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...news that counts, news for
architects and designers.
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- Apple, Compaq, Sony, and
Other Industry Heavyweights Form Patent Pool for FireWire
Technology (IEEE1394)
- 17 Feb
99. Architosh staff (info@architosh.com)
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- In a joint press release today, Apple,
Compaq, Matsushita
(Panasonic),
Philips,
Sony and Toshiba
announced full support for Apple's FireWire technology
(IEEE1394) and plans to form a Patent Pool. According to
Apple's
press release, the intention behind the patent pool
is to efficiently license patents required to implement
the standard, and to promote the industry-wide adoption
of IEEE1394, also known as FireWire.
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- FireWire
technology is poised to become the most widely
adopted industry standard to interconnect consumer
electronic devices to personal computers. A common
example of this would be the connection of a
consumer-level digital camcorder to a common PC. This
powerful interface standard offers transfer rates up to
400 megabits per second, compared to say approximately
208 megabits per second for Ultra SCSI. The technology is
very
promising both in terms of ease-of-use and
speed.
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- IEEE1394, or FireWire as its called by Apple, was
invented by Apple and adopted by the Institute of
Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) as an industry
standard in 1995.
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- Rumors on Disney, Apple,
Pixar Merger!
- 16 Feb
99. Architosh staff (info@architosh.com)
-
- Today AppleInsider
has a detailed story
on the possible rumors being circulated on a merger
between Disney, Apple and Pixar, leaving Steve Jobs as
CEO of Disney. What is amazing about this rumor is the
seriousness that it is being given at AppleInsider, a
site that specializes in--you might say--"inside
information". For the record, AppleInsider is one of the
most reliable sources of inside information about Apple
and Macintosh anywhere on the Net. And with this rumor,
they have been very careful and conservative in the past
about any such suggestions.
-
- What is so startling about this rumor now is not only
its timing (as related to upcoming shareholder meetings,
Macworld Expo Japan, Apple's resurgence in the consumer
market, etc.) but in its--shall we say--
"it-makes-total-sense" like quality. After all, Steve
Jobs has done what many of us didn't expect him to do:
stick around so long. Perhaps he has been waiting for
something larger than Apple to happen, for some move in
the entertainment industry (see BusinessWeek
magazine's Nov 23, 1998 issue, front cover, "Steve
Jobs Movie Mogul: Can he build Pixar into a major
studio?").
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- Some highlights from the story at AppleInsider
include Steve Jobs becoming CEO of Disney, starting June
7th, 1999, while current CEO Michael Eisner steps down to
become Chairman of Disney's Board of Directors. Apple and
Pixar would become independent divisions of Disney in a
deal worth $12 billion dollars, with no cash exchange.
Apple and Pixar stock holders would receive Disney stock
in exchange for their holdings. This deal would allow
"Disney to leverage the strong Apple brand name in an
effort to get technology into the hands of the mass
market."
-
- Addendum: Apparently RFI Apple Recon had a
belly of a
laugh over AppleInsider's
rumors of a Disney, Apple, Pixar mega merger (see the
link above). While Apple Recon does raise good points
about the ridiculousness of the rumor (when you get down
to the details) Architosh does acknowledge, as mentioned
above, the consistent nature of reliability of
AppleInsider reports. This is NOT an endorsement or
position by Architosh! Rather, in an unbiased fashion, we
are simply reporting the story as is, including the
reactions it gathered. The READER is left to judge this
rumor for themselves. We'll all have to wait and see on
this one.
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- Architosh makes the
News!
- 15 Feb
99. Architosh staff (info@architosh.com)
-
- The Architosh Site is mentioned today on Rick Ford's
MacInTouch web
site and The Mac
Observer daily news site. Over the weekend Architosh
was busy sending press releases announcing the site to
Apple and Macintosh user groups around the country as
well as key Mac news sites. Additionally, press releases
were sent to software companies listed on the Architosh
site. Since these announcements and features, Architosh
email boxes have been flooded with positive reactions to
the site. A warm thank you goes out to the producers and
editors of MacInTouch and The Mac Observer, as well as
all of you who have shared the site with others. Thanks
again and continue to--as Guy Kawasaki would say--"kick
butt" using Macs!
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- The Architosh Site to
update the CADD and Applications pages.
- 15 Feb
99. Architosh staff (info@architosh.com)
-
- The Architosh Site will be implementing changes to
the CADD and Applications
pages over the next week. Work will include changes and
additions to content, reorganization of categories,
better formatting as well as some cosmetic changes.
Although Architosh is only one month old, the site has
received much applause and many suggestions to make it
better.
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- We are reacting each day to an increasing wave of
email urging us to do different things, add this or that,
change, fix, and otherwise make the site better. For
example, an architect in Russia suggested forums oriented
toward activities that architects like to partake in
other than architecture--like skiing, fishing, golf,
travel--things that can unite Mac architects worldwide.
Sounds like fun to us! Certainly more immediate needs
will come before things like that: like general forums
for all of you to discuss using Macs in architecture, a
database-driven listing of architects, and a guest book.
The important thing is we are listening and you will
begin to see some of that this week.
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- New Java applications to
be researched by Architosh
- 15 Feb
99. Architosh staff (info@architosh.com)
-
- With the introduction of MJR
2.1 by Apple over
the weekend, Architosh will set out this week to research
the many implications this new Java Machine will have on
architects using Macintosh. Java, a programming language
by Sun Microsystems, is
widely known for its cross-platform orientation and
strategy, as well as the fear it has struck in
Microsoft's heart. Some possible goodies coming from Java
include tools for viewing CAD software files over the
Internet, especially from engineers, surveyors and others
using Windows-only software. An example of this is the
SolidWorks Java Viewer application (story below) by
SolidWorks
Corporation. Other possibilities include the ability
for Mac users to harness the power of enterprise-level
applications from companies like Oracle and Sun, as well
as Internet related software tools.
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- Strata releases new
Strata Extensions for Studio Pro
- 10 Feb
99. Architosh staff (info@architosh.com)
-
- Strata Inc. has
announced four
new StudioPro Extensions, called Strata
Extensions. The limited time offer for all four
extensions is $247.00 and you can order directly from
their web site. The four extensions are: Strata's Jiggle,
Model Master, Clouds 2, and Ripples 2. QuickTime movie
examples are available to view on their web site.
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- SolidWorks Java
Viewer--Beta Released
- 10 Feb
99. Architosh staff (info@architosh.com)
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- Solidworks
Corporation has released a beta version of SolidWorks
Java Viewer. Available as a stand-alone application
or an applet, the Java Viewer allows engineers to view
SolidWorks native parts, drawings, and assembly files
locally or over the Internet on any Java virtual machine
(JVM) using the Java 3D API and JVM 1.2 or later from Sun
Microsystems, Inc. SolidWorks is a CAD/CAM application
for engineers; and with a Macintosh running a v1.2
compliant JVM, a Mac engineer could view SolidWorks
drawings at any time in the design cycle.
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- DVD-RAM drives available
BTO at Apple Store!
- 8 Feb
99. Architosh staff (info@architosh.com)
-
- The much anticipated DVD-RAM drives are available and
scheduled to ship on BTO machines within three weeks. The
Apple Store also makes note of the 36 GB Ultra SCSI
drives with dual-channel SCSI PCI card, which Apple is
saying will be available in March. The new G3's can hold
three of these drives bringing total hard drive capacity
up over 100 GB's. From Apple,
the upcoming DVD-RAM drive writes to DVD-RAM disks at up
to 1x speed (1.3MB per sec) and reads DVD-RAM disks at up
to 2x speed (2.7MB per sec). It also reads CD's at up to
20x speed (3MB per sec). The DVD-RAM drive is compatible
with all of the same DVD-ROM formats, including
DVD-Video, DVD-ROM, audio CD, PhotoCD, CD-ROM, CD-i, CD-R
and CD-RW, as well as, of course, DVD-RAM. This drive is
not to be confused with the DVD-ROM drive and Video Kit
available from the Apple Store for the PowerBook G3.
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- Refurbished Original
Bondi Blue iMacs for $799.00 at Apple Store!
- 8 Feb
99. Architosh staff (info@architosh.com)
-
- Apple is selling
refurbished iMacs (the original Bondi Blue machines:
233MHz, 32 MB SDRAM, 4GB hard drive, OS 8.5) for $799.00.
Considering that this machine was new material only six
months ago the five hundred dollar reduction in price
makes this machine a steal. NOTE:
for those of you who have never bought a refurbished item
from Apple before. Apple does a great job with
refurbished equipment, repackages them like new and gives
you 90 days with the new item to fully test it out.
Architosh has at least two refurbished items going strong
after six months, and we personally are glad we tried the
refurbished items at the Apple Store (we saved good
money!).
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- Confusion about Apple,
Microsoft and the Enterprise Market?
- 4 Feb
99. Architosh staff (info@architosh.com)
-
- Yesterday, Architosh posted a link (above) to a
MacCentral
article entitled: "Microsoft to Apple:
You're Dead in Big Business for Now", and the article was
taken down after criticism by Microsoft. MacWEEK
today has a story on the controversy. Apparently, the
MacCentral article misrepresented Microsoft's enthusiasm
for Apple's enterprise market. Today's article
from MacWEEK quotes Jodi Ropert, product line manager for
Microsoft's Macintosh Business Unit in Redmond as saying:
"We're really excited and impressed with Apple's ability
to launch amazing new products that scale across multiple
customer segments, including the [corporate]
enterprise market". Microsoft is apparently totally
committed to working with Apple to address all of their
customer segments, including enterprise. For more info
click
here.
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- Apple Captures 37
percent of entire Japanese PC Market !
- 4 Feb
99. Architosh staff (info@architosh.com)
-
- A story on the evangelist news list claims that Apple
captured 37 percent of the entire PC market in Japan for
the week ending January 11, 1999. Japan is Apple's second
largest market and in years past has represented up to 50
percent of Apple's entire revenue. Japan is apparently
really hot again for the Mac! Market shares are based on
BCN, a trade publication that tracts retail shares
through POS data from 200+ major computer retailers in
the three largest urban markets.
-
- The original iMac retail market share has yet to fall
below 10 percent since its introduction last August and
has been the top-selling PC in Japan since then. Apple's
"Smart Loan" campaign kicked iMac shares higher from
November, and on January 17, the last day of the loan
program, Apple dropped prices on the iMac from 178,000
yen to 128,000 which in turn shot iMac market shares up
to 28.8 percent for the week, far higher than its nearest
competitor at 5.3 percent.
-
- With the introduction of the new color iMacs Apple's
retail share has shot all the way up to 29.6 percent,
with the original iMac still capturing 10 percent. Apple
is now the No. 1 PC vendor in Japan and a Mac has been
the top selling computer--by a huge margin--for 22 weeks
and counting. These are staggering statistics, and great
news for the Mac! In addition, the iMac has been the
least expensive of the 15 top-selling retail models in
Japan.
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- Apple to outsource
manufacturing of iMac computers
- 3 Feb
99. Architosh staff (info@architosh.com)
-
- In a continuing effort to increase manufacturing
capacity and lower cost, Apple, according to a Bloomberg
story published yesterday, has awarded LG Electronics of
Korea with a contract to manufacture iMacs worldwide.
With the exception of BTO (Build To Order) all iMacs will
now be manufactured in LG Electronics' Mexico plant and
other worldwide sites. Apple's Cork, Ireland facility,
its Singapore and Sacramento plants will be ramping down
production as Mexico ramps up. LG is the firm that worked
with Apple to develop the trademark translucent plastic
casing.
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- Apple sells 2 million
shares of British ARM
- 3 Feb
99. Architosh staff (info@architosh.com)
-
- Appleinvestor
reported today that Apple sold 2 million shares of
ARM (Nasdaq: ARMHY) for $59 million. The British firm
ARM, Advanced RISC Machines, had an initial public
offering in 1998, and since then Apple has sold shares in
the company two times. On October 14, 1998, Apple sold
2.9 million shares when the stock dipped to $40 per ADS
(American Depository Shares). This time around they sold
shares at an all time high price of $90 per ADS. As a
result Apple will record a one-time-gain in fiscal Q2 99
of about $50 million net. Apple formed ARM with British
Acorn computers in 1991 to make low power, high
performance RISC processors for personal digital
assistants (PDA's), in particular Apple's Newton
MessagePad line. Since then, ARM has continued to produce
highly acclaimed microprocessors for numerous devices,
PDA's, and embedded applications. Apple's initial
investment of $20 million is now worth about $215 million
(14.8 percent of ARM).
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- Apple Media Arts - Vol
2, No. 1 Available Online Now !
- 3 Feb
99. Architosh staff (info@architosh.com)
-
- Apple's new (or not so new) Apple
Media Arts full color news paper, the latest edition,
for the "creative community" is now available online. The
Winter 1999 issue covers stories on WGBH's real-time
adventure to the top of Mount Everest, designing the
Euro, an interview with Apple user and graphic designer
Tamotsu Yagi, and features on the new G3's, QuickTime 3,
and Apple's new Final Cut Pro video software. For those
of you, not fortunate to receive the larger newspaper
format printed version, shrink-rapped and all, you can
download
large PDF versions.
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- form-Z 3.0 Released by
Autodessys Inc. !
- 2 Feb
99. Architosh staff (info@architosh.com)
-
- Yesterday, Autodessys,
Inc. announced the release of form-Z 3.0. The release
is being touted as a major upgrade and development of
form-Z! Autodessys claims the reasons for this are
twofold: first there are three major areas of
improvement, including support for objects with multiple
parametric personalities, fully customizable interface,
and animation. Second, version 3.0 brings form-Z to its
maturity as a general purpose modeler, preparing the
ground for modularity and open-architecture in its
continuing evolution. form-Z's new animation features are
integrated into the application so smoothly, the company
claims, that it will feel like they have always been
there. Version 3.0 is compatible with Apple's new iMacs
and G3 computers, that is, it supports USB ports. For
more info read the press
release.
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- Apple HAL ad leading
votes for Best Super Bowl ad - CNN
- 1 Feb
99. Architosh staff (info@architosh.com)
-
- Apple's HAL ad is leading votes for Best Super Bowl
ad at CNN's web site. The ad viewed during the first
commercial break after the opening kickoff. You can vote
for your favorite ad at CNN's
site now!
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- Extensis announces new
price on BeyondPress 4.0
- 1 Feb
99. Architosh staff (info@architosh.com)
-
- Extensis
announced today a pricing change to BeyondPress 4.0, a
QuarkXPress to HTML conversion utility and web authoring
solution. The 4.0 version is now available for $299.95
and can be downloaded directly from Extensis' web site.
BeyondPress 4.0 includes Extensis PhotoAnimator, a
stand-alone GIF animator for producing an unlimited
variety of animations for the web. For more information
and the press
release click here.
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- New items at Engineering
Software, including new Lite versions
- 27 Jan
99. Architosh staff (info@architosh.com)
-
- Engineering Software has links to new Mac
OS 8.5 compatibility issues with an updater free of
charge for download. Also new to the site are an updated
PowerDWG, version 2, and Peek into the Lite, link which
takes you to two new "Lite" versions of PowerDraw and
WildTools. PowerDraw Lite is a program aimed at
eliminating your dependency on programs like Adobe
Illustrator or Macromedia Freehand for simple and
hassle-free technical illustration work. Both tools come
with EPS translators for going back in forth between
Postscript illustration software and PowerDraw Lite or
WildTools Lite. For more info
click here.
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- Graphisoft Deutschland
GmbH Acquires Bauplan Division
- 27 Jan
99. Architosh staff (info@architosh.com)
-
- Graphisoft, the makers of ArchiCAD, announced that
they have acquired the Bauplan division of Wiechers &
Partners GmbH including its staff, Bauplan software and
its related business activities. The nine person Bauplan
development staff will remain located in Monheim,
Germany, where Graphisoft will establish a branch office.
With this acquisition, Graphisoft expands it German
client base by more than 700 architectural offices, with
an expected revenue gain in Germany alone of 1 Million
EURO per year. Graphisoft currently generates
approximately 20 percent of its worldwide revenues from
Germany. For more info read the press
release.
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- French firm Olitec
brings mac version of communications system to
US.
- 26 Jan
99. by Architosh staff (info@architosh.com)
-
- MacCentral had a story
yesterday about the French firm Olitec, the leading
French manufacturer of modems in France, bringing a Mac
version of their "communications system" to America in
the first quarter. The system works externally to your
computer and features its own memory and remote control
unit. The 56K data modem is v.90 compliant, supports 14.K
fax, has a hands-free speaker phone and voice mail system
including caller ID. Using SmartMedia cards the system
can record voice, fax and email data even while your
computer is off. To find out more about the upcoming
modem and communications system go directly to http://www.olitec.com/
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- HP Has New Mac Printers
for desk and large-format
- 26 Jan
99. by Architosh staff (info@architosh.com)
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- New printers from Hewlett-Packard were announced
back on January 5th and MacCentral (see link above) has a
story on HP's future Mac product strategy. HP is once
again committed to Macintosh customers, and not just the
post iMac crowd. HP said that they first wanted to
address the same USB customers Apple was addressing and
then move over to support the large installed base of
serial/LocalTalk Macintosh customers. There is also
a
note (MacCentral interview with HP's Rick Spillers)
about support for Apple-branded Color StyleWriter 4000
and 6000 series printers built by HP for Apple. The new
printers include DeskJet 880C/882C Printer, DeskJet
895se/Cxi Printer, and new Mopier 320 Network Copier,
Color LaserJet 8500N/8500DN, and Color LaserJet
4000N/4500DN. In addition, the DesignJet 2500cp and
3500cp offer true plug and play Mac connectivity with
built-in Ethernet port.
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- Apple Brings Back DVD
Video Kits for PowerBook G3's
- 25 Jan
99. by Architosh staff (info@architosh.com)
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- Apple has brought back the PowerBook G3 DVD Video
Kits and they are now on sale at the Apple Store for $499
US and through authorized US and Canada Apple Resellers.
A hot news
item at Apple's Hot News page this link will take you
directly to the item at the Apple
Store.
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