Allegiant ships SuperCard 2.5; 24-bit color, unparalleled QuickTime playback control top list of key new functionality in new release.SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 31, 1995--Allegiant Technologies Inc. (VSE See DOS/VSE. VSE - Virtual Storage Extended :AGH AGH Akademia Gorniczo-Hutnicza AGH Allegheny General Hospital (Pittsburgh, PA, USA) AGH Alpena General Hospital (Michigan) AGH Helsingborg, Sweden - Angelholm/Helsingborg (Airport Code) ) Monday shipped version 2.5 of SuperCard, adding several key new features to its well-known authoring tool for developing multimedia content and custom applications. With version 2.5, SuperCard now supports display of 24-bit color graphics The ability to display graphic images in colors. and offers numerous other enhancements including a new transition engine and several new transitions, an unparalleled level of script-based control over QuickTime movies, new application development features such as a customizable script hierarchy and multiple menu sets, and enhanced memory management options. SuperCard 2.5 is the third major release that Allegiant has shipped in the 18 months since it took over development of SuperCard from Aldus Corp. in early 1994. Version 1.7 shipped in May 1994 and Version 2.0 shipped in January 1995. "Allegiant is committed to be the technology leader in the authoring tools market," explained David Baron, vice president of engineering. "By maintaining this kind of release schedule, and delivering the advanced technology that is in version 2.5, it is clear we are succeeding in that goal." -0- Key New Features The key new features in this version include: o 24-bit color graphic display. SuperCard can now display 24-bit PICT images. o Dramatically enhanced QuickTime control. SuperCard 2.5 provides the most complete built-in control of QuickTime among major authoring tools. More than 40 properties of movies, including time and "click" callbacks to provide maximum QuickTime interactivity, as well as support for QuickTime VR The virtual reality version of QuickTime. It allows subjects to be viewed on screen in 3D space. Scenes are compiled from renderings or from multiple still shots taken of all sides. See QuickTime. , are included. o New transitions. With SuperCard 2.5, Allegiant introduces a new, plug-in transition interface and includes plug-ins for numerous new effects, including "blend," a pixel "dissolve," and "push" and "squish squish v. squished, squish·ing, squish·es v.tr. To squeeze or crush together or into a flat mass; squash. v.intr. To emit the gurgling or sucking sound of soft mud being walked on. " effects, as well as the ability to interleave To intersperse one after the other. See sector interleave and memory interleaving. interleave - interleaving multiple transitions to create custom effects. Allegiant has also published the specification for developers who want to write their own transition effects. o Memory control. Developers can dynamically adjust the size of the image buffer, providing extensive control over the memory footprint Memory footprint refers to the amount of main memory that a program uses or references while running. This includes all sorts of active memory regions like code, static data sections (both initialized and uninitialized), heap, as well as all the stacks, plus memory required to hold of SuperCard applications. o Backdrop Window. To conceal the Macintosh desktop for multimedia titles, developers can now provide a "backdrop" window behind the normal SuperCard windows. o Script insertion. Developers can now customize their script hierarchy, to provide more efficient object-based message passing as well as overcoming the 32,000 character script limitation. o "Secured" scripts allow developers to distribute their products with their scripts encoded in a binary format (1) Numbers stored in pure binary form in contrast with BCD form. See binary numbers. (2) Information stored in a binary coded form, such as data, text, images, voice and video. See binary file, binary field and LOB. that can't be accessed. New SuperCard Player For the first time, SuperCard 2.5 includes a freely distributable Player, permitting SuperCard developers to distribute their SuperCard projects without the overhead of a standalone stand·a·lone adj. Self-contained and usually independently operating: a standalone computer terminal. application. In a separate release, Allegiant also announced the "SuperCard Software Technology" logo program, which is being rolled out in conjunction with the release of the Player. Pricing and Availability The suggested retail pricing of SuperCard 2.5 is $749. The upgrade price is $99.99 for version 2.0 users and $149.99 from earlier versions. Customers who purchased version 2.0 after July 1, 1995, are eligible for a free upgrade. SuperCard 2.5 is available now. About Allegiant Allegiant Technologies, develops and markets innovative Multimedia, Internet and Application Development software that empowers people to interactively educate, entertain, present and manage information. Allegiant was founded in 1994 when a group of former Aldus Corp. management and senior engineers joined forces with an experienced venture financing group to acquire the SuperCard product and its associated technology from Aldus and build a company with the objective of becoming the leading vendor of authoring tools for Macintosh and Windows-based personal computers. CONTACT: Allegiant Technologies Inc., 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. Stuart Henigson, 619/587-0500 (ext. 101) Kevin La Rue La Rue may refer to:
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