NEC ANNOUNCES NOVICE-USER MULTIMEDIA AUTHORING TOOL FOR WEB SITES AND
PRESENTATIONS

NetMC Free Evaluation Copy Available on Internet

San Jose, Calif. -- April 29, 1996-NEC Systems Laboratory today announced
from the Internet World Show (Booth #A309) the early developer release of
NetMC, a new multimedia authoring tool that enables even first-time users
to easily create multimedia-rich Web pages and PC-based presentations.
NetMC is the first in a family of next-generation multimedia products
being developed by NEC Systems Laboratory. A free evaluation copy is
available today by accessing NEC Systems Laboratory's home page at
http://www.nec.com under the "New-Exceptional-Cool" section. A final
release version will be available direct from NEC by distribution on the
World Wide Web for under $100 in June. 

A key feature is NetMC's composed media technology which begins playback
while preloading subsequent media files. This method reduces the time from
"page hit" to playback and waiting time for file loading commonly
associated with media-intensive, batch-loading web pages. Additionally.
this technology provides playback quality that is better than real-time
streaming on the Internet. 

"NetMC is an example of the leading-edge multimedia products that NEC is
developing in the United States and Japan as part of its effort to provide
software solutions to meet companies' global marketing needs," said Jun
Takamura, director of the Computer Software Technology Center. "NetMC
takes advantage of NEC's expertise in multimedia and the Internet." 

Takamura pointed out that in addition to being Japan's leading PC provider,
NEC also is a leading multimedia and on-line service provider in that
country. NEC's PC-VAN is an on-line service in Japan much like AOL or
CompuServe. 

NetMC Features

NetMC enables users to create a multimedia-rich interactive experience for
either Web pages or presentations on standalone PCs. The product includes
samples to speed the user through design and production of professional
quality web pages and presentations. A timeline tool helps the user
combine audio, video, image, animation, and logic for synchronized
playback and interaction. 

Designing layout location and the sizes of videos, images, and hot spots
for interaction is simple using NetMC's integrated page tool. The
product's ability to immediately display results right on a Web page
creates a rapid prototyping environment that makes editing easy. The
notation utility makes it easy to keep track of the elements and direction
of the composition. And the composed media plug-in technology
significantly reduces the frustrating initial downloading time and enables
high-quality playback. 

Takamura noted that NetMC is geared to novice users, such as students and
corporate departmental Web page creators who want to bring the latest in
multimedia technology, including sound, video and animation to their Web
pages. "The cost-effective use of multimedia is becoming critical with the
explosive growth of both Internet and Intranet use of the Web and the
demand for interactive multimedia content?" he said. 

The recommended system for authoring and playback with NetMC includes a
fast 486 or Pentium computer with 256K on board cache; 16MB RAM; VGA or
SVGA graphics adapter card and monitor; 50 MB of hard disk space including
cache (more for authoring, depending on file sizes); 1 6-bit sound card
and speakers or headphones; double-speed CDROM drive; and Microsoft
Windows 95 or Windows NT 3.51.


Limited technical support is available for the early release of the product
through NEC Systems Laboratory. For assistance, call 408-433-1358, Monday
through Friday 8:00 a.m. through 4:00 p.m. Pacific Time or e-mail
netmc@syl.sj.nec.com. 

About NEC Corporation

NEC Corporation, founded in 1899, is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan and had
net sales of $43 billion USD in the last fiscal year. NEC manufactures and
markets a broad range of products, including computer systems and
communications systems, extending from switching systems to cellular
phones, and electronic devices, extending from microprocessors to memory
chips. All of NEC's activities are based on its synergistic business
concept of "C&C," the integration of computers and communications. In
Japan, NEC maintains a network of 89 consolidated subsidiaries, 61 plants,
and approximately 420 sales offices. Internationally, NEC has 93
subsidiaries and affiliates in 30 nations as well as marketing, service,
and research and development facilities in 29 countries. 

About NEC Systems Laboratory, Inc. 

NEC Systems Laboratory, Inc.. a wholly owned subsidiary of NEC Corporation,
was founded in 1972 and has three primary missions: providing marketing
support for NEC's worldwide software business, software development, and
supporting NEC's joint development activities with US-based companies. NEC
Systems Laboratory has offices in San Jose and Mountain View, California;
Princeton, New Jersey and Seattle, Washington.

NEC Systems Laboratory Inc
110 Rio Robins Ave
San Jose, CA 95134-1899
408-433-1434,  fax 408-433-1448
 
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