Bandai Digital Entertainment selects Spyglass technology for Pippin @World Internet appliance browser.LA MIRADA La Mirada (lä mĭrä`də), city (1990 pop. 40,452), Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1960. La Mirada derives from the Spanish for "the view," referring to the panoramic view of the surrounding valleys from atop the city's hills. , Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Sept. 9, 1996--Bandai Digital Entertainment Corp. (BDE See Borland Database Engine. ) Monday introduced the @World Browser, a World Wide Web browser The program that serves as your front end to the Web on the Internet. In order to view a site, you type its address (URL) into the browser's Location field; for example, www.computerlanguage.com, and the home page of that site is downloaded to you. optimized for display on a TV. The @World Browser uses leading Web technology from Spyglass Inc. (NASDAQ NASDAQ in full National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations U.S. market for over-the-counter securities. Established in 1971 by the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), NASDAQ is an automated quotation system that reports on :SPYG), which is optimized by MediaLive Inc. for the Pippin Pippin. For Frankish rulers thus named, use Pepin. A multimedia game and Internet machine from Apple that used the PowerPC architecture and a limited version of the Mac OS. World and TV display. The @World Browser is to be packaged with the company's new Pippin World, an easy-to-use Internet surfing device that brings the excitement and information of the World Wide Web and multimedia CD-ROMs to the standard consumer television. "This license agreement with Spyglass demonstrates our commitment to provide customers with an advanced Internet appliance Also called "information appliance," "smart appliance," and "Web appliance," it is a device specialized for accessing the Web and/or e-mail. Designed for ease of use, it plugs into a telephone jack or LAN connection for Internet hookup. ," said Steve McAllister Steve McAllister is the sports editor of Canada's national newspaper, The Globe and Mail. McAllister is a former media relations manager for the National Hockey League Players Association and a former Ontario Hockey Association referee. , vice president of sales and marketing for BDE. "The World Browser's rich graphics and consumer-friendly user interface provides viewers of all ages with a browsing experience that is easy-to-use, fun and rewarding." Jay Friedland, vice president of strategic marketing for Spyglass, said: "The market served by the Pippin @World requires a different approach to graphical display than typical desktop computers, since output goes directly to a television set. Spyglass technology is the logical underlying technology for this effort because it has a small 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 and unique modular architecture that can accommodate different fonts, color management and expansion through plug-ins." Pippin @World and @World Browser CD-ROM CD-ROM: see compact disc. CD-ROM in full compact disc read-only memory Type of computer storage medium that is read optically (e.g., by a laser). Advantages With the Pippin @World's internal quad-speed CD-ROM drive A device that holds and reads CD-ROM discs. CD-ROM drives generally also play audio CD discs by sending analog sound to the sound card via a 4-pin cable. For specifications of 10x, 20x, etc. drives, see CD-ROM drives. See CD-ROM, CD-ROM changer, CD-ROM server and CD-ROM audio cable. and the CD-ROM-based @World Browser, users are presented with an upgradable browser solution. Future enhancements, like voice and video, can easily be provided to users. Installation is quick and simple. Users simply connect the Pippin World to the TV, plug in the telephone line and load the CD-ROM. All configuration software is pre-loaded into the system software on the CD-ROM, so customers are shielded from the complexities of the Internet set up or viruses. An introductory multimedia CD that comes with the product will help familiarize Internet novices with the browser's functionality and the Internet. Feature-Rich Browser Design The Pippin @World's hardware is specifically designed to make static text look crystal clear and "flicker free." The @World Browser, based on Spyglass' Client Software Development Kit (SDK (Software Developer's Kit) See developer's toolkit and Windows SDK. SDK - Software Developers Kit (or "Software Development Kit"). ), is optimized for NTSC (National TV Standards Committee) The committee that developed the television standards for the U.S, which are also used in Canada, Japan, South Korea and several Central and South American countries. Both the committee and the standard are called "NTSC. display and provides sharper color management. Features such as QuickTime and Shockwave are built-in, letting customers exploit the full potential of the Web while using the Pippin @World. Also, BDE plans to have RealAudio and Chat available on the same CD. The @World Browser is both 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 Microsoft Explorer compatible and HTML HTML in full HyperText Markup Language Markup language derived from SGML that is used to prepare hypertext documents. Relatively easy for nonprogrammers to master, HTML is the language used for documents on the World Wide Web. 3.2 compliant providing tables, frames and support for plug-ins. BDE plans for the browser to support 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. 89a animated on-screen on·screen or on-screen adj. & adv. 1. As shown on a movie, television, or display screen. 2. Within public view; in public. icons. Other customized @World Browser features include: Surfwatch Parental Control Software A special browser or filtering program designed to reject Web sites not suited for children. Such programs may screen pages by word content, site rating or by URL, using an updated database of objectionable sites, or any combination of these techniques. See PICS and ICRA. -- Designed into the @World Browser is support for the Surfwatch ProServer by Spyglass, the leading parental control software that allows parents to block unwanted or inappropriate Internet content or e-mail coming into the home. Configuration Menu -- The @World Browser's Configuration Menu provides users with the ability to select one of three font sizes: small, medium and large and alter the text for their TV screen. The feature is important with the variety of TV sizes available. Also, a standard VGA monitor An analog display screen that accepts VGA signals from the computer. See VGA and display adapter. can be used with Pippin @World. The feature is useful for altering text size to the monitor's viewing area, as well. Consumer-Friendly User Interface -- Options such as the Tool Bar On/Off switch provides users with the option to hide the navigational bar and enlarge the viewing area. On-line help is presented in the format of a Web page making it easy and convenient for users. A virtual on-screen keyboard provides one button access to Internet address elements such as "www.", ".com", "http://". The unique keyboard design reduces on-screen key strokes. In addition, an on-screen network activity indicator indicates to users that information is currently being accessed and downloaded. @World Dialer -- The integrated @World Dialer feature supports up to three local access numbers. If the first number is busy, the second and third numbers are tried automatically. Over 250 local access numbers in the continental United States United States territory, including the adjacent territorial waters, located within North America between Canada and Mexico. Also called CONUS. are available. Also, a call waiting feature permits users to program a "call waiting" or "no call waiting" disable command. Options Menu -- Other @World Browser feature options include a Browsing History Report that automatically stores last sites visited. An Internet hold command permits users to pause or put on hold their browsing experience to tend to something else, like placing a phone call. Afterwards, the Pippin @World will log onto the Internet and return the user to the page last viewed prior to the pause. Print Option -- Users can print to Apple Ink Jet printers; with the Pippin @World's built-in printer port, there is nothing to add, no adapters are needed. Image Downloading On/Off Option -- With this feature, users have the option to download only text, visuals or both. The text only download option is especially important to those who are researching a topic and need information quickly. More About Pippin @World Jointly developed with Apple Computer, the Pippin @World is based on Apple Power Macintosh technology to provide a complete Internet experience in a plug and play configuration. There are no operating systems or files for the user to configure. The Pippin @World is equipped with expansion ports to ensure that the machine can remain state-of-the-art. A PCI (1) (Payment Card Industry) See PCI DSS. (2) (Peripheral Component Interconnect) The most widely used I/O bus (peripheral bus). compatible port allows an optional floppy drive to be added to provide additional local storage. Other storage devices such as Zip drives can be added to provide greater local storage power. In addition, up to 8MB RAM can be added in just a few seconds to expand memory. A 64-button keyboard with a drawing tablet included provides easy use for browsing the Internet, composing e-mail and performing word processing and drawing functions. Also, bundled with Pippin @World is a 28.8 Kbps modem providing more value to the consumer. The ergonomic hand-held controller fits hands of all sizes whether a child's or adult's. The controller allows for simple navigation of the browser and screen panning. In addition, the @World Browser's controller option provides an on-screen diagram of the controller and identifies each controller button's function. Pippin @World users will be able to enjoy Pippin-based CD-ROMs, Cyber/CDs, multimedia CDs that interact with the Internet, and Audio CDs. Cyber/CDs provide greater flexibility in Internet surfing as they contain locally stored data such as Internet browser add-ons like Shockwave or textures and icons pertinent to enhanced viewing of a given Web site. In addition, the Pippin @World offers additional applications which combine CD-ROM and on-line activity such as on-line gaming. Users will be able to engage in competition with others around the world, taking gaming to a new level. Also, users can access on the Internet the latest information pertaining to particular CD-ROM titles. Spyglass Inc. licenses World Wide Web client and server technologies. Spyglass technology is currently licensed by 102 partners, including Computer Associates Inc., Digital Equipment Corp., IBM (International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, www.ibm.com) The world's largest computer company. IBM's product lines include the S/390 mainframes (zSeries), AS/400 midrange business systems (iSeries), RS/6000 workstations and servers (pSeries), Intel-based servers (xSeries) Corp., Microsoft Corp. and Oracle Corp. Spyglass technology has been licensed for use in over 200 Internet-based products and services. Spyglass' headquarters are located at 1240 E. Diehl Road, Naperville, Ill. 60563, with research and development facilities in Champaign, Ill., Cambridge, Mass., Santa Monica, Calif., and Los Altos, Calif., and sales offices in Cambridge, Mass., Morristown, N.J., San Ramon, Calif., and Hong Kong. Telephone: 630/245-6500; fax: 630/245-6693; media e-mail inquiries: rpitzer@spyglass.com; Web server: http://www.spyglass.com and http://www.surfwatch.com. MediaLive Inc. (www.MediaLive.com) of Santa Clara, Calif., provides leading browser software and customization services that enable publishers to produce living rich-media CD-ROM titles with seamless connections to the Internet. Telephone: 408/556-1521. Founded in October of 1995, Bandai Digital Entertainment Corp. is a new media company dedicated to producing technology that brings interactive entertainment, educational multimedia content and the wealth of information on the Internet to the family television. BDE is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bandai Co. LTD LTD 1 Laron-type dwarfism 2 Leukotriene D 3 Long-term depression, see there 4. Long-term disability of Tokyo. Bandai Digital Entertainment's U.S. headquarters is located at 14241 East Firestone Blvd., Suite 210, La Mirada, Calif. 90638. The company can be reached at 310/404-1600. Further product information can be obtained through BDE's Web site at http://www.bdec.com or by sending an e-mail to info@bdec.com. -0- Note to editors: Pippin is a trademark of Apple Computer Inc., registered in the United States and other countries. @World is a registered trademark of Bandai Digital Entertainment Corp. All other brands and/or product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. CONTACT: Bandai Digital Entertainment, 310/404-1600 Steven McAllister or Ogilvy Adams & Rinehart Jerry Kalman/Andrea Mahoney 310/996-0545 or 310/996-0656 |
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