Re: Second Sight SVGA Board Info (text only)

[ltchean@iss.nus.sg (Lim Thye Chean)]

Jawaid Bazyar (bazyar@netcom.com) wrote:
: SecondSight� SVGA Board
: Specifications & Features

First, a big THANKS for this article!

: (Note: existing software titles will not automatically use the high-resolution 
: modes).

Does the 320x200x256 and 640x200x256 considered high-resolution modes?

: Software Support

: SecondSight comes with an image viewer program that supports GIF, TIFF, RIX, 
: BMP, etc.

How about animation? I would support something like flic viewer, or better
still, MPEG or AVI or QuickTime player...

: A programmer's library with on-disk documentation is also available, to 
: facilitate the development of third-party software for the card.

What languages are supported? Can I use Orca/Pascal? 

: Expected Third Party Software Support

: Sequential Systems
: 	discQuest� and discQuest Encyclopedia�

When can we expect this to be ready? Finally a good reason to get CD-ROM for
GS!

: Procyon
: 	GNO/ME (high resolution text drivers)

Good, but a little disappointed by not going graphical for GNO/ME. A good
interface would make this a killer product.

: 	TelCom II

Again, when? This is one of the longest waiting vaporware...

: Digisoft Innovations
: 	Twilight II

Will the support be in the coming 2.0?

: Q. How much video memory can the Second Sight support?
: A. 1MB (megabyte). The card comes standard with 512K, enough to support 
:    up to 800x600x256 resolution.

Max resolution supported only at 1024x768x256, which is only 768K. 256K
wasted for 1MB configuration?

: Q. Can I use Second Sight on my Apple IIe?
: A. Yes. The IIe's video modes are emulated just as they are on a IIGS.  
:    Second Sight will allow IIe users to view quality pictures, such as 
:    GIF images, for the first time.  Die-hard AppleWorks users on IIe's 
:    will now be able to use large paper-white monitors.  This will also 
:    have applications in large-monitors for people with handicaps.

One possible killer application: AppleWorks that support Second Sight! How
about that! You can use the new text mode! Or even better - redesign the new
card interface using the high resolution (perhaps 640x200x256), and both
Apple IIe and IIGS users will have a new fantastic AppleWorks! Come to think
of it, it can be a new type of market: Second Sight software - software that
runs on both Apple //e and Apple IIGS, which uses good graphics and 
consitent interface for both machines. 

: Q. I want better graphics, but I can't afford to buy the card and a 
:    new monitor. Can I use the Second Sight on my current Apple RGB monitor?
: A. Yes, although you are limited to 640x400x256 interlaced, in graphics 
:    mode, and 80x25 in text mode.

Is the new text mode special? Can they have coloured text like the PC? Can
they have new character sets? How about other attributes?

--
           Lim Thye Chean: Lim is my surname. My name is Thye Chean.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Research Engineer:Institute of Systems Science. GALAXIA Authoring System author
  Address: Kent Ridge PO Box 1130, Singapore 9111   Email: ltchean@iss.nus.sg