Iomega announces use of Zoran JPEG chip. It looks like they are doing motion-JPEG video. Weak. Since M-JPEG does not compress video as much as MPEG2, Iomega will sell a lot more blank discs! Got to believe Iomega is considering MPEG1 and/or MPEG2 for future products. You have to ask yourself why anyone would buy a Buz multimedia producer instead of MVP. The only reason I can think of is for still pictues in JPEG format.
SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 25, 1997--Zoran
Corporation (NASDAQ:ZRAN) announced today that Iomega Corporation has
signed a multi-million dollar purchase order for Zoran's JPEG chips
to be included in Iomega's new Buz(TM) multimedia producer. The new
Buz(TM) multimedia producer is a video capture and editing board that
is used with Iomega's Jaz(R) and Zip(TM) disks to provide the easiest
way to get multimedia from camcorders, DVD-ROMS, CD-ROMS, VCRs, laser
disc players and digital cameras into a PC. The Buz product is
expected to begin shipping in the fourth quarter of 1997.
"We chose Zoran because of their field-proven JPEG technology and
leadership position in the JPEG business," said Maury Domengeaux,
director of Jaz product marketing for Iomega Corporation. "Zoran's
cost-effective JPEG chips have enabled us to provide an affordable
and easy-to-use consumer video product. The Buz multimedia
producer will enable PC users to personalize and enjoy home movies as
never before."
"We are very pleased to be providing our JPEG technology to an
industry leader such as Iomega," said Dr. Isaac Shenberg, vice
president of sales and marketing for Zoran Corporation. "The initial
agreement with Iomega is one of the largest single purchase orders
for JPEG chips ever received by Zoran. We believe that using
low-cost, high-capacity storage devices such as the Jaz disks, is the
first step in bringing quality video into the homes of
non-professional PC users. We hope to further expand the reach of
our JPEG technology into the high-volume consumer markets."
About Zoran
Zoran Corporation develops and markets integrated circuits and
software for digital video and audio applications enabled by
compression for the PC and consumer multimedia markets. Zoran's
product lines include JPEG codecs, MPEG and DVD decoders, Dolby
Digital and MPEG audio decoders, real-time Video CD and DVD software
for the PC, and VLSI cores. The company's software is bundled by PC
and graphic system manufacturers for software-only or hardware
assisted Video CD, DVD and JPEG compressed video playback on the PC.
Current applications for Zoran IC products include professional and
consumer video editing systems, filmless digital cameras, PC-based or
stand-alone Video CD systems and DVD players, and digital audio
systems.
The company has further strengthened its technology leadership
with the recent acquisition of CompCore Multimedia, Inc., a leading
provider of software and hardware IC cores for multimedia products.
Zoran is headquartered in Santa Clara, California, with operations in
Haifa, Israel, Tokyo, Japan and Toronto, Canada.
Zoran's products and technologies have been adopted by many of
the world's largest manufacturers including Acer, ATI, AT&T, Avid
Technology, Cirrus Logic, Compaq, Denon, Diamond Multimedia, Dolby,
FujiFilm, Fujitsu, Hitachi, IBM, Iomega, Kenwood, Marantz, Matrox,
Matsushita, Miro Computer, NEC, Packard Bell, Philips, Pioneer,
Samsung, Sony, Toshiba, Yamaha and many others. For more information
about Zoran call (408) 919-4111.
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NOTE TO EDITORS: Buz and Zip are trademarks and Jaz is a
registered trademark of Iomega Corporation.
--30--as/sf* jm/sf
CONTACT: Zoran/CompCore
Tanya Del Vecchio, (408) 919-4111
E-Mail: tanya@zoran.com
or
Media Contact: Virtual Public Relations
Carey Mitchell, (415) 369-7833
E-Mail: carey@virtualpr.com
or
Contact:
Financial Relations Board
Hannah Bruce, (415) 986-1591
E-Mail: hbb@sf.frbd.com
or
WWW site: zoran.com |
