Avid Technology Selects Zoran's JPEG Chip-Set for Video Editing and Publishing for New Apple Performa Computers.

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 7, 1996--Zoran Corporation (NASDAQ: ZRAN) announced today that AVID Technology, Inc. has selected Zoran's Motion JPEG chip-set to provide the hardware video editing capabilities for Apple's new Macintosh Performa 6400 computers.

Zoran's JPEG chip-set is included in the new AVID Cinema video editing card designed for the powerful new multimedia Performa 6400 computers debuting this week at MacWorld Expo in Boston. AVID Cinema provides a complete digital video editing and publishing solution that makes it exceptionally easy and affordable for anyone to edit their own home movies. Zoran's ZR36050 and ZR36015 JPEG chip-set provides the compression solution which is a critical building block in these next-generation video editing systems.

"We are pleased to incorporate Zoran's Motion JPEG chip-set on our new AVID Cinema board," said Michael Sporer, Corporate Fellow of AVID Technology. "Zoran is well known as an industry leader in JPEG technology, with exceptional expertise in meeting customer demands. The low-cost and high-quality of Zoran's JPEG chip-set enables us to provide Apple's new Macintosh Performa users with a complete, high-quality video editing solution at consumer level prices."

AVID is using Zoran's JPEG technology in AVID Cinema to provide an integrated hardware and software solution that enables the customer to create and edit digital video movies. AVID Cinema turns the computer into a video editing studio that anyone can use. The AVID Cinema takes Apple Macintosh Performa users through the entire movie-making process, from planning shots to final output.

Zoran's Motion JPEG chip-set provides the AVID Cinema card with the ability to capture and playback full-motion, full-screen video, and accelerate frame-by-frame video editing. Zoran's Motion JPEG chip-set provides the industry's most optimized and cost-efficient video compression solution. Zoran's patented bit-rate control mechanism dynamically modifies the compression parameters from frame-to-frame to ensure that the video data is transferred smoothly to and from the hard disk, to avoid dropping frames, and to provide the best video quality.

"We are delighted to be part of Apple's next generation of multimedia Macintosh Performa computers," said Levy Gerzberg, President and CEO of Zoran. "Zoran has been providing the industry's highest performance compression technology in a variety of applications such as digital filmless cameras and video editing system for years, and is committed to providing system and board manufacturers with improved performance and functionality at significantly reduced prices for the years to come. Zoran's inclusion in the AVID Cinema card for Apple's Macintosh Performa multimedia computers is an important step in the proliferation of video editing in the home market."

Availability

Zoran's JPEG chip-set is available immediately and is currently shipping in volume. For more information about Zoran JPEG video editing devices, contact Zoran at 800/228-1314. The new AVID Cinema card will be sold by authorized Apple resellers for $459 in the United States. For more information, call Apple Computer at 800/462-4396.

About Zoran Corporation

Zoran Corporation (NASDAQ:ZRAN) develops and markets integrated circuits and software for digital video and audio compression applications. Zoran's product line includes JPEG codecs, MPEG video decoders, and AC-3 and MPEG audio decoders. The company's integrated circuits are used in a variety of video and audio products addressing evolving consumer multimedia markets. Current applications for Zoran products include professional and consumer video editing systems, PC-based and DVD stand-alone video CD systems, emerging DVD ROM and stand-alone players, digital audio systems, and filmless and digital cameras. Established in 1983, the company has operations in Santa Clara, Calif. and Haifa, Israel. For more information about Zoran, call 408/986-1314. -0-

Note to Editors: (c)ZR36050 and ZR36015 are trademarks of Zoran Corporation. (c) AVID is a registered trademark of AVID Technology,Inc. (c) Macintosh, Performa and Performa 6400 are trademarks of Apple Computer Corporation.

CONTACT: Zoran Corp., USA

Levy Gerzberg, 408/986-1314

[e-mail]

or

Zoran Corp., Israel

Shmuel Farkash, 011/972-4-8-545-777

[e-mail]

or

FRB 

Bonnie McBride, 415/986-1591

[e-mail]

or

MCA, Inc.

Carey Mitchell, 415/968-8900

[e-mail]