Allegiant Technologies Unveils Roadmap for Suite of Multimedia Application Development Products for the Internet; Delivery of low-cost, high-performance multimedia apps on World Wide Web and Intranet to become a reality.BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 28, 1996--Allegiant Technologies, Inc. today announced a comprehensive blueprint for rolling out its family of cross-platform, multimedia application development tools. Unveiled at SEYBOLD Seminars Boston, the Allegiant roadmap details a suite of Internet authoring tools that will enable a new class of low-cost, high-performance multimedia applications on the World Wide Web and the "Intranet." The centerpiece in Allegiant's product strategy is a plug-in for Netscape Navigator An earlier Web browser for Windows, Macintosh and X Windows from Netscape that provided secure transmission over the Internet. Soon after its introduction in 1994, Navigator, or just "Netscape," as it was commonly called, quickly became the leading browser on the Web. and other Web browsers The following is a list of web browsers. Historical Historically important browsers In order of release:
"By delivering our SuperTalk environment as a plug-in, we will be opening up the Web to a universe of multimedia-enabled Internet applications that can be built by non-professional programmers and developers. To date, tools have focused on audiences that either possess very significant technical experience -- or a great deal of money to pay professional programmers. Allegiant is lowering the ante from programming in Java to authoring in SuperTalk," explained David Baron, Allegiant's vice president of engineering. Allegiant's plug-in will also deliver a wider range of functionality than single-purpose animation plug-ins, such as Macromedia's Shockwave. Allegiant's plug-in will provide for a broader range of media types (including vector graphics The representation of a digital image as points, lines and other geometric entities. All computer-aided design (CAD), drawing and diagramming programs create vector graphics formats, such as AI, DXF and WMF (see graphics formats). ), as well as superior text control and a wider range of interface controls and messages. Moreover, to minimize initial download times and permit developers to maximize the use of available bandwidth, it will also support linked media, including QuickTime movies and GIF GIF in full Graphics Interchange Format Standard computer file format for graphic images. GIF files use data compression to reduce the file size. The original version of the format was developed by CompuServe in 1987. , JPEG JPEG in full Joint Photographic Experts Group Standard computer file format for storing graphic images in a compressed form for general use. JPEG images are compressed using a mathematical algorithm. and ART compressed graphics. Allegiant further detailed the other key elements of its complete Internet Authoring Environment: -0- -- SuperCard - a mature, award-winning authoring tool used to develop interactive multimedia content and custom applications. -- Marionet - the market's first complete script-level interface to the Internet. Shipping since January 1996, Marionet provides non-UNIX programmers with script-level access to all the major Internet protocols Refers to all the standards that keep the Internet running. The foundation protocol is TCP/IP, which provides the basic communications mechanism as well as ways to copy files (FTP) and send e-mail (SMTP). from within popular authoring tools and productivity applications (e.g., SuperCard, Director, HyperCard, FileMaker Pro, Excel). -- A SuperTalk-based CGI CGI in full Common Gateway Interface. Specification by which a Web server passes data between itself and an application program. Typically, a Web user will make a request of the Web server, which in turn passes the request to a CGI application program. (Common Gateway Interface) engine (not yet formally named or announced) that will provide a SuperTalk back-end to the Allegiant plug-in, Marionet and any Web server. -- A "point-and-click" multimedia application authoring tool (also not yet formally named or announced) for the browser plug-in A third-party software product, such as a search toolbar, that is integrated into a Web browser to extend its capabilities. A "helper application" provides similar capabilities to a browser plug-in, but runs as an external application and typically launches another window for viewing. that will use a template-driven interface and "wizards" to enable quick and easy development of sophisticated Web sites. This tool will be for business professionals who have little to no knowledge of -- or interest in -- programming, but who want a cost-effective and time-efficient way to create highly interactive Web pages. -0- Timing for the general availability of these as-yet-unannounced components is slated for the second and third quarters of 1996. According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. Stuart Henigson, Allegiant's vice president of marketing, "Our goal is to provide the market with a complete and compelling Internet solution. We will accomplish this by putting Allegiant's rich foundation technology in browsers, in custom clients and on servers -- in fact, we'll put it anywhere that people want a powerful, accessible scripting environment to do Internet-enabled multimedia application development. "By relying on SuperTalk, an advanced extension of the industry-standard HyperTalk scripting language, the Allegiant tool suite will enable a much broader base of users to author Web and Internet applications than do currently available tools, such as Java and JavaScript. Literally hundreds of thousands of developers have experience with HyperTalk-based authoring tools such as SuperCard, HyperCard, Director and Toolbook. This suite will leverage that existing knowledge and expertise, thereby catalyzing a new generation of highly interactive multimedia Web applications." "Allegiant has what I'd call `Java Lite,'" said Richard Gaskin gaskin the muscular portion of the hindleg between the stifle and hock, corresponding to the human calf. The term is used in horses and sometimes dogs. , founder of Fourth World, a publisher of add-on tools for SuperCard and Director. "It's going to enable an entire spectrum of Internet applications for which Java development is either too expensive or just plain overkill overkill Vox populi An excess of anything . In fact, I expect Allegiant's solution to peacefully coexist with Java -- in much the same way that authoring tools like SuperCard exist alongside programming languages like C." Allegiant also intends to incorporate Java applets as a way to extend the capabilities of its plug-in, according to Baron. "We use external code and DLLs to extend SuperCard today; Java can fill that role for us on the Internet. In this way, developers for the browser plug-in can leverage their time with SuperTalk and incorporate Java only when necessary," he said. At SEYBOLD, Allegiant is conducting a technology preview of the plug-in running on both the Macintosh and Windows versions See Windows. of Netscape Navigator. The Company is also demonstrating both Marionet and SuperCard 2.5 -- the winner of the 1995 MacUser Editors' Choice Award for "Best New Multimedia Authoring Application" and one of two finalists (along with Macromedia Director) in Macworld's 1996 World Class awards for multimedia authoring. Allegiant Technologies, Inc. develops and markets innovative multimedia, Internet and application development software that empowers people to interactively educate, entertain, present and manage information. The Company is headquartered in San Diego San Diego (săn dēā`gō), city (1990 pop. 1,110,549), seat of San Diego co., S Calif., on San Diego Bay; inc. 1850. San Diego includes the unincorporated communities of La Jolla and Spring Valley. Coronado is across the bay. . CONTACT: Allegiant Technologies Stuart Henigson, 619/587-0500 ext 101 Kevin La Rue, 619/587-0500 ext 106 info@allegiant.com or www.allegiant.com or Sterling Communications Diana Swanson, 714/488-8980 |
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