Tuesday September 8, 4:00 pm Eastern Time
Company Press Release
Xing's Premier Software-Only DVD Player Provides Most Complete, Highest-Quality Solution for Multimedia PCs
New XingDVD Player Meets Growing DVD Market Demand for Multimedia Computers
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 8, 1998-- Building on years of MPEG technology leadership, Xing Technology today announced that the new XingDVD Player provides computer OEMs with a high-quality, fully-functional, software-only solution for viewing DVD content on multimedia PCs.
Now shipping, the XingDVD Player provides OEMs with a cost-effective alternative to higher priced hardware solutions by using existing system components to provide unparalleled image quality, full-screen, full-motion MPEG-2 video and Dolby AC-3 audio at a fraction of the cost of competing hardware solutions.
The XingDVD Player is cross-platform compatible and can be easily integrated into any system with advanced multimedia capabilities. Optimized for use on systems with Intel Pentium(R) II processors, the XingDVD Player gives OEMs and their customers a high-quality, non-proprietary method for delivering content such as full length movies, games, and interactive DVD-Rom applications.
''Xing has long been recognized as a leading developer of high quality, video and audio software products for Intel architecture,'' said Gregory Berkin, DVD Evangelist at Intel Corporation [Nasdaq:INTC - news]. ''Now Xing has applied that experience toward delivering XingDVD, a full featured, software-only DVD player that achieves optimal performance on Pentium(R) II platforms.''
''Xing established itself as the leader in digital audio and video with the MPEG player, which has shipped over 20 million copies to date. The XingDVD Player is the natural evolution of our core technology, and provides OEMs with the highest quality DVD software solution available today,'' said Hassan Miah, President and CEO of Xing Technology. ''Everything points to the demand for DVD to skyrocket over the next two years -- expanding the opportunities for consumers to benefit from the flexibility and quality of the DVD viewing experience at the desktop.''
''DVD software decoding will play an important role in DVD-ROM adoption because it eliminates the need for additional hardware,'' said Wolfgang Schlichting, Research Manager, Removable Storage at IDC Research. ''Utilizing the Pentium(c) II processor instead of a dedicated MPEG decoder chip has the potential to significantly reduce the cost of DVD-ROM solutions. Over time, this will also enable the cost-sensitive sub-$1,000 PC segment to ship with DVD-ROM.''
DVD Market
Industry analysts predict that between now and the year 2000, over 35 million desktop PCs will be shipped, with multimedia computers capturing an estimated 55-65 percent of this growing market (Dataquest). By this account, 15-20 million multimedia PCs are expected to be shipped during 1998 alone - all enabling the market for a software-based DVD solution. As the leading provider of MPEG encoders and players, Xing is uniquely positioned to deliver the premium solution to the emerging DVD market, which analysts predict will exceed $6 billion in revenues related to DVD technology and the PC market (IDC).
Product Description
Xing's DVD solution includes MPEG-2 video and audio AC-3 decoding as well as full DVD navigation capabilities. The XingDVD Player is comprised of three main components: the GUI (graphic user interface), the DVD navigation layer, and the decoder engine.
-- GUI: 16bit interface design, in addition to 256 color
design.
-- DVD Navigation Layer: Along with basic file-based playback
capabilities, the XingDVD Player implements full DVD
navigation capabilities for access to all of the available
features of DVD's interactive format, including parental
control, seamless viewing angles switching and extensive
title and menu options.
Decoder engine: Due to its optimizations for Intel Pentium
(R) II processors, the XingDVD Decoder engine is capable of producing full-screen, full-motion MPEG-2 video with complete DVD navigation.
The core MPEG-2, DVD technology that powers the XingDVD Player will also be used in the MPEGLive! Encoder, StreamWorks Player, StreamWorks Server and Xing MPEG Encoder, making Xing's product line a comprehensive MPEG-2 suite by the end of 1998.
XingDVD Player Background
The XingDVD Player is based on the XingMPEG Player, a MPEG-1 decoder first developed for the 16bit Windows 3.1 operating system and first sold to OEMs in April of 1995. To date, the XingMPEG Player has shipped over 20 million copies and has enjoyed a larger market share with OEMs than any comparable player. Sixteen versions of the XingMPEG Player have been produced, and versions 2.0 and above have been 32-bit applications developed for the Windows95 and NT operating systems.
In April 1998, Xing introduced the XingMPEG Player Version 3.30, equipped with 32bit applications developed for Windows 95 and NT operating systems. It provided the foundation for the XingDVD Player, which supports both MCI and Direct Show interfaces, making it compatible with Windows95 and Windows98 operating systems as well as Windows NT platforms. Considered the leading MPEG technology company, Xing has established relationships with Dell, NEC, AST, Diamond, Hercules, Trident, and Miro.
Xing Technology Corporation
Xing Technology Corporation (www.xingtech.com) is the leading provider of MPEG audio and digital software. Since its beginnings in 1990, the Xing product line has focused on innovations in emerging media standards, including MPEG-2 video, DVD, and MPEG Layer 3 (MP3) digital audio. With each achievement and milestone, Xing moves closer to its goal: advancements in MPEG technology that make high quality digital audio and video on the PC the standard consumer experience.
Xing is registered trademark of Xing Technology Corporation. XingMPEG, StreamWorks, MPEGLive! and all logo and graphic designs are trademarks of Xing Technology Corporation. All other brands or products are trademarks or registered trademarks and are acknowledged to their respective holders.
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Contact:
Xing Technology Corporation
Joeli Nelson-Payne, 805/783-0400
joeli@xingtech.com
or
Golin/Harris Communications
Matt Conroy, 212/309-1401
mconroy@golinharris.com |
