Multimedia disks enable computers to put on a show

Article Abstract:

Computer software publishers are finally using multimedia technology in computer games, data bases and entertainment references. Computer companies can store large amounts of text, graphics, animation and audio on CD-ROMs which must be played on CD-ROM players. Some IBM-PC compatibles also require a $100 sound card for audio playing. The Apple Macintosh comes with sound capabilities built in. Voyager's $39 Baseball's Greatest Hits is a CD-ROM that contains 11 different video clips of famous moments in baseball, along with audio that includes players' views and broadcasters' voices. The company includes nine New York teams' video scenarios and hopes to include more video in upcoming versions. Compact Publishing's $150 1991 Time Magazine Compact Almanac includes the entire text of Time Magazine from 1989 through 1990 with some of 1991's contents, in addition to special maps. Icom Simulations' Sherlock Holmes, Consulting Detective is a computer game that shows video scenes of a mystery that users must view to solve the mystery. The product runs on the Mac or on IBM PC compatibles.

Usage, Computer software industry, Software industry, Column, Design and construction, Computer games, Multimedia technology, Multimedia systems, Computer Game, Compact Publishing Inc., Baseball's Greatest Hits (Entertainment/hobby software), 1991 Time Magazine Compact Almanac (Data base), Sherlock Holmes, Consulting Detective (Adventure game)

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Taking the latest CD-ROM disks out for a spin

Article Abstract:

The cutting edge of the much-hyped multimedia revolution is in the many personal computers equipped with CD-ROM drives, which are capable of meeting the huge memory requirements of audio and video files. Many new products for this new market have shipped in recent months. Overall, quality is improving, but flash is sometimes replacing substance. Many of the best programs are appearing first on the Apple Macintosh. Warner New Media's Clinton: A Portrait of Victory, for both IBM PC-compatibles and the Mac, lapses into Hollywood-style adoration of its subject, but the company's Mac-only Seven Days in August, about the 1961 Berlin Wall crisis, is much better. Newsweek Interactive, a new quarterly version of the magazine, is generally well done, with a good user interface. The product's first issue only plays on Sony's portable CD-ROM player, but IBM and Mac versions are due out later in 1993. Voyager Co's A Hard Day's Night is an excellent CD-ROM version of the Beatles' 1964 movie. All these products are available for less than $100.

Periodicals, Computer programming services, Information services, Newsweek Inc., Warner New Media, A Hard Day's Night (CD-ROM movie), Seven Days in August (Educational/training software), Clinton: A Portrait of Victory (Educational software), Mayo Clinic Family Health Book (Home health and nutrition software)

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Low-profile programs help PCs deliver high performance

Article Abstract:

Sigea Systems Inc's One Button Mail, ICOM Simulation's Squeegee and Apple's Macintosh PC Exchange are three utility packages reviewed. The $250 One Button Mail is specifically designed for IBM or compatible laptops running the MSDOS operating systems, but it also works with desktop versions of IBM systems. The program does a great job retrieving and transmitting electronic mail from CompuServe and MCI Mail. The approximately $42 Squeegee features command menus and mouse compatibility, which allow PC users running Microsoft Windows to control their systems. The Squeegee menu also consists of a file manager that can be used for copying, moving and deleting files. The Macintosh PC Exchange allows Macintosh users to read floppy disks created on PCs. The utility makes it easier for Macintosh users to share files with PC users.

Electronic computers, AAPL, Operating system enhancements, Disk and file management software, File management, Utility programs, Utilities (Software), Apple Inc., Desktop utilities, Optimization, Desktop Utility, Disk/File Management Software, Operating System Enhancement, Sigea Systems Inc., Squeegee (Operating system enhancement), Macintosh PC Exchange (File format conversion software)

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