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Acorn's Multimedia Move
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  Acorn have established a stronghold in the education market, but are
now toying with other special interest areas.  Mid-range DTP
specialists are now looking to Acorn machines, and, with the onset of
the Risc PC, multimedia.  This last area was confirmed only a few
weeks ago by Sam Wauchope, Acorn's MD.  Acorn have created Online
Media, a division set up to supply interactive multimedia to the
masses.  Online Media has established links with Oracle, Anglia
Television, Olivetti (what a surprise!) and News International. 
Also, about twenty other companies are planning involvement, including
Microsoft.

  What will available to the user is a television set-top box costing
around 300, built using ARM chips, which will make available
services such as video-on-demand and home shopping.  Acorn's role is
in the supply of software for the client end, and also the production
of tools to help developers create their own applications, allowing
companies to interact with their customers.

  A test run is going ahead in September, and the full release will
be pitched against similar products currently under development from
IBM and Apple.  One thing in Acorn's favour (apart from the RISC
chips involved), will be that they intend to license the box to third
party developers, in an attempt to create an industry standard.

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