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To: DiViT who wrote (35602)	8/31/1998 4:24:00 PM
From: BillyG	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 50808

Intel Developer's Forum & content protection........ techweb.com Intel Shifts Direction To Content Protection (08/28/98; 10:55 a.m. ET) By David Lammers, EE Times The Intel Developers Forum, planned for Sept. 15 to 17, is expected to focus on Intel's approaches to content protection for digital video. Jim Pappas, director of technology initiatives, said Intel will disclose its latest work on the Digital Transmission of Content Protection (DTCP) initiative, launched last year with Hitachi, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Sony, and Toshiba. The DTCP specification must be adopted by the industry to protect digital content, such as movies. And indirectly, the 1394 serial interface can be widely adopted only after Hollywood and other content providers are reassured DTCP will work. Last year, Santa Clara, Calif.-based Intel (company profile) pulled back on supporting the 1394 interface in its chip sets, largely because computer vendors balked at the cost of adding the upwards of 100,000 gates of logic needed to support 1394, as well as the lack of computer peripherals that required 1394. "DTCP is broader that 1394, but 1394 definitely will be a part of the new DTCP spec being released," said Pappas. Some system vendors offer support for 1394 with add-in cards, but now that the Universal Serial Bus is a relatively straightforward implementation, Intel is turning the spotlight back on getting 1394 added to the motherboard. Meanwhile, Intel will also showcase its effort to support digital audio and modem functionality on the motherboard, a furthering of the AC97 specification. Modem functions often are partly country-specific, and Intel has proposed an add-in card be used for those variable functions while other modem and audio functions are supported on the motherboard. The audio modem riser specification will take 16-bit audio to the 90-decibel (signal-to-noise) range, which Pappas said is much improved over the "hollow tin can" quality of the sound that emanated from desktops a few years ago. System-design engineers will receive hands-on training on new tools, part of the Intel Performance and Analysis Kit, or Ipeak. The tools themselves seem to point to where the desktop is heading. One tool, Iomon, will do performance-monitoring of the Windows Drivers Model, Microsoft's latest driver-technology initiative. By doing real-time, isochronous functional tests with Iomon, system engineers will better be able to implement drivers for USB and 1394, and so on, Pappas said. Another tool, Dquik, makes it easier to implement DVD drives that operate at optimal performance. "Right now, a lot of engineering effort is needed to implement a DVD drive," Pappas said. "To get high-quality movies on a desktop, the system designers need to do a lot of work -- on both hardware and software -- especially in the graphics and audio subsystems. These are the early days of DVD, and good care must be taken in the area of graphics acceleration, for example. Dquik runs a checklist to make sure the system engineer has implemented DVD successfully." The twice-yearly Intel Developers Forum said it anticipates a draw upwards of 1,000 system-design engineers to Palm Springs, Calif. The engineers will participate in technical seminars and hands-on training on Intel-developed tools, which will enable system designers to implement technologies that are expected to hit the market next fall -- the so-called back-to-school generation of desktops.

To: DiViT who wrote (35602)	8/31/1998 4:38:00 PM
From: John Rieman	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 50808

DVD players heat up in Tiawan............................... nikkeibp.asiabiztech.com Demand for DVD Players Heating Up in Taiwan August 31, 1998 (TAIPEI) -- Demand for DVD players is rising in Taiwan, pushing manufacturers such as CMC Magnetics Corp., Ritek Inc., CIS Technology Inc. and Etan Info System Co., Ltd. to expand related operations or take new steps into the market. Taiwan's demand for DVDs has been increasing since July and 4x models are replacing 2x models, the prices of which have been falling. Ritek produces 300,000 to 400,000 DVDs a month. The company plans to double the number of its DVD production lines by the first quarter of 1999. CMC Magnetics will increase its DVD production lines from two to five by the end of 1998. Its new factory will be completed in December and it will contain some DVD production lines. A new high-tech company with investment from Acer Peripherals Inc. is also targeting DVDs and CD-RWs as its main products. The affiliate has one production line, and manufacturing is scheduled for the fourth quarter. CIS Technology has decided to enter the DVD market, but it is still looking for the best time to realize the plan. CIS executives said that they will not begin DVD production until most computer manufacturers opt to equip their products with DVD players. They also expect that DVD players will become more common in PCs in the fourth quarter. Etan is testing a DVD production line. A company official said Etan will operate two DVD production lines by the end of the year and monthly output will surpass 100,000 units. (Commercial Times, Taiwan)