Acorn Sets the Pace for Multimedia Performance

Previews MPEG and Video CD compatibility at IL'94

Cambridge, UK. 12 August, 1994

Acorn Computers, the leading provider of computers to UK schools and number one supplier of low cost 32 bit RISC based personal computers, today previewed the enhanced version of its powerful Replay application at the Interactive Learning Show '94. Acorn Replay has been available as a successful Full Motion Video product since 1992 and has been enhanced to include MPEG capability as part of Acorn's commitment to the integration of proprietary and industry standards.

Peter Bondar, Product Marketing Manager at Acorn Computers, comments:

"Advanced multimedia capability has been a priority for Acorn since the first multimedia project in this country, The Domesday Project, in 1984. In addition to the exceptional video and graphics capability announced at the launch of the Risc PC in April, users can now benefit from a further selection of video formats, including Video CD. Existing users of applications which understand Replay will now have access to MPEG-quality video. For anyone who wants to be at the leading edge of multimedia performance, the MPEG-enabled Risc PC is now the product of choice."
Mike O'Riordan, Sales and Marketing Director at Acorn Computers, comments:
"Acorn Replay has dominated the multimedia market in schools through its power and its usability. The addition of MPEG functionality is part of a continuing commitment by Acorn Computers to enhance Full Motion Video capability. MPEG will allow schools to take advantage of the increased amount of TV-quality video contained in CD-ROM and other software. Multimedia authors will provide a new generation of interactive multimedia applications."
The new version of Acorn Replay has been developed in a partnership between Acorn, leading hardware developer Wild Vision and Anglia Television. This is the first example of technology developed by Online Media being incorporated into Acorn's main line of computer products.

Anglia Television is one of the developers updating existing multimedia CD-ROM titles to allow them to run in both MPEG and Replay modes. These disks will render full and quarter-screen Replay movies into the desktop if no MPEG hardware is present and will render MPEG equivalents if the MPEG card is present. The selection and use of video formats will be transparent to the user.

Founded in 1978, with 1993 revenues of £54.3m, Acorn Computers is the premier supplier of IT solutions to UK education and has been the leading provider of 32-bit RISC based personal computers since 1987. Acorn works closely with a strong community of industry partners, users and software developers to provide innovative technology solutions for the education, consumer, publishing and international markets.

The Acorn Computer Group is a holding company for Acorn Computers Limited, Acorn Australia, Acorn New Zealand, Acorn GmbH and Online Media. Acorn Computer Group owns 43% of ARM Ltd. Online Media, a division of the Acorn Computer Group, was launched in 1994 with the mission to design world class, interactive multimedia products.

© 1995 Acorn Computer Group plc.