Panasonic Canada Selects Sigma Designs' REALmagic DVD Decoder for Upgrade Kit; Latest Design Win for Single-Chip REALmagic DVD/MPEG-2 Decoder.NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 16, 1998--Sigma Designs, Inc. (Nasdaq: SIGM), a leader in 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. decoder solutions for personal computers, today announced that Panasonic Canada's DVD-ROM DVD-ROM: see digital versatile disc. A read-only DVD disc used to permanently store data files. DVD-ROM discs are widely used to distribute large software applications that exceed the capacity of a CD-ROM disc. and DVD-RAM A rewritable DVD disc endorsed by the DVD Forum. Using phase change technology, DVD-RAMs are like removable hard disks, and the media can be rewritten 100,000 times compared to 1,000 times for DVD-RW and DVD+RW. The first DVD-RAM drives with a capacity of 2.6GB (single sided) or 5. bundles include a PC DVD/MPEG-2 decoder card using Sigma's EM8300 REALmagic DVD/MPEG-2/MPEG-1 decoder IC. "Sigma Designs has been instrumental to our MPEG-2 product road map," stated Robert Kwong, Panasonic Canada's Marketing Manager for Data Storage Products. "The availability of Sigma's EM8300 silicon for DVD decoding will enable Panasonic Canada to provide our upgrade customers with the highest-quality DVD playback solutions." The REALmagic EM8300 silicon is compatible with a growing range of DVD/MPEG-2 software applications as well as video servers for video-on-demand. In addition, because the Panasonic DVD-RAM drive also reads DVD-ROM and DVD-R (DVD-Recordable) A write-once (read only) DVD disc for both movies and data endorsed by the DVD Forum. DVD-Rs are often called "DVD Dash Rs" or "DVD Minus Rs" to distinguish them from the competing "Plus R" format (see DVD+R). discs, users can access a growing range of commercial and customized interactive titles. Industry-Standard Rewritable DVD "Panasonic is oneof the first to produce an economical, high-performance rewritable, removable drive that is in full compliance with the DVD Forum's DVD-RAM specifications and standards," commented Thinh Tran, Sigma Designs' Chairman 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. . "Combining Panasonic's drive with our REALmagic silicon for DVD decoding suddenly makes digital video affordable to everyone for use in developing video/sound presentations, training videos, promotional materials, and interactive kiosks using new software tools that are now available. This DVD-RAM technology strengthens our efforts to reach our initial target of the installed base of 100 million Pentium PCs for upgrading to DVD capability," Mr. Tran concluded. Panasonic brand products are manufactured by Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange :MC), one of the world's leading producers of CD-ROM drives and other digital electronic products. In Canada, contact Panasonic Canada, 5770 Ambler Drive, Mississauga, ONT ONT Ontario (old acronym - ON is now frequently used) ONT Optimizing Converged Cisco Networks (cisco CCNP exam) ONT Optical Network Terminal ONT Ontario Northland Railway L4W 2T3, (905) 238-2254, FAX (905) 238-2414, E-mail rkwong@panasonic.ca. About Panasonic Canada: Panasonic Canada Inc. markets an extensive line of computer-related products suitable for personal, home/office, business, corporate or government use. These products include: notebook computers, monitors, multifunction laser printers, laser printers, dot matrix printers, CD-ROM drives, CD-ROM changers, portable 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). players, Zip drives, LS-120 drives, PD Drives, optical jukeboxes, electronic filing systems and high-speed image scanners. About Sigma Designs: Sigma Designs entered the multimedia market in 1993 with products based on the 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). (Moving Picture Experts Group (compression, standard, algorithm, file format, body) Moving Picture Experts Group - (MPEG, ISO/IEC JTC1/SC29 WG11) An ISO committee that generates standards for digital video compression and audio. Also the name of their algorithms. ) standard for compressing and decompressing de·com·press v. de·com·pressed, de·com·press·ing, de·com·press·es v.tr. 1. To relieve of pressure or compression. 2. digital audio and video signals. Since then, Sigma has been a driving force behind advancement of the MPEG technology used in most multimedia products on the market today. Sigma Designs' products include affordable MPEG video and audio decoding hardware. All Sigma Designs' products are sold worldwide through a network of dealers, distributors, and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). For additional information, call 800-845-8086 or 510-770-0100, fax 510-770-2640, or visit Sigma's web site at http://www.sigmadesigns.com This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the PC-DVD market, the Company's beliefs regarding design wins, and the features and potential growth prospects of certain DVD/MPEG-2 products offered by the Company in this market that involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results of Sigma Designs may vary materially due to a number of factors including, but not limited to, the levels of orders from and the risk of cancellation of orders by significant customers, including Panasonic Canada, the ability of the Company's REALmagic EM8300 DVD/MPEG-2 decoder to compete with other technologies in these emerging markets, the risk that such product will not gain widespread acceptance or will be rendered obsolete by product offerings of competitors or by alternative technologies, and the risk that the Company will not meet price or time-to-market estimates due to production, manufacturing, or other delays. Editors and Analysts: For further information, photographs and interviews please contact S&S Public Relations public relations, activities and policies used to create public interest in a person, idea, product, institution, or business establishment. 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