Acorn News - Acorn Brings Multi-Platform Functionality To CeBIT '95 (PR88/15.2.95)

Acorn Brings Multi-Platform Functionality To CeBIT '95

Dual processor technology bridges RISC and CISC worlds

CeBIT: Stand D08 Ground Floor Hall 9

15 February, 1995

Acorn Computers, the world's first supplier of low-cost 32 bit RISC computers, will be presenting an extensive range of new technology at CeBIT '95. As well as RISC OS, Acorn's own multitasking 32 bit operating system, Acorn will demonstrate Risc PCs running Windows '95 for the first time, its new networking strategy, low-cost Internet access, multimedia authoring on the desktop and some of the latest developments in interactive television.

Multimedia

Demonstrators on the Acorn stand will be showing the multimedia power of the Risc PC and will be helping visitors to create their own multimedia applications. The Risc PC, launched in April 1994, is capable of extremely fast graphics and video performance due to the speed of the RISC-based ARM central processor. MPEG-quality Full Motion Video will also be accessed via Acorn Replay software and a Movie Magic card from Computer Concepts. There will also be an 'Artist-in-residence' on the Acorn stand, creating multimedia presentations on-screen as well as printing colour posters on an A0 printer.

The Acorn Risc PC 16-bit Sound Upgrade allowing high quality stereo sound will also be on display as will the Acorn 300i, a double speed CD ROM drive for the Risc PC supporting Kodak Photo CD and offering full MPC compatibility.

Networks

Acorn will be demonstrating the new Acorn Universal Networking (AUN) strategy and in particular, its innovative networking technology, OmniClient. This software connects Acorn computers to Windows NT and UNIX networks. Acorn users will be able to view and manipulate files created on a PC in the RISC OS environment they are familiar with and vice versa. This is possible as information is stored on the server in the native format applicable to the host operating system.

Bob Coates, International Sales and Marketing Manager at Acorn Computers, comments: "CeBIT '95 will see Acorn demonstrate innovative multimedia performance and authoring, some of the latest developments in interactive television and the advent of easy networking of incompatible computers. Flexibility and choice are key elements of Acorn's computing philosophy. Acorn's Universal Networking (AUN) strategy conforms exactly to these priorities and is expected to set standards in 'plug and play' proprietary networking for the 21st century."

Online services

Interactive set-top box technology from Online Media, a division of the Acorn Computer Group which was launched in July 1994, will also be on display. Demonstrations from its Cambridge Trial, believed to be the world's first interactive TV trials solely using end-to-end ATM technology, will showcase the possibilities soon to be available for the home and education.

Coates feels that the speed and ease of use in creating multimedia applications using a Risc PC will have significant implications for Online Media's set-top boxes. "It is clear that once multimedia as both a concept and a day-to-day reality has been established, users will increasingly want to create their own applications rather than merely observe someone else's ideas. Put simply, the Risc PC currently delivers excellent multimedia performance. In the world of interactive TV, Online Media will use this technological excellence to deliver the same level of multimedia performance in a new and exciting environment."

The Internet

InterTalk, Acorn's latest Internet product, will be on display at CeBIT '95 allowing Acorn computer users to access and download text-based information, graphics and Full Motion Video from the Internet, browse global bulletin boards and send and receive messages to and from Internet users world-wide. Users can also send internal electronic mail messages to other users on a business-wide network and create internal bulletin boards. InterTalk has been designed using standard protocols, enabling maximum communication with PCs and Macs via the Internet.

Coates continues:

"Low-cost Internet access is of increasing importance to home and business users. InterTalk will enable them to access the vast amount of information available on the Internet. With more and more information available, controlling access to unsuitable data has to be considered. Acorn has designed InterTalk so that a parent, teacher, IT manager or network administrator can prevent specified users gaining access to certain services by using password protection facilities."

Commodore and Atari Users

To provide Commodore users with a viable upgrade path, Acorn will be announcing at CeBIT '95 an incentive scheme for them to trade up from Amiga products to Acorn Risc PCs. Acorn will also be hosting a series of one-to-one briefings with key developers who are interested in developing on the Acorn platform. To help those with software skills transfer software to the Acorn range, Acorn will also be showing its latest development tools which will include C / C++, Toolbox and a prototype Atari software simulator from German-based Layout Services.

Founded in 1978, with 1993 revenues of 54.3m, Acorn Computers is a leading provider of IT to UK education and was the first supplier of low-cost 32-bit RISC based personal computers in 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.

Acorn Computer Group plc is the holding company for Acorn Computers Limited, Acorn Australia, Acorn New Zealand, Acorn GmbH and Online Media. Acorn Computer Group owns 43% of Advanced RISC Machines Ltd. Online Media, a division of the Acorn Computer Group, was launched in 1994 with the objective to design interactive multimedia products.

* MPEG (Motion Pictures Expert Group) is a scheme which allows video and audio signals to be encoded and decoded using highly efficient digital reduction or compression techniques.