MWSF 2000 wrap-up

After 3 days of Expo, everything is returning to normal order again. At least it seems so. After all there where quite a few exciting announcements these days. I'll try to concentrate the most important announcements on one page.

Hardware

• 3Dfx announced full support of the Mac for their new VSA-100 chipset, as it is used in the Voodoo4 and Voodoo5 cards. Support includes drivers for OpenGL, Glide, Quicktime and DVD support with their own DVD-Player software. The Mac versions of the cards will be specially adapted to the Mac, ship in Spring and come in their own boxes. This is clearly my favorite.
• Creative Labs announces support for the Mac, their whole line of new USB products and the SoundBlaser Live! Soundcards. It might take a little longer until these are established, since the cards use their own API. Of course that API first has to be supported. Also pretty cool.
• Also VST has shown some exciting new FireWire products. IEEE 1394 is clearly on the move to the lead...
• Harman Kardon has also shown their iSub Subwoover that is a must for all new iMac owners.

• Mac OS X was announced and presented by Steve Jobs. I don't think I have to say much more. It's going to be cool.
• Many Games were announced by MacSoft and others. They were too numerous to mention all, but it looks as if the Mac Gaming market is also growing stronger now.
• Apple also promoted iMovie, which looks cool, but since I have never seen it live, I can't really judge.
• I'd also count Apple's new Internet strategy one of these points. To see what the iTools are about check Apple.
• And finally Apple invested 200Million $ into earthlink and teamed up with them.