Creative, Corel Plan To Make Linux Os, Apps Consumer-Friendly With Audio, Video - Creative Technology and Corel will develop video and audio software for Linux - Company Business and Marketing

EDP Weekly's IT Monitor, Dec 20, 1999

Alliance Brings Sound Blaster Solutions Support To Corel Linux OS and Applications

Creative Technology Ltd., a popular provider of multimedia solutions for personal entertainment and productivity, and Canada's Corel Corp., publisher of CorelDraw, WordPerfect, and recently Linux software, are joining to forces to spur development of Linux applications for high-quality audio and video. Creative will work with Corel to add support for its line of Sound Blaster Live! digital audio solutions and its line of Personal Digital Entertainment (PDE) Internet solutions that include Internet devices, applications and services.

As part of the effort, Corel will distribute its upcoming Linux- based suite of applications with support for Creative's industry- standard audio solutions and PDE devices bundled in. The two firms will also co-develop Linux drivers for Creative's branded solutions. Creative's PDE Internet solutions include the NOMAD line of portable audio devices and the WebCam Go line of portable PC cameras. Sound Blaster Live! drivers for Linux are already available and will, under the agreement, be customized for Corel's distribution.

"This joint development effort with Creative is an endorsement of Corel's Linux initiatives," says Michael Cowpland, CEO of Corel. "The joint effort with Creative will generate significant momentum behind our development effort for Linux consumer applications. Including support for the popular Sound Blaster audio and Personal Digital Entertainment solutions will further accelerate development for consumer-friendly Linux-based applications for productivity, entertainment, Internet audio and video."

Creative develops and markets a wide array of multimedia solutions under the "Blaster" name for the PC, entertainment, education and productivity tools market.