Avance Logic Announces Video Support for Windows 95; Video Wizard Video Acceleration Chipset Allows MPEG Viewing in Windows 95.FREMONT, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 24, 1995--Avance Logic Thursday announced driver support for Microsoft(R) Windows(R) 95 and the popular Video Wizard chipset. The new driver allows existing users of the Video Wizard to upgrade to Windows 95 and still enjoy the high quality 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). and AVI (Audio Video Interleaved) A Windows multimedia video format from Microsoft. It interleaves standard waveform audio and digital video frames (bitmaps) to provide reduced animation at 15 fps at 160x120x8 resolution. Audio is 11,025Hz, 8-bit samples. title viewing they have been accustomed to with Windows 3.1. The new driver and video playback support allows system OEMs to introduce affordable Multimedia Acceleration technology with their Windows 95 systems. The Video Wizard, video acceleration chipset, reduces Video Redraw To redisplay an image on screen whether text or graphics. The concept is that the first time elements are displayed, they are "drawn," and if something is changed, they are "redrawn." Applications often have a Refresh command that redraws the screen. overhead up to 50%, while enabling the system to display 50-100% greater Frame Rates and larger Frame Sizes without "Postage-stamp Size Video Windows." Additionally, users will enjoy TV-quality true-color video images instead of the dithered images seen by other solutions. The Video Wizard is targeted at the video playback market, not the video capture and editing segment which is still more of a professional area. The Video Wizard supports popular industry-standard software CODECs such as Indeo, MPEG, MS-Video, and CinePak. Applications of the Video Wizard include high quality video games, movie playback, business presentations, and CD-ROM-based multimedia which include video clips. "We're excited that Avance Logic is announcing Video Wizard driver support for Windows 95," said Brad Chase, general manager of the personal systems division at Microsoft. "Direct video acceleration will bring extra added performance to game and other 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). titles operating under Windows 95." "Low-cost video acceleration technology is necessary to jump-start the acceptance of video-based multimedia titles in the market and is an important aspect of Windows 95," said Michael Harris, Director of Sales and Marketing at Avance Logic. "Many chip manufacturers have introduced much more high cost video acceleration solutions that also support video capture for the personal computer market. However, to make video-based multimedia systems attractive to business, as well as home computer operations, an acceptable level of performance at or near current or accelerated VGA (Video Graphics Array) The display standard for the PC. All PC display adapters support VGA, and Windows machines boot up in "VGA mode" before switching to higher resolutions. board pricing is necessary." Most competitive video acceleration solutions carry a hefty price tag and have features that are just not required for the playback market, according to Harris, as OEMs or retailers sell these products into the after-market due to the higher cost associated with their manufacture and their limited market acceptance. Boards based on Avance Logic's Video Wizard chipsets, however, should sell at or near prices of current accelerated VGA boards -- allowing OEMs to make video acceleration a standard product in all of their computers that include Windows 95. The Video Wizard is an advanced graphics and motion video chipset that accelerates Color Space Conversion Changing one type of color-encoded signal into another. Converting from RGB to YUV and back to RGB are common color space conversions when working with video formats (see YUV). Converting from the display color space (RGB) to the printer color space (CMYK) is another common example. and Scaling. The chip supports YUV The color encoding system used for analog television worldwide (NTSC, PAL and SECAM). The YUV color space (color model) differs from RGB, which is what the camera captures and what humans view. 4:1:1, 4:2:2, and YUV9 among others. Most CODECs The following is a list of codecs. Audio codecs Non-compression formats
The Video Wizard features the ability to increase video frame rates by up to 100% vs. current technology, and support 16.7 million colors in the video window with a 24-bit RAMDAC (Random Access Memory Digital to Analog Converter) The VGA controller chip that maintains the color palette and converts data from memory into analog signals for the monitor. RAMDAC - Random Access Memory Digital-to-Analog Converter and clock generator included with the chip. Windows 95 supports full-motion video and games acceleration through the DirectDraw API in the MS Game SDK (Software Developer's Kit) See developer's toolkit and Windows SDK. SDK - Software Developers Kit (or "Software Development Kit"). . Until Microsoft releases the final Game SDK, users of the Video Wizard will use a specially modified DCI (Display Control Interface) An Intel/Microsoft programming interface for full-motion video and games in Windows. It allowed applications to take advantage of video accelerator features built into the display adapter. driver from Avance Logic. This driver will allow users to continue to enjoy their existing collections of video-enabled titles. Furthermore, the new driver for the VideoWizard supports Plug and Play in Windows 95, 32-bit performance, and VESA DDC automatic monitor detection and configuration. Avance Logic Inc. is a privately held U.S. producer of total multimedia solutions. The company's graphics, video, and sound controller devices are designed to reduce OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) The rebranding of equipment and selling it. The term initially referred to the company that made the products (the "original" manufacturer), but eventually became widely used to refer to the organization that buys the products and design costs and are currently available through a worldwide network of Manufacturers Representatives and sales offices. -0- Video Wizard Press Release Compendium: 1. The Video Wizard supports video playback now through a modified DCI driver. Users do not have to wait for the DirectDraw API to enjoy video. 2. Competitive solutions can show video but not at the quality level of the VideoWizard Chipset. 3. S/W See software. MPEG technology is bundled with the Video Wizard chipset. 4. When DirectDraw becomes available, Avance will provide an updated driver. 5. Users can continue to enjoy multimedia titles and not wait for an upgrade. 6. Microsoft is excited that Avance Logic is announcing Video Wizard driver support. 7. The Video Wizard allows affordable full-motion video acceleration for computer systems with Windows 95 installed. -0- Note to Editors: Microsoft and Windows are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. CONTACT: Avance Logic Michael Harris, 510/226-9555 or Neutron, Germany Siegfried Link, 011-49-8022-83752 |
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