IBM to Offer Extensive Multimedia Technology in New OS/2

AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 27, 1994 . . . IBM today announced that the next
version of OS/2, code-named Warp, will include high-performance multimedia
support designed to make it easy for users to transform their computers
into televisions, store and view their favorite photos, and host live
video teleconferences with friends and colleagues.

The multimedia features that will optimize the end user experience include
Eastman KodakPhoto CD support, Person to Person for OS/2, a multimedia
viewer, WIN/TV card support, additional audio device drivers, Ultimedia
Video IN for OS/2, and industry-leading audio/video synchronization and
stretching technology. The combined multimedia capabilities will make OS/2
the ideal operating system environment for CD-ROM-based educational
programs and games.

IBM also announced that it has included MPEG support, a single DIVE API,
built-in autodesk animation playback support and compressed audio support,
so that the new OS/2 will offer a compelling development environment for
next-generation multimedia applications.

"We expect the multimedia features in Warp to be a big hit in the booming
home office and edutainment markets," said Wally Casey, director of
marketing, IBM Personal Software Products division. "OS/2's multimedia
capabilities will change the way people use their computers. For example,
you will be able to have your daughter's birthday pictures developed on a
Kodak Photo CD and send them electronically on OS/2 to family members
across the country via Warp's Internet features."

Optimizing the End User Experience
----------------------------------

Eastman Kodak Photo CD Technology

IBM will incorporate Kodak's Photo CD technology in Warp to allow OS/2
users to store and view high-resolution color images and photographs
developed on Kodak Photo CDs. The ability to view these images will make
OS/2 an attractive program for the creation of business presentations,
newsletters and other documents, as well as for commercial multimedia
programs for kiosks, sales, education and training. When the next version
ships, OS/2 will be the first PC operating system to be Photo CD-enabled
without additional software requirements.

Person to Person for OS/2 Makes Collaborative Computing Easy

Person to Person, IBM's real-time conferencing software, has been
integrated in the Warp BonusPak. Person to Person allows up to eight
people to work together on a single document, sharing suggestions and
writing or drawing comments on the document on their PCs. Without leaving
their desks, users can achieve the same level of efficiency, personal
interaction and productivity associated with traditional working sessions,
saving time and reducing unnecessary business travel costs. By adding
video cameras and an ActionMedia II adapter, users can host live
teleconferences over existing networks.

Browse Images with the Multimedia Viewer

The Warp BonusPak will include a multimedia viewer that will allow users to
browse images, audio files, animation, and video clips. Multimedia objects
are shown with "thumbnails", or miniature pictures, as if they were slides
on a photographer's light table. The multimedia viewer is an extension of
OS2's Workplace Shell that gives the user freedom to display or play an
object by simply double clicking on it with a mouse. The multimedia viewer
allows users to view popular image formats such as GIF, TIFF, Targa and
PCX. Many of the formats are found on online services such as CompuServe
and Internet.

Use the PC Like a TV With Warp Multimedia

Warp will support popular video overlay cards, including the WIN/TV card
from Hauppauge Computer Works, Inc. that allows users to turn their
computers into televisions. With the preemptive multitasking power of
OS/2, a fully-scalable TV screen can run in the foreground or background
while users work on other applications. Device driver support for other
popular video overlay adapters will also be included in Warp.

Capture, Clip and Play Synchronized Video and Audio with Video IN for OS/2

Ultimedia Video IN for OS/2, IBM's award-winning digital video technology,
will be included in the Warp BonusPak. With Video IN, OS/2 users can use a
video recorder to capture their favorite videos and images from a
camcorder or other devices and incorporate them in presentations using
IBM's Ultimotion and Intel's Indeo formats. Video IN for OS/2 complements
the integrated multimedia capabilities of OS/2, including its advanced
synchronization and streaming capabilities and the ability to play and
record Ultimotion and Indeo Audio Video Interleaved (AVI) clips. Video IN
for OS/2 will be particularly useful to the educational community, which
can use the technology to help create a wide range of CD-ROM titles and
multimedia applications that can be used as teaching tools.

More Audio Device Drivers Added to Warp

New audio support has been added to Warp including Compaq Business Audio,
Toshiba Business Audio, Analog Devices Audio, Aztech Sound Galaxy Nova 16,
ESS 688 AudioDrive, Media Vision Jazz16, Creative LabsAWE 32 drivers and
Crystal Semi-Conductor audio support for the IBM ThinkPad and other mobile
computers. The next version of OS/2 will support more than 80 percent of
the audio devices on the PC market.

Creating a Compelling Development Environment
---------------------------------------------

MPEG Digital Video Support

Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG) support has been added to Warp through
Sigma Designs' ReelMagic MPEG multimedia playback adapter. The support
will allow multimedia developers to create OS/2 applications that offer
full-motion, full-screen, full-color video and CD-quality digital stereo
sound from a single-speed CD-ROM. MPEG support in OS/2 will also allow
users to view movies and television shows created in the emerging
cross-platform VideoCD standard.

Enhancements to OS/2 Digital Video and Games Graphics

The Direct Interface Video Extensions (DIVE) API in Warp gives OS/2
applications direct access to the PC video hardware, enabling them to
generate high-speed graphics needed for today's advanced multimedia
software. The DIVE graphics interface allows powerful, high-speed games
and digital video applications to use a single high-speed API for
stretching, clipping and color conversion.

Built-in Autodesk Animation Playback Support

The built-in autodesk animator playback support in Warp allows users to
view video animation files developed using the Autodesk .FLI and .FLC
animation file formats. These formats are recognized as the industry
standard for animation on personal computers. Sound effects can be added
to these files to enhance playback.

Compressed Audio Support

The next version of OS/2 will have built-in software support for the
industry standard Interactive Multimedia Association ADPCM and Microsoft
ADPCM formats. These formats reduce the amount of disk space required to
store audio content and make it easier to send and receive voice files
over networks. Now audio files take up to 75 percent less disk space
without the need for additional hardware device support. IBM is also
extending this capability in Warp to reduce the disk space needed for AVI
files to be stored and played back in OS/2.

The new OS/2 will combine the performance and reliability of the 32-bit
OS/2 environment with mobility and productivity features, such as
simplified installation, reduced memory requirements, a BonusPak of
productivity applications, Internet access, LaunchPad and a more
responsive user interface. The new OS/2 will allow OS/2, Windows 3.1,
Windows 3.11, Windows for Workgroups 3.1, and DOS applications to run on
the same desktop.

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