland
7. Lotus 1-2-3 for Windows Upgrade Lotus
8. Winfax Pro Delrina
9. Microsoft Word Upgrade Microsoft
10. CompuServe Windows Membership Kit CompuServe
Business Software (Macintosh)
1. Claris Works Claris
2. After Dark Berkeley
3. Microsoft Works Microsoft
4. Key Fonts Softkey
5. Disney Collection Screen Saver Berkeley
6. Microsoft Office Microsoft
7. Key Cad Softkey
8. Microsoft Word Microsoft
9. Norton Utilities Symantec
10. Symantec Antivirus (SAM) Symantec
Personal Productivity (MS-DOS/Windows)
1. Quicken for Windows Intuit
2. Quicken 6.0 (MS-DOS) Intuit
3. Turbo Tax (MS-DOS) Chipsoft
4. Turbo Tax for Windows Chipsoft
5. Print Shop Deluxe for Windows Broderbund
6. Floorplan Designer 3-D Cosmi
7. Print Shop Deluxe (MS-DOS) Broderbund
8. Quicken Companion Intuit
9. Microsoft Money Microsoft
10. Expert Home Design for Windows Expert
11. Swift Label Publisher Cosmi
12. Easy Working Resume Creator Spinnaker
13. Christmas for Windows Wink Data Products
14. Calendar Creator Plus Power Up
15. Prodigy Start-Up Kit Prodigy
Personal Productivity (Macintosh)
1. Quicken Intuit
2. Macintax Chipsoft
3. Print Shop Deluxe Broderbund
4. Print Shop Broderbund
5. Managing Your Money Meca
List is based on units sold by ten retail chains, representing over 1300
stores. For more information, please contact PC Data, 11504 Links Drive,
Reston, VA 22090, telephone 703/435-1025, fax 703/478-0484.
-*-
Twelve Vendors Recognized at Seybold Editor's Awards for Excellence
______~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(__ __) Boston, MA -- April 1, 1994
/ /
/ /
(_/welve exhibitors at Seybold Seminars Boston '94 were honored for outstanding
new products at the Seybold Awards for Excellence gala last evening. The
ceremony was held in conjunction with the Seybold Seminars Boston '94
Conference and Exposition at the Hynes Convention Center.
The third annual Awards for Excellence were presented by the international
editorial staff of the Seybold Reports: The Seybold Report on Publishing
Systems and The Seybold Report on Desktop Publishing. Awards for Excellence are
given to those companies whose products are deemed exemplary and innovative, as
determined by the Seybold editors. The winning products must demonstrate
significant technological advancements and successfully address real world
problems. To qualify, the product must be demonstrated to the public on the
show floor, must be new since Seybold Seminars '93, have a stated price and
delivery date.
Awards were based only merit, rather than specific categories. The winners
were:
* Adobe's Acrobat
* Agile's TeamBase: Special Edition
* Dewar Information Systems' DewarView
* Hyphen's Links RIP strategy
* Intergraph's COSMOS
* International Typeface Corp. & InfoSafe Systems for Design Palette
* KanImage's Digital Photography GA System
* KyTek's Autopage 3.1
* Light Source's Colortron
* Optronics' Intelliproof
* Scitex' Catalogic
An additional "virtual" award was given to World Wide Web, developed by Tim
Berners-Lee of CERN (a group of physics researchers). World Wide Web creates
hyperdocuments that link text, graphics, and images over the Internet. A
digital image of the Award itself was delivered over the Internet to CERN
during the ceremony to recognize the significance of this technology.
Seybold Publications publishes the twice monthly Seybold Report on Publishing
Systems and the monthly Seybold Report on Desktop Publishing. Both have
worldwide circulation, and are considered the publications of record for the
electronic publishing industry. In the digital technology arena, Digital Media:
A Seybold Report is a cross-industry publication on digital convergence.
Seybold Seminars is a division of Ziff-Davis Exposition and Conference Company.
Under the direction of Jonathan Seybold, the Seybold Conference and Expositions
maintain their unique focus on education, mirroring industry trends. Seybold
publishing events are held bi-annually in Boston and San Francisco, attracting
technically savvy attendees and showcasing the industry's most influential
companies.
-*-
Davidson & Associates Ships The Cruncher for Windows
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Interactive, full-featured, multimedia spreadsheet that
is easy enough for kids but powerful enough for adults
______
/ __ ) Torrance, CA -- April 4, 1994
/ / ) /
/ /__/ /
(______/avidson & Associates, Inc. (NASDAQ: DAVD) last week began shipping The
Cruncher for Windows, a full-featured, easy to use spread sheet for children
and adults that includes animation, speech, music, and sound effects.
Using step-by-step tutorials, The Cruncher teaches users ages 10 and up
spreadsheet and math fundamentals. The program's real-world examples, such as
party planning, family budgeting, and baseball statistics tracking, illustrate
how to use math and spreadsheets in everyday life. By combining these tutorials
and projects with a full-featured spreadsheet, The Cruncher is easy enough for
children to understand and use, but powerful enough to meet adult's spreadsheet
needs.
The Cruncher is immediately available in Windows format at most major computer
and software retail chains nationwide for a suggested retail price of $59.95.
The program was released in Macintosh format in December 1993. The software is
also available in teacher packs, lab packs, and site licenses through
Educational Resources and other educational software resellers.
"We have had a tremendous response from students, parents and teachers since we
introduced The Cruncher for the Macintosh. Now, by offering the program in a
Windows format, more of our customers will be able to take advantage of this
powerful, multimedia tool," said Jan Davidson, president and founder of
Davidson & Associates, Inc. "Never before has a spreadsheet been designed
specifically for students -- one that helps them understand how a spreadsheet
works, how it can be useful in their lives, and how it can be fun to use. The
Cruncher does just that, and it teaches math concepts at the same time."
Adds Joyce Hakansson of Berkeley Learning Technologies, Inc., a nationally
recognized software designer who developed Millie's Math House and co-developed
The Cruncher with Davidson, "We developed The Cruncher for children to explore
and think about math in ways they never have before. The addition of sound and
graphics to a powerful spreadsheet makes it interesting, approachable and
relevant to their needs. The Cruncher empowers children and helps prepare them
for a future where being comfortable with technology is critical."
Product Overview
The Cruncher has three components: tutorials, projects, and spreadsheets. Each
has been designed to be easy enough for beginners yet powerful enough for
adults. These components cover subjects that appeal to both groups, including
family trips, party planning, and organizing all kinds of mathematical
information. This approach also means that users won't outgrow The Cruncher --
the tutorials and projects address a range of experience levels.
In addition, The Cruncher features an on-line help system that is easy to use
for beginners, but extensive enough for more advanced users.
Tutorials
In the tutorials section, six examples teach topics starting with basic
spreadsheet operations and progressing to the use of advanced spreadsheet
features. The simplest one, "Fish Out of Water," uses pictures instead of
numbers ot manipulate data. Students combine a fish, a fish bowl, water and
other items in spreadsheet cells; they must do this correctly for the fish to
live. This demonstrates the basics of spreadsheets in a friendly and
non-intimidating way.
Projects
Ten different projects and templates provide real-life examples of how
spreadsheets can be useful in everyday life. For example, the "Basketball
Statistics" project teaches students how to calculate shooting percentages,
total points, and overall percentages for their favorite basketball players.
"I Want a Walkman!(TM)" teaches students how to use a spreadsheet to manage a
budget. Students can track their income and expenses to show how much money
they save, and how much time it will take to save the money needed for a
desired purchase such as a Walkman.
Spreadsheet
The Cruncher's spreadsheet offers features included in most business
spreadsheet software, including charting and graphing capabilities with pie
charts, bar and line graphs, and scatter charts; complex cell calculations; and
advanced trigonometry functions.
The Cruncher also offers four unique features that make it ideal for beginners:
* A "notebook" attached to each spreadsheet
This includes a simple word processor where users can keep notes on their
spreadsheets, explain formulas or write a detailed report.
* The "sticker picker"
A library of 100 illustrations, 13 sound effects, and 20 animations can
be included anywhere in spreadsheets, charts or the notebook. Users can
record their own sound effects or up to 20 seconds of spoken text. They
can also create their own stickers by importing art from other programs.
* Text-to-speech capabilities
Users can select any words or numbers in a spreadsheet or the notebook,
and The Cruncher will read them aloud. This helps double-check data.
System Requirements, Pricing
The Cruncher minimally requires a 386/16 MHz IBM or compatible system with
Windows 3.1, 4 MB RAM, a hard disk drive and VGA monitor. An audio accessory is
also recommended for sound and speech.
The software has a suggested retail price of $59.95. Teacher editions are
priced at $99.95, lab packs at $219.95, and site licenses at $899.95.
Davidson & Associates, Inc. is the leading independent publisher of multimedia
educational software for the home and school markets. Founded in 1982 by
educator Dr. Jan Davidson, the company has won national acclaim for teacher-
designed, student-tested software such as the Math Blaster series, Kids Works
2, and Kid CAD in the home market, and English Express and Story Club in the
school market. Contact them at 19840 Pioneer Avenue, Torrance, CA 90503,
telephone 310/793-0600, fax 310/793-0601.
-*-
VIDI Introduces Presenter Professional 3.0:
World's First Software for Creating 3-D Visuals and 3-D Audio
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Both Images and Sound "Move" in 3-D in Latest Version of Award-winning
Animation/Rendering Software for Multimedia, Broadcast and Ad Production
____
/ _ ) Monrovia, CA -- April 1, 1994
/ ___/
/ /
(_/resenter Professional 3.0, the newest version of VIDI's award-winning 3-D
modeling, rendering, and animation software for Macintosh and Power PC, offers
a breakthrough in 3-D production for multimedia, broadcasting and advertising:
The world's first software capable of producing stunning 3-D visual images and
3-D sound simultaneously.
"Life is not silent," said Nick Pavlovic, VIDI president, "so why should 3-D
software be any different? Presenter Professional is the first professional
software package to recognize the importantce of audio in the visual creation
process. It gives artists the opportunity to push their creativity to the edge
by giving them tools to create and manipulate both 3-D images and 3-D sound at
the same time, developing new levels of artistry with visual and sonic images
that interact and affect each other.
"In short, Presenter Professional 3.0 offers unlimited visual and audio
creativity, and at an unbeatable price/performance level."
Presenter Professional 3.0 provides a full-featured 3-D animation system that
incorporates a time-based script window, path animation, multiple cameras,
lights, and microphones, and velocity graphs for all object parameters.
TrueSound(TM) virtual sound is VIDI's audio "palette" for 3-D sound. Users may
choose from a range of sound effects available on the Macintosh computer. Users
may also import sounds from any external source including prerecorded sounds
and/or "live" audio via a microphone plugged directly into the computer. All
sound effects can be manipulated by any plug-in TrueMotion animator such as
gravity or human motion.
An unlimited number of 3-D speakers and mics can be positioned throughout a
scene to provide stereo and wrap-around sound.
Other new creative tools offered by Presenter Professional 3.0 are:
* Boolean Tool Box - Cut, join and intersect operations, allowing artists
to generate complex shapes quickly.
* Digital Clay(TM) - The ability to sculpt 3-D forms intuitively by pushing
or pulling on surfaces to mold or sculpt complex and freeform shapes,
such as a human head.
* PostScript Import - Accessing PostScript fonts and line art, converting
them into 3-D objects.
* TrueMotion Animation - A library of plug-in "animators": effects like
gravity, collision, tracking and human motion applied to objects, cameras
and lights.
Software for both 68000 and Power PC Macintosh systems will ship in April.
TrueSound Virtual Sound
Presenter Professional is the first 3-D graphics software package to recognize
the significance of audio in the graphics creation process. A compuer-
generated 3-D virtual sound environment which complements 3-D animations
created with VIDI software, TrueSound enables pre-recorded sound effects to be
inserted to create integrated sound and animation effects.
Capable of utilizing an unlimited number of speakers and microphones, TrueSound
can be positioned throughout a 3-D scene to provide sound effects like stereo,
wrap-around sound, and Doppler effects. Potential uses include multimedia
presentations, TV station new graphics and ID packages, and animatics prepared
by advertising agencies.
TrueMotion Animation
TrueMotion Animation provides users with the ability to create motion effects
that obey the laws of physics to produce special effects. Plug-in animators,
represented by icons on the desktop, are used to click and drag pre-programmed
movements or effects quickly and easily to the appropriate object. Among the
plug-in animators are human motion, gravity, tracking, steering and collision.
Additional animators may be purchased separately. Plug-in tool kits for
programmers will be provided to third parties interested in developing their
own animation effects.
Precise Animation Control
Presenter Professional 3.0 provides smooth path animation control and velocity
graphs for specifying the speed of each object, camera, microphone, and light
as well as setting transition effects between all object parameters including
colors, shaders, cameras, and animation effects.
Digital Clay
Presenter Professional 3.0's powerful Digital Clay feature provides the ability
to sculpt 3-D forms intuitively by pushing or pulling on surfaces to mold or
sculpt complex objects and freeform shapes. The Digital Clay sculpting tools
include interactive Angular Duplicate to produce consecutive objects or
features along an angle or arc, and Angulal Extrude with twist and reshape for
twisting only portions of objects. The Loft tool provides the ability to drape
a surface over any number of open or closed contours. The Sweep surface tool
has a powerful but easy to use graphic interface that makes springs, corkscrews
and nautilus shapes easy for non-mathematicians. The Bevel tool is used to add
regular and freeform curves to imported PostScript fonts and line art.
Boolean Reshaping
Powerful Boolean reshape operations, including cut, join, and intersect
capabilities, offer users the ability to poke holes, combine objects, and cut
away the non-intersecting parts of objects. This makes it possible to generate
complex shapes from existing objects in a simplified productive way.
Comprehensive Rendering
Rendering methods accessible by Presenter Professional 3.0 include its own ray
trace, phong, and stereo shaders, as well as built-in interface to MacRender-
Man and NetRenderMan. Texture mapping, bump mapping and movie mapping on
animated objects and backgrounds are also fully supported. Presenter 3.0 breaks
new ground by providing RenderMan users with full control over motion blur,
fog, depth cue, and the ability to animate any RenderMan shader or parameter
over time.
Virtual Camera Window
A Virtual Camera Window allows animators to maneuver a camera through a 3-D
animation using click and drag techniques. Real time graphic feedback with
optional stereoscopic and red/blue shift stereo display gives the window
realistic 3-D depth. Multiple cameras can be used with intuitive placement and
control, including graphic feedback on lens angle and camera position. Editing
can be performed on screen to splice segments from each camera into a final
"film" that can be viewed using Presenter 3.0's Quick Render facility. With its
super-fast smooth shading and a user-definable light source, the window is used
for accurate analysis of object position and shape.
Presenter Professional 3.0 is available at a suggested retail price of $1,995.
The two modules comprising the software, ModelPRO 3.0 and Presenter 3.0, can be
puchased separately for $1,195 each. For workstation processing acceleration,
Presenter RISC software and RISC acceleration boards are available for Version
3.0 at additional cost.
Presenter Professional 3.0 software is featured on the new Video Gallery
Television Graphics System, developed by BTS Broadcast Television Systems, a
Philips company, for professional video production and post-production.
VIDI designs, develops and publishes 3-D illustration, visualization, and
multimedia presenation applications. The company was the first to develop
professional 3-D spline-based products for Macintosh computers in 1986 and the
first to produce ray tracing, 3-D animation, 24-bit color, and 3-D sound also
for the Macintosh. VIDI origiated in the PICS animation format, which provided
an industry standard for animation. VIDI products have received numerous awards
and are recognized as leading technology in today's fast-growing 3-D design,
animation, and multimedia market.
-*-
Media Vision's New Sound Boards Feature SRS Labs Three-Dimensional Sound
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
First Time This Technology is Used for Multimedia On PCs
_ _
/ \/ \ Fremont and Newport Beach, CA -- March 31, 1994
/ \
/ /\ /\ \
(_/ \/ \_)edia Vision (MVIS:NASDAQ), a leader in multimedia for personal
computers, and SRS Labs, Inc., developer of the new audio technology, SRS(R)
(Sound Retrieval System) have today announced that Media Vision has licensed
the SRS three-dimensional sound technology for new sound cards, which are being
introduced today (see separate press release). This is the first time this
three-dimensional sound technology is being made available for personal
computer multimedia applications.
We have become accustomed to sound being a tremendous enhancement to the
entertainment experience, said Paul Jain, president and CEO of Media Vision.
For example, when you go to the movies, the feeling of crashing waves or the
sounds of nature enveloping you enriches the moment greatly. By offering SRS
3-D sound technology on our new sound boards, we can enable users to enjoy this
same type of effect as they have become used to at the movies or on television.
SRS is the same technology featured by RCA and Sony Corporation in high-end
television sets. It is a unique, patented audio processing technology that
creates a true-to-life 3-D sound image through any conventional stereo playback
system using just two speakers. Whether the audio signal is mono, stereo, or
encoded, SRS expands the material and embraces the listener with a
three-dimensional surround sound type field. SRS can be used to record or
playback music, movie soundtracks, video games, or any other audio sources and
requires no special programming.
SRS sound is perfect for multimedia applications, said Stephen V. Sedmak, SRS
Labs president. Because of its unique technology, SRS enables multimedia users
to enjoy 3-D audio with existing applications -- developers dont have to do any
special programming for SRS to work.
Thomas C.K. Yuen, SRS Labs chairman, commented that Media Visions history of
innovation in PC multimedia is well known: beginning with first introduction of
MPC (multimedia personal computer) upgrade kits, continued by its early entry
into the market with 16-bit sound for the mainstream personal computer market.
We are pleased that Media Vision, an ongoing innovator in multimedia audio,
intends to be the first to market with this advanced 3-D audio technology.
The SRS technology was developed by the Audio Division of the Hughes Aircraft
Company. SRS Labs, Inc, based in Newport Beach, Calif. was formed on July 1,
1993, after Hughes elected to focus on its aerospace business. On February 1,
1994, Thomas C.K. Yuen, co-founder of computer giant AST Research, invested in
SRS Labs and assumed the titles of chairman and CEO. SRS, the Sound Retrieval
System, holds three patents with over 240 claims in 11 countries. The SRS
technology is available in three formats: a discrete analog version, custom
analog IC chips, and a DSP (digital signal processor) chip format.
Media Vision's mission is to popularize multimedia by offering solutions at
affordable prices. Headquartered in Fremont, Calif., the company is a leader in
multimedia for personal computers, including hardware products ranging from
systems and add-in cards to chips based on emerging multimedia standards for
mainstream personal computers, and software titles developed specifically to
take advantage of the power of multimedia computers. The company sells its
products through computer retail and mass merchandising channels and to
original equipment manufacturers. Media Visions European subsidiary, Media
Vision Technology GmbH, is located in Munich, Germany.
-*-
Media Vision Launches 3-D Sound Boards
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
First to Market New Sound boards Which Bring
3-D Sound to Virtually all PC-Compatible Software
_ _
/ \/ \ Fremont, CA -- March 31, 1994
/ \
/ /\ /\ \
(_/ \/ \_)edia Vision (MVIS:NASDAQ), a leader in multimedia for personal
computers, has today launched a family of sound boards which are the first to
bring three-dimensional sound, without the need for any software reprogramming,
to the mainstream personal computer market. These new 16-bit (or CD-quality)
sound boards for PC-compatible computers enhance existing multimedia software
by adding the 3-D effect. In addition, the boards offer a variety of advanced
options, including wave table sound synthesis.
"Our new sound boards are designed to offer the highest level of sound and
entertainment quality at prices that mainstream computer users can afford,"
said Paul Jain, president and CEO of Media Vision. "3-D technology makes even
an ordinary PC sound richer, clearer, and more realistic."
Media Vision is able to offer this three-dimensional sound because it has
combined SRS(R) (Sound Retrieval System) technology with Media Visions 16-bit
sound. SRS technology is the same process used by Sony and RCA in high-end
television sets. When combined with Media Visions 16-bit sound technology, it
enables any multimedia software program to play back with a three-dimensional
sound effect, without special programming.
"We have become accustomed to sound being a tremendous addition to the
entertainment experience," explained Jain. "These new cards bring the
experience of a music sound track closer to the listener, and creates the
illusion for the game player that the action is coming from many directions."
According to Stephen V. Sedmak, president of SRS Labs, Inc., Media Visions
history of innovation in PC multimedia is well known: "Beginning with first
introduction of MPC (multimedia personal computer) upgrade kits, continued by
its early entry into the market with 16-bit sound for the mainstream personal
computer market. We are pleased that Media Vision, an ongoing innovator in
multimedia audio, is expected to be the first to market with this advanced
audio technology."
New Sound Cards are Wave Table Upgradeable, First to be VESA Compatible
Media Visions 3-D sound card introductions include the Media Vision Pro 3-D,
the Media Vision Premium 3-D SCSI 2, the Premium 3-D MCD, and the Professional
Wave Table Upgrade. The Premium 3-D SCSI 2 is wave table upgradeable and comes
with a 2.5 MB/sec SCSI 2 adapter, which handles burst rates up to 5 MB/sec. The
Premium 3-D MCD is wave table upgradeable and offers interfaces for Sony,
Panasonic, and Mitsumi CD-ROM drives. The Pro 3D consists of a Premium 3-D SCSI
2 sound card with the Professional Wave Table upgrade already installed.
In addition to featuring the SRS three-dimensional sound, all of Media Visions
new 3-D sound cards include 16-bit stereo sound, 20-voice FM-synthesis,
compatible with all of the key audio standards, including Sound Blaster, AdLib,
MPC level 1 and 2, VESA (Video Electronics Standards Association).
The Professional Wave Table Upgrade uses the sound engine used by Korg in its
professional synthesizers, such as the new Korg X-3, i2, and i3. The Korg sound
engine provides 32-note polyphony, 16-part multitimbral, and reverb and chorus
effects standard. The 4 MB of sample sounds includes 128 general MIDI sounds
and four drum kits. The Media Vision Professional Wave Table Upgrade works with
all of the new Media Vision sound cards and with other sound cards which
support the Wave Blaster connector.
The VESA sound standard is a hardware-independent sound interface specification
for personal computers. It was adopted by VESA in February of this year in
order to combat the difficulties arising from differences in PC-compatible
sound hardware. By providing a VESA-compatible driver, Media Vision has
simplified the task for multimedia software developers of developing their
programs, and consequently helps assure users that whatever software they use
will run on their sound card. The new Media Vision sound cards are expected to
be the first to include VESA sound standard compatibility.
All of Media Visions new sound cards are bundled with several pieces of
software, including MidiSoft Recording Session MIDI sequencer, MidiSoft Sound
Impression sound editor, Dragon Systems Talk-to Plus voice recognition
software, and Monologue for Windows text-to-speech software.
Price and Availability
Media Visions new 3-D sound boards are expected to be available in April, both
as stand-alone products and included in several Media Vision multimedia kits.
The Media Vision Pro 3-D sound card will have a suggested retail price of $379;
both versions of the Media Vision Premium 3-D sound card will have a suggested
retail price of $199. Media Visions Wave table upgrade is expected to be
available during the second quarter of this year for $199 (suggested retail
price).
Media Vision's mission is to popularize multimedia by offering solutions at
affordable prices. Headquartered in Fremont, Calif., the company is a leader in
multimedia for personal computers, including hardware products ranging from
systems and add-in cards to chips based on emerging multimedia standards for
mainstream personal computers, and software titles developed specifically to
take advantage of the power of multimedia computers. The company sells its
products through computer retail and mass merchandising channels and to
original equipment manufacturers. Media Visions European subsidiary, Media
Vision Technology GmbH, is located in Munich, Germany.
-*-
More DareWare ShareWare in the Cyberspace Library
______ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(__ __) Cyberspace, Earth -- April 8, 1994
/ /
/ /
(_/he Cyberspace Library (GEnie Page 200, menu option 3) received more fine
educational multimedia programs for IBM-compatible from DareWare last week: a
Spanish Language Tutorial, and a Numbers/Counting Program that TALKS, the
latter in two versions (one for Sound Blaster-compatible systems to which you
can optionally add your own voice, and another delivering suprising clarity
from the PC Speaker). These are beautiful programs; you (and your youngsters)
will be very pleased with them!
There's also a new version of a handy DareWare utility that allows you to play
all kinds of SOUND FILES on an IBM-compatible (VOC, WAV, CMF and MIDI)
automatically from an installed Sound Blaster-compatible card OR the PC
SPEAKER. PLAY v1.2 works from a DOS prompt where, after you put it in your
path, you simply type the name of the music files you want to hear after the
PLAY command -- you can use wild cards to hear a bunch of music files in
sequence.
*********************************
Number: 985 Name: SPANISH1.ZIP
Address: MULTIMEDIA Date: 940403
Approximate # of bytes: 1176576
Number of Accesses: 2 Library: 3
Description:
TALKING SPANISH will teach your child how to say early words, learn the
alphabet, read, spell words and much much more! You can record your voice and
add it to this package. You can also change the spelling words. EGA/VGA
Graphic, Hard Drive and Sound Board (Sound Blaster, PRO Audio 16 or Compatible)
are required.
*********************************
Number: 986 Name: 123TALK3.ZIP
Address: MULTIMEDIA Date: 940407
Approximate # of bytes: 265984
Number of Accesses: 1 Library: 3
Description:
This is a great educational game for kids 1-8 years! It's DareWare's Shareware
123-TALK v3.0 that features Talking numbers, counting and math. 123-TALK is a
TALKING educational package to help teach your child counting and basic math.
The speech output will play through the PC SPEAKER (excellent quality). Lead
your child into the next century with 123-TALK. For a SOUND BOARD version of
this program see File 987 SB123.ZIP in this library. Requires IBM-compatible,
VGA.
*********************************
Number: 987 Name: 123SB.ZIP
Address: MULTIMEDIA Date: 940407
Approximate # of bytes: 449792
Number of Accesses: 1 Library: 3
Description:
This is a great educational game for kids 1-8 years! It's DareWare's Shareware
123-TALK v3.0 that features Talking numbers, counting and math. 123-TALK is a
TALKING educational package to help teach your child counting and basic math.
The speech output plays through SOUND BOARDS (SB-compatible) and is just great!
You can even record and add YOUR OWN VOICE. [For a PC SPEAKER version of this
fine multimedia program, see File 986 123TALK3.ZIP in this Library.) Requires
IBM-compatible, VGA.
*********************************
Number: 988 Name: PLAY12.ZIP
Address: P.HERRINGTON Date: 940407
Approximate # of bytes: 50688
Number of Accesses: 1 Library: 3
Description:
PLAY v1.2, shareware from DareWare, will play VOC, WAV, CMF and MIDI files on
your Sound Blaster-compatible SOUND BOARD or the PC SPEAKER if you don't have a
sound board installed. Put PLAY in your path and use it from the DOS prompt to
play music files using wild cards (for example, PLAY *.CMF or PLAY *.VOC). This
is a MUST HAVE utility if you want to PLAY music files easily. Requires
IBM-compatible and DOS.
-*-
_____________________________ ATTENTION ____________________________
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| From Cyberspace Report Weekly by the Multimedia |
| RoundTable on GEnie. Reprinted by permission. |
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