This is from the Sonique newsletter, (sonique as you may
know is a rather good MP3-player on the PC) 

SONIQUE NEWSLETTER - VOL 2. ISSUE 4. - MARCH, 2001 

INTRODUCTION   

As promised, this issue is a special update on the 
current state of Sonique 2.  Things are progressing
very well and we're wetting ourselves several times 
a day from sheer excitement. We have to keep the    
entire office covered in plastic.  We've got webvan 
delivering rubber pants and huggies directly to our 
workstations. Yup, Sonique 2 is really that cool. 

(stuff about sonique 2 deleted) 

SONIQUE 2 PRIMER   

You are probably wondering just what this Sonique 2 
thing is really all about.  How is it different than  
Sonique 1?  Why should you even care?  Well, first   
off, let's talk about the number 2.  The "2" in     
Sonique 2 is really less about Sonique VERSION 2.0   
and more about Sonique 2, THE SEQUEL.  Sonique 2 is  
not just another upgrade of the same old tired software.
No No NO! Sonique 2 is completely different.  Sonique 2  
has been in development for over 2 years and shares almost
no code with Sonique 1.  It is based on entirely new  
ultra-swoobtastic(tm) technology.  Audio system,   
GUI engine, Skinning system, plugin architecture,  
visual system, all sparkling new!  Even has that great 
"new software" smell.  

SONIQUE 2 & MANTIS  

Sonique 2 is based on some very nifty technology that  
Andrew, Nicholas, and the rest of the Sonique coders  
have been developing for the last year called MANTIS.
MANTIS serves two important functions: First, it separates 
GUI design from application development, allowing designers 
and programmers to work separately on the same app, freeing 
designers from the need to program and programmers from the 
the need to do GUI design (they hate that).  Second, it     
provides an extremely powerful environment for creating and 
operating real-time GUI interfaces.  Animation, effects,   
layering, font rendering, menu systems, and just about    
everything else are handled by MANTIS, giving the GUI    
designer supreme control over the look and feel of their  
app.  Want to make a fully animated semi-transparent free 
floating dockable custom menu with flames shooting out of it? 
Want it in 200 languages? MANTIS can do that for you...  

OTHER TECHNOLOGY 

MANTIS is not the only booty-slappin' body rockin' trick up   
our sleeve.  There's also the new audio system.  It features  
24 bit audio (just like professional studio gear), support   
for DSP effects chains, can easily handle just about any file 
format, and is faster than fast.                      

The plugin system is flexible and powerful.  There are     
really no limitations to what you can do.  Plugins can take
advantage of MANTIS and integrate seamlessly. We expect a lot
of really interesting plugins to be developed for Sonique 2.  

This is going to be amazing... 

(stuff about skins removed) 

PLATFORM SUPPORT  

Sonique 2 is very portable.  We designed it to be from the 
beginning.

Expect Sonique 2 for Windows 9x, ME, NT4, 2K, XP as well as 
Mac OSX, 

Linux, BeOS, and AmigaDE

LEGACY SUPPORT  

Yes, Sonique 1.x Skins and Visuals will work with Sonique 2.. 

QUESTIONS  

If you have questions about Sonique 2, ask them in the forum 
(0000,8000,0000 http://forum.sonique.com).
We will go through the threads in the forum every so often
and move common questions onto the FAQ.

The answers that you seek are often available from other users 
or Team Sonique members themselves.  We prefer communicating 
in the forum to receiving tons of email.  We get enough email
as it is. 

CONCLUSION  

Sonique 2 is something everyone at Team Sonique cares about 
deeply.  We're sure that you are going to love it.  We
certainly do... 

BIZ DEV 

If you have business related questions about Mantis or Sonique2, 
please contact our business development staff at 0000,8000,0000
info@sonique.com or call 415-276-3940.  

I hope this is of intrest to you,  

Bye M Stormink.