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1991-01-27
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Source: The Word from Microsoft - January/February 1991
-------- - Canadian Edition
Multimedia Comes to Windows
Microsoft Corporation has announced its Multimedia Development Kit, a
set of systems software and development tools for creating multimedia
titles and applications for the Microsoft(r) Windows(TM) multimedia
environment.
These titles and applications will run on multimedia PCs that have
been enhanced to meet the hardware and software specifications agreed
to by major OEMs. 1 'he kit is now #vailable in beta form to
registered software vendors, with general availability in the fi#t
half of I 99 I. The announcement was made at Microsoft's first
Multimedia Developers Conference.
"Multimedia computing provides exciting opportunities for applications
developers,'. said Bill Gates, Microsoft chairman and CEO. "This kit
lets developers use C - or a high-level authoring tool such as
ToolBook@. Guide or Authorware - to huild titles and applications that
are richer and more engaging than anything availahle today. And with
the phenomenal success of the Windows environment and the solid OEM
commitment to the multimedia platform, they'll have a strong potential
market for their applications."
How Multimedia Applications Differ from Traditional Applications:
Developing a multimedia title or application is different from
developing a traditional application in that multimedia development
typically involves preparation of a significant amount of content,
plus large audio. visual and animated files. in a traditional
spreadsheet application, for example, the developer would supply the
spreadsheet engine and the spreadsheet user would supply the content.
But a developer working on a multimedia encyclopedia would have to
supply the encyclopedia text, such components as pictures or vocal
pronunciations, and an engine that allows the user to interact with
it. Content preparation involves not only converting text and
graphics to electronic form, hut also such tasks as capturing or
composing vocal segments or composing music, scanning in images, and
electronically correcting the colors.
What the Multimedia Development Kit Includes:
The Multimedia Development Kit can be used whether the developer is
building a multimedia title from published content or adding
multimedia components to an existing software application. Developers
use the Multimedia Development Kit in conjunction with a high-level
authoring tool or a standard C programming environment to build their
applications.
The Kit Contains:
* Multimedia content and data preparation
tools to assist in such tasks as audio manipulation, image
manipulation and conversion of audio and image formats
* Tools for software development, including link libraries, include
files and sample source code
* Extensive documentation for use hy all types of developers
including:
* Multimedia Authoring Guide. a step-hystep guide to developing
multimedia titles from start to finish
* Tools Directory, a list of third-party tools available and
explanations of how they are used
* Data Preparation Tools User's Guide, a guide to using the data
preparation too s
* Multimedia Programmer's Workh#ok, a multimedia programming overview
expla ning the architecture of a multimedia title
* Multimedia Programmers Reference, a guide that provides detailed
explanations of the multimedia APIs
Compatible with IBM/Microsoft Multimedia Specifications:
The Multimedia Development Kit is compatible with multimedia
specifications disseminated recently by IBM and Microsoft. These
specifications address developers needs for common data file for
mats and applications programming interfaces (APIs) across various
operating systems, ensuring more straightforward development of
multimedia applications for multiple platforms.
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