Answering criticism that by turning its back on Windows NT the company is shutting itself out of some of the best software developers in the business, Silicon Graphics Inc said yesterday it is creating an NT version of its Cosmo Worlds VRML virtual reality modeling language development suite. In addition, 3Dlabs Inc will be bundling Windows and Mac OS versions of SGI’s Cosmo Player VRML interface for viewing internet applications in 3D with its Permedia and Glint 3D chip sets. 3Dlabs OEMs will be able to license Cosmo directly from SGI if they prefer. A slew of graphics board and system vendors use Glint chips, which have been designed specifically for use in Windows NT systems. Meantime, SGI’s going to incorporate Netscape Communications Corp’s Live3D technology into a new version of its Cosmo Player browser plug-in which Netscape will then integrate back into its new Communicator client bundle as the standard VRML component rather than as a plug-in. SGI hopes that by seeding the market with PC software it’ll promote interest in its graphics workstations. SGI is reportedly considering rolling its special effects Alias/Wavefront software out on NT as well.
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