Acer Selects C-Cube's CL680 Advanced VideoCD Decoder for Next Generation VideoCD Players; Taiwanese Maker Joins Panasonic/Matsushita and Samsung in Adopting C-Cube Solution.MILPITAS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 18, 1997--C-Cube Microsystems Inc. (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 :CUBE), the market leader in digital video compression Encoding digital video to take up less storage space and transmission bandwidth. See video codec and data compression. video compression - Compression of sequences of images. , today announced that Acer Corporation of Taiwan has selected the CL680 Advanced VideoCD Decoder for Acer's new VideoCD players. The CL680 integrates an NTSC/PAL video encoder for the highest quality video output and delivers advanced audio features, as well as C-Cube's ClearView error concealment technology, to achieve a new price/performance standard for VideoCD solutions. C-Cube introduced the CL680 in January of this year and announced that several leading VideoCD manufacturers had committed to this advanced solution, including giants Panasonic/Matsushita and Samsung, as well as the DSP (1) (Digital Signal Processor) A special-purpose CPU used for digital signal processing applications (see definition #2 below). It provides ultra-fast instruction sequences, such as shift and add, and multiply and add, which are commonly used in math-intensive Center, a leading Chinese VideoCD designer. "C-Cube is offering the most integrated, feature-rich VideoCD solution on the market today," said Rick Lai, General Manager of Acer Corporations Consumer Products Division. "C-Cube's single-chip solution enables us to get our products to market quickly and offer our customers a complete home theater video/audio experience." "The CL680 is setting a new standard in excellence for the VideoCD market," said Alex Daly, vice president of marketing for C-Cube Microsystems. "Our CL680 enables the next-generation of VideoCD players to provide unparalleled audio and video quality. We are committed to continually enhancing our feature-set to allow companies such as Acer to develop the best-of-breed in VideoCD products." CL680 Advanced Feature-Set Using advanced mixed signal technology, the CL680 integrates an NTSC/PAL video encoder with an 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). 1 audio and video decoder to provide the highest level of integration and most advanced feature- set available anywhere in the world for the VideoCD player market. This integration reduces the number of system components and datapaths, allowing accurate signal separation and producing a higher quality picture. In addition to C-Cube's unique ClearView, DiscView and FlexView features, the CL680 offers On-Screen on·screen or on-screen adj. & adv. 1. As shown on a movie, television, or display screen. 2. Within public view; in public. Display and CD-G as well as new features and functions to further increase integration as well as audio and video quality. Advanced audio features include the following: -- Wide Sound -- Wide-Sound audio processing creates a home theater surround sound environment for consumers. -- Stereo Key Control -- Adjusts the pitch of the audio bitstream (MPEG 1, CD-G and CDDA (Compact Disc Digital Audio) See CD. ) by up to 24 quartertones in single quartertone quar·ter·tone n. Half a semitone. increments, eliminating the need for a separate key control IC. -- Vocal Fade -- Attenuates the vocal component of the source audio allowing a wide range of source material to be used for Karaoke. This feature allows standard CD-DA (Compact Disc-Digital Audio) The original compact disc format developed by Sony and Philips in the 1980s, which was designed for audio only. Since "CD" is used loosely for all Compact Disc formats, the CD-DA designation differentiates a music disc or player recordings to be used for Karaoke and also accommodates non-standard Karaoke VideoCD titles, while eliminating the need for a separate voice cancel IC. Availability The CL680 has been successfully sampling for ninety days and volume availability is planned this quarter. About Acer Established in 1976, Acer is currently the world's seventh largest PC company and a leading supplier of high-end multiuser Two or more users. servers, desktop PCs, multimedia products, notebook computers and computer peripheral products. Acer operates 80 offices in 38 countries and has more than 16,000 employees supporting dealers in more than 100 countries. In 1995, Acer Group combined revenues totaled US$5.8 billion. About C-Cube Microsystems C-Cube is the leading provider of digital video semiconductor solutions which implement international standards for digital video, including MPEG 1 and MPEG 2. C-Cube's Emmy award-winning encoder chips form the heart of digital video networks worldwide. DiviCom Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary Wholly Owned Subsidiary A subsidiary whose parent company owns 100% of its common stock. Notes: In other words, the parent company owns the company outright and there are no minority owners. of C-Cube Microsystems and is a leading developer of digital video networking systems for broadcast communications applications. C-Cube Microsystems is headquartered in Milpitas, California and has offices in North America, Europe, and Asia. The company employs 669 people worldwide. Its stock is traded on the Nasdaq National Market System under the symbol CUBE. C-Cube can be reached at +1.408.944.6300 or on the World Wide Web at http://www.c-cube.com . -0- Note to Editors: The C-Cube logo is a registered trademark of C-Cube Microsystems Inc. C-Cube is a trademark of C-Cube Microsystems Inc. C-Cube has two white papers 1) "CL680 Digital Video Encoder White Paper" and 2) "ClearView Technical Brief" which are available upon request. Please contact Mary Giani at 408/944-8628 for copies. -0- Information for Investors: For investment information or to obtain copies of the above white papers, please contact Michele Kerkeles at 408/944-4213. Information for Editors: C-Cube's VideoCD Decoder Family: With the CL680, C-Cube has again augmented its flagship ClearView technology. C-Cube decoders using ClearView technology are guaranteed to deliver the very best VideoCD picture quality to the end-user, even on VideoCD discs that are dirty, scratched or otherwise flawed. Over time, VideoCD discs tend to develop scratches and accumulate dust and fingerprints. These can result in picture tearing and blocking as well as other video artifacting. C-Cube has invested over 20 man-years in ClearView technology and in VideoCD compatibility testing with a dedicated team and over 1500 "distressed" discs in their extensive VideoCD library. In addition, ClearView utilizes a special technique of producing two distinct frames for each decoded frame using an advanced interpolation interpolation In mathematics, estimation of a value between two known data points. A simple example is calculating the mean (see mean, median, and mode) of two population counts made 10 years apart to estimate the population in the fifth year. filter, thereby reducing flicker and raster artifacts artifacts see specimen artifacts. on interlaced Refers to a display system or image that uses interlacing and does not render contiguous lines one after the other. See interlace and interlaced GIF. displays. All members of C-Cube's VideoCD system decoder family incorporate four decoders and an encoder on a single chip: CD-ROM CD-ROM: see compact disc. CD-ROM in full compact disc read-only memory Type of computer storage medium that is read optically (e.g., by a laser). , MPEG 1 system, MPEG 1 video, MPEG 1 audio and an NTSC/PAL encoder. This high level of integration allows system designers to convert an existing audio CD player design to a VideoCD player with only three additional chips: a 4-Mbit DRAM (dynamic random access memory Dynamic random access memory (DRAM) is a type of random access memory that stores each bit of data in a separate capacitor within an integrated circuit. Since real capacitors leak charge, the information eventually fades unless the capacitor charge is refreshed periodically. ), a 128KB ROM (read only memory) and an audio DAC See D/A converter and discretionary access control. DAC - Digital to Analog Converter (digital-to-analog converter). C-Cube's VideoCD decoder family supports version 2.0 of the VideoCD standard, including support for high-resolution stills (704x480/576) in only 4 Mbits of DRAM. C-Cube's VideoCD decoders consume less than one watt of power each at 3.3 volts to support portable applications. CONTACT: C-Cube Microsystems Mary Sharpless-Giani, 408/944-8628 mary_giani@c-cube.com |
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