Path: utzoo!utgpu!watmath!att!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!ucbvax!agate!bionet!ames!coherent!dplatt
From: dplatt@coherent.com (Dave Platt)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac
Subject: Re: MicroTV for your MacII ($395)
Message-ID: <31071@coherent.com>
Date: 8 Aug 89 21:08:54 GMT
References: <20700@uflorida.cis.ufl.EDU> <7285@microsoft.UUCP>
Reply-To: dplatt@coherent.com (Dave Platt)
Organization: Coherent Thought Inc., Palo Alto CA
Lines: 39

In article <7285@microsoft.UUCP> t-robje@microsoft.UUCP (Rob Jellinghaus) writes:

> It does look impressive, if not for the fact that the biggest window you
> can get out of the thing is DA-sized.  (At least, that's the interpretation
> I put on the article with its accompanying picture.)  You can't have a full-
> screen window showing your TV program; the best you can do is a small
> window, probably about 128 x 128 pixels.  Too bad... just when I thought
> I'd be able to use my II as a TV...
> 
> If anyone knows any differently, please let me know!

According to MacWeek, the first version is limited to a 128-by-96-pixel
viewing area.  On the Mac II, it'll display in 128 shades of gray.  By
December, Aapps expects to ship "MicroTV Professional" which includes
a daughterboard;  it will support a viewing-window of up to 256-by-192,
will be able to capture single screens up to 640-by-480, and will be
able to receive FM radio signals ($595).  "An upgrade will be available
to buyers of the original board" (price not specified).  A color
version should be available next year.

The device uses an off-the-shelf TV tuner, with custom hardware and
software.

One of the people involved in the project is David Ramsey, the
programmer fired by Apple in June for allegedly disclosing confidential
information.  [Personal opinion... I hope David does very well by this
new venture.  Apple's decision to fire him was unfair and unjustified,
in my humble opinion and based on what I've read about the case.  Best
of luck, David!]

This looks as if it could be a _very_ interesting little device...
especially once a color version is available.


-- 
Dave Platt    FIDONET:  Dave Platt on 1:204/444        VOICE: (415) 493-8805
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