Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : ZORAN jpeg/dvd moguls -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: SIer formerly known as Joe B. who wrote (1189)	4/8/1998 1:07:00 PM
From: dave todd	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 1486

Tuesday April 7, 7:00 am Eastern Time Company Press Release Zoran Receives Microsoft's Windows Hardware Quality Labs Certification for SoftDVD First Shipping Software-only DVD Decoder Gets Quality Stamp Sought by PC OEMS SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 7, 1998--Zoran Corp. (NASDAQ:ZRAN - news) today announced that Microsoft's (NASDAQ:MSFT - news) Windows Hardware Quality Labs (WHQL) has certified the company's SoftDVD software-only DVD decoder for use by PC OEM manufacturers. The company believes that this marks the first time in its history that Microsoft has certified a software stand-alone product in its hardware labs. WHQL certification is Microsoft's highest quality stamp for hardware products, and now, hardware-replacement software products. SoftDVD is the industry's first shipping software-based DVD playback solution and has now become one of the first software decoders to be certified by Microsoft's stringent hardware test labs. SoftDVD has been granted ''Compatible'' status, which allows PC OEMs to ship it without affecting their system's Windows Logo status. SoftDVD allows computer users to watch high-quality movies and playback interactive DVD applications on their PCs without the need for dedicated hardware decoders. ''This is one of the key milestones we had set for the product from the time we first introduced the concept of replacing hardware decoders with a host-based DVD player. It is a tribute to our team's dedicated efforts that Microsoft has decided our implementation merits certification,'' said Joe Monastiero, director of software marketing at Zoran Corporation. ''This product status and implied quality standard is demanded today by most major system manufacturers.'' SoftDVD includes a robust DVD player/navigator, MPEG2 and Dolby Digital decoders, and fully certified CSS copy protection. Other SoftDVD certifications include those from Dolby and Macrovision. Leading PC OEMs, including Compaq and Hewlett Packard, are already using SoftDVD. IBM is also using Zoran's SoftDVD Navigator.

To: SIer formerly known as Joe B. who wrote (1189)	4/8/1998 3:10:00 PM
From: John	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 1486

I checked into the (supposed)Intel Software DVD story by contacting Zoran. The company said there were many calls from investors and that they had not heard if Intel had indeed created their own software DVD solution. Zoran thought it was odd that Intel, a hardware company, would go to software on their own. Plus, they would have first generation when Zoran (and others) have second and third. My broker thinks the article is BS and Intel does not comment on anything not formally released by their PR department. And the plot thickens.....John P.S. IMO, the reason we don't see movements on news is due to product confusion. We use to enjoy those 20% movements BEFORE the whole industry got messed up last fall. Like Circut City's "DIVX" and the OEMs disagreeing on standards. So, now Wall Street is in a "Show Me" mood for all DVD related stocks and we'll have to be paient.