Sigma Designs Unveils Single-Chip DVD/MPEG-2 Playback for Notebook PCs.

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 18, 1998--

REALmagic EM8221 DVD Silicon Provides Economical Solution

for Adding Smooth, High-Definition Digital Video Performance

to Notebooks

Sigma Designs, Inc. (Nasdaq:SIGM), an industry leader in providing high-quality MPEG-2 video solutions for desktop PCs and networked PCs, set the pace for digital video performance in the notebook PC industry today with the announcement of its new REALmagic(TM) EM8221 DVD/MPEG-2 decoder chip module.

Developed to accommodate the constraints of notebook designs, the EM8221 DVD module is a low-profile hardware decoder card that integrates all of the DVD/MPEG-2 playback features in a single card that measures only 50mm x 80mm. With the module, any DVD-equipped notebook with a VPM-/VPE-compatible digital video interface or a 16-bit Zoomed Video (ZV) interface can become a portable DVD player that provides crystal-clear video playback at a full 30-frames per second -- without burdening the system CPU.

"We have been very pleased with the acceptance of our notebook module by notebook manufacturers located in Taiwan," said William K. Wong, Sigma's vice president of marketing. "Seven notebook OEMs are incorporating our module, and Kapok Computers has incorporated our DVD module in three notebook models," he noted.

"With the EM8221, we can now provide mobile users with the same motion picture-quality video playback that desktop users enjoy," stated Harry Chen, senior specialist in the planning department for Kapok's R&D Division. Kapok, ranked among Taiwan's top 10 notebook computer makers, specializes in the research, development, and manufacture of high-technology, niche-market notebook computers. Established in 1993, Kapok has grown rapidly and now sells its products in more than 70 countries.

The EM8221 leverages the technology incorporated in Sigma's award-winning REALmagic products for desktop PCs and the firm's work in zoomed video technology. By combining this expertise, Sigma developed a notebook solution that includes an MPEG-2 video decoder, a PCI 2.1 master/slave bus interface, integrated video scalar, integrated decryption logic, built-in serial audio output and an S/PDIF encoder on a single chip.

Unlike software-based decoders, which can drain the CPU, Sigma Designs' fully ACPI-compliant EM8221 is a hardware-based decoder that performs all MPEG decompression (in both PAL and NTSC modes) and video frame rate conversion with only 2MB of memory and low power requirements.

With REALmagic-enabled notebooks, mobile computer users can give motion picture-quality product demonstrations, and video for interactive training/educational purposes. Sigma's REALmagic notebook decoder makes it possible for people to use their portable computers as a DVD movie or game player while on the road without having to carry along a number of peripherals and accessories.

Notebook Becomes a Full-Featured Portable DVD Player

To maximize the advantages of DVD technology, the EM8221 DVD module includes Sigma Design's DVD-Station software, which provides advanced navigation and control capabilities. On-screen interactive menus give users the ability to select from multiple camera angles, multiple languages and subtitles while easy-to-use control buttons enable forward and backward visual searches at variable speeds and the ability to jump ahead to the next chapter or back to a previous chapter.

In addition, DVD-Station includes digital control for brightness, contrast and color saturation. Users can also interact with DVD Station menus to exercise parental control and execute search commands.

Fully compliant with the ISO 13818-2 MPEG-2 and DVD standards, the REALmagic EM8221 decoder provides broadcast-quality playback for DVD videos, including encrypted movie titles; and MPEG-2 DVD-ROM interactive video titles; as well as MPEG-1, SVCD, and Video CD 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 interactive titles. In addition to supporting wide screen, letter box, and pan and scan viewing aspect ratios, the EM8221 supports analog and digital CSS-compliant copy protection.

To enable direct digital or optical output of AC-3 5.1 channel audio streams, the EM8221 chip has a built-in serial audio output and an S/PDIF encoder. MPEG-2 audio decode and PCM audio playback at 48Khz, 96Khz and 16, 20 and 24 bits are supported. With the addition of a high-quality receiver/amplifier such as the Dolby Prologic(TM), users can enjoy Surround Sound(TM). With the addition of an external AC-3 decoder, users can enjoy AC-3 5.1 channel audio.

The REALmagic DVD/MPEG-2 module for notebooks is compatible with Windows(R) 95 and Windows 98. System requirements include a 166MHz or higher Intel Pentium CPU, 16MB of system memory, 2MB of free hard disk space and either a VPM-/VPE-compatible digital video interface or a 16-bit ZV interface. Samples of the EM8221 are available now at $50 each. Volume shipments are available 30 days ARO.

About Sigma Designs

Sigma Designs entered the multimedia market in 1993 with products based on the MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) standard for compressing and decompressing 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 [phone] or visit Sigma's Web site at http://www.sigmadesigns.com.

Editors and Analysts: For further information, photographs and interviews, please contact Andy Marken, [e-mail] or 408/986-0100.