Apple Ships QuickTime VR, Enabling a New Class of Multimedia and Bringing
Virtual Reality to Macintosh and Windows Personal Computers

Full Screen Views Demonstrated, Creating Dramatic Experience of "Being
There"

CANNES, France (MILIA Exhibition)--January 13, 1995--Walking along the
Great Wall of China. you are awestruck by its sheer size and intricate
design. Strolling through the halls of the Louvre, you suddenly find
yourself held in the captivating gaze of the Mona Lisa herself. Clients
nod in approval after walking down the corridors of their planned office
building from the comfort of their own boardroom.

Thanks to Apple Computer, Inc.'s award-winning new software technology,
QuickTime VR, realworld experiences like these are now possible on an
ordinary personal computer, without adding any special hardware or
accessories. Today, Apple announced availability, licensing! and royalty
terms for QuickTime VR 1.0, enabling multimedia content developers and
production companies to create an entirely new class of multimedia
products for a wide range of markets. At the MILIA Exhibition. Apple also
demonstrated future QuickTime VR directions including dramatic new
performance enhancements, significantly smaller file sizes and the
capability to have full-screen views.

QuickTime VR--short for virtual reality--is software that lets a user view
a photographic or rendered representation of a scene. The software offers
two kinds of experiences: a panoramic technology that enables users to
explore 360 degree scenes, and an interaction technology that allows users
to pick up and interact with objects. Users can zoom in or out of a scene,
navigate from one scene to another, and even pick up and inspect objects.
As the user changes his or her view of the scene, correct perspective
maintained, creating the effect of being at the location and looking
around. QuickTime VR is the first mainstream technology to enable
immersive experiences based on real world scenes. QuickTime VR was
recently awarded the 1995 MacUser Magazine "Eddy" Award for Breakthrough
Technology of the Year.

"QuickTime VR is one of the most significant advances ever introduced for
interactive multimedia," said David Nagel, Apple senior vice president and
general manager of the company's AppleSoft division. "This dramatic new
technology brings home the proverb--'Tell me and I will forget; Show me
and I will remember; Involve me and I will understand.' QuickTime VR
brings to multimedia the involvement and understanding level of this
age-old philosophy."

QuickTime VR is a cross-platform technology designed to run on even
entry-level Macintosh and Windows computers. QuickTime VR panoramic file
sizes are small--just 800K for one panoramic view.

New Market Opportunities Examples of how QuickTime VR could be used
include:

* Education: An application can allow students to explore the
  Egyptian Pyramids, or the habitat of a polar bear.
* Engineering: Airplanes and buildings that have not yet been
  built can be explored and analyzed.
* Kiosks: Malls and theme parks can use QuickTime VR to provide
  interactive, real-world directions to help orient a shopper
  or visitor.
* Architecture: QuickTime VR can enable an interactive walk-through
  of a new house or office building.
* Surrogate Travel: Tours of Venice are possible for people who
  cannot physically go there.
* Games: Exploration and mystery games can use QuickTime VR to
  allow people to go through a fun house or visit a crime scene.

Several multimedia developers and photographers are currently using
QuickTime VR.

Future Directions

In demonstrations at MILIA, Apple is providing a sneak preview of future
directions for QuickTime VR, including the ability to create native Apple
Power Macintosh run-time software--with which users can experience a
dramatic, full-screen experience that totally immerses the user in the
virtual environment, native Power Macintosh development tools, decreased
panoramic file sizes, zoom-in viewing of interactive objects, and a
"C"-level application programming interface.

Licensing, Royalties and Availability

QuickTime VR is a software technology that Apple will license to third
parties in the form of cross-platform run-time software (for Apple
Macintosh, Apple Power Macintosh computers and Microsoft Windows-based
PCs), and authoring tools (Macintosh-based). Developers using QuickTime VR
can author once on the Macintosh platform and deliver this content to run
on both Macintosh and Windows-based PCs, enabling access to the vast
market of personal computer users.

The license fee for QuickTime VR authoring tools is US$2,000 per seat.
Royalties for developers using the QuickTime VR application (such as on a
CD-ROM) will range from US$0.40 to US$0.80 per unit. There are no
royalties for non-commercial use of QuickTime VR. QuickTime VR is expected
to be available to developers in March 1995. To be notified, provide your
name, company name, address, phone, fax, e-mail address to
QuickTime.VR@applelink.apple.com.

System Requirements

QuickTime VR 1.0 authoring tools require a minimum of a 68040 33MHz-based
Apple Macintosh computer with 40 MB RAM, System 7.1, MPW 3.2 and HyperCard
2.2. The run-time software requires HyperCard 2.0 (or later) or Macromedia
Director 3.1.3 (or later).

The minimum Macintosh system required for the run-time software is a
QuickTime-capable Macintosh with a 68030 25 MHz processor, QuickTime 2.0,
System 7.1 or later, 8-bit video, 5 MB RAM. A double speed CD-ROM is
recommended for CD-based software titles.

The minimum Windows system required for the run-time software is QuickTime
2.0 for Windows, Windows 3.1, MPC 2 configuration (80386, 33 MHz
processor, 8-bit video, 8 MB RAM). A double-speed CD-ROM is recommended
for CD-based software titles.

Apple Computer, Inc., a recognized pioneer and innovator in the information
industry, creates powerful solutions based on easy to use personal
computers, servers, peripherals, software, online services, and personal
digital assistants. Headquartered in Cupertino, California, Apple
(NASDAQ:AAPL) develops, manufactures, licenses and markets products,
technologies and services for the business, education, consumer,
scientific & engineering and government markets in over 140 countries.

Apple Computer Inc
20525 Mariana Ave
Cupertino, CA 95014
408-996-1010

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