Video Toaster News

The Video Toaster, NewTek's long-awaited encoder, genlock, frame grabber, and digital video-effects board, wowed the video professionals at the National Association of Broad-casters show in Las Vegas. Now being promised by reliable NewTek sources for October 1989—only about 18 months after its announcement qualifying the Toaster as the most ectoplasmic third-party vapourware so far for the Amiga—the Toaster will probably be a must-have for desktop video producers. Beware, however, because the software to run the Toaster won't be available until the spring of 1990. You'll also need some extra goodies like a timebase corrector to manipulate taped video, as well as an Amiga 2000/2500. The base unit should cost $1,595.

While NewTek may have the product with the highest profile, there are other competitors in the wings, notably some little-known video products from Europe, that may steal some of the Toaster's heat. There are several 24-bit color capture boards for the Amiga coming out, too: all this new hardware is going to change the Amiga desktop video and desktop publishing market in significant and unpredictable ways by the end of this year. NewTek's ultrasecret development team at its "Alcatraz" research facility will need to put in 20-hour days to keep on top of it all. For more information, contact NewTek at 115 West Crane Street. Topeka, Kansas 66603:(800) 843-8934.

—Steven Anzovin