In the market bloodbath the significance of the ATI agreement has been overlooked. The ATI PVR press release of the same day shows a bigger picture. A previous announcement is also worthy of note.
ATI Announces New Personal Video Recorder Technology
- Demonstrates new industry leading features - Time-shifting and Interactive Program Guide - ATI the first to offer PVR on the PC
TORONTO, April 10 /CNW-PRN/ - ATI Technologies Inc. (TSE:ATY - news; NASDAQ:ATYT - news) today announces the first new technology enabling the PC to become a personal video recorder (PVR). ATI's low cost, high quality PVR solution will be demonstrated at the ATI booth MI 1044 in the Sands Convention Center at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) show in Las Vegas, April 10th to 13th, 2000.
ATI also announced an agreement with Gemstar, the leading provider of interactive electronic program guides, that will allow ATI's PVR users access to the widest range of interactive program guide information.
ATI's new technology builds on its already renowned ATI All-in-Wonder(TM) line of multimedia and TV tuner add-in boards and its ATI MultiMedia Center(TM) smart TV software. Future versions of the All-in-Wonder will incorporate these advanced PVR features: Time-shifting and Interactive Program Guide.
Time-shifting
Time-shifting combines the immediacy of live TV with the storage and replay capability of a VCR to create a whole new way of watching and interacting with TV. By pressing a single button, the user can pause a live TV broadcast, and simply carry on viewing later without missing any of the action. If the user wants to replay a sequence they can back up the program, see what was missed and then catch up to live programming. The user can vary the speed of playback or alternatively skip ahead by a pre-set number of seconds.
Interactive Program Guide
Through the partnership with Gemstar, ATI will integrate Interactive Program Guide (IPG) functionality into the ATI Multimedia Center(TM), offering current TV listings anywhere in North America. Users can scroll through the grid displaying full details of their local and national TV listings, while simultaneously watching the current channel in a live on-screen TV window. With a single mouse-click, the user can mark a program to be recorded or viewed at the scheduled time.
``Gemstar is delighted to partner with ATI on this exciting new software technology. The power and flexibility of the PC is the ideal vehicle for giving the user ultimate control over their TV viewing', said Mike Jeffress, vice president of Internet development at Gemstar.
Summary
Taken together, these new features give the user control over the TV schedule rather than the other way around, turning the PC into a personal video recorder. The user can catch all the action, an entire program or the last few minutes when a distraction momentarily takes them away from the TV.
ATI's existing intelligent TV functionality, as featured in the All-in-Wonder product line include: channel browsing capabilities, instant replay, favorite channel selection, naming channels, parental and program locking, scheduling, stills capture and video desktop functionality, among other applications. The All-in-Wonder line also incorporates support for playback of DVD, Audio CD, Video CD and other popular formats.
Corporate Profile
ATI Technologies Inc., the world's largest supplier of 3D graphics and multimedia technology, designs, manufactures and markets innovative and award-winning multimedia solutions and graphics components for the personal computer, set-top box, consumer electronics appliance and e-appliance markets. An ISO 9002 company, ATI is the world's leading supplier of video and 2D/3D graphics accelerators to OEM and retail customers. Founded in 1985, ATI employs more than 1,800 people at headquarters in Thornhill, Ontario, and in offices in the United States, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Barbados, Malaysia, Japan and Hong Kong. ATI is a public company whose shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange and NASDAQ.
For other ATI news releases visit our web site at ati.com.
Copyright (C) ATI Technologies Inc., 2000. All company and/or product names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective manufacturers. Features, pricing, availability and specifications are subject to change without notice.
SOURCE: ATI Technologies Inc.
ATI and Vestel, Both Global Leaders, Announce Strategic Partnership to Develop Interactive Television
- Vestel's Internet.TV based on ATI's Set-top-Wonder(TM) Technology to Enable Home Consumers with Easy Internet Access, Email and Shopping - First Television design win for ATI
TORONTO, Feb. 23 /CNW-PRN/ - ATI Technologies Inc. (TSE:ATY, NASDAQ: ATYT), the world's largest manufacturer of graphics chips and boards and Vestel, Europe's second largest TV and monitor manufacturer today announced a strategic partnership to develop a full range of interactive TV products.
Under the terms of the partnership, ATI will provide components and expertise to enable Vestel USA -- the Internet Appliance arm of the Vestel Group -- to develop and market highly interactive consumer devices including Internet TV's and a variety of set-top boxes. The Vestel Internet.TV, based on ATI's flexible Set-top-Wonder(TM) technology, is the first product to result from the partnership and will provide home consumers with easy, instant Internet access, email and shopping via their televisions.
Vestel Internet.TV's core hardware is based on ATI's Set-top-Wonder(TM) technology, which provides a flexible, low-cost platform to leading consumer electronics manufacturers wishing to develop analog/digital cable, satellite or terrestrial, set-top boxes. Due to this customizable platform, the Vestel Internet.TV set-top box functionality will be available directly integrated into the television set for ``built-in' set-top box functionality, or as a standalone set-top box. In addition, Vestel Internet.TV is DVD ready and features advanced 3D graphics.
``ATI and Vestel share a common vision -- enabling everyone, everywhere to have affordable access to interactive TV,' said Daniel Eiref, Director of Set-top Marketing, ATI. ``Vestel required a robust and flexible platform to implement this vision, and at the same time had rapid time-to-market requirements, so we were delighted to be able to respond with our Set-top-Wonder(TM) technology. We look forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship with Vestel.'
Through the TV's remote control and a wireless keyboard, Vestel Internet.TV enables consumers with easy, one-click access to personalized, interactive television viewing by allowing users to communicate through email, browse the Web, conduct searches and access interactive content. Designed to be fast and easy to set up, consumers simply connect the Vestel Internet.TV to a telephone line and can instantly surf the Web while viewing television. Vestel Internet.TV supports both PAL and NTSC picture formats, has a variety of language capabilities, and includes parental blocking support to restrict access to non-desirable Web sites.
``Vestel's strength in TV and information appliance technology manufacturing combined with ATI's high quality set-top box platform sets the stage for a variety of consumer electronics devices including cable, satellite, and terrestrial set-top boxes, digital VCRs, and other devices requiring a high level of interactivity, graphics and video performance,' said Cevat Kumbasar, CTO, Vestel. ``We look forward to working with ATI to leverage its expertise in integration, multimedia, HDTV and DVD to provide our worldwide customer base with affordable, high-quality products such as the Vestel Internet.TV.'
The software for Vestel Internet.TV is based on Microsoft TV, the client software component of the Microsoft TV Platform. The Microsoft TV Platform is a comprehensive end-to-end software platform solution designed to make television more useful and engaging for consumers.
Vestel Internet.TV will initially be available in Europe and future versions will be distributed in other markets worldwide. The product will be on display at CeBIT 2000, the world's largest computer and electronics exhibition, at both the Vestel booth (Hall 012, booth No. D 71) and at the ATI booth (Hall 9 booth No. C 53.)
Corporate Profiles
About Vestel USA and the Vestel Group
Vestel USA, Inc., established in 1998, is the innovator of a full line of Information Appliances that offer flexible, easy-to-use, Internet-centric solutions for the home and business markets. As a service design manufacturer, Vestel delivers innovative designs and rapid product development at cost-effective prices. Vestel USA, Inc., based in Mountain View, California, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Vestel Electronics, Europe's second largest television and monitor manufacturer. Vestel is the leading member of the Zorlu Group, a multi-billion dollar corporation operating in four main industries including electronics, textiles, banking and energy. For more information, please visit vestel-usa.com and vestel.com.tr
About ATI Technologies Inc.
ATI Technologies Inc., the world's largest supplier of 3D graphics and multimedia technology, designs, manufactures and markets innovative and award-winning multimedia solutions and graphics components for the personal computer, set-top box and consumer electronics appliance markets. An ISO 9002 company, ATI is the world's leading supplier of video and 2D/3D graphics accelerators to OEM and retail customers. Founded in l985, ATI employs more than 1,800 people at headquarters in Thornhill, Ontario, and in offices in the United States, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Barbados, Malaysia, Japan and Hong Kong. ATI is a public company whose shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange and NASDAQ.
For other ATI news releases visit our web site at ati.com.
Vestel and Vestel Internet.TV are registered trademarks of Vestel Electronics. All other brand or product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.
Copyright (C) ATI Technologies Inc., 2000. All company and/or product names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective manufacturers. Features, pricing, availability and specifications are subject to change without notice.
SOURCE: ATI Technologies Inc.
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