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OS/2 Shareware BBS: 16 Announce
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1994-10-03
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{Press Release} IBM to Offer Extensive Multimedia Technology in
New OS/2
AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 27, 1994 . . . IBM today announced that
the next version of OS/2*, code-named Warp, will include
high-performance multimedia support designed to make it easy for
users to transform their computers into televisions, store and
view their favorite photos, and host live video teleconferences
with friends and colleagues.
The multimedia features that will optimize the end user
experience include Eastman Kodak**Photo CD support, Person to
Person* for OS/2, a multimedia viewer, WIN/TV card support,
additional audio device drivers, Ultimedia Video IN* for OS/2,
and industry-leading audio/video synchronization and stretching
technology. The combined multimedia capabilities will make OS/2
the ideal operating system environment for CD-ROM-based
educational programs and games.
IBM also announced that it has included MPEG support, a
single DIVE API, built-in autodesk animation playback support and
compressed audio support, so that the new OS/2 will offer a
compelling development environment for next-generation multimedia
applications.
"We expect the multimedia features in Warp to be a big hit
in the booming home office and edutainment markets," said Wally
Casey, director of marketing, IBM Personal Software Products
division. "OS/2's multimedia capabilities will change the way
people use their computers. For example, you will be able to have
your daughter's birthday pictures developed on a Kodak Photo CD
and send them electronically on OS/2 to family members across the
country via Warp's Internet features."
Optimizing the End User Experience
Eastman Kodak Photo CD Technology
IBM will incorporate Kodak's Photo CD technology in Warp to
allow OS/2 users to store and view high-resolution color images
and photographs developed on Kodak Photo CDs. The ability to
view these images will make OS/2 an attractive program for the
creation of business presentations, newsletters and other
documents, as well as for commercial multimedia programs for
kiosks, sales, education and training. When the next version
ships, OS/2 will be the first PC operating system to be Photo
CD-enabled without additional software requirements.
Person to Person for OS/2 Makes Collaborative Computing Easy
Person to Person, IBM's real-time conferencing software, has
been integrated in the Warp BonusPak. Person to Person allows up
to eight people to work together on a single document, sharing
suggestions and writing or drawing comments on the document on
their PCs. Without leaving their desks, users can achieve the
same level of efficiency, personal interaction and productivity
associated with traditional working sessions, saving time and
reducing unnecessary business travel costs. By adding video
cameras and an ActionMedia II adapter, users can host live
teleconferences over existing networks.
Browse Images with the Multimedia Viewer
The Warp BonusPak will include a multimedia viewer that will
allow users to browse images, audio files, animation, and video
clips. Multimedia objects are shown with "thumbnails", or
miniature pictures, as if they were slides on a photographer's
light table. The multimedia viewer is an extension of OS2's
Workplace Shell* that gives the user freedom to display or play
an object by simply double clicking on it with a mouse. The
multimedia viewer allows users to view popular image formats such
as GIF, TIFF, Targa and PCX. Many of the formats are found on
online services such as CompuServe and Internet.
Use the PC Like a TV With Warp Multimedia
Warp will support popular video overlay cards, including the
WIN/TV card from Hauppauge Computer Works, Inc. that allows users
to turn their computers into televisions. With the preemptive
multitasking power of OS/2, a fully-scalable TV screen can run in
the foreground or background while users work on other
applications. Device driver support for other popular video
overlay adapters will also be included in Warp.
Capture, Clip and Play Synchronized Video and Audio
with Video IN for OS/2
Ultimedia Video IN for OS/2, IBM's award-winning digital
video technology, will be included in the Warp BonusPak. With
Video IN, OS/2 users can use a video recorder to capture their
favorite videos and images from a camcorder or other devices and
incorporate them in presentations using IBM's Ultimotion* and
Intel's Indeo** formats. Video IN for OS/2 complements the
integrated multimedia capabilities of OS/2, including its
advanced synchronization and streaming capabilities and the
ability to play and record Ultimotion and Indeo Audio Video
Interleaved (AVI) clips. Video IN for OS/2 will be particularly
useful to the educational community, which can use the technology
to help create a wide range of CD-ROM titles and multimedia
applications that can be used as teaching tools.
More Audio Device Drivers Added to Warp
New audio support has been added to Warp including Compaq
Business Audio, Toshiba Business Audio, Analog Devices Audio,
Aztech Sound Galaxy Nova 16, ESS 688 AudioDrive, Media Vision
Jazz16, Creative LabsAWE 32 drivers and Crystal Semi-Conductor
audio support for the IBM ThinkPad* and other mobile computers.
The next version of OS/2 will support more than 80 percent of the
audio devices on the PC market.
Creating a Compelling Development Environment
MPEG Digital Video Support
Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG) support has been added
to Warp through Sigma Designs' ReelMagic** MPEG multimedia
playback adapter. The support will allow multimedia developers
to create OS/2 applications that offer full-motion, full-screen,
full-color video and CD-quality digital stereo sound from a
single-speed CD-ROM. MPEG support in OS/2 will also allow users
to view movies and television shows created in the emerging
cross-platform VideoCD standard.
Enhancements to OS/2 Digital Video and Games Graphics
The Direct Interface Video Extensions (DIVE) API in Warp
gives OS/2 applications direct access to the PC video hardware,
enabling them to generate high-speed graphics needed for today's
advanced multimedia software. The DIVE graphics interface allows
powerful, high-speed games and digital video applications to use
a single high-speed API for stretching, clipping and color
conversion.
Built-in Autodesk Animation Playback Support
The built-in autodesk animator playback support in Warp
allows users to view video animation files developed using the
Autodesk .FLI and .FLC animation file formats. These formats are
recognized as the industry standard for animation on personal
computers. Sound effects can be added to these files to enhance
playback.
Compressed Audio Support
The next version of OS/2 will have built-in software support
for the industry standard Interactive Multimedia Association
ADPCM and Microsoft ADPCM formats. These formats reduce the
amount of disk space required to store audio content and make it
easier to send and receive voice files over networks. Now audio
files take up to 75 percent less disk space without the need for
additional hardware device support. IBM is also extending this
capability in Warp to reduce the disk space needed for AVI files
to be stored and played back in OS/2.
The new OS/2 will combine the performance and reliability of
the 32-bit OS/2 environment with mobility and productivity
features, such as simplified installation, reduced memory
requirements, a BonusPak of productivity applications, Internet
access, LaunchPad and a more responsive user interface. The new
OS/2 will allow OS/2, Windows 3.1, Windows 3.11, Windows for
Workgroups** 3.1, and DOS applications to run on the same
desktop.
###
* Indicates trademark or registered trademark of International
Business Machines Corporation.
** Indicates trademark or registered trademark of Sigma Designs
and Microsoft Corporation.