News October 17, 07:29 Eastern Time
SEP 17, 1998, M2 Communications - RealNetworks, Inc. and Intel Corporation today announced an agreement to further accelerate broad-scale deployment of next generation streaming media programming on the Internet and intranets. As part of the strategic agreement, RealNetworks has licensed and integrated Intel Streaming Web Video software technology into RealSystem G2. In addition, Intel will work with RealNetworks to promote and market the technology to Web media authors. Intel Streaming Web Video software is an integral component of RealNetworks' RealVideo G2, which will provide state-of-the-art production efficiencies for creating next-generation streaming video programming and will deliver significant performance and quality improvements to consumers.
"Intel is continuously developing technologies to advance consumer's media and Internet experience. Our agreement with RealNetworks is the latest instance of Intel working with industry leaders to speed the delivery of innovative technology to the marketplace," said Craig Kinnie, Intel vice president and director, Intel Architecture Labs. "The combination of Intel technology and RealNetworks' solutions will lower the barriers to widespread deployment of streaming media programming on the Web."
"We're pleased that Intel has chosen to join with RealNetworks to further accelerate rapid adoption of next-generation streaming media programming on the Web," said Len Jordan, senior vice president, Media Systems, RealNetworks, Inc. "The combination of Intel's compelling video software technology coupled with RealNetworks' media delivery system will provide tens of millions of RealPlayer users with new levels of streaming media quality."
"The timing of RealNetworks' implementation of Intel's latest technology in RealSystem G2 lends a significant edge to the upcoming launch of our online video channel, INSTAVID, enabling us to encode our content rapidly and economically while creating an improved quality experience for our users," said Atlantic Records' SVP New Media, Karen Colamussi. "This combination is an important step in extending Atlantic's ability to make mainstream broadcasting possible on the Internet."
For broadcasters, the combination of Intel Streaming Web Video software and RealSystem G2 enables up to four times faster video encoding than previous streaming media delivery systems (according to RealNetworks benchmark testing*). For example, where you previously needed multiple computers to encode live video, this new technology coupled with RealSystem G2 SureStream, will create a single file that scales from 5 Kbps to 1 Mbps in real-time on a 400 Mhz Pentium II processor-based system, while improving video performance and quality.** The combination of Intel Streaming Web Video software with RealSystem G2 streaming video capabilities will also improve the decoding performance of streaming video, providing new levels of streaming media quality to the broadest range of personal computers. Next generation (SMIL-based) programming will also benefit from RealNetworks' integration of Intel's technology by allowing the creation and playback of richer media presentations.
About RealSystemG2
RealSystem G2 enables the highest quality audio and video available on the Internet and corporate intranets today. A powerful new music Codec provides a higher level of sound quality for dial-up users, and new postfiltering capabilities create smoother video images. The new SureStream feature provides a consistent end-user experience across variable Internet connection speeds, improving the audio and video quality. The addition of two new media types, RealText and RealPix, combined with support for Synchronised Multimedia Integration Language (SMIL), enables rich multi-stream programming to be delivered over typical modem connections. RealSystem G2 (beta 2), which incorporates Intel Streaming Web Video software, will be available within 30 days. Shipping versions of RealSystem 5.0 and the beta 1 release of RealSystem G2 are available at real.com.
About the Agreement
Under this strategic agreement, RealNetworks and Intel are joining forces to develop and promote rich media to the Internet development community. In addition, Intel has worked closely with RealNetworks to integrate Intel's technology into RealNetworks' products. The Intel software technology involved enables playback quality to scale up to the capability of the user's processor, and makes video encoding possible on a PC in real time. More information on the Intel software technology is available at developer.intel.com.
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