Apple Computer Inc would like to share its newest vision with you, and hopes it will blank out any memory of the recent dark days: enter Audio Visual Technologies, better known as lots of multimedia bits and pieces in one box. The aim is to integrate telecommunications, video and speech with current technologies. First results, due for September shipment, are two Macintosh computers that enable users to input, output and manipulate video signals in real time and show them on a either a computer or a television screen. Both the Centris 660AV and the Quadra 840AV use the Motorola Inc 68040 microprocessor, respectively in 25MHz and 40MHz versions, and AT&T Co’s 3210 signal processor, in 55MHz and 66MHz versions. The Quadra is Apple’s most powerful Macintosh yet, but product line manager Keith Gould said it’s a taste of what the PowerPC will be able to offer. Despite speculation about delays, (CI No 2,217), he said the PowerPC chip will go into all the Macintosh boxes, for availability no later than the first half of 1994, which is nearly 10 years to the day since the first (mono) Macintosh was launched. The 660AV starts at UKP1,950, the 840AV at UKP3,250 and both are PowerPC upgradeable. New technologies in the AV family include the modem-like GeoPort, a software-based telecommunications architecture which enables users in possession of a GeoPort Telecom Adaptor and associated software to marry up to telephone services and support phone calling and answering, as well as send and receive data and facsimile. The adapter will support analogue services at 9,600bps. Casper, Apple’s much-vaunted speech recognition technology, is finally available as the modestly-named PlainTalk. It handles basic menu commands, and speech-activated commands can be created via AppleScript or C E Software Holdings Inc’s QuickKeys. But the bad news is it ignores you unless you have a US accent (stirrings of a move to convert the world to US-Applespeak?), and does not take dictation. There’s no time scale for further versions. Also for September release are the Powerbook 165 4/80, a sleek pair of powered speakers and AudioVision 14 display with CD quality sound speakers and microphone.
