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To: Helios who wrote (33553)	6/2/1998 9:00:00 AM
From: Glenn Holbert	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 50808

New Intel 740 DVD reference design + 2 design wins for SIGM Tuesday June 2, 6:02 am Eastern Time Company Press Release Sigma Designs Announces Single-Chip REALmagic DVD/MPEG-2 Decoder to Accompany Intel i740 Graphics Controller Chip Sigma Launches High Quality DVD Playback at 1998 Computex Computer Show in Taipei, Taiwan FREMONT, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 2, 1998--Sigma Designs, Inc. (Nasdaq: SIGM - news), a recognized leader in digital video solutions for personal computers, today announced the EM8220 REALmagic DVD chip developed in conjunction with Intel as part of the reference design for Intel i740-based 2D/3D graphics cards. Including a VMI 1.4 interface, the EM8220 chip-based reference design will also be compatible with other graphics chips with a VMI 1.4 socket. VMI (Video Module Interface) provides a bi-directional high bandwidth connection for passing DVD data and video to the graphics controller. Systems taking advantage of VMI can achieve high DVD performance at a lower cost than PCI solutions, since they do not require a dedicated PCI slot to add DVD functionality. VMI eliminates loading the PCI bus with video, improving system performance. When the Intel i740 graphics controller chip was introduced in February, industry analysts projected that Intel would gain a 20 to 25 percent market share this year, in part because the Intel brand name provides added value to card manufacturers. Intel has secured numerous design wins among makers of graphics accelerator add-in cards. Sigma has already secured design wins for its EM8220 from Labway Corporation and Lung Hwa Electronics-both Taiwan-based add-in card manufacturers-to use the REALmagic EM8220 chip in their Intel 740-based 2D/3D graphics cards. In addition, these card manufacturers can provide the EM8220 module to their OEM customers to upgrade PCs already equipped with the i740 graphics card. ''Sigma has established itself as a technology and quality leader in the DVD/MPEG market and has long been a driving force behind advancement of MPEG technology,'' commented Thinh Tran, Sigma Designs' Chairman and CEO. ''EM8220 is the latest demonstration that Sigma continues to leverage its technology leadership to meet the growing needs of this new and dynamic market by linking to graphics accelerators to provide superior DVD picture quality on PCs/TVs. In addition, we have a long business relationship with Taiwanese graphics card manufacturers, which we believe will help us increase the adoption rate of this technology.'' Sigma's feature-packed EM8220 DVD decoder is fully DVD compliant, providing virtually all functions of a DVD decoder on one chip. The EM8220 integrates a VMI 1.4 interface, MPEG-2 decoder, and a video scalar with bilinear interpolation filtering in both X and Y directions. The Sigma Designs EM8220 performs all MPEG decompression in both PAL and NTSC modes and video frame rate conversion with only 2 MB of memory. With its built-in S/PDIF encoder, it turns a PC into a full-featured home theater DVD player that fully exploits all of the digital video and digital surround sound capabilities of DVD. Samples of the EM8220 are available at $35 per piece in sample quantities. About Sigma Designs: Sigma Designs entered the multimedia market in 1993 with products based on the MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) standard for compressing and decompressing digital audio and video signals. Since then, Sigma has been a driving force behind advancement of the MPEG technology used in most multimedia products on the market today. Sigma Designs' products include affordable MPEG video and audio decoding hardware. All Sigma Designs' products are sold worldwide through a network of dealers, distributors, and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). For additional information, call 800-845-8086 or 510-770-0100, fax 510-770-2640 or visit Sigma's web site at sigmadesigns.com.

To: Helios who wrote (33553)	6/2/1998 10:01:00 AM
From: Don Dorsey	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 50808

Siedles launches Sony Video CD Siedles Limited, the sole agents for Sony has introduced to the local market Sony Video CD that has created a sensation in the audio and video industry worldwide. The new product is a disc as small as any Compact Disc and is 12 centimetres in diameter but packs up to 74 minutes of full colour moving images and sound. Additionally, it contains highly advanced digital technology which is not available in the conventional VHS cassettes or Laser discs. A Siedles spokesman said that a significant feature in the product was the clarity and sharpness of the still picture with a high resolution. "One small disc holds as many as 2000 high resolution still images", he added. The Sony Video CD Player comes with the 2.0 version Playback Control Capability (PBC) which enables the user to interact with on-screen menu giving access to quick, easy search and selection of programmes. "In fact, it gives the user complete control of the set up. If one needs to choose a disc or search for a song or a particular scene in a movie, the 'Digit Play' feature enables him or her to find them instantly," the spokesman explained. The new product would be available either independently or complete with Hi-Fi set up of CD, Tuner, Tape, Video/MD, Karoke and a host of other functions at Sony showroom in Colombo 4, he added. However, Sony itself has upped the ante with the introduction of the Digital Video Disc (DVD) which can provide hours of digital surround audio (Dolby AC 3 or DTS) and video on a single/double layer/single/double sided CD-size disc. It also supports multi-language soundtracks, subtitles, selectable multiple camera angles and selectable 4:3 and 16:9 aspect ratios.