ZRAN NEWS - Alliance with Altec Lansing...
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Thursday January 8, 7:01 am Eastern Time
Company Press Release
Altec Lansing Technologies and Zoran Corporation
Announce Alliance Applied to New Line of Products
Affordable Multi-Channel Digital Audio for Computers, DVD, Home
Entertainment
LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--January 8, 1998--Altec Lansing Technologies, Inc.
today announced a strategic alliance with Zoran Corporation combining their resources to
develop audio products incorporating the Zoran ZR38600 Digital Audio Signal Processor.
Altec Lansing will apply this technology in the development of a new family of products
featuring affordable Dolby Digital AC3 surround sound audio reproduction systems. As a
result, people will have greater access to high quality, multi-channel digital audio from
computers, DVD players, digital television receivers and set-top boxes. This includes the
application of the Zoran ZR38600 Digital Audio Signal Processor combined with Altec
Lansing's unique proprietary architecture to current and future Altec Lansing products,
including those using USB controlled audio operating under Windows 95 and full digital
streaming audio via USB, scheduled to be supported with Windows 98.
Altec Lansing is showing audio peripheral devices, based on this new alliance, to its
customers at the International Winter Consumer Electronics Show opening today in Las
Vegas, NV.
''New technology, including DVD, USB and AC3 means people can enjoy the best quality
digital audio with their computers and home entertainment devices,'' commented Edward
Anchel, chairman and CEO of Altec Lansing Technologies, in making this announcement.
''The alliance with Zoran means our audio products will deliver true multi-channel digital
audio at prices affordable to both OEM manufacturers and consumers.''
''It is very exciting to be working with Altec Lansing on their new family of audio products
that will have such a large impact on home entertainment,'' said Paul Goldberg, vice
president of systems solutions and audio products for Zoran Corporation. ''Digital
multi-channel audio is driving this revolution, whether it emanates from computers, DVD
players, digital television receivers or set-top boxes used with cable, satellite or terrestrial
broadcast sources. The Zoran ZR38600 Digital Audio Signal Processor provides Altec
Lansing audio devices with the power to handle all of the processing required to make
multi-channel audio the dynamic experience that it is intended to be and, by being a
programmable device with processing power to spare, to serve as the engine for future
sophisticated signal processing.''
Side-Firing Speaker Design And Dolby Digital AC3 Decoding
The patented side-firing design of Altec Lansing speakers is being combined with the Zoran
Digital Audio Signal Processor. The multi-channel digital decoder provides simultaneous
decoding of Dolby Digital AC3 and Dolby Surround/Pro-Logic data streams. Audio, video
and multimedia computer and home entertainment content will deliver true multi-channel
surround sound when played through Altec Lansing audio devices equipped with Zoran
processors.
The Zoran ZR38600 is a high performance programmable digital audio signal processor
capable of real-time single-chip decoding of Dolby Digital AC3 5.1 channel and MPEG2
digital algorithms.
''This new combination of our technology, including patented side-firing speaker design, and
Zoran's high performance with Altec Lansing integration will mean unusually flexible methods
for meeting a wide range of multi-channel digital system requirements at the lowest possible
system cost,'' added Tommy Freadman, executive vice president of engineering of Altec
Lansing.
Altec Lansing Will Ship First Product Resulting From Improved Technology
The first product resulting from this new technology is the Altec Lansing ADA310 DVD
Speaker System with Dolby Digital AC3 Surround Sound. This system delivers
multi-channel surround sound from DVD sources with both on-speaker and on-screen
controls using the power of the PC to enhance the audio experience.
The ADA310 feature Altec Lansing's patented side-firing speaker technology and unique
algorithms to provide Dolby Digital AC3 (5.1 discrete channels of surround sound) without
the need for rear speakers.
The system includes S/PDIF input on the subwoofer for Dolby Digital AC3 streaming audio
output from either a DVD card or DVD player without the need for a decoder or receiver.
The ADA310 includes the Zoran ZR38600 decoder and digital to analog (D/A) converters,
thus providing complete audio conversion from compressed AC3 digital audio to high quality
5.1 channel analog audio. The digital audio data streaming via S/PDIF is processed in the
subwoofer with the D/A conversion taking place away from any PC or receiver generated
interference. The ADA310 is bundled with Altec Lansing Audio Management Software
designed to maximize True Digital Audio. A Graphical User Interface (GUI) allows
on-screen adjustment of individual audio channels while the digital audio technology
integrates the speakers, mixer and sound card volume controls thus virtually eliminating
inadvertent volume distortion.
Additional products will be announced later this year.
Altec Lansing Technologies, Inc.
Altec Lansing Technologies, Inc., based in Milford, PA, is a leading designer, developer and
manufacturer of high quality multimedia personal computer and home entertainment sound
systems and is developing a series of solutions for emerging technologies.
The company employs about 550 people worldwide. In addition to the company's
headquarters, Altec Lansing has offices in Walnut Creek, CA, Austin, TX, Seattle, WA,
Royston Herts, England, Hong Kong, Taipei and Tokyo, a manufacturing facility in the
People's Republic of China and an Advanced Research and Development Center in Kfar
Saba, Israel.
Consumers interested in additional information about the company and its products can call
800-ALTEC88 (258-3288) or visit the company on the World Wide Web at
www.altecmm.com
Zoran Corporation
Zoran Corporation (NASDAQ:ZRAN - news) develops and markets integrated circuits,
integrated circuit ''cores'' and software for digital video and audio applications enabled by
compression for the consumer audio, multimedia and PC markets. Zoran's product line
includes JPEG codecs, MPEG and DVD decoders, advanced digital audio signal
processors, real-time Video CD and DVD software for the PC and VLSI cores. Zoran IC's
are used in professional and consumer digital audio systems, video editing systems, filmless
digital cameras, PC-based or stand alone Video CD systems and DVD players.
Zoran's Digital Audio Signal Processors have been adopted by many of the world's largest
manufacturers of audio equipment and were recently selected for use in Dolby Laboratory's
Dolby Digital and ProLogic reference standard.
Established in 1983, the company headquarters are in Santa Clara, CA, with additional
operations in Haifa, Israel, Toronto, Canada and Tokyo, Japan.
More information is available about Zoran by calling 408-919-4111 or visiting the company
on the World Wide Web at www.zoran.com
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Note to Editors:
Dolby Digital and Dolby Surround/Pro-Logic are registered trademarks of Dolby
Laboratories. Windows 95 and Windows 98 are registered trademarks of Microsoft
Corporation. |
