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Monday November 17, 8:30 am Eastern Time
Company Press Release
Sigma Designs Announces REALmagic Hollywood 2 DVD/MPEG-2
Playback Board
Latest DVD/MPEG-2 Decoder Card from Sigma Provides Complete DVD Playback Function for
Home Entertainment PC
LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 17, 1997-- Sigma Designs, Inc. (NASDAQ:SIGM - news), 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.
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Sigma Designs Inc (Nasdaq:SIGM - news)
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