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Thursday January 8, 8:31 am Eastern Time
Company Press Release
Oak Technology Introduces First Single-Chip VideoCD
Karaoke Controller
Turnkey Solution Enables Lower-Cost VideoCD Technology for Consumer
Electronics Manufacturers
OTI-257 Enables Full-Featured VideoCD Applications; Brings Low Power
Consumption, Small Form Factor to Manufacturers, Resulting in Smaller
Players
SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 8, 1998-- Oak Technology
(NASDAQ:OAKT - news), a leading provider of multimedia semiconductor technology, today
announced the availability of the industry's first single-chip VideoCD karaoke controller, enabling
full-featured VideoCD karaoke players to reach the end user at a decidedly lower price.
The OTI-257 is the first and only controller on the market to combine an MPEG-1 audio/video
decoder, audio DSP for karaoke functions, on-screen display and a TV encoder that supports
NTSC/PAL standards on a single chip. Available in a 100-pin PQFP package, the OTI-257
supports a small form-factor, enabling the manufacturer to develop smaller VideoCD players
requiring less power consumption.
Unlike other solutions, the OTI-257 includes a rich feature set on a highly integrated chip which
allows manufacturers to differentiate their solutions from those of competitors through superior
audio and video signal quality.
The OTI-257 is currently available for sampling, priced at $15 in volumes of 10,000. OEMs and
developers can also view Oak's web site for additional information on the OTI-257 and Oak's
other VideoCD products at www.oaktech.com . Oak will demonstrate the OTI-257 in a VideoCD
karaoke player at Winter CES '98 show in Las Vegas, Nevada, Jan. 8-11, in booth 3619 at the
Las Vegas Convention Center.
VideoCD is most popular in Asia, where it acts as an adjunct or substitute to conventional
television. ''The VideoCD player has become the must-have home electronic appliance for the
Asian marketplace; for Asian consumers, VideoCD is as vital as the VCR is to Americans,'' said
Dr. Wen Hsu, Director of Oak's Imaging Business Unit.
''The OTI-257's high level of integration is the industry's most comprehensive solution and it
enables manufacturers to bring the lowest cost VideoCD players to market, expanding the
technology to more consumers.''
The OTI-257's single chip design combines an integrated 32-bit multimedia RISC architecture, a
multi-standard TV encoder with composite and S-video output, full-screen 64-color on-screen
display (OSD) and full-featured multilingual karaoke playback function with integrated DSP
supporting high-fidelity sound effects.
The combination of these key functions and features enables the OEM to deliver the lowest cost
VideoCD karaoke player without sacrificing quality and feature-richness. Additionally, the
OTI-257 allows the OEM to highly differentiate its solutions within its product line and from other
solutions in the market.
The OTI-257's 64-color OSD provides increased color variation, rather than the usual black and
white display for messages or instructions, while the full-screen playback offers a higher-end
look-and-feel than many solutions on the market.
The OTI-257 also supports ''wide sound'' for a realistic movie experience, a variety of sound
effects for customized environments, and karaoke key controls to match the singer's voice with the
proper vocal key. Due to the highly integrated design of the OTI-257, power consumption is kept
lower than a non-integrated component solution.
Oak Continues Video CD Tradition
Oak's OTI-257 is the third generation of the company's MPEG-1 product line, building on the
strong VideoCD tradition launched by the company's OTI-207 highly integrated MPEG-1
decompression processor and the OTI-201, Oak's first MPEG-1 decoder. The OTI-257
conforms to VideoCD 2.0 standards, enabling manufacturers to deliver fully compliant VideoCD
solutions at the lowest prices.
The foregoing statements may consist of forward-looking statements that involve risks and
uncertainties. These statements may differ materially from actual future events or results. Factors
that could cause actual outcome to differ materially from those set forth include, without limitation,
the economic conditions in the Asian market, the rate of adoption of new technology, market
acceptance of the product, competitive pricing actions and marketing programs, among others. For
a discussion of such risks, see the company's most recent SEC form 10-K and 10-Q.
About Oak Technology
Founded in 1987, Oak Technology Inc. designs, develops and markets high-performance
multimedia semiconductors and related software to original equipment manufacturers worldwide
who serve the PC, consumer electronics, and digital office equipment markets.
Oak has a software design center in Boca Raton, Fla.; a mixed signal design center in Austin,
Texas; and subsidiaries in Japan (Oak Technology K.K.), Taiwan (Oak Technology, Taiwan), and
Andover, Mass. (Pixel Magic Inc.). The company completed its initial public offering in February
1995. Additional information about Oak Technology and its products can be found on the World
Wide Web at www.oaktech.com .
Note to Editors: Oak Technology and the Oak logo are registered trademarks of Oak Technology
Inc. Pixel Magic is a trademark of Oak Technology. All other product names or company names
are mentioned for identification purposes only, and may be trademarks of their respective owners. |
