DEMO 97 Highlights Java-Based Advances and Windows CE Hand-Held PCs
INDIAN WELLS, Calif. — February 11, 1997 — After announcing the eight technology product premieres Monday morning at the Demo 97 conference in Indian Wells, Calif., Executive Producer Chris Shipley turned the focus to two of the hottest technology categories for 1997 – Java-based applications for the Internet, and the new field of Windows CE hand-held computing devices.
"We're seeing rapid and significant changes everyday in Java and Windows CE, and everyone benefits from a forum where the key players come and share their vision for the future," said Shipley, editor of DEMOLetter and executive producer of Demo 97. "Many companies will make major strategic decisions about their Internet and mobile efforts in 1997, and this afternoon's session provided a clear and accurate framework to make a good decision."
Java-Based Applications With Sun Microsystems and its JavaSoft Division leading the way, Monday afternoon gave attendees a look into how Java has transformed from an interesting new tool to create Web applets to a robust development platform for Internet-centric applications.
The range of Java applications included Coda by RandomNoise Inc., a web design tool giving users the power to create 100 percent Java sites without any prior knowledge of programming or scripting. Also featured was Liquid Motion Pro by Dimension X, providing a full-featured Java 2D authoring solution to easily create and publish advanced applets with animation, interactivity and advanced timing control. The Java sessions concluded with presentations by Lotus Development Corp., Sanga International and Corel Corp.
Windows CE Devices
On the portable front, the Demo 97 overview of Windows CE featured two of the hottest new Windows CE hand-held PCs, the Hewlett-Packard 320LX Palmtop PC and the Velo 1 from Philips Electronics. With 320LX Palmtop PC sporting the only full-width display palmtop and the Velo 1 providing a built-in modem and docking station, the competition within the hand-held PC market is likely just getting under way.
Also featured for Windows CE was a new version of Symantec's pcANYWHERE software offing remote access to desktop files information using a hand-held PC. The most consumer-oriented Windows CE was the Navitel TouchPhone, which provides Internet access, voice mail, e-mail, a calendar/scheduler and address book – all in an attractive, intuitive appliance with full touch screen capabilities.
About DEMO 97
DEMO 97 is the personal computer industry's only product review and demonstration conference, featuring the most compelling new product announcements for 1997. The two-part conference includes: General Sessions, where products are presented on stage to a wide audience of top journalists from key business and industry publications, venture capitalists, industry executives, technology industry analysts, and marketing executives; and Demo Stations, where companies offer one-on-one demos to conference attendees.
DEMOLetter is published monthly and delivered on the first Monday of each month, and covers emerging issues and new product trends and technologies in the personal computing industry. DEMOWeekly delivers the latest news and analysis in a concise, timely fax format, and is a benefit of a subscription to DEMOLetter. The conference's Web Site, at www.demo.com, will offer an ongoing "virtual" Demo conference in the coming year.
Demo 97, DEMOLetter, DEMOWeekly, Agenda, Spotlight and CEO's Only are products of the InfoWorld Conference & Media Group, a division of InfoWorld Publishing Company, Inc.
InfoWorld Publishing Company is the publisher of InfoWorld — the pace-setting IS newsweekly which focuses on editorial coverage of client/server products used in corporate enterprises. InfoWorld Publishing Company is a business unit of IDG, the world's leading IT media and research company. More information and access to 125 IDG World Wide Web sites is available at http://www.idg.com .
CONTACT:
Alexander Communications
Amy Berk, [email protected] or
Amanda Berman, [email protected], 415/923-1660