BridgeCo Launches Powerful Connectivity Platform; Company Offers Combined 1394 and Ethernet Solution to Manufacturers In the Growing Networked Entertainment Market.Business Editors/High-Tech Writers REDMOND, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 26, 2002 At the 1394 Developers Conference held at the Microsoft Conference Center in Redmond, Wash., BridgeCo AG showcased its new connectivity platform for home entertainment equipment based on their DM1000 System on Chip (SoC). BridgeCo collaborated with Microsoft and Altec Lansing Altec Lansing Technologies, Inc. is a manufacturer and marketer of computer and home entertainment sound systems, headphones, and microphones for personal digital media. to unveil applications such as 1394 surround audio from a PC, Internet Radio Listening to audio broadcasts via the Internet. There are more than 4,000 broadcasts available on the Internet that can be streamed and played by a software media player in the computer or in a stand-alone Internet radio with the software built in. from an a/v receiver (Audio/Video receiver) A combination audio amplifier and audio/video switching device for a home theater. It contains inputs for all the audio and video sources and outputs to one or more sets of speakers and one or more monitors (without a tuner) or TVs. , Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) and wireless control from a new Mira-based touchpad A stationary pointing device that provides a small, flat surface that you slide your finger over using the same movements as you would a mouse. You can tap on the pad's surface as an alternate to pressing one of the touchpad keys. See mouse, trackball and pointing stick. . BridgeCo used a pre-release update version of Windows XP(TM) with new 5.1 channel native drivers that provided home theater quality sound from the PC through a prototype Altec Lansing 5.1 speaker system. Microsoft used BridgeCo's DM1000 platform to develop these drivers, which deliver a pure Dolby Digital audio stream to the powered subwoofer A speaker that reproduces the lower end of the audio spectrum. A subwoofer system may include a crossover circuit which switches frequencies at approximately 100Hz and under to the subwoofer, while passing the rest of the signal to the main speakers. , thereby avoiding the audio dropouts typically caused by CPU CPU in full central processing unit Principal component of a digital computer, composed of a control unit, an instruction-decoding unit, and an arithmetic-logic unit. interrupts inherent in USB USB in full Universal Serial Bus Type of serial bus that allows peripheral devices (disks, modems, printers, digitizers, data gloves, etc.) to be easily connected to a computer. speakers. In addition, the Dolby Digital audio is decoded by firmware running on the BridgeCo DM1000, providing a further advantage to the manufacturer by avoiding the cost of a separate decoder. BridgeCo showcased additional application firmware for the DM1000 SoC such as live Internet Radio with MP3 decoding to expand a/v receiver capabilities. The conference also offered the first glimpse at UPnP control over both 1394 and Ethernet using the same platform, signifying BridgeCo's ability to offer Internet Protocol over 1394. Microsoft's eHome architecture supports a combination of Ethernet, 1394 and wireless networks in the home said Michael Toutonghi, Vice President and Distinguished Engineer, Microsoft eHome Division, in his keynote address. He highlighted BridgeCo's demonstration at the DevCon as an example of how manufacturers now have a quick and cost effective solution to populate these networks with entertainment and data devices that deliver compelling consumer experiences. BridgeCo's solution is even more timely given Microsoft's recent announcement that their new Windows XP Media Center Edition See Media Center Edition. , which turns your pc into a remote-controlled media center of rich entertainment, will be available for this year's holiday season. Switzerland-based BridgeCo spent more than two years quietly designing the first true embedded silicon and software platform optimized for audio, video, and data connectivity. The DM1000's powerful ground-breaking architecture, which includes an ARM 9 processor, two audio/video ports, 1394 link-layer controller, DTCP DTCP Digital Transmission Content Protection (method) DTCP Dynamic Tunnel Configuration Protocol DTCP Digital Transport Content Protection DTCP Digital Transmission Copy Protection content protection, and a high performance clock recovery circuit, allows manufacturers to create compelling applications in the consumer electronics, PC peripheral and professional audio/video markets. BridgeCo's software targets complete solutions for applications such as digital loudspeakers, audio/video receivers and break-out boxes, using modules which implement a variety of functions including UPnP, 1394 and IP protocol stacks, signal processing, AVC (1) (Advanced Video Coding) The video compression techniques used in the H.264 standard, jointly developed by ISO and the ITU-T. See H.264. (2) (Audio Visual C control, Internet radio and web server. "The prototype of our ADA Ada, city, United States Ada (ā`ə), city (1990 pop. 15,820), seat of Pontotoc co., S central Okla.; inc. 1904. It is a large cattle market and the center of a rich oil and ranch area. 995 5.1 surround speaker system using the BridgeCo DM1000 platform highlighted how time- and cost-effective their solution really is," enthused Mark Lucas, president and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. of Altec Lansing. "With the new Windows XP(TM) drivers developed on the same BridgeCo platform, we can be assured of simplicity, compatibility and great sound." Christof Heidelberger, CEO of BridgeCo exclaimed, "We have been overwhelmed with the interest from manufacturers in this approach to creating networked entertainment devices. With the DM1000's combination of Ethernet and 1394, now manufacturers can initiate product development on a powerful hardware platform that can be used very cost effectively across many products by utilizing BridgeCo's expanding library of application software modules." About BridgeCo BridgeCo AG, based in Zurich, Switzerland with marketing and sales offices in the United States, creates digital interfaces and applications that enable compelling consumer experiences from networked home entertainment and data devices. BridgeCo sells system-on-chip silicon bundled with integrated firmware modules to manufacturers of consumer electronics, pc peripherals and professional audio/video devices, providing low-cost, secure Ethernet, FireWire(TM) and wireless connectivity. More information can be viewed at www.bridgeco.net About Altec Lansing Technologies, Inc. Altec Lansing Technologies, Inc., has a rich legacy of blending art and science to stir the soul with high quality consumer and professional speaker systems. The market leader in personal computer speakers, Altec Lansing designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of computer and home entertainment sound systems and a line of headsets and headphones Head-mounted speakers. Headphones have a strap that rests on top of the head, positioning a pair of speakers over both ears. For listening to music or monitoring live performances and audio tracks, both left and right channels are required. . The company's Professional division, re-launched in April 2002, builds on the storied Altec Lansing name among sound system specifiers, contractors and installers in the fixed installation market. Headquartered in Milford, PA USA and privately held, Altec Lansing has offices in Austin TX, Cary NC, Houston TX, Hyrum UT, Oklahoma City OK, Paris, Hong Kong and Tokyo. In addition, Altec Lansing has an ISO (1) See ISO speed. (2) (International Organization for Standardization, Geneva, Switzerland, www.iso.ch) An organization that sets international standards, founded in 1946. The U.S. member body is ANSI. 9002 and SA8000 certified manufacturing facility in The People's Republic of China. The company employs about 1,500 people worldwide. To learn more about Altec Lansing and its full line of award-winning audio products, log on to www.alteclansing.com, or call toll-free 1-800-258-3288. Altec Lansing is a registered trademark of Altec Lansing Technologies, Inc. BridgeCo is a registered trademark of BridgeCo AG. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. More information about Microsoft's eHome and Windows XP Media Center Edition(TM) can be found at www.microsoft.com/ehome |
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