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Thursday, January 29, 1998
Reality News Is Updated Every Monday And Thursday
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News Index Power Express - The Aftermath Apple Invests In Multimedia Chipset! PowerBook XXX Update The PowerBook XXX: A Reality? 350MHz, 500MHz and 1.1GHz PowerPC Chips Rhapsody & Allegro: In Low Key Mode? This Week's Apple News Allegro- Late Breaking Info, Images Follow-up Netscape 5.0 Sneak Preview Return To Reality |
Apple Invests In Multimedia Chipset!
Over the course of the past 2 weeks, Reality has been exposed to the rumors circulating around the future G3 machines and the multimedia leap Apple plans to make with their introduction. According to a single, yet very reliable source with great contacts in an electronic-distribution-corportation, Apple has already made a significant purchase from Philips TriMedia.
According to our source, a Sales representative and FAE from Philips Semiconductor recently visited this electronic-distribution facility to advocate some new material along with the TriMedia chipset. During the presentation of the TriMedia material, the rep mentioned that Apple was buying these TriMedia chips in enormous quantities right now. And to quote our source, "They said the amount being purchased by Apple was much TOO big for being a develop and or test batch". In other words, unless something drastic happens, we will be seeing the TriMedia Programmable Media Processor included in future graphic cards/systems from Apple.
The TriMedia chipset will provide for the higher levels of processor performance needed for realistic emulation of sight, sound, and speech. Specifically, the TriMedia chipset concurrently processes audio, video, graphics, and communications data for a true-to-life multimedia experience by delivering up to four billion operations per second. It contains a highly optimized VLIW central processor and on-chip audio, video and graphics I/O and accelerator peripherals. The chip contains a 132 MB/second PCI bus interface and a memory subsystem. On top of this, an integrated software development environment facilitates program creation in standard ANSI C and C++.
Right now, it is uncertain how Apple will plan to integrate the chips (Current architecture? Alongside Gossamer II logicboards? Graphics cards?). However, as far as we have confirmed, it is a done deal! We should see their presence in high-end multimedia machines around the fourth quater, judging from the massive order of chips which has already occured.
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Thanks to a number of connected viewers, we now have some new information on the PowerBook XXX, otherwise known as "Hollywood". Apparently, quite a few rumors state the project was dead in early 1996. This could never have been the case since it was first revealed in May of 97. And second of all, it wasn't a formal project, rather a design study. The two pictures we originaly though were from an overseas expo appear to have been taken in Cupertino at the May 97 product briefing for the AppleMasters group. All of the futuristic gear shown at the breifing were non-working plastic mockups that were part of a design study supervised by Jonathan Ives, Apple's head of industrial design.
Apple embarks on design studies every few years and this was merely a product of one of them. Once reader states "We were told that the product might be difficult to actually manufacture because of the wireless transmission issues." The whole concept sounds too good to be true, which leads us to believe The PowerBookXXX will probably never see the light of day. However, Apple, I urge you to try.
Our second image, posted along with the PowerBook XXX shot is apparently the screen module for Apple's new Flexible Display which is under development. Unlike the PowerBook XXX, this piece of hardware is expected to ship some time in the near future.
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Back in October, we covered a story on the PowerBook XXX, a series of next generation PowerBooks in the development and design process. We also showed you some images, which later appeared in a supplement of MacUser. Since then, there has been a lot of controversy over these PowerBooks. It was also questioned whether or not the original images were high tech markup graphics or actual images. So finally, we have some feedback for you. One of the two models (shown below) in the PowerBook XXX has undoubtedly been seen overseas in a prototype casing (see below).
The PowerBook XXX
Welcome to Reality
Below, you'll see an image of the PowerBook XXX high-end notebook on display at an expo of unknown origin. As you may notice, the Active Matrix screen detaches from the paper thin keyboard. The computer and its components are actually mounted behind the screen, not underneath the keyboard as in today's models. When the screen and keyboard components are detached, communication from the keyboard to the screen module relies on a wireless radio transceiver. This remote control operation reportedly works from any angle, ideal for company presentations and surfing the web in bed.
The PowerBook XXX Prototype On DisplayThe 14" active matrix screen module actually switches orientation when it is turned vertically or horizontally from its original position. Define innovation? "Sorry, the definition is currently being rewritten." A second image shows another form of a detachable display module, which we have very little details on.
In any event, the PowerBook XXX is a valiant effort at the future of portables. And if you ask me, it's damn right amazing. I don't think we'll be seeing these machines any time soon, but at least we know there is an effort being made to bring them to the people. If we obtain any details we will be happy to let you know, but right now...there isn't much to ramble about. If you have any further details, send them in.
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350MHz, 500MHz, and 1.1GHz PowerPC Chips
Below we have compiled information on three new PowerPC chips which are on their way in the future.
1.1 GHz PowerPC
IBM Austin Research Labs of Austin, TX will be demonstrating their 1.0GHz Single-Issue 64b PowerPC Integer Processor technology at next month's International Solid State Circuits Conference in San Francisco. The 1.1GHz PowerPC processor is said to operate at 1.1GHz from 1.8V at a temperature of 25 degrees Celsius. Here's the full description provided by IBM...."A 1M-transistor 64b single-issue processor operates to 1.1GHz from 1.8V at 25oC. The 4-stage pipeline design in 0.15um Leff 6-layer-metal CMOS, implements 96 fixed-point ALU and load/store instructions from the PowerPC set, and uses full-custom dynamic circuits and supports full at-speed scan with a divide-by-16 tester interface."
500MHz PowerPC
The IBM, Burlington, VT labs will also be demonstrating a PowerPC 750 Microprocessor in a 0.12um Leff Technology with Copper Interconnects. Part of IBM's new copper chip technology. Speeds start at 480MHz at 2.0V and 85 degrees Celsius and can top 500 depending on room temperature. Here's the full description provided by IBM...."A dual-issue 40mm2 PowerPC 750 microprocessor in dual-Vt 0.2um CMOS technology uses copper for 6 layers of interconnect, with 0.63um lowest-layer pitch. Use of copper simplifies design analysis, and results in 30% reduction in RC delays to achieve 480MHz at 2.0V and 85oC fast process, and over 500MHz at room temperature."
350MHz PowerPC
A reliable source, close to Motorola contacts, tells us that the MPC 750/400MHz will probably result in a first batch of 350MHz running at 1.8V (a mere 3.2 W max!!!). The targeted market will be the laptop market (read PowerBook). There will be samples available in Q2 and the goal is to have it available for the market in Q3/Q4. Motorola also said that the MPC 604e is still state of the art in Processor technology, but the 750 is in some way more optimized for Mac OS. However, with the 604-technology implemented to the 750 (a merger of the 604e floating point/multiprocessor technology with the G3 and it's backside cache), this would be a real kick-butt processor.
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Rhapsody & Allegro: In Low Key Mode?
Rumors, rumors, rumors. It seems as if a trend began throughout the Rhapsody mailing lists and made a sharp turn right into Reality's inbox. From the looks of things, all I can see is confusion. A growing percentage of the Macintosh community seems to think that Apple is backing off of Rhapsody while lessening the market which it will be marketed in and that is why the public promotion of the OS has stopped. Well, this is far from true. And in fact, false.
Rhapsody
The Rhapsody team is really working up a sweat. Notice the lack of developer releases. This is because they are working on the darn thing. Packing as much punch into the next build as possible, while fixing the UE to that of a Macintosh and implementing the YellowBox Finder. There's also a world to be done in the means of a volume format, I-net connectivity, and so on.
New Strategy
On top of this, Apple has implemented a new stratagy. Not just for Rhapsody, but for all of its forthcoming products. Apple executives have made it very clear that they are aiming to execute first and talk later. If they publicize Rhapsody to the fullest right now, it brings on outrageous expectations, leaks technology blurbs, and keeps customers waiting for an extended period of time, when they could possibly get fed up and move to the competition. In addition to this, it really generates nothing in the form of profit for Apple to go out and tout technologies which aren't accessible to the consumer as of yet. So you'll be seeing a lot of Apple's new strategy in the future. It's just another sign that Apple is growing up as a company.
Allegro
Allegro is another story. This is a combination of the new strategy and CIA tactics. Not Really ;) Allegro is a MacOS product and as we have said before, the MacOS technologies are being kept really low key, especially now that they are bringing power back to a once plateaued OS. Apple is aiming to make a very strong follow-up to MacOS 8.0-8.1. As you can see, it has been so well protected, even we have gotten our facts confused. But fear not. Allegro will break into the mainstream as soon as it begins seeding.
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Allegro- Late Breaking Info, Images Follow-up
The Allegro Images
In light of recent speculation of the supposed Allegro images, we were forced to make this update ahead of time. So please bare with us, as the following report may have some fragmentation. It has been brought to our attention that the original Allegro images published here and elsewhere on the net are all less than genuine It seems as if our source got the signs crossed while trying to swipe third base. (The images have now been removed for numerous reasons.)
Apparently, the images were depiction's of a possible interface to display Allegro's numerous elite features and were composed according to old builds of Copland and previously unseen versions of the MacOS. However, a little birdy, who obtains a nest within 1 Infinite Loop, has informed us that the many features portrayed in "the images" are in fact scheduled for this summers Allegro release. (Excluding Customization of Contextual Menus). This feature, if ever considered, would most likely be aimed at Rhapsody. Another very reliable source, close to highly placed executives at Apple Computer has told us the many extra UE enhancements such as animated icons and menus are in fact slated for Allegro and if they fail to make an appearance in the initial Allegro release, they will make it into the following "update". A lot relies on time constraints right now.
The New Appearance Manager
Here's a little early news on Allegro. The appearance manager will have a brand new look. Different from the images that were previously posted. According to a very reliable source, the new Appearance CDEV will now use a tabbed interface, instead of picture buttons, to switch between options. There are 7 different tabs of options; The first one dedicated to the "Color" options and the remaining 6 dealing with every aspect of themes. Right now, there will be no theme editor (not that one was expected). Users will however, be able to adjust the behavior of the Appearance.
Allegro is scheduled to ship with 4-5 themes. One of which being a very new and exciting "Architect" theme which is said to be very "clean" looking. In addition to the 4-5 Apple themes, they are reportedly looking into bundling third party frames. However this has not been confirmed.
The New, All In One, Internet Control Panel
Another major advancement in Allegro will be the new all in one Internet related control panel. Apple has finally consolidated the "Modem", "PPP" and "TCP/IP" CDEV's into one dialog! This is a long overdue advancement which will save you time in every possible way. I'm personally looking forward to this.
In addition to these facts, we have much more information on Allegro which we will report to you as soon as we receive confirmation. I'm sure many of you have noticed the speed improvements in MacOS 8.1. According to our sources, the change in speed from 8.0-8.1 cannot compare to 8.1-Allegro. The addition PPC code and further optimization to the PowerPC chip seems to have done wonders for the MacOS.
If you have worked with Allegro, or have anything of interest to our views, drop us an e-mail.
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We must give many thanks to a certain someone who went out of their way to obtain a copy of Netscape Communicator 5.0. According to this source, it isn't even a preview release. In fact, it is just a build of what will eventually be Netscape 5.0. All the components in the archive still read 4.0.4 rather than 5.0. Also, most of the new images have yet to be added to the build as you will see in the screen shots below.
Aurora
As soon as you launch Netscape 5.0, you'll immediately notice a feature which is very similar to that of Internet Explorer's tabs feature. Currently, this addition has been given the code name Aurora. Aurora, as you can see in this image, will become the "Workspace" for Netscape's Web Browser and can be accessed as its own window via command-B.The black box you see on the left side bar of the Aurora workspace is actually one of the buttons which will eventually hold an image like the ones on Netscape's navigation toolbar. (The images are obviously missing from the Aurora which is incorporated into the browser itself, as you will see in the images below.) This Aurora workspace will house bookmarks, history, mail, and anything else you would like to make a folder for. Users can create new folders, line separators, and drag in files and folders from their hard disk, as you can see in this image of the Workspace menu. You may also notice that the Aurora sections contain column menus. Currently there are 5 option buttons for separate categories in the Aurora Workspace.
The Browser
Here you'll see the full blown Netscape 5.0 in action, sporting the Aurora sidebar, and now a favorites bar. It's about time Netscape started adopting ideas from the Microsoft Corporation. The Aurora bar does not slide out like I.E., it serves the purpose a lot faster and just extends. You switch between sections via those black boxes, which will eventually become image buttons.
The favorites bar is very cool. You can drag bookmarks right onto the bar, choosing the position while you drag the bookmark. Speed in this release seems to be pretty fast, and navigation is smooth as always. By the time this thing hits beta, it should be quite the speed demon. This image will give you a view of Netscape 5 with Aurora retracted. You'll also notice if you take a look at the lower right hand corner that the components window is docked quite nicely. If you want to save even more space you can retract everything, like in Netscape 4, and no excess space will be wasted.
Netscape Mail
Being that this is the Communicator version, we can give you a quick peek at the new mail windows. Here you'll see an image of the new inbox, which features an Aurora-like technology to manage the different mail folders. The new message window now looks like this image. You'll notice that at the time of this image, the mouse button was on the "Quote" button (The screen shot prefs were set to make the cursor invisible). All the buttons now feature this rounded look. Earth to Netscape, this looks horrible! The square embossment looks so much better, do NOT change that. Especially in favor of this rounded business.
To conclude, this will be an amazing product come release time. But don't let our report fool you; there is a ton of work yet to be done on this release. There are also a ton of features which we cannot cover in this report. Look for an updated report later in the development process. We're cheering for you Netscape, keep up the great work and get rid of that rounded business.
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This Week's Apple NewsYes, we have finally posted a formal Contact Page which lists the appropriate e-mail addresses for users to send news, rumors, confidential info, suggestions, and so on.
Here at Reality, we encourage viewers to interact with us. We read each and every e-mail and respond when appropriate and if time permits. We welcome all viewer mail, but from now on, please direct e-mails to the appropriate addresses listed on the contact page.
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Netscape "WOW"s The Crowd
-In a daring move, Netscape has announced it will publicly distribute Communicator and Navigator's source code, come DR1 of Netscape 5.0.
Rhapsody CR1
-Some reports state an April appearance, we are betting on late July.
Visual Page 1.1
-We'd like to point out that Reality is now a 100% Symantec Visual Page authored publication. Version 1.1 is really a great update. Spell checker and all! Great work guys! Please keep it up!
AppleShare IP 6.0
-AppleShare IP 6.0 is due out this summer and is expected to run on both Rhapsody and the Mac OS.
President Bill Bubba Clinton....
-WHAT WERE YOU THINKING??? Wait.... We don't want to know. No..., really Bill, that's OK!
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