Sigma Designs Announces REALmagic Hollywood 2 DVD/MPEG-2 Playback Board
Business Wire via Dow Jones
LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 17, 1997--
Latest DVD/MPEG-2 Decoder Card from Sigma Provides Complete
DVD Playback Function for Home Entertainment PC
Sigma Designs, Inc. (NASDAQ:SIGM), a recognized leader in digital video
solutions for personal computers, today announced REALmagic Hollywood 2, a
second-generation DVD playback card.
The new PCI-bus DVD/MPEG-2 playback card turns a PC into a full-featured home
theater DVD player that fully exploits all of the spectacular digital video and
digital surround sound capabilities of the DVD format as well as upcoming MPEG-2
interactive titles.
The full-featured, yet low cost card is an ideal choice for makers of DVD
upgrade kits and system integrators as it offers the ultimate flexibility in the
output of video and audio signals. Video is output simultaneously on the PC's
VGA monitor and on the home entertainment system's TV. Audio is available
through the PC's sound card, analog stereo output jacks, and S/PDIF digital
output port for connection to external AC-3 "5.1 channel" Dolby Digital decoder.
"DVD upgrade kits, using Sigma's Hollywood 2 card give most existing PC owners
the opportunity to enjoy DVD-movies in their living room without having to buy a
whole new PC," commented Prem Talreja, Vice President of Marketing for Sigma
Designs.
"This is the latest demonstration that Sigma is continuing to leverage its
leadership to meet the growing needs of this new and dynamic market."
Sigma's REALmagic Hollywood 2 is a no-compromise, cost-effective solution that
fully complies with all DVD specifications. It works with any standard 133 MHz
Pentium(TM) system without requiring specialized hardware other than the DVD-ROM
drive. Video may be viewed on the computer's monitor and simultaneously
displayed on a television for the ultimate home theater experience.
Supporting Dolby Digital(TM) AC-3 "5.1 channel" audio decoding in software,
the REALmagic Hollywood 2 card is compatible with most sound cards. Users may
also use a conventional stereo amplifier with analog stereo 2-channel Dolby
Surround(TM) audio outputs, which are driven by the on-board hardware
digital-to-analog converter (DAC).
Users may also elect to use the on-board S/PDIF digital output to connect to
external Dolby Digital decoders to drive five speakers and one sub-woofer for
sensational theater quality sound.
REALmagic Hollywood 2 comes with an easy-to-use program, called DVD Station,
for DVD navigation and control. With DVD Station, PC users can take full
advantage of every interactive DVD feature, using simple VCR-like controls to
choose the sound track and subtitle language, select viewing aspect ratios and
change viewing angles.
The user interface is intuitive and easy to navigate. Users can also use DVD
Station menus to exercise parental control and perform search commands.
Major features of REALmagic Hollywood 2 include:
-- Plays DVD-video, CD-audio, Video CD, CD-ROM and DVD-ROM
-- Compatible with all VGA graphics cards
-- Supports standard APIs for compatibility with interactive MPEG-1 & 2
entertainment and education titles
-- Dolby Digital AC-3 five channel surround-sound playback
-- S/PDIF and stereo outputs
-- Simultaneous display on VGA monitor and TV
-- Real-time image scaling from thumbnail size up to 1280 x 1024 resolution
-- Adjustable color, contrast, and brightness independent of monitor settings
-- Supports Regional Copy Protection
-- Select from up to 8 language sound tracks and 32 subtitle channels
-- Lets user select any of up to 9 viewing angles on-the-fly
-- Plays wide-screen, letter box and pan-scan aspect ratios
REALmagic Hollywood 2 card is now shipping to upgrade kit makers and system
integrators.
About Sigma Designs:
Sigma Designs entered the multimedia market in 1993 with products based on the
MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) standard for compressing and decompressing
digital audio and video signals. Since then, Sigma has been a driving force
behind advancement of the MPEG technology used in most multimedia PCs on the
market today.
Sigma Designs' products include affordable MPEG/DVD video and audio decoding
hardware used in consumer and commercial PC based applications. All Sigma
Designs' products are sold worldwide through a direct sales force, distributors,
and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).
For additional information, call 800/845-8086, 510/770-0100, fax:
510/770-2640, or visit Sigma's web site at sigmadesigns.com .
Note to Editors: For further information, photographs and interviews, contact
S&S Public Relations.
Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters discussed
in this release are forward looking statements that are subject to risks and
uncertainties, including the timely introduction and market acceptance of
Sigma's MPEG/DVD and other related products, the impact of competitive products
and pricing, and other risk factors detailed from time to time in the company's
SEC reports, including the report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 31,
1997 and on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended July 31, 1997. |
