3DO Launches Digital Video Product Line; Unveils 3DO MPEGXpress Digital Video Encoding System.SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 9, 1996--In support of its move into the PC hardware marketplace, The 3DO Company today announced a new digital video product line. The company unveiled the first product in the family, 3DO(R) MPEGXpress, a real-time MPEG encoding MPEG encoding is the process of capturing (digitizing) or converting (re-encoding) video and/or audio to one of several MPEG video and/or audio standards (codecs) for distribution (Internet, LAN) or for archiving to optical disc (CD, DVD). system. The 3DO MPEGXpress system provides a rich set of features at an aggressive price and delivers superior image quality traditionally found only in high-end MPEG encoding systems. 3DO MPEGXpress is a real-time Macintosh-based MPEG-1 encoding solution for developing content used in video games See video game console. , video CDs, multimedia and corporate authoring, and Internet applications. With component video inputs, extensive digital filtering, and up to 5 megabit per second A megabit per second (abbreviated as Mbit/s, Mbps, or mbps) is a unit of data transfer rate equal to 1,000,000 bits per second. Because there are 8 bits in a byte, a transfer speed of 8 megabits per second (8 Mbps) is equivalent to 1,000,000 bytes data rates, 3DO MPEGXpress delivers professional image quality at real-time encoding rates, putting the system at the high end of its class of real-time encoding systems. The product includes full digital audio, balanced XLR XLR X-linked lymphocyte regulated XLR X-Linked Recessive (genetics) XLR Accelar (Nortel/Bay network switch) XLR Ground Left Right (digital audio) inputs, and built-in audio/video encoding synchronization to ensure high-quality audio without the need for extra hardware. 3DO MPEGXpress video and audio features are integrated into 3DO DigitalConnect, a rack-mounted breakout box A device inserted into a multiple-line cable for testing purposes that provides an external connecting point to each wire. A small LED may be attached to each line, which glows when a signal is present.  Breakout Box _title> that accepts all input sources and converts them to D1 video and digital audio to ensure the highest image quality possible. "We recently announced our strategy to leverage our R&D efforts in the PC marketplace," said Toby Farrand, Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering and Operations, The 3DO Company. "With MPEGXpress, we are delivering the first component of the PC strategy. In the future, we will deliver other products that continue to increase performance at an affordable price, exploiting the growing MPEG (Moving Pictures Experts Group) An ISO/ITU standard for compressing digital video. Pronounced "em-peg," it is the universal standard for digital terrestrial, cable and satellite TV, DVDs and digital video recorders (DVRs). market." 3DO MPEGXpress' extensive suite of features is complemented by a powerful and easy-to-use interface. MPEGXpress gives the user complete control over the MPEG encoding process with features such as full I, P, and B frame control. Developers save time and achieve consistent image quality from one encoding session to the next by using custom presets provided by the system or saved by the user, to save all encoding parameters. MPEGXpress also includes features of specialized high-end systems, such as frame accurate VTR (VideoTape Recorder) A videotape recording and playback machine. VTR may refer to consumer MiniDV and DV recorders or to professional machines such as Betacam, DVCPRO and DVCAM. control, Inverse Telecine support, and batch processing (1) Performing a particular operation automatically on a group of files all at once rather than manually opening, editing and saving one file at a time. For example, graphics software that converts a selection of images from one format to another would be a batch processing utility. . Unlike other systems, MPEGXpress provides off-line QuickTime encoding support as well. These features save users development time and provide the flexibility needed to deliver MPEG content for a wide variety of applications and delivery platforms. As part of its commitment to the PC market, 3DO plans to provide MPEG-2 PCI (1) (Payment Card Industry) See PCI DSS. (2) (Peripheral Component Interconnect) The most widely used I/O bus (peripheral bus). digital video encoding systems for Macintosh and PC platforms later in 1996. The company expects to provide current MPEGXpress customers with an upgrade path to its MPEG-2 PCI digital video systems. Specific product details will be announced at a future date. 3DO has already seeded an MPEGXpress beta program and is scheduled to ship the final product this quarter for a suggested price of $11,995. The system includes 3DO DigitalConnect, a professional-quality rack-mountable box, two NuBus cards (one for encoding, the other for playback), and software. MPEGXpress will be available through selected VARS VARS Value Added Reseller VARS Vehicle Accounting and Reporting System (US Immigration and Naturalization Service) VARS Vertical and Azimuth Reference System VARS Variant Stem VARS Variables and distributors. For more product information or to order MPEGXpress, call 3DO Digital Video Product Sales at (415) 261-3300 or visit the company's web site at http://www.3do.com. The 3DO Company (NASDAQ NASDAQ in full National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations U.S. market for over-the-counter securities. Established in 1971 by the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), NASDAQ is an automated quotation system that reports on : THDO), headquartered in Redwood City, Calif., designs, integrates, and sells interactive technology and applications for the mass market. With offices in North America, Europe and Asia, the company licenses technologies and creates entertainment software for its 32-bit and 64-bit video game platforms, the PC market, and the Internet. Additional company information is available on the World Wide Web (http://www.3do.com) and on America Online (keyword: 3DO). -0- Note to Editors: 3DO and the 3DO logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of The 3DO Company. All other brand or product names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective owners. CONTACT: The 3DO Company Diane Hunt, 415/261-3214 Tuesday Uhland, 415/261-3142 |
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