It is important for newer readers to understand what is happenning in MPEG2 decoding. There are relatively few independent MPEG2 decoding solutions. There is CUBE's, Compcore's MPEG core(which they license to a number of MPEG companies), Mediamatics( licenses), the David Sarnoff Research Center(old RCA Labs, they license to LSI and Mentor Graphics. Also a MPEG compliace testing center), Tiawan's Computer & Comunication Reasearch Labs, and a few independent Universities. Today, that's it.
This is Mediamatics and their partners, they overlap with Many Compcore customers, and you will notice LSI. For PC's, they are the current provider to Creative Tech. They have a software solution that uses a graphics acceleratetor and an MMX chip..........................
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Press Site
Contacts:
Pier Del Frate
Mediamatics, Inc.
510/668-4850 x225
pdelfrate@
mediamatics.com
Ford Kanzler
Marketing/PR Savvy
415/726-1055
fkanzler@aol.com
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Mediamatics Kickstarts DVD PC Market with new DVDExpressT Product Family
Software Audio/Video Players Provide Consumer Quality Video On PCs; Leading OEMs Embrace Product Strategy, Can Now Ship DVD For Entertainment PCs; View Products At Comdex Fall '96, Sands Booth #M338.
Fremont, Calif. November 4, 1996 -- Mediamatics Inc., the world's largest supplier of MPEG decoders, today announced the first members of its DVDExpressT product family, the DVDExpress A/V Player and the DVDExpress Audio Player. These products enable PC companies to ship DVD solutions immediately. The DVDExpress players have already gained acceptance with leading PC OEMs, graphics controller manufacturers and content providers, offering OEMs cost savings up to $80.00 per system, compared to full hardware DVD solutions.
The DVDExpress players will be demonstrated in Mediamatics' COMDEX booth #M338, in the Sands Expo, November 18-22, 1996
Mediamatics' newest software decoders provide cost-effective DVD solutions for the fast growth Entertainment PC market. Mediamatics' DVDExpress products allow both MPEG video and AC3 audio decoding in software, eliminating the need for additional hardware. These products deliver consumer (laser disc) quality full-motion video and synchronized audio, two features demanded by PC users.
The DVDExpress A/V Player is a full software-only MPEG-1,2/AC3 audio/video decoder that is ideal as a low cost DVD playback solution for Intel's MMXT-enabled PCs, due out early '97. Mediamatics' DVDExpress A/V Player scales with available CPU bandwidth to provide full-motion video playback using these powerful MMX processors. The DVDExpress Audio Player is a software AC3/MPEG-1,2 audio decoder that, when integrated with any third party hardware MPEG video decoder, delivers the complete audio/video DVD solution for today's non-MMXT enabled PCs.
At the heart of the DVDExpress product family is Mediamatics' Motion Video Collaborative Compression Architecture (MVCCAT) that enables a new breed of MPEG-2 accelerated graphic controllers. MVCCA is a balanced systems partitioning architecture that moves a portion of the MPEG-2
decoding functions to the graphics controller, delivering flawless, tear-free, consumer quality video playback while maintaining mass market cost objectives.
Mediamatics Kick Starts DVD PC Market with DVDExpress Family
Trident Microsystems is the first graphics controller manufacturer to announce a product based on this MVCCA design. Trident recently announced the Image975T 3D DVD MPEG-2 accelerated graphics controller.
The DVDExpress A/V Player is designed to work with both MPEG-2 accelerated and non-MPEG-2 accelerated graphic controllers. With MPEG-2 accelerated graphics controllers, the DVDExpress A/V Player delivers consumer quality audio/video playback.
Fits With Mediamatics' DVD Strategy
Mediamatics' strategy is to enable a new realm of DVD PC possibilities with leading-edge products and industry partnerships. The company is delivering DVD to the PC industry by building on MPEG-1 partnerships established over the last two years with companies such as Microsoft, Compaq, Hewlett-Packard, IBM and Toshiba.
The DVDExpress family provides a flexible platform enabling PC system OEMs and Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) to seamlessly integrate DVD solutions into existing and future PCs. A building block approach is crucial to PC OEMs and ISVs, for it provides immediate and long-term solutions for this fast-changing market.
"Our DVD products make the dream of interactive DVD on the PC a reality," said Prem Nath, president and CEO of Mediamatics. "The key to bringing DVD to the industry is delivering cost effective, flexible software designs that enable content developers and system OEMs to integrate DVD now, and then build on this design as the DVD market evolves. By working with industry leaders such as Microsoft and leading content providers, we have ensured that our products integrate seamlessly with emerging technologies and standards to ensure a smooth product transition for our customers to the interactive DVD world. Our new products define and deliver true consumer quality, full motion playback demanded by end users."
About the Products
DVDExpressT A/V Player is a software only audio and video decoder with full implementation of the ISO 11172 for MPEG-1, ISO13818 for MPEG-2 and MP@ML for DVD video and audio standards. The MMX optimized video decoder is designed to work with both current and emerging MPEG-2 accelerated graphic controllers, providing the best quality and performance in every solution. The DVDExpress A/V Player is designed to work with current interactive applications from companies such as Warner Advanced Media, Tsunami Media, Creative Multimedia and InterActual Technologies, as well as providing compatibility for future DVD applications based on Microsoft's ActiveMovie API. The software-only solution benefits PC OEMs with a typical system cost savings of over $80 compared to hardware based solutions.
DVDExpress Audio Player is the audio component found within the DVD Express A/V Player. When coupled with a hardware MPEG-2 video decoder from companies such as SGS Thomson, LSI Logic, Texas Instruments, Philips and Hyundai, the player provides a cost effective DVD solution for today's PCs. Unlike hardware decoders, the A/V Player offers both AC3/MPEG-1,2 audio playback and MPEG-1,2 video playback. Its use translates into typical OEM bill of materials savings of approximately $35 per unit when compared to current hardware solutions. The player works with Intel 486, current PentiumT, MMX-enhanced Pentium and Motorola PowerPC CPUs.
DVDExpress A/V Player Features
Full MPEG-1,2 video and audio software decoder, uncompromised quality and performance AC3 software audio decoder (see DVDExpress Audio Player) Scaleable bandwidth management optimized for Intel MMX processors Designed for optimum performance with current as well as future MPEG-2 accelerated graphic controllers Optimal performance achieved with graphics controllers which have incorporated Mediamatics' Motion Video Collaborative Compression ArchitectureT (MVCCA)
DVDExpress Audio Player Features
AC3 (5.1 channels) and MPEG-1,2 audio decoder, uncompromised quality and performance Scaleable bandwidth management optimized for MMX, non-MMX and PowerPC processor-based systems Flexible software design providing output in 2 channel stereo, and Dolby ProLogic formats as well as to 6 channel audio cards and SPDIF interfaces
Industry Leaders Support Mediamatics' DVD Family and Strategy
Microsoft Corporation: "After licensing software MPEG-1 technology from Mediamatics in June of 1995, we have worked closely with the Mediamatics team to successfully integrate software MPEG-1 into ActiveMovie," said Jay Torborg, Director, Multimedia & Graphics, Microsoft Corporation. "We are now leveraging this excellent cooperative relationship to enhance ActiveMovie with the ability to handle software MPEG-2/DVD playback efficiently."
Warner Advanced Media: "DVD technology will enable many segments of the entertainment industry," said Frank LoVerme, vice president, Advanced Media Sales at Time Warner Advanced Media Services. "Wide availability of content and a cost-effective solution is key to make the Entertainment PC a success. Time Warner is the world's largest owner, creator and distributor of intellectual copyrights and has a vested interest in the success of DVD. As the world's largest supplier of MPEG decoder software, Mediamatics will play an important role in ensuring that entertainment products will successfully harness the power of DVD-enabled PCs.
Trident Microsystems: "When Trident went looking for a partner for their DVD solutions it did not need to look very far," said Frank Lin, President and CEO of Trident Microsystems. "Trident has worked closely with Mediamatics' team to integrate their Motion Video Collaborative Compression Architecture (MVCCA) into our graphics controllers. The result is the best quality, performance and price for PC DVD solutions."
ATI Technologies, Inc.: "ATI has taken the lead in providing the best graphics accelerators in the industry with our 3D Rage II chip," said Henry Quan, vice president of marketing for ATI Technologies. "Teaming with Mediamatics was a natural for ATI, as they have a proven record with software video. Both companies are committed to delivering the best MPEG-2 solution to the industry."
S3 Incorporated: "As the world's largest supplier of graphics, video and multimedia accelerators, S3 is working closely with Mediamatics to help drive the emerging DVD PC market," said Gary Johnson, President and CEO of S3 Incorporated. " Our leading 2D and 3D accelerators combined with the Mediamatics DVDExpress A/V Player deliver a DVD-ready feature set at a compelling price/performance point."
Creative Multimedia: "We have been working closely with Mediamatics to optimize our products on the MMX and DVD platforms," said Charlie Kawasaki, executive vice president of development for Creative Multimedia. "Mediamatics has demonstrated its market leadership with its software technology. Their understanding of system architecture has helped us adopt these new technologies quickly and inexpensively."
Tsunami Media, Inc.: "Using Mediamatics software DVD solution, we've optimized our 'Silent Steel' application with the best that MPEG-2 and AC3 has to offer," said Ed Heinbockel, President of Tsunami Media, Inc. "A software solution provides the cost efficient means that developers need in order to penetrate the DVD market."
InterActual Technologies: "Software playback is the key for enabling cost effective DVD solutions on the PC," said Todd Collart, President of InterActual Technologies. "Mediamatics' software DVD solutions will enable our products, such as our new STAR TREKr VideoSaverT product line, to have wide market penetration, eliminating the need for costly hardware upgrades."
Detailed DVD White Paper by Mediamatics Available
For a detailed outline of Mediamatics' vision for consumer quality video and interactive DVD on the PC, please refer to its strategic white paper, entitled "The Road to Cost Effective Interactive DVD Playback on the Entertainment PC." This paper is available by calling (510) 668-4850 x213, or by email at cheryl@mediamatics.com.
About Mediamatics Inc.
Mediamatics, founded in 1993, provides software and semiconductor products enabling full-motion video and high quality audio on PCs, making them cost-effective entertainment solutions. The company offers highly refined compression technology based on its Collaborative Compression Architecture (CCA). This architecture employs a scaleable approach to partitioning system functionality between CPU (via software) and peripheral elements (via VLSI) to achieve the highest quality playback performance while maintaining mass market cost objectives. Its products are licensed by Microsoft and all major PC OEM manufacturers making it the world's largest supplier of MPEG1 decoders.
To receive additional corporate and product information, visit Mediamatics' WWW site at: mediamatics.com.
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Mediamatics, DVDExpress, CCA and MVCCA are trademarks of Mediamatics, Inc.
All trade names referenced are the service mark, trademark or registered trademark or trade name of their respective companies. |
