Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/2000/02/23/cebit_preview_a_peek_through/

CeBIT Preview: a peek through the keyhole

That's another fine Messe you've got us into...

By Linda Harrison

Posted in On-Prem, 23rd February 2000 10:43 GMT

Providing CeBIT lets us in, we'll be reporting on the news spewing out of the Hannover Messe as the week unfolds. Here's a taster of what you can expect: Hello boys 3dfx has blown the budget and is promising to have the "real life" Lara Croft parading around its stand. Dutch model Lara Weller, of FHM magazine fame, will be pulling in the crowds while the company launches its Voodoo 4 and 5 graphics cards in Europe. The company will also have the first demo of its first Voodoo cards running on an Apple computer.


Linux in the palm of your hand

Lernout & Hauspie will be showing off a prototype PDA product called "Nak". The Linux-based handheld product will have a speech interface allowing users to send and receive email and surf the Web by talking. Based on Intel's Strong Arm chip, it uses Lernout & Hauspie's "RealSpeak" text-to-speech technology which offers a "near human-sounding" computerised voice.


More bite for Bluetooth

Psion is to announce a partnership with Citrix in connection with its netBook range of products. The deal will focus on mobile e-business. Psion will also discuss how to make Bluetooth more commercially viable.


Roadmap roll out from Nvidia

Nvidia will be revealing the latest 3D developments and trying to enlist more system builders. It will also set out the company's business and 3D product roadmap.


Is that MS in your pocket are you just pleased to see me?

Microsoft will no doubt be hogging its fair share of stand space this year. It plans to demonstrate the latest features of its new generation pocket PCs. It will also be showing the latest CE-based and Windows powered products.


Boxing clever

National Semiconductor will be demonstrating its wireless and mobile offerings. The chip maker will also be showing products using its latest technology - including Web pads, thin clients and set-top boxes.


Two into one will go

Fujitsu Siemens Computers will discuss the status of the company's integration programme, while making product and strategy announcements. It is due to launch new consumer PC ranges, as well as show off its "Celvin" Easy PC.


WAPpy clappy

Motorola will be unveiling six new WAP phones due to be introduced in Europe, the Middle East and Africa by the end of June. The company is claiming an industry first with one of the phones - a GSM tri-band GPRS network for speedy Internet connection.


Off the shoulder PC - suits you, Sir

Toshiba will have an Innovation Corner at the show, showing everything from "a PC you can wear around your neck to one you can roll up and put in your pocket". The Personal Computer Pendant has a hard disk in SD memory card format, making it small enough to wear like a necklace - if that kind of thing appeals to you. The DynaSheet is a portable PC with a flexible screen that can be rolled up it uses voice and handwriting recognition so there is no need for a keyboard.


Are you being servered

And finally, to bring some order to the proceedings, analysts from IDC will be available to discuss the server and storage markets on Friday. Topics due to be covered include disk drives, the European and worldwide storage subsystems market, new technological trends and product success predictions. ®