Chromeffects

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Microsoft announced Chromeffects as an add-on for Windows 98 to play 3D graphics and video through a web browser or in separate player software, for ads with flashing text and other animation, or to generate user interface enhancements for Web-based applications. [1]

Chromeffects promised to deliver complex multimedia over low-bandwidth connections. Using HTML, XML, C++, VBScript, and Jscript, developers would turn a web browser into a rippling, 3D space with audio and video playback. Later versions of Chromeffects were planned to have the ability to be used for representing databases in 3D. [2] [3]

A MacWeek article from August 1998 quoted David Card, an analyst at Jupiter Communications as saying, "Chromeffects is cool software, and it's not often I say Microsoft has cool software. Apple doesn't have anything comparable". [2] [3] [4]

Chromeffects had problems with its business model, it was not intended to be a freely distributed technology, rather OEM PC manufacturers or other commercial entities would license the technology to provide to their customers as an IE add-on. However, despite a hard marketing push in mid-1998, OEM interests never materialized and Microsoft canceled the project as part of a major internal reorganization in November 1998. [5] [6] The different components of Chromeffects were separated and integrated into other Microsoft products, such as DirectAnimation in Internet Explorer. [7]

The Microsoft Liquid Motion technology used Chromeffects "under the hood".

A similar newer modern initiative by Microsoft is Silverlight. [3]

References

  1. ↑ Weston, Randy (1998-07-21). "Microsoft debuts Chromeffects". CNET News . CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 2014-07-14. Retrieved 2014-07-04.
  2. 1 2 Elan, Daniel (2004-02-02). "Inside iTunes: Part III - Microsoft: We hate your baby, please kill it". Roughly Drafted. Archived from the original on 2014-04-10. Retrieved 2014-07-04.
  3. 1 2 3 Jary, Simon (2008-09-02). "Google's Chrome has no chance of success. Fact!". PC Advisor . IDG. Archived from the original on 2014-07-04. Retrieved 2014-07-04.
  4. ↑ MacWEEK . Ziff Davis. August 1998. ISSN   0892-8118.{{cite magazine}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  5. ↑ Festa, Paul (1998-12-03). "Microsoft's Chromeffects coming out after all". CNET News. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 2014-07-04. Retrieved 2014-07-04.
  6. ↑ Smith, Tony (1998-11-13). "Microsoft moves Chromeffects onto back-burner". The Register . Archived from the original on 2014-07-04. Retrieved 2014-07-03.
  7. ↑ Festa, Paul (1998-11-12). "Microsoft shelves Chromeffects". CNET News. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 2014-07-14. Retrieved 2014-07-04.
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