Some positive news...
S3 and Silicon Graphics Deliver OpenGL Applications for the Volume
Windows Platform
S3 Is Driving High-Performance Mainstream 3D Applications to the Volume Personal Computer
Market
SANTA CLARA, Calif., Aug. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Driving the development of high-performance 3D applications, S3(R)
Incorporated (Nasdaq:SIII) and Silicon Graphics, Inc. (Nasdaq:SGI) (Mountain View, Calif.) today announced a long term
licensing agreement whereby S3 will distribute OpenGL(R), the industry standard for ubiquitous, high-performance 3D
graphics. Under the terms of the agreement, S3's Level 3 license will provide S3 OEM customers with source and object code
for OpenGL -- enabling them to deliver high- performance 3D solutions for the Windows platform.
``Owning more than 53 percent of the 3D market, S3 is in the number one position to deliver high-end 3D applications to the
volume mainstream market,'' said Michael Howse, Director of ISV Marketing, S3 Incorporated. ``This OpenGL support
combined with our existing support for Direct3D(R) provides developers with the flexibility to develop on either of the top two
industry API platforms.''
``As the volume leader for 3D graphics processors, S3's decision to support OpenGL clearly demonstrates the desire and
need for this technology among application developers,'' said Drew Henry, Director of Marketing, Advanced Graphics, Silicon
Graphics. ``Silicon Graphics is excited about its partnership with S3 to jointly develop and market OpenGL solutions for the
Windows platform. We look forward to a long and successful relationship.''
About OpenGL
OpenGL is a proven, highly versatile 2D and 3D graphics application programming interface (API) that enables PC,
workstation and supercomputing hardware vendors to provide high-performance graphics solutions. OpenGL is now available
for multiple platforms, including Microsoft Windows 95, Windows NT(R), Mac(R) OS and UNIX(R). Created by Silicon
Graphics and offered as an open technology, the company initiated the formation of an industry-wide ARB in 1992 which is
now governing OpenGL.
Supporting Quotes
John McCrea, vice president of worldwide sales and marketing for Sense8.
``We fully expect the combination of S3 acceleration and OpenGL to enable performance that will substantially accelerate the
proliferation of Sense8's 3D/VR applications. We see this joint commitment to Open GL by S3 and SGI as a very smart
strategic move that promises to deliver a new standard for 3D performance on the mainstream Windows platform.''
David Frerichs, VRML Marketing Manager at Cosmo Software.
``Cosmo Player utilizes the capabilities of OpenGL to deliver high-performance, high-quality rendering across our supported
environments. We are exited that S3 is delivering hardware-accelerated OpenGL to a wide audience. Now Cosmo Player will
be able to utilize their popular hardware platform to deliver a more compelling 3D Web experience.''
Jimmy Giliberti, director of product development at Kinetix.
``The OpenGL initiative between S3 and SGI demonstrates convergence of the mainstream Windows platform and multimedia
accelerators. For Kinetix's most power-hungry customers, 3D Studio MAX R2's support for the OpenGL 1.1 specification
will result in significant boosts in interactive 3D graphics performance.''
Terry Baker, president and CEO of TGS.
``As a leading supplier of OpenGL-based applications and toolkits for technical, professional and corporate markets, TGS is
pleased that the cooperation between SGI and S3 will result in an affordable volume-based acceleration platform for OpenGL
software. TGS will work closely with both organizations to ensure that TGS products, such as the new 3Space applications
and 3D-MasterSuite C++ and Java developer's tools, take full advantage of the S3 hardware and drivers. TGS
OpenGL-based applications have been distributed to more than 1,000,000 users, are ideally suited for the S3 architecture.''
Jay Kidd, vice president of marketing for MultiGen Inc.
``The combination of S3 performance and market presence with the power and sophistication of OpenGL will be a driving
force in the broad use of high performance 3D graphics on PCs. As a leader in real-time 3D software tools, including our new
MultiGen Creator for Windows NT, this gives our customers even greater choice in their OpenGL compatible hardware
selection.''
About Silicon Graphics
Silicon Graphics, Inc. is a leading supplier of high-performance interactive computing systems. The company offers the
broadest range of products in the industry -- from low-end desktop workstations to servers and high-end Cray(R)
supercomputers. Silicon Graphics also markets MIPS(R) microprocessor designs, Alias|Wavefront(TM) entertainment and
design software and other software products. The company's key markets include manufacturing, government, science and
industries, telecommunications and entertainment sectors. Silicon Graphics and its subsidiaries have offices throughout the
world and headquarters in Mountain View, California.
About S3 Incorporated
S3 Incorporated, founded in 1989 with headquarters in Santa Clara, California, is the world's largest supplier of multimedia
acceleration hardware and its associated software(*). S3 is committed to applying its expertise in audio, video, graphics, and
platform acceleration to create innovative and affordable products for the home, desktop and mobile markets. The company's
vision for the future is to also bring a rich, consumer electronics-type experience to PC users -- integrating the best available
consumer multimedia technologies into the mainstream PC platform.
Except for historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release are forward-looking statements that
are subject to risk and uncertainties, including the impact of competitive products and pricing and of alternative technological
advances, market acceptance of the company's and its customers' new products, and other risks detailed from time to time in
S3's SEC reports, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996.
NOTE: S3 is a registered trademarks of S3 Incorporated. The S3 corporate logo is a trademark of S3 Incorporated. Other
marks referenced herein are the property of their respective owners. Silicon Graphics and OpenGL are registered trademarks
of Silicon Graphics, Inc.
(*) Source: Mercury Research (Scottsdale, AZ)
SOURCE: S3 Incorporated |
