Zoran's release on the same subject...........
Zoran and QSound Labs Announce the Immediate Availability of QSurround 3D Audio on the Vaddis DVD Decoder
LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 9, 1998--QSound Labs, Inc. (NASDAQ:QSNDF) and Zoran Corporation (NASDAQ:ZRAN) announced today the immediate availability of QSound's QSurround(TM) 3D Audio implementation on Zoran's Vaddis(TM) single-chip DVD decoder IC.
This makes Vaddis the world's first DVD decoder available with integrated 3D audio capability. The QSurround implementation running on the Vaddis decoder is currently shipping in Sharp Corporation's new DVD player, model DV-S100. The Vaddis QSurround implementation is now available for licensing to DVD player and PC DVD manufacturers and OEMs.
The Vaddis QSurround implementation will be demonstrated at the CES show in Las Vegas, January 8 through 11, in the Zoran booth, Las Vegas Convention Center, South Hall, Booth No. 3838. Visit QSound's Booth No. 6032D for demonstrations of the company's 3D audio technology.
"We are very excited to offer the capabilities of the QSurround implementation on the Vaddis decoder," said Dr. Isaac Shenberg, VP of Sales and Marketing, Zoran Corporation. "The implementation of QSurround on the Vaddis decoder is proof of the power and flexibility of the Vaddis architecture. By performing 3D audio together with DVD decoding on the same chip, significant cost savings result. Our close cooperation with QSound to offer this solution to our customers is yielding impressive results as demonstrated in the new DVD player from Sharp Corporation."
"We value our continued partnership with Zoran," said David Gallagher, President of QSound Labs. "This latest collaboration is yet another demonstration of the leading edge technology available from both companies in the DVD market."
ON THE VADDIS DVD DECODER
The Vaddis decoder is the world's most advanced DVD solution targeted at second generation consumer stand-alone DVD/VideoCD/CD-DA players and PC-based DVD systems. Based on Zoran's proprietary MPEG 2 video and Dolby Digital audio technology, the Vaddis decoder integrates the decoding and presentation functionality required for full implementation of the DVD standard in a single chip. This includes DVD content protection (CSS), Program stream demultiplexing, MPEG 2 video, MPEG 1 video, Dolby Digital (AC-3) audio, MPEG audio, audio and video synchronization, Linear PCM audio, Subpicture, OSD, Letterbox, Pan-Scan and more.
The first member of the Vaddis family, the ZR36700 integrates many of the different components required in first generation DVD systems and interfaces efficiently to the remaining components in the system. Using a Zoran proprietary implementation, the Vaddis decoder requires only a single 16 Mbit SDRAM for full operation. The Vaddis decoder dramatically reduces the number of chips and the size of the required memory thereby lowering the power consumption and overall cost of a DVD system.
Zoran's highly integrated Vaddis decoder offers the advanced feature set and flexibility which enables the development of robust, powerful second generation DVD player solutions. Addressing the needs of today's competitive market, the Vaddis decoder implements Zoran's SiliconSoftware(TM) architecture, based on a high-performance DSP technology for enhanced flexibility and programmability. This architecture enables DVD player manufacturers to add features enabling them to differentiate their products. For example, a 3D sound feature such as QSurround can be implemented on the Vaddis decoder as a SiliconSoftware application and executed simultaneously with all the other required DVD audio decoding functions. 3D sound brings the movie theater experience of multi-channel audio to a DVD player or PC with just two speakers without requiring any additional equipment or circuitry.
The Vaddis ZR36700 DVD decoder is in volume production now and is priced at under $30 in volume quantities.
ON QSURROUND(TM)
QSurround is a patented, key enabling technology for playback of DVD multi-channel audio providing accurate audio positioning from two speakers. It effectively meets the challenge of new multi-channel audio delivery formats and enables decoded Dolby Digital (AC-3), Dolby Pro Logic or MPEG 2 information to be reproduced across the entire range of playback systems. By creating "virtual speakers", QSurround reproduces the full surround sound effect of multi-channel audio so that surround sound encoded movies and music can be enjoyed with only two speakers. QSurround is certified by Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation for both the Dolby Pro Logic and Dolby Digital processes.
ABOUT ZORAN
Zoran Corporation develops and markets integrated circuits, integrated circuit "cores" and software for digital video and audio applications enabled by compression for the PC and consumer multimedia markets. Zoran's product lines include JPEG codecs, MPEG and DVD decoders, Digital Audio Signal Processors, real-time Video CD and DVD software for the PC, and VLSI cores. The company's SoftDVD and SoftPEG software for the software-only and hardware assisted decoding of DVD and VideoCD on the PC is bundled by leading PC and graphic system manufacturers. Current applications for Zoran IC products include professional and consumer video editing systems, filmless digital cameras, PC-based or stand-alone VideoCD systems and DVD players, and digital audio systems. Zoran is headquartered in Santa Clara, California with additional operations in Haifa, Israel, Toronto, Canada, and Tokyo, Japan.
Zoran's products and technologies have been adopted by many of the world's largest manufacturers including Acer, ATI, Avid Technology, Cirrus Logic, Compaq, Denon, Diamond Multimedia, Dolby, FujiFilm, Fujitsu, Harman Kardon, Hewlett Packard, Hitachi, IBM, Iomega, Kenwood, Marantz, Matrox, Matsushita, miro/Pinnacle, NEC, Packard Bell, Pioneer, Samsung, Sharp, Sony, Toshiba, Truevision, Yamaha and many others. For more information about Zoran call 408/919-4111 or visit our web site at www.zoran.com .
QSOUND LABS, INC.
Founded in 1988, QSound Labs, Inc. (NASDAQ:QSNDF) is an advanced audio technology company specializing in 3D sound placement and audio image enhancement. Based in Calgary, Alberta, the company uses patented 3D audio technologies to serve the home entertainment, PC/Multimedia, consumer electronics and professional audio industries. The technologies provide immersive, realistic environments that include positional audio, stereo enhancement and virtual surround sound.
PC OEMs and manufacturers and consumer electronic manufacturers who have licensed QSound include Acer, AIWA, Crystal Semiconductor, IBM, Sharp and Yamaha. Electronic Arts, Microsoft, Mindscape and Sega have all employed QSound technologies in developing video games. Musical artists Sting, Madonna and Janet Jackson have recorded music using the system, and television shows such as The X-Files and Ally McBeal utilize QSound technologies during post-production. -0- Note to Editors: Vaddis, ZR36700 and SiliconSoftware are a trademarks of Zoran Corporation. Dolby Digital is a trademark of Dolby Laboratories. QSurround is a trademark of QSound Labs.
--30--gdr/sf*
CONTACT: Zoran
David Anisman, 408/919-4274
davida@zoran.com
zoran.com
or
Zoran Media Contact: Carey Mitchell, 650/369-7833
carey@virtualpr.com
or
Investor Contact: Hannah Bruce, 415/986-1591
hbb@sf.frbd.com
or
QSound
David Gallagher, 403/291-2492
djg@qsound.com
qsound.com
or
QSound Media Contact: Michael Quint, 404/897-2300 Ext. 323
mquint@alexander-pr.com
or
Contact:
Paula Murray, 954/783-6992 |
