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

To: George Thompson who wrote (34172)	7/7/1998 9:18:00 AM
From: BillyG	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 50808

Argon MPEG2/DVD encoder board for $4999.......... Wired, Inc. Introduces ARGON, the Industry's Least Expensive MPEG2/DVD Realtime Encoder MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 7, 1998--Wired, Inc. introduces "ARGON", the industry's smallest and most affordable MPEG2/DVD realtime audio and video encoder. ARGON(TM) captures and compresses video and audio signals into fully compatible MPEG1 or MPEG2 bitstreams for DVD authoring or media network transmission. ARGON ARGON is a single short PCI card that operates in PowerMac(R), Windows 95(R), Windows NT(R), and Linux computers. Utilizing the latest MPEG encoding technology, ARGON encodes video in realtime into MPEG1 or MPEG2 streams, CBR (Constant Bit Rate) or VBR (Variable Bit Rate), from 128kb/s up to 15Mb/s. ARGON also encodes audio in realtime into MPEG1 or PCM streams, 32KHz, 44.1KHz, and 48KHz sample rates. Included with the hardware board is a complete, easy to use, software application for realtime creation of a variety of MPEG streams (Elementary Video & Audio, Multiplexed System and Program streams). The ARGON software also allows realtime preview of the encoded material for review before recording. [Simultaneous encode/decode -- sounds like CUBE.] Also available is a complete API for incorporating the ARGON encoding board within custom applications. "Previously, MPEG2 compressing a video for use within a multimedia product, corporate presentation, or DVD project required an outside video post-production shop at over $100 per minute or expensive systems exceeding $40,000," states Mark Bain, Wired Inc. president. "With ARGON's innovative design and feature packed software, MPEG2 compression can now be done easily and inexpensively on any computer desktop." MPEG2 Everywhere The proliferation of MPEG2 video into households and corporate America is at an all time high. Direct satellite broadcasts (DirecTV, Primestar) and DVD have invaded normal family life, while Network Media Distribution (Video On Demand, distance learning) is becoming very popular with corporate networked computer systems. While the MPEG2 decoding market has grown substantially, the MPEG2 encoding market is limited because of the high costs involved. Typical MPEG2 encoding systems range from $25,000 to $500,000, with the average around $40,000. The current most popular DVD authoring system sells for over $200,000. These costs have restricted content developers to leasing encoding time at $100/min, or to somehow finance an expensive encoding system. With ARGON, Wired has broken through this barrier and lowered the entry fee for personal MPEG2/DVD encoding. A complete 2 board encoding/decoding set, including ARGON and MasonX, sells for $4999, substantially less than any other MPEG2 realtime encoder/decoder arrangement. Corporations and casual users can now afford to own a high-quality MPEG2/DVD encoding station for the price of having a single stream encoded with an outside source. Realtime Encoding ARGON captures, compresses, and multiplexes, video and audio in realtime; in other words 1 hour of video and audio is captured, MPEG2 compressed, multiplexed, and stored, in 1 hour. No additional processing time is required. Software only encoding systems typically encode at a rate of 150:1. This means a 1 hour video will take 1 WEEK to encode!! The realtime operation of ARGON gives the content producer immediate access to their MPEG files for quick incorporation into their multimedia project. More........... newsalert.com

To: George Thompson who wrote (34172)	7/7/1998 9:47:00 AM
From: Clarksterh	Respond to of 50808

The cable companies are balking at distributing HDTV because they want the bandwidth for more standard definition signals. The FCC or congress may invoke "Must Carry" rules that will force the cable operators to pass on HDTV in its original resolution and not downconvert to a standard definition one meg signal. But the same problem applies to the wireless broadcasters - they aren't being given lots of new bandwidth.(?) Clark

To: George Thompson who wrote (34172)	7/7/1998 2:55:00 PM
From: John Rieman	Respond to of 50808

Guess what the consumers of DTV want.............................. Consumers Want To See HDTV From Local Stations; Are Willing To Give Up Channels For Better Pictures, Survey Shows 10:18 a.m. Jul 07, 1998 Eastern MELBOURNE, Fla., July 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumers want access to high definition television (HDTV) programming from local stations, and they are willing to give up channels in exchange for the better picture and sound available with HDTV, according to a recent independent survey commissioned by Harris Corporation (NYSE: HRS). The telephone survey results are being released as the Federal Communications Commission considers whether cable companies should carry HDTV programming offered by local television stations. The survey, conducted last month, questioned 700 consumers across the United States about digital and cable television. The group selected is representative of the U.S. population. The survey showed that almost all of the respondents felt cable providers should carry local network affiliates' HDTV programs. In addition, more than half said they would be willing to give up some of their present channels for HDTV's superior pictures and sound. Nearly two thirds of the respondents said they actually watched fewer than a third of the channels they receive, while the vast majority said they watched no more than half their available channels. More than three-quarters of the respondents watch 10 or fewer channels per week. "These findings contradict the popular assumption that today's television viewers are only interested in receiving more channels," said Bruce M. Allan, vice president and general manager of Harris' Broadcast Division. "They show that consumers are willing to give up quantity in exchange for improved quality." Among the survey results: 91% felt cable providers should carry local stations' HDTV programming. 80% indicated they were not aware of the must-carry debate involving digital HDTV. 78% watch 10 or fewer channels per week. 56% said they would give up channels in order to get HDTV programming. How The Study Was Conducted: The telephone survey was conducted in May by Systems Research Corporation of Rochelle Park, New Jersey. SRC asked 700 randomly-selected consumers their feelings on digital and cable television. Don't know/refused responses were removed from the tabulations. Harris Corporation Background: Harris is the leader in advanced transmitter equipment for DTV systems and the leading manufacturer of digital radio broadcast equipment in the U.S. The company has signed agreements to provide DTV transmitters to more than 200 television stations in the U.S. Last year, a Harris transmitter became the first in the U.S. to broadcast commercial digital television signals. The company also developed the test bed that was used to evaluate each of the digital television systems proposed for the U.S. market. Harris has provided transmitter equipment for six of the United States' seven experimental DTV stations, including PBS-member stations WETA (Washington, D.C.), KCTS (Seattle) and Oregon Public Broadcasting (Portland), as well as stations WCBS (New York), WRAL (Raleigh, North Carolina), and WHD (Washington, D.C.), the nation's model station. Additionally, Harris has supplied digital transmitters for high-definition TV demonstrations worldwide. Harris Corporation, with worldwide sales of $3.8 billion, is an international communications and electronics company that provides a wide range of products and services such as wireless and personal communications, digital television, health care information, multi-media communications, automotive electronics, transportation, business information, defense communications and information, and Lanier office products. SOURCE Harris Corporation Copyright 1998, PR Newswire