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Miggybyte 9
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Miggybyte 9.adf
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MB_33.TXT
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1996-10-06
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74 lines
Amiga <-> VisCORP ? Now what?
Well VisCORP should be conferming their purchase of the Amiga any day now
and many of you have been asking what they intend to do with it.
One thing for sure is they do intend to market a set-top box utilizing
the Amiga hardware and OS. But what is this set top box? Read on....
-------- LEACHED FROM THE VisCORP WWW PAGE --------
The ED (Electronic Device)
The ED is a sophisticated cable set-top appliance. The device is,
essentially, a highly cost-optimized computer that includes graphical,
simple-to-use interfaces which can be remotely configured from a host
operating system. It is designed to be placed on top of or next to a
television set and connect directly to a standard telephone jack either
through a conventional telephone wire or through wireless Radio Frequency
(RF) connectivity.
It uses a consumer's standard TV set as a monitor and presents text and
graphics using specially configured fonts so that it is readable at
normal viewing distances (i.e., text and graphics are presented in
proportional fonts up to 60 columns): each device can also overlay
graphics and text on the television picture or bring up a solid
background to facilitate information viewing. It comes equipped with a
modem, video and audio circuitry, and a controller.
The ED permits consumers to perform a variety of functions and access a
number of on-line interactive services which VIScorp expects to make
available in the future including fax capability, E-mail, videogames,
home shopping and educational programs. The majority of the interactive
services that it will deliver are either not widely available for home TV
or available only on high-powered multimedia PCs with modems. VIScorp's
Internet and set-top devices can be sold at less than the price of a PC
-- while providing entirely new functionalities (e.g., advanced telephone
management services) not available on a PC.
The ED appliance offers all the functions and features of the UITI, but
includes a number of unique, value-added features which add to its
potential appeal to average TV viewers. These include:
A built-in magnetic card stripe reader so that credit or debit cards may
be swiped to confirm transactions. To enhance performance, the debit
card may be filled with electronic funds drawn on the users bank.
A built-in interactive on-screen program guide with one week of TV
programming mapped to the local area or cable operator; the device also
provides for parental control that enables the screening-out of unwanted
programming.
The ability to enable the viewer TV set to function as an executive-style
speaker telephone with one-touch on-screen dialing so that calls may be
placed from the living room couch with a remote control. In locations
where caller ID is available, the ED can scan the incoming call and check
the number against a database. If it recognizes the number, the ED
scrolls the name of the incoming caller across the TV picture and the
viewer may answer the call and speak to the person with a press of a
button on the remote control.
-------- END OF LEACH FROM THE VisCORP WWW PAGE --------
There is also talk of a new range of Amiga's from VisCORP and PIOS is
still planning on an Power Amiga. Phase 5 hope to release Powercards for
existing Amiga's.
I hope to bring you more on this by next issue so watch that dial?
END
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