Cube's DoMiNo:
The rapidly growing digital home entertainment market, fueled by satellite and digital cable systems offering tons of channels and high-speed Internet access, may give rise to a single set-top box capable of handling these and other forms of digital media. These set-top boxes may soon act as nerve center for the digital living room.
C-Cube Microsystems hopes to capitalize on this trend. Their DoMiNo Network Media Processor is intended to supercharge set-top boxes and combines DVD, personal TV, Web browsing, and digital media recording functions. DoMiNo technology also allows digital set-top boxes to connect to home networks and the Internet.
Touted as having "true system-on-chip architecture," the DoMiNo processor can play two video streams simultaneously, letting consumers watch a show while recording another program to DVD. DoMiNo also accommodates digital picture-in-picture. C-Cube envisions DoMiNo products having digital video editing capability, recordable DVD, CD-ripping, and video on demand features. If C-Cube has their way, this chip will form the center of home digital entertainment networks.
So how expensive will these multi-function boxes be? According to C-Cube, no more than existing set-top boxes of today. Even so, the question remains: Do consumers want all these digital functions on their televisions, or will they adopt more specialized devices, including PCs and Internet appliances, for all these tasks?
We'll find out as early as the end of this year, when products based on the DoMiNo chip come to market. For specs and more information, head to C-Cube's website.
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