Sigma MPEG-2 board includes scan converter for TV.........
Sigma Designs NetStream 2tv Delivers Broadcast-Quality Video and
Web Graphics Directly to TV
COMDEX Fall 98
LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 17, 1998--
Affordable MPEG-2 Playback Card Eliminates Need for Expensive, Large-Screen VGA or Projection Monitors
Leveraging the technology that made its REALmagic NetStream 2 MPEG-2 playback card so popular, Sigma Designs,
Inc. (Nasdaq:SIGM) announced today the availability of NetStream 2tv.
The newly configured version of NetStream 2 incorporates an advanced VGA-to-TV "scan converter" chip that enables
users to display streaming video on a television set at resolutions up to 1024x768 pixels -- without the need for a VGA
monitor.
"Following the release of NetStream 2, we experienced strong customer demand for a product that could display
streaming video on a television set without requiring a VGA monitor," explained William K. Wong, Sigma's vice president
of marketing. "The need for this solution is most acute for projects such as video-on-demand (VOD) classroom
instruction and cruise ship entertainment, as well as airline and hotel-based VOD. NetStream 2tv provides these users
with the flexibility and quality they need at a price they can afford."
Advanced VOD applications must be able to display broadcast-quality video on a television set as well as be able to
display standard VGA graphics from a Web browser or other applications. In classroom instruction, large television sets,
which can be viewed by an entire classroom, are readily available; but large-screen VGA or projection monitors are
budget-breakers. In cruise ship and hotel applications, each cabin or room is already equipped with a television, which
also must perform double duty as a VGA display.
NetStream 2tv also provides a second TV output "mode" which can be switched into place to display full-screen MPEG
video using direct MPEG-to-TV output. With this mode enabled, users have an incredibly crisp, sharp display of video
on TV sets. This output uses a 10-bit DAC, like the DACs used in the leading consumer DVD players. A software utility
makes it possible to toggle between these two modes with a single mouse click. The utility can also be easily
incorporated into the Web-based applications that customers use to create streaming video applications.
A plug-and-play solution, NetStream 2tv features a PCI architecture for easy integration in Windows(R) 95, 98 and NT
4.0 environments. The new MPEG-2 playback card is also compatible with a broad range of third-party applications,
including video servers for video-on-demand, MPEG encoders for stored or real-time playback, satellite delivery
systems, streaming video playback systems, and hundreds of customizable interactive training titles.
DirectShow MPEG-2 Support
NetStream 2tv supports Microsoft's DirectShow 2.0 API with DirectShow-compatible MPEG-2 drivers, and is fully
compatible with the same MPEG-2 streaming video products supported by the standard NetStream 2 product. These
include: the Silicon Graphics MediaBase Video Server, the Oracle Video Server, Microsoft's NetShow Theater video
server, InfoValue QuickVideo Suite video server and live video broadcast solution, FVC.COM's V-Cache video server
and VCaster broadcast solution, the Minerva VNP broadcast encoder and NEC's HyperMS video server. NetStream
2tv is delivered with the Microsoft DirectShow Player, an easy-to-use ActiveX control which can be embedded inside
Web pages and Visual Basic applications.
Designed to deliver live video playback with absolutely no skipping or jerkiness, NetStream 2tv uses a precision variable
clock (VCXO) to lock the NetStream decoder to the frame rate of the broadcast encoder. This ensures that no audio or
video frames are dropped or duplicated. To minimize CPU overhead, NetStream 2tv uses PCI DMA bus transfer, rather
than programmed I/O. Video and audio decompression and playback are both performed by on-board hardware. The
on-board hardware also decodes and plays Dolby Digital (AC-3) and Pro Logic 5:1 channel surround sound with
16-bit, 20-bit, and 24-bit stereo output.
NetStream 2tv is available now from major resellers and distributors, including Ingram Micro and TechData. NetStream
2tv has an MSRP of $399.
About Sigma Designs:
Founded in 1982, Sigma Designs develops and manufactures high-performance products based on the Moving Picture
Experts Group (MPEG) standard for compressing and decompressing digital audio and video signals for video and
audio playback solutions, as well as advanced multimedia chip sets for the corporate, educational, and consumer
markets. 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.
Note to Editors: REALmagic and NetStream are trademarks and Sigma Designs is a registered trademark of Sigma
Designs. Other products and companies referred to herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective
companies.
Editors and Analysts: For further information, photographs and interviews, please contact Andy Marken,
marken@cerf.net or 408/986-0100.
CONTACT: Sigma Designs, Inc.
Carol Kaplan, 510/770-2991 (investor contact)
carol_kaplan@sdesigns.com
or
Marken Communications, Inc.
Andy Marken, 408/986-0100 (media contact)
marken@cerf.net |
