4/5/99
BILL FERSTER’S VIDEOGRAPHICS NEWSWIRE
ISSUE 99-9
ABOUT THIS NEWSWIRE
Bill Ferster’s VideoGraphics NewsWire is published bi-weekly and summarizes the important events in the convergent worlds of multimedia, video, animation, chips, mass storage and computers.
Please feel free to forward this NewsWire to someone who might appreciate an item, or heaven forbid, might want to subscribe to it. Please refrain, however, from continually mailing it to others on a regular basis. You can visit my website for more information, as well as read and search past issues of this NewsWire, at http:/www.stagetools.com/bill.
BUSINESS
---> JPA Set-Top Market Data
I've been clamoring for some new data from the graphics market research firm John Peddie Associates (http://www.jpa.com) for weeks now. In a report called the "Digital Entertainment Box Study," JPA predict that the installed base of cable and set-top boxes to will reach 104M units by the year 2001. There will also be 104M game consoles, 149M entertainment PCs, 31M DVD players, 1.5M Internet TV's, and less than 1M digital TVs by that same time.
---> SGI Predicts Bad Quarter
Ailing workstation maker Silicon Graphics (http://www.sgi.com) expects to have a loss on $600M in revenue this quarter. SGI claims their new NT-based workstation is getting good marks, but word on the street is that its overall performance is disappointing.
CHIPS
---> New Artificial Eye Chip
EE Times http://www.techweb.com/se/directlink.cgi?EET19990405S0067) reported that a Johns Hopkins researcher has created a neural-net based chip that mimics the biology of the human eye in its ability to track shapes and filter imagery. The "smart eye" chip uses bipolar arrays of transistors as photosensitive pixels, which are matrixed analogly to perform low resolution shape tracking. Potential uses are robotics vision, inspection systems, and teleconferencing talking head tracking.
---> New Wavelet Chip
Looking to compete with longtime wavelet Chip manufacturer Aware, Kallix (http://www.kallix.com) is applying wavelet technology to this three business with its "DMS-100" digital security management system. The product claims 100:1 compression at higher qualities than JPEG.
---> SGI Reaffirms MIPS Road Map
Allaying some fears by developers that the MIPS processor was not long for this world, workstation maker Silicon Graphics (http://www.sgi.com) following plans to spin-off the unit, SGI announced a robust product plan for the next two years. The list included features such as faster speeds and shrinks of the R10000 IP core, primarily for the embedded marketplace.
BROADCAST / POST
---> Accom Intro's Lower-Cost NT Virtual Set
Leading video equipment maker Accom (http://www.accom.com) will show off a new NT-based virtual set at NAB with a lower price point than their other well-regarded, but prohibitively-expensive ELSET line of virtual sets. Their "ELSETLive-NT" shares features with their SGI-based brethren, such as live video I/O, Distance Key, Infinite Blue Box, and live textured panels. Sets are created in Kinetics’ popular 3D Studio MAX 3D modeling and animation package.
---> Inscriber Makes Deal with NBC
Leading CG manufacturer Inscriber (http://www.inscriber.com) announced that it is in a deal with broadcaster NBC to produce a new video insertion system to be used by NBC and their affiliates. The "NameDropper XL system" uses industry standard graphics formats to insert call letters, logos and IDs into a network promotion or program, and will support HDTV and SDI video formats.
---> First HD-Electronic-Cinema Release
Proving that it's not only George Lucas that's interested in Digital projection of feature films, Steve Katz of Pitch Studios in NY's all Digital feature, "Protest" will kickoff the first feature film distributed without celluloid, "The Last Broadcast".
---> AltaVista Adds Media Search
Popular Internet search site AltaVista (http://www.altavista.com) has added technology to make searching for multimedia easier. Their "AV Photo & Media Finder" delivers thumbnail sketches with short descriptions of multimedia resources, ranked by relevance and importance.
---> StageTools Announces New Pan and Zoom Product
StageTools (aka, me) announced a new product for making real-time pans and zooms on high-resolution still images. "MovingPicture" uses the OpenGL rendering standard to allow producers, directors and editors the ability to create smooth, high quality pans and zooms on images up to 4,000 by 4,000 in resolution. MovingPicture is priced at $495 and is available for Windows computers. An evaluation copy can downloaded at: (http://www.stagetools.com)
BOOKS
---> The Pattern on the Stone by Danny Hillis
Parallel computing pioneer, Thinking Machines founder, and head of Disney's Imagineering Works has written a book that explains the abstract foundations of how computers work in an enjoyable, enlightening and easy to read manner. Using examples ranging from tic-tac-toe to Tinker Toys, Hillis makes it clear how the basics of computer intelligence are based on simple abstracted concepts that are independent of their physical realities. (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0465025951/stagetoolscom)
---
SUBSCRIPTIONS
Bill Ferster’s VideoGraphics NewsWire is published weekly and summarizes the important events in the convergent worlds of multimedia, video, animation, chips, mass storage and computers.
The cost is $49 per quarter billed to your MasterCard, Visa or American Express card. You may cancel anytime you like for a pro-rated refund. I regret that the administrative billing overhead prohibits me from accepting checks and purchase orders. Corporate site licenses can be negotiated. Students, Schools and other educational facilities may receive the NewsWire at no charge.
---
CYA DISCLAIMER: The preceding NewsWire represents my best efforts to gather the facts and the offering of my opinions. Although I try to describe the world as it appears me, I make no representations as to the accuracy of the reports within, which are gleaned from press releases, print and online magazines and the Inquisit Information Service.
