Quantum3D Announces Merger With Southland Media Systems; New Company Formed to Bring Superior Price/Performance Solutions to the Intel and RISC Based Visual Computing Marketplace.SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 15, 1997--Quantum3D, Inc. today announced a merger with Southland Media Systems. The merged companies will continue operations under the Quantum3D name and will focus on providing the visual computing marketplace with superior price/performance 2D and 3D graphics accelerators and system software that enables of PCs and low-cost RISC RISC in full Reduced Instruction Set Computing Computer architecture that uses a limited number of instructions. RISC became popular in microprocessors in the 1980s. based workstations to deliver graphics and video performance at levels traditionally associated with high-end image generators and expensive proprietary workstations. In making the announcement, Quantum3D chairman Gordon Campbell said, "For relatively young companies, both Southland Media and Quantum3D have made significant achievements in their respective markets. Combining the two companies into a new entity will provide professional RISC and PC workstation OEMs, VARs, system integrators, and end-users with a unique source for advanced graphics solutions with unbeatable price/performance and world-class technical support and customer service." The merger provides Quantum3D with additional senior management talent. Tom Miller, formerly Southland Media chairman and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. , will become president and CEO of the merged companies. Phillip "Phil" Huelson, former president and COO of Southland Media, will become vice president of hardware design and manufacturing. Computer industry veteran Gordon Campbell, who is also chairman of 3Dfx Interactive, will remain as chairman of Quantum3D. Charles "Herb" Kuta, a founder of Silicon Graphics, will remain as chief scientist. Dan Downum, former manager of Intel's 3D software effort will remain as vice president of software design and Ross Smith, a founder of 3Dfx Interactive, will remain as vice president of sales and marketing. Tom Miller has more than 25 years experience in the computer systems and semiconductor industries. Prior to joining Southland Media, Miller served in executive capacities at Fujitsu Microelectronics, VIA Technologies, Integrated CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) Pronounced "c-moss." The most widely used integrated circuit design. It is found in almost every electronic product from handheld devices to mainframes. Systems and Fairchild Semiconductors. Phil Huelson has over 20 years of experience in the computer systems industry. Before Southland, he ran two microprocessor board businesses and served as president of SPARC International and Maxim Computer Products. About the Companies Southland Media Systems began life as TriMedia Computer Products in November of 1994 to create products that dramatically change the user's experience of computer-generated graphics on the desktop. Its first product, the MGX MGX Montenegro Airlines, Yugoslavia (ICAO code) MGX Media Gateways Plus, provides a low-cost true-color solution for S-bus equipped SPARC-based workstations by combining windowing and graphics acceleration with motion video to provide the functionality and price/performance required by Solaris users in financial, ECAD ECAD Electronic Computer-Aided Design ECAD European Cities Against Drugs ECAD European Center for Aviation Development ECAD external carotid artery dysplasia , GIS, A/E/C A/E/C Architect/Engineer/Contractor , and government markets. In April, Quantum3D entered the market as the sole distributor of 3Dfx's Obsidian(TM) family of realtime 3D graphics accelerator boards which have been shipping commercially since last summer. Based on advanced configurations of 3Dfx Interactive's Voodoo Graphics(TM) chipset, the Obsidian family of 3D graphics accelerators includes several models, each of which have been tailored to meet the needs of specific realtime 3D markets. Most notable among the Obsidian family is the Obsidian XS-100, which began commercial shipments in December of 1996. About the Products The MGX(TM) Plus targets Sun-compatible workstation manufacturers and end users seeking low-cost options to replace the CG, GX and TGX TGX Theragenics Corporation (stock symbol) TGX Trajectory Generator External series of 8-bit graphics accelerators, and SX (SS20) and TCX TCX Thomas Cook Airlines, UK (ICAO code) TCX Twin Cities Experience (Campus Crusade for Christ) TCX Trans-Compression TCX Turbo Cad Drawing as Text (SS4 and SS5) 8- and 24-bit per pixel graphics accelerators manufactured by Sun and Sun-compatible peripheral manufacturers. The MGX Plus is a single-slot S-bus add-in card that provides an 8/24-bit per pixel accelerated frame buffer with full screen, full motion video acceleration. This product provides exceptional 8- and 24-bit per pixel X-windows performance and supports a complete selection of monitor resolutions and refresh rate options, including flat panel displays. A key benefit of the MGX Plus is that it provides a low-cost, upward-compatible replacement product for 8-bit-per-pixel solutions from Sun Microsystems and other third party vendors. Currently, the MGX Plus is OEM'd by leading SPARC-based system vendors including Tatung and Axil ax·il n. The upper angle between a lateral organ, such as a leafstalk, and the stem that bears it. [Latin axilla, armpit. . The MGX Plus is also sold into the VAR, System Integrator, and End User market by Sun Express. "Combining Southland and Quantum3D makes great sense, given the rapid pace at which 2D and 3D graphics is converging in both the RISC and Intel-based workstation marketplace," said Cindy Alderson, workstation product manager at Axil Computers, a subsidiary of Hyundai that is a leading maker of SPARC-based workstations and WindowsNT server systems which OEMs the MGX PLUS product. "We look forward to continuing our efforts with Quantum3D aimed at enabling our workstation customers to get the best video and graphics price/performance." Based on advanced configurations of 3Dfx Interactive's Voodoo Graphics(TM) chipset, the Obsidian family of realtime 3D graphics accelerators includes several models, each of which have been tailored to meet the needs of specific realtime 3D markets. Quantum3D adds value to the advanced features of the Obsidian product line by enhancing 3Dfx's implementations of Glide(TM), Microsoft's Direct3D(TM), and OpenGL(TM) software drivers, as well as by implementing a world-wide sales, marketing, and support organization that is essential for professional 3D products. The Obsidian 50-2440 and 100-4440 models have been selected as the reference graphics subsystem for the Intel Open Arcade Architecture specification for PC-based coin-op systems (http://www.intel.com/drg/news/coinop/config.htm#2.6) and are currently employed by a number of visual simulation, PC-based coin-op/LBE OEMs, and game developers including Advanced Rotorcraft ro·tor·craft n. An aircraft, especially a helicopter, that is kept partially or completely airborne by airfoils rotating around a vertical axis. Technology, Datapath, Dreamality, ECC (1) (Error-Correcting Code) A type of memory that corrects errors on the fly. See ECC memory. (2) (Elliptic Curve Cryptography) A public key cryptography method that provides fast decryption and digital signature processing. , FASA Interactive, Gemini Technology, HanaHo ArcadePC, Immersive VR, Immersion, Interactive Light, McFadden Entertainment Systems, MaK Technology, MetaVR, Inc., Paragon Systems, QuantumWorks, SAIC SAIC - http://saic.com. , Sense8, Systems Technology, Inc. (STI STI systolic time intervals. ), LBE LBE - Language-Based Editor Technologies, TSC TSC Thestreet.com (stock symbol) TSC Time Stamp Counter TSC Tuberous Sclerosis Complex TSC Tractor Supply Company TSC Terrorist Screening Center (Department of Homeland Security) , and others. Most notable among the Obsidian family is the Obsidian 100-4440 (also known as the XS-100), which began commercial shipments last December. The Obsidian 100-4440 provides 100 Megapixels/second, trilinear tri·lin·e·ar adj. Relating to, having, or bounded by three lines. filtered texture mapping performance thereby replacing the need for proprietary image generators (IG) and workstation solutions that cost up to $100,000. Based on Gemini Technology's Real World Benchmark release 1.0, the Obsidian 100-4440, when coupled with an Intel Pentium Pro workstation, delivers 3D performance equivalent to SGI (SGI, Sunnyvale, CA, www.sgi.com) A manufacturer of workstations and servers, founded in 1982 by Jim Clark. The company was founded as Silicon Graphics, Inc., but changed to its acronym in 1999. , Intergraph, and Real3D workstations and image generators which cost significantly more than PCs equipped with Obsidian graphics boards. The Real World Benchmark may be accessed from Gemini's Web page at http://www.gemtech.com . "Quantum3D's Obsidians and Intel-based PCs give STI a breakthrough in price/performance that lets us deliver training systems at prices that were previously unthinkable using systems such as the SGI Indigo2 "Max Impact" -- including the Parachute Training system that former President Bush used before his jump at Yuma Proving Grounds earlier this year," said Wade Allen, President of System Technologies, Inc. (STI). "The combination of Quantum3D and Southland Media represents a neat benefit to us, since many of our government customers have large scale commitments to UNIX UNIX Operating system for digital computers, developed by Ken Thompson of Bell Laboratories in 1969. It was initially designed for a single user (the name was a pun on the earlier operating system Multics). and SPARC (Scalable Performance ARChitecture) A family of RISC CPUs from Sun that runs mostly under Sun's Solaris, but also under Linux and BSD operating systems. After development began in the mid-1980s by David Patterson of the University of California at Berkeley and Bill systems." About Quantum3D Quantum3D, Inc., headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif., was established to deliver new levels of price/performance to advanced markets for 2D and realtime 3D visual computing applications. Quantum3D recently merged with Southland Media Systems -- which designed, developed and produced the MGX-PLUS true color graphics accelerator for S-BUS equipped SPARC-based workstations. The merged company will continue under the Quantum3D name and will focus on delivering the company's "Affordable Reality(TM)" products that include low-cost true color accelerators for the professional RISC and personal workstation market and realtime 3D solutions for the visual simulation, coin-op/location-based-entertainment (LBE), and digital content creation The development of newsworthy, educational and entertainment material for distribution over the Internet or other electronic media. See DAMS. (DCC (1) (Direct Cable Connection) A Windows 95/98 feature that allows PCs to be cabled together for data transfer. DCC actually sets up a network connection between the two machines. ) markets. In addition to the MGX family of true color graphics accelerators for SPARC workstations, Quantum3D manufactures and markets the Obsidian(TM) family of realtime 3D graphics accelerators based on advanced configurations of 3Dfx Interactive's Voodoo Graphics(TM) chipset. -0- Note to editors: Quantum3D, MGX PLUS, MGX PCI (1) (Payment Card Industry) See PCI DSS. (2) (Peripheral Component Interconnect) The most widely used I/O bus (peripheral bus). , Obsidian, and Affordable Reality are trademarks of Quantum3D, Inc. Voodoo Graphics is a trademark of 3Dfx Interactive, Inc. Sun, Sun Microsystems, Solaris and SunExpress are trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. SPARC is a trademark of SPARC International, Inc. All SPARC trademarks are used under license and are trademarks or registered trademarks of SPARC International, Inc. in the United States and other countries. Products bearing SPARC trademarks are based upon an architecture developed by Sun Microsystems, Inc. All other trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective manufacturers. CONTACT: Quantum3D, Inc. Ross Smith, 408/747-1020 otis@quantum3d.com http://www.quantum3d.com or Brodeur Porter Novelli Derek Perez/Linda White, 408/324-4848 dperez@brodeur.com lwhite@brodeur.com |
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