Cirrus Logic Demonstrates Sub-$1000 Architecture for Next-Generation Multimedia PCs and PC-Based Consumer Entertainment Appliances.LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 17, 1997-- New Windows 98-Based System Architecture Merges Multimedia-Rich PC Functionality with VCR-Like Simplicity Cirrus Logic (company) Cirrus Logic - A manufacturer of integrated circuits including the Advanced RISC Machine and display interface processors and cards for use as Windows accelerators (requiring dedicated driver software). http://cirrus.com/. 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 :CRUS crus (krus) pl. cru´ra [L.] 1. leg (1). 2. a leglike part. crus ce´rebri ) today at COMDEX The former, premier computer trade show in the U.S. Although it grew into an end user event, it was originally created for dealers and distributors (it was the COMputer Dealers EXposition). demonstrated its powerful new sub $1000 system architecture that promises to speed the development and time to market of next-generation multimedia PCs and emerging PC-based consumer entertainment appliances. Offering VCR-like simplicity in a sealed chassis format, Cirrus Logic's sub-$1000 system architecture is optimized for Microsoft Windows See Windows. (operating system) Microsoft Windows - Microsoft's proprietary window system and user interface software released in 1985 to run on top of MS-DOS. Widely criticised for being too slow (hence "Windoze", "Microsloth Windows") on the machines available then. 98 and targets OEMs who wish to drive the convergence of information, communications and entertainment functions into a low-cost, easy-to-use platform. "Our new system architecture raises the bar on feature sets for the sub-$1000 multimedia PC," said George Alexy, chief products and marketing officer in Cirrus Logic's Office of the President. He also notes that the company's new architecture will enable $500-to-$1000 PCs to reach the market as early as 1998, and that these new low-cost entries will pack greater multimedia functionality than current PCs priced in the $3,000-to $4,000 range. "This reference design leverages Cirrus Logic's CrystalClear(TM) audio, Laguna3D(TM) graphics and FastPath(TM) telephony platforms and embodies our vision of how sub-$1000 PCs and PC-based consumer entertainment appliances will emerge in 1998 and beyond." Will Strauss, president and principal market analyst for industry research firm Forward Concepts added, "Cirrus Logic's low-cost reference design provides the multimedia functionality required to enable rapid growth of the sub-$1000 PC market. Clearly, the consumer demand for entertainment appliances that incorporate PC multimedia functionality and Internet access See how to access the Internet. is exploding and the low price point will make buying decisions easy." SUB-$1000 FEATURE SET Cirrus Logic's sub-$1000 system architecture brings together, in a single integrated system design, the company's key technology platforms -- audio, 2D/3D graphics and modems. The robust, hardware-accelerated feature set includes Dolby Digital A digital audio encoding system from Dolby used in movie and home theaters. First used in 1995, Dolby Digital employs Dolby's AC-3 (Audio Coding-3) coding and compression technology and is the standard for DVD-Video and HDTV. 5. (AC-3) audio, 3D/AGP graphics, TV tuner/TV-out, DVD DVD: see digital versatile disc. DVD in full digital video disc or digital versatile disc Type of optical disc. The DVD represents the second generation of compact-disc (CD) technology. support, 56K Internet access, 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. and 1394 external bus support and ACPI/OnNow -- offering OEMs a dynamic architecture for developing low-cost multimedia PCs and PC-based consumer entertainment appliances. Cirrus Logic noted that its new sub-$1000 architecture deploys the company's PC product platforms and offers a significant opportunity for high levels of system integration. Cirrus Logic's integrated system architecture is now being offered to qualified 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 partners under non-disclosure. Qualified OEMs will receive schematics, bill of materials The list of components that make up a system. For example, a bill of materials for a house would include the cement block, lumber, shingles, doors, windows, plumbing, electric, heating and so on. and software as well as applications and engineering support to help speed development of their specific products and accelerate their time to market. CIRRUS LOGIC Cirrus Logic is a premier supplier of system-level integrated circuits that demand high-performance, mixed-signal processing. The company applies its system expertise to enable high-volume applications in data storage, networking, and multimedia for both computing and consumer electronics markets as well as ultra-precision data acquisition applications for industrial automation and instrumentation markets. -0- Cirrus Logic news releases may be obtained by fax by dialing 800/359-6414, or by dialing 510/249-4200 from outside the United States, or via the Internet on the world wide web at http://www.cirrus.com/ Note to Editors: Cirrus Logic is a registered trademark and CrystalCLear, Laguna3D and FastPath are trademarks of Cirrus Logic, Inc. All other product names noted herein may be trademarks of their respective holders. CONTACT: Tsantes & Associates Christian Bateman, 408/369-1500 chris@tsantes.com or Cirrus Logic Inc. Jeff Sasagawa, 510/624-7087 jeffs@corp.cirrus.com |
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