Cirrus Logic Ups Ante in Consumer DVD Recording Market.Business Editors/High-Tech Writers 2004 International CES LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 8, 2004 New Platforms to Integrate Hard Drive, Support DivX and MPEG-4 Video Playback and Feature Audio Jukebox A storage device for multiple sets of CD-ROMs, DVDs, tape cartridges or disk modules. Using carousels, robot arms and other methods, a jukebox physically moves the storage medium from its assigned location to an optical or magnetic station for reading and writing. , Photo Album Applications Exciting New Features Available for All Current, Future Cirrus 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. Platforms Software Compatibility Ensures Easy Upgrade Path for Customers Taking the consumer DVD recording market to new heights, 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:CRUS crus (krus) pl. cru´ra [L.] 1. leg (1). 2. a leglike part. crus ce´rebri ) today introduced a host of new compelling features for new consumer DVD recorders (1) A recordable or rewritable DVD drive that is connected to the computer. It may be an internal or external device. See DVD drives, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R and DVD+RW. (2) . These features include support for the integration of a hard-disk drive, support for porting content from the hard drive to DVD disc media, support for playback of MPEG-4 video, and support for playback of DivX(R) video through Cirrus' next-generation DVD processor chip, the CS98300. These features are today being integrated into Cirrus' DVD recording semiconductor and software platforms. A highlight among the new features is the introduction of Cirrus' next-generation system software that further simplifies the use of DVD recorders. Cirrus' software achievement is key to the creation of several integrated features not found in today's existing digital video recording markets. Cirrus' strategy is to enable those features to be delivered into DVD recorder hard-drive enabled devices at retail prices below $500 by late 2004. New Cirrus features include the following: -- Personal video recorder See DVR. (PVR See DVR. ) functionality. The PVR feature, enabled through Cirrus' CS92688 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). codec (1) (enCOder/DECoder) A hardware circuit that performs analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) and digital-to-analog (DAC) conversion. When analog signals are entered into a computer, cellphone or other device via a microphone or video source such as VHS tape or analog TV, , gives users the ability to pause, rewind re·wind tr.v. re·wound , re·wind·ing, re·winds 1. To wind again or anew. 2. To reverse the winding of (recording tape or camera film). n. 1. The act or process of rewinding. and fast-forward the digital recording of live television directly to an optical or hard-disk drive. Depending upon the drive's capacity, consumers will be able to enjoy several hours of recorded content - with recording time and video quality options - with the added luxury of selecting the best of the content recorded on the hard-disk drive for transfer to DVD disc media for permanent archiving. Cirrus provides consumers the ability to record very high quality video or up to 8 hours of recording on a single-layer DVD disk (1.1Mbps). The platform supports dual IDE-based drives, giving consumers the ability to perform simultaneous functions, such as recording digital video while playing a DVD without any bus conflict. By integrating this technology into its DVD recording platform, Cirrus expects that its 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 customers can enhance their DVD recorder offerings with PVR features, but without the subscription fees common in other services. -- Audio jukebox. This feature, made possible by special software, enables the device to transfer music files from CDs, encode (1) To assign a code to represent data, such as a parts code. Contrast with decode. (2) To convert from one format or signal to another. See codec and D/A converter. (3) The term is sometimes erroneously used for "encrypt. the files in the MP3 audio format, store and manage them on a hard disk and permanently archive select music files on an optical CD or high-capacity DVD disc media. With a simple, intuitive user interface, consumers will easily be able to sort and manage music playlists created from their entire CD library. -- Digital picture/video management and photo album. Cirrus' platform integrates support for multiple-format and multiple-vendor Flash memory cards, enabling users to drop in Flash devices from digital cameras. Digital pictures or movie clips can then be viewed as part of special slide show software from Cirrus or transferred to the hard drive or DVD disc media for storage and archiving. -- DivX video and MPEG-4 video support. Cirrus is developing a new chip, the CS98300, which is expected, pending official certification from DivXNetworks, Inc., to be a DivX Certified(TM) hardware component and support the full-screen playback of DivX video content. As announced earlier this year, Cirrus is a member of the DivX Hardware Partner program and is working with DivXNetworks to incorporate support for DivX video technology into a variety of Cirrus' DVD recording platforms. The DivX video codec (1) A hardware circuit that converts analog video (NTSC, PAL, SECAM) into digital code and vice versa. The term may refer to only the A/D and D/A conversion, or it may include the compression technique for further reducing the signal (definition #2 below). See codec. is the popular video compression format with more than 100 million users worldwide. The CS98300 is pin- and software-compatible with Cirrus' flagship CS98200 DVD processor, and will enable Cirrus customers to provide DivX video playback on their products at compelling price points. As a result of integrating DivX video playback, the chip will also support the playback of standard MPEG-4 video content. "Cirrus Logic continues to lead the DVD recording market through cost-reduction measures, such as offering a single-board DVD recorder platform in conjunction with drive manufacturers such as BenQ," said Michelle Abraham, senior analyst with In-Stat/MDR. "Cirrus' introduction at the Consumer Electronics Show of new consumer features such as PVR functionality, DivX(R) video support and audio jukebox is the right strategy to provide manufacturers with additional added value Added value in financial analysis of shares is to be distinguished from value added. Used as a measure of shareholder value, calculated using the formula:
"With these new features, Cirrus gives consumers simple access to a wealth of new features, enhancing their entertainment experience," said Jack Guedj, vice president of Video Products Marketing, Cirrus Logic. "In order to keep a user friendly platform and enable the consumers to seamlessly access the new functions, Cirrus has and will continue to put forth considerable resources to develop a software interface that is graphically appealing and, best of all, easy for the consumer to use." Cirrus Logic Inc. Cirrus Logic is a premier supplier of high-performance analog, mixed-signal and digital processing Digital processing is the process of altering digital data in any form. The most common situations where digital processing is involved are computer graphics and digital audio processing. solutions for consumer entertainment electronics, automotive entertainment and industrial product applications. Building on its global market leadership in audio ICs and its rich mixed-signal patent portfolio, Cirrus Logic targets audio, video and precision mixed-signal applications in these growing markets. The company operates from headquarters in Austin, Texas, with offices in California, Colorado, Europe, Japan and Asia. More information about Cirrus Logic is available at www.cirrus.com. Safe Harbor Safe Harbor 1. A legal provision to reduce or eliminate liability as long as good faith is demonstrated. 2. A form of shark repellent implemented by a target company acquiring a business that is so poorly regulated that the target itself is less attractive. Statement Except for historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this news release, including the development of the CS98300 and the allocation of resources allocation of resources Apportionment of productive assets among different uses. The issue of resource allocation arises as societies seek to balance limited resources (capital, labour, land) against the various and often unlimited wants of their members. to develop a graphically appealing software interface, are forward-looking statements forward-looking statement A projected financial statement based on management expectations. A forward-looking statement involves risks with regard to the accuracy of assumptions underlying the projections. . These forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from management's current expectations and the forward-looking statements made in this press release. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following: the ability of the CS98300 processor to perform as expected; the ability of Cirrus to successfully incorporate DivX and MPEG-4 support into its products; overall conditions in the semiconductor market; and the risk factors listed in the company's Form 10-K Form 10-K A report required by the SEC from exchange-listed companies that provides for annual disclosure of certain financial information. Form 10-K See 10-K. for the year ended March 29, 2003, and in other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The foregoing information concerning our expectations represents our outlook as of the date of this news release, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new developments or otherwise. Cirrus Logic and Cirrus are trademarks of Cirrus Logic Inc. All other product names noted herein may be trademarks of their respective holders. |
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