C-Cube Brings Internet-Over-TV Applications to Consumer Set-Top Boxes; AViA@tv Adopted by Pioneer and Pace for Next-Generation Multimedia Set-Tops
MILPITAS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 30, 1998--In a move to transform consumer set-tops into multimedia entertainment devices, C-Cube Microsystems, Inc. (Nasdaq:CUBE) today launched the first set-top silicon platform to bring digital TV and the Internet to the consumer-priced digital set-top.
C-Cube's new AViA@tv product family leads the market with a solution that includes MPEG-2 decoding, robust graphics, two-way networking, and a central processing unit (CPU) for set-top platforms, allowing the delivery of interactive video services.
With AViA@tv, cable operators, satellite service providers, and OEMs can offer subscribers unparalleled multimedia set-tops with a new set of interactive applications. AViA@tv is OpenCable compliant, thereby supplying cable providers with leading-edge technology that meets the latest industry standards.
Market leading set-top manufacturers and service providers, including Pioneer (NYSE:PIO) and Pace have already adopted C-Cube's new AViA@tv platform.
The AViA@tv platform has the complete set of graphics capabilities required by the most demanding television applications today, enabling it to deliver interactive features such as Web-browsing over television.
AViA@tv multi-planar graphics enable the development of the industry's richest graphical user interfaces, powered by the high performance integrated CPU. It also contains the first integrated Flicker Filter(TM) feature to dramatically improve picture quality of HTML content over the television.
Additionally, it provides two-way cable networking capability that allows subscribers to access data services such as e-mail and home banking via the set-top.
"Cable subscribers desire a more exciting, interactive viewing experience, with clearer, more colorful graphics and two-way interactivity for high-speed Web browsing," said Haig Krakirian, vice president of software engineering at Pioneer Digital Technologies Inc. "With C-Cube's AViA@tv as the platform for our set-top boxes, we intend to provide them with the most innovative interactive services available."
Data Services Over TV: Relying on Two-Way Networking
AViA@tv also has the power to support two-way networks to cable providers through its integrated media access controller (MAC). Personal e-mail accounts, on-line home banking, around the clock access to financial portfolios and stock transactions are all next-generation services delivered through two-way cable and the digital set-top box. AViA@tv provides the MAC for two-way network support so cable providers will be able to deliver the interactive multimedia applications subscribers demand.
Web-Over-Television: Driving Subscriber Demand
AViA@tv's unique feature set enables new, easy-to-use applications, including Web applications rich with HTML content. Since consumers are accustomed to viewing Web content on personal computers (PC), they expect their set-tops to deliver the same viewing experience as the PC.
To make this viewing experience possible, C-Cube incorporated several critical features into AViA@tv including Flicker Filter technology, true 24-bit color depth, high performance CPU, and graphics accelerators.
AViA@tv contains the market's fastest integrated CPU for set-top applications, in addition to a dedicated graphics copy engine and a hardware bit-blitter for drawing acceleration. Together, the CPU and the graphics accelerators deliver high-speed rendering comparable to that of the PC. Current generation set-tops have limited color depth and resolution. AViA@tv offers a greater range of color, allowing an unprecedented level of graphics images on the set-top.
"Subscribers' expectations for television entertainment have shifted the set-top market into supplying a more feature-rich, interactive, multimedia solution," said David Baillie, vice president and general manager of C-Cube's Consumer Network Products (CNP) Business Unit.
"New, transaction-oriented applications will drive the sale of set-tops and, ultimately, boost the rate at which subscribers use their set-tops for expanded communications services, such as email and Web browsing."
In continuing its leadership in delivering powerful graphics on the set-top platform, C-Cube's AViA@tv is the only integrated digital set-top box silicon solution to provide a Flicker Filter feature that dramatically improves the picture quality of HTML content on the television. The Flicker Filter prevents viewers from seeing distracting "flickers" on their television screen when they browse Web content. Televisions typically have an interlaced display, whereas PC monitors have a progressive scan display.
Interlaced television screens refresh, or update their images, at a slower rate than personal computer screens. When images created for PC displays are rendered on an Interlaced television screen, the human eye detects the lower refresh rate, causing computer-rendered images to appear to "flicker."
With AViA@tv's Flicker Filter support, the set-top box can compensate for the lower refresh rate and enable subscribers to comfortably view text on their television screen. AViA@tv allows service providers to take advantage of the plethora of HTML content available worldwide without sacrificing picture quality.
CableNET: C-Cube Demonstrates OpenCable
C-Cube is demonstrating broadband digital television with Internet capability in the CableNET '98 booth at the Western Cable Show in Anaheim, Calif. Dec. 2 - 4, 1998. 3Com, DiviCom, C-Cube, Morecom, Pioneer, and Zenith will demonstrate an interactive set-top box service based on the OpenCable architecture. CableNET is the largest technology showcase to date, demonstrating the capability of the industry's hybrid fiber coaxial systems, as well as expanding telecommunications and entertainment applications.
About C-Cube Microsystems
C-Cube Microsystems Inc. is an industry leader in the development and delivery of highly integrated digital video silicon solutions that address the communications and consumer markets. C-Cube is headquartered in Milpitas with offices in North America, Europe and Asia. Its stock is traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol CUBE. C-Cube can be reached at 408/490-8000 or on the World Wide Web at c-cube.com.
Note to Editors: The C-Cube logo is a registered trademark of C-Cube Microsystems Inc. C-Cube is a trademark of C-Cube Microsystems Inc.
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CONTACT:
C-Cube Microsystems, Inc.
Melissa Malley, 408/490-8510 (Public Relations)
mmalley@c-cube.com
Nick Kormeluk, 408/490-8561 (Investor Relations)
nkormeluk@c-cube.com
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