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Technology Stocks : C-Cube -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Stoctrash who wrote (50063)	9/27/2000 10:22:51 AM
From: BillyG	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 50808

Sony Releases HDD-Based Home Video Recorder nikkeibp.asiabiztech.com Sony Corp has released a home-use digital video recording system that utilizes a hard disk drive (HDD). This is the first product in Japan that can be used as a time-shift recorder for television programs. The unit, priced at 198,000yen, is designed to provide people with the convenience of "record first and select later" functionality for viewing TV programs. The home appliance industry has great expectations for the HDD recorder, believing that it could serve as the cornerstone of the home information terminal. Many believe it would be possible for HDD recorders to store not only TV programs, but all sorts of digital content entering the home via the broadcasting network, such as music, electronic commerce (e-commerce) and video games. The HDD recorder is clearly an important component for fully utilizing the "big pipe" that broadcasting provides. As a result, efforts to develop HDD recorders are accelerating. Such HDD-based products have already been shipped in the United States by Sony and Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Lure of HDD Video Recording Sony has designed its system specifically for time-shift viewing of TV programs, which is a key function of HDD recorders. The product, for example, does not support Japan's broadcast satellite (BS) digital broadcasting, slated to begin in December 2000, and also lacks networking functions such as Internet connection. The price, at 198,000yen, is a bit above the desired level for widespread consumer sale and a number of people will no doubt be dissatisfied with these specifications. Sony's goal in releasing the first HDD video recorder, however, is to make more consumers aware of the potential of HDD recording. The firm specifically targeted conventional broadcasting, which encompasses the majority of viewers, and is driving home the convenience of the HDD recorder with its simple timeshift viewing ability and special play functions. Operability, Picture Quality In order to best demonstrate the simplicity and convenience of time-shift viewing to customers, Sony has paid special attention to two key aspects. The first is the improved operability of the graphical user interface (GUI) used for searching for or scheduling the recording of programs (see Fig). A source at Sony commented that, "The GUI is not a real lure technology, but it is critical for capturing the attention of the consumer." The firm's device incorporates a range of innovations and shortcuts to make time-shift recording more convenient, such as supporting program search by using key words in the electronic program guide, or displaying an array of thumbnail stills from recorded programs. The second key aspect is picture quality. Sony has taken care to ensure that consumers do not form the opinion that HDD recording is synonymous with poor image quality. This is critical since this is a first-generation product. Sony developed a custom image processor called the MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) Image Processor, or MIP for short, to minimize broadcast signal noise and video encoding block noise. The recorder mounts two of these chips, one for recording and one for play. These integrated circuits (IC) also handle some GUI processing, such as constructing a still image array. by Fumitada Takahashi (September 2000 Issue, Nikkei Electronics Asia) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To: Stoctrash who wrote (50063)	9/27/2000 12:36:03 PM
From: Maya	Respond to of 50808

C-Cube buoyant, who are you kidding? Chips up The semiconductor group was buoyant in early trading, with Intel (INTC: +1.69, 45.00), Micron Technology (MU: +3.88, 53.50), Novellus (NVLS: +2.12, 48.19), Texas Instruments (TXN: +1.19, 50.25), Altera (ALTR: +1.88, 49.69) and C-Cube Microsystems (CUBE: +0.50, 19.56) moving to the upside. Comparatively weaker (though in some cases still positive) performers in the chip space included Actel (ACTL: -0.31, 36.31), Advanced Micro Devices (AMD: +0.19, 25.06), Applied Materials (AMAT: +0.19, 65.62) and Maxim Intergrated Products (MXIM: +0.75, 77.62). upside.com