Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!usc!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!sdd.hp.com!mips!pacbell.com!att!emory!gatech!taco!hobbes.catt.ncsu.edu!kdarling From: kdarling@hobbes.catt.ncsu.edu (Kevin Darling) Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.advocacy Subject: Re: CDTV, CD-I, DCTV, etc Message-ID: <1991Apr21.073641.22714@ncsu.edu> Date: 21 Apr 91 07:36:41 GMT References: <1991Apr16.071344.20589@ncsu.edu> <1991Apr16.154153.11706@mintaka.lcs.mit.edu> <1991Apr20.131149.28247@ncsu.edu> <1991Apr20.210243.22134@mintaka.lcs.mit.edu> Sender: news@ncsu.edu (USENET News System) Organization: North Carolina State University Lines: 74 In <1991Apr20.210243.22134@mintaka.lcs.mit.edu> rjc@geech.gnu.ai.mit.edu (Ray Cromwell) writes: kdarling@hobbes.catt.ncsu.edu (Kevin Darling) writes: >>One of the advantages of CDROM _is_ that many images can be on disc. It's >>expected that both systems will try to take advantage of this when able to. > > Yes, I agree, but there are some times when image manipulation techniques >are still needed. Especially with games, you need to be able to move >lots of objects around the screen in different motion paths over who >knows how many backgrounds. Even dual playfields don't help. Right, so you'd do so just as any computer would, even CDTV. You can do a lot of animation under cpu control, especially without multiple bitplanes. Note that in fullscreen modes, we lose most of our sprites under CDTV... and the blitter and cpu are slowed down immensely in proportion to CD-I. (tech details are coming - I'm way way behind at work right now :) >>But no, obviously you wouldn't use RLE in a video paint program (altho I can >>think of ways to do it... not much worse than doing the same in CDTV HAM). >>You'd use the 16 or 128 or 256 color modes instead, don't you agree? > > How are the non-RLE modes stored on disk then? Same as with any computer. Either straight, or compressed, or delta'd. There's nothing unique about either CDTV or CD-I files, I assure you ;-). >> JPEG is meant for stills (altho some Apple/IBM types use it temporarily for >> motion). MPEG is the one you meant, and is what will be used by players >> later (both players, we would assume). > (actually, I meant JPEG, for one reason. JPEG chips have already been > fabricated, I have no idea how long it will take for C-cube to design and > produce an MPEG chip.) I'm trying to refind an article I saw the other day on AP news. I _think_ they just announced one. Will let you know if I do. Not positive, but Motorola should be working on one now, too. You're right, dunno how long. > [fullmotion/screen video] No problem, Ray. Someone else must've jumped in somewhere with wrong info. > Why has it taken 5 years for CD-I to finally come near release? Look > how fast C= threw CDTV together and got it to market. Right . Let's see. Counting creating the video chips, that makes what, almost _eight_ years from the start until CDTV was announced? :-) :-) Anyone could throw a CDROM drive and computer into a box, once someone else (CD-I) already carefully researched the objective, look, and product market. Any company could've done the same thing (altho only CBM with the Amiga base could have done even a fair imitation as quickly). > Actually before I heard about CDTV, I wanted CD-I above anything else > (especially above Intel's DVI, or MPC) but I had assumed CD-I would > eventually be 30fps TV quality video That's promised on the 1992 players, and as mentioned also promised as retrofit kits for any earlier players. In 1993 or so, MPEG-II (?) should come out, which'll give even higher quality video (I would guess for future HDTV situations? Haven't kept up that much). If CD-I could've waited still another six months, I believe all players would have fullmotion/screen plus a 68020 core. But that's still coming. MPC and DVI of course, are computers/addons... altho I suppose someone will sooner or later throw an Intel cpu into a player box too . > I don't know if C='s goals were the same as those originally announced > by the CD-I consortium. Also, bring out CDTV first gets them a head > start. Just imagine if CD-I came out first? CDTV wouldn't have a chance. Yeah, CBM had hoped to beat CD-I by over a year. Now it's down to just months. In fact, I may get to borrow one to show in Chicago next weekend. Letcha know if I do. Maybe should borrow a CDTV player at the same time. thanks - kevin