By: Tina Hackett By: Tina HackettGilles Bourdin, PR Manager for Amiga Technologies explained: "We have changed Mother companies because of the financial position of Escom. They were not in a position to hold Amiga Technologies and so we have a found a company that are more development-orientated - an Amiga orientated company." When asked whether this is definite he commented: "We are quite sure this is going to happen." In January, Escom posted losses of 72 DM million and in March they revised that to 125 DM Million.
Although primarily the acquisition is to give VIScorp full access to Amiga Technology for its set-top box, they have stated that support of the A1200 and A4000 will continue. Helmut Jost, now Chief Executive of Escom AG (see separate story) commented: "VIScorp anticipates the support of ongoing European sales of popular models such as the A4000T and the A1200 as well as the current developments and future releases of Amiga Technologies."
At the press conference at the World of Amiga show, they outlined their plans further. William Buck, VIScorp's CEO, commented on the rumoured offer of $40 million when Escom bought Amiga Technologies for only $10 million, "People are saying that these guys are crazy...remember though that money was spent subsequently. What we are buying is an asset. An asset that involves the inventory of finished goods, inventory of components which we can use to do what was being done but we can also use them to do what we want to do. Plus we're getting the intellectual properties. We think we're getting a great deal." VIScorp were present at the original auction for Commodore.
Petro Tyschtschenko offered: "This procedure is not affecting our day to day business, on-going projects, or my position as president of the company."
It was also stated that the distribution deal already in place with Escom when the original licensing agreement was signed was still in place. The preposed time scale for development is projected to be the end of 1996 for Universal Internet Television Interface for the US and the UK and the full set-top box with genlock and card-swipe for 1997. We'll bring you a full report of World of Amiga and more on the VIScorp deal next month.
Manfred Schmitt, Escom's CEO, has quit the board and has been replaced by Helmut Jost. The Supervisory Board accepted Schmitt's decision and he left his position on 31 March. However, he is still with the company in the role of consultant.
Jost has been head of IBM's German PC business since November but previous to that he was Managing Director of Commodore GmbH and Vice President International. In 1993 he accepted a post on the board of ESCOM AG where he was responsible for the Sales and Marketing functions and for the management of subsidiaries.
Amiga Computing spoke to Gilles Bourdin, PR Manager for the company, about the recent events. He confirmed Schmitt had quit the Board but contrary to current rumours, he denied that Petro Tyschtschenko was also leaving.
More news from Amiga Technologies this month is that the Internet pack is finally ready. According to Bourdin, the software and the modem are finished, and the delay was put down to the fact that each country needed a different modem and because the Telecom agreements varied between each country.
Newtek took the opportunity given them at NAB to announce the latest version of Lightwave. The best news is that Modeler is to receive a much needed update with tools to bring it in line with the current range of state of the art CGI programs. Modeler has been neglected in comparison to Layout, with only Metaform being of any note as an update in recent revisons. Lightwave 5 is set to change all that with several new ground-breaking features. Firstly, there is MetaNurbs, and Lightwave is the first product with this feature. It breaks the barrier between spline-based modelling and traditional polygons by automating the transition between the two. Another feature much loved by 3D Studio users is MetaBalls which will be included directly in Modeler (rather than having to be a plug-in, as in 3D Studio). MetaBalls is a system that is fairly hard to explain in a few words, but allows for the kind of 'globby' effects as seen in the Organics advert on television.
In addition to over 100 new features for both Layout and Modeler Lightwave 5 also promises full integration with OpenGL a graphics system for realtime shaded views in Layout, and, presumably (they didn't say on the press release), Modeler. But where will that leave Amiga owners who won't have access to OpenGL? Newtek don't say, but the PC version will be the first available, with Alpha, MIPS and SGI to follow. The pricing will be $1495 for the full version, and upgrades will cost $495 from any previous version.
Hannover was overrun with visitors and public transport was absolutely mobbed. Exhibitors were extremely pleased with the event and 89 per cent indicated that they would be participating at the next fair in '97. The dates for next years CeBIT fair are the 13-19 March 1997.
A new full-screen Effects system has also been incorporated and provides many new effects that you can apply to a complete image or a masked area. You can write your own effects but those included are Radial Blur, Warp, 3D Rotate and 32-bit Fractal generator. Another new feature is their Virtual Buffers which means you can work with images larger than your memory will allow. Almathera claim this is 'unique' because it allows this without the speed loss usually associated with virtual memory programs. Hypertext On-line help is provided on the CD-ROM in HTML format, and a Web browser is also included. The price is expected to be around £99.95.
Almathera can be contacted on 0181-687 0040. or e-mail almathera@cix.compulink.co.uk
Zoo Internet claim to be different because unlike other ISPs, they have set up the network first and will then get the subscribers rather than the other way round. This has caused problems for other ISPs in the past such as access congestion. Zoo Internet also offer their Founder Members a discussion forum with senior Zoo personnel, newsletters and financial incentives to get new members. For more information go to http://www.zoo.net.uk or telephone 0345 326326.
Despite rapid growth of the Internet, security was cited as a main concern with 43 per cent saying that they would not be able to detect someone hacking into their system through the Internet. Seventy-one per cent would consider using the Internet though if security improved.
EMC state that the CD contains a large number of fonts, music modules and sound samples that will be suitable for commercial presentations. As well as this, the CD contains 300 megabytes of professionally designed backgrounds covering such diverse subjects as weddings and technology, and a wide variety of backgrounds are available too such as marble, fabric and stone. The CD also contains countdown animations, on screen timers, multimedia buttons and testcards so that very professional looking presentations can be created.
The EMC Phase4 Desktop Video Dreams CD is available for £39.99 + p&p. Contact them on 01255 431389
Virtuality KK expect to make massive profits on the motorbike simulator as the market is estimated to be about US $50 million and the only other company known to be working on a bike simulator is Honda
The real advantage of the simulator is the fact that it can allow student drivers to drive in hazardous conditions without fear of injury. Dangers such as difficult weather conditions, busy roads, and pedestrians walking out in front of them will enable them to experience the worst they could expect to come across on the open road, and to learn from their experiences.
Rather than use a flat screen, the simulator makes use of a 'Visette' Head Mounted Display through which the student sees detailed real time 3D graphics. According to Mr Terushisa Tajima, HMD is used because "...it is the only way to ensure that students turn their heads left and right before they make a turn at an intersection."
India's broadcasting industry is flourishing after the privatisation of channels and the arrival of the international networks in India. With 80 channels expected to exist in India within the next year, it is thought that the Indian broadcasting industry will require over 1,000,000 hours of TV programmes per year. Such a huge boom in the broadcasting business means India currently needs 50 times more hardware and technology for its existing and new facilities, making one of the largest markets for broadcast hardware and also computer software.
Anybody interested should contact Saicom Trade Fairs & Exhibitions PVT. Ltd at phone: (91-92) 2151396, 2152721 or fax: (91-92) 2151269
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