Vaddis® V's Multimedia & Display Processing Supports DVD-Audio, DVD-Video, Web Browsing Plus Interfaces That Enable Emerging DVD-Recording Applications
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — November 9, 2000 — Zoran Corporation (Nasdaq: ZRAN), a leading provider of digital solutions-on-a-chip for applications in the growing multimedia and Internet consumer markets, today announced the Vaddis V, an advanced DVD Multimedia Processor for enabling consumer devices with DVD playback, the new DVD-Audio standard, and Web browsing. Vaddis V preproduction parts are being integrated into new products at Zoran's major customer sites and will be demonstrated at Zoran's Booth at the Comdex trade show in Las Vegas next week. Consistent with its strategy to continue to provide leading-edge products for the consumer electronics DVD market, Zoran also announced the Vaddis IV-LC and its Vaddis CompanionCPU for the mainstream and entry-level markets. (See companion news release announcing the new Vaddis IV-LC and its Vaddis CompanionCPU.)
The Vaddis V integrates Zoran's proven DVD decoding technology with a powerful CPU, enhanced Audio DSP, Graphics Accelerator, Video Processor, NTSC/PAL/480P Video Encoder, and Deinterlacer for Progressive Scan Output. The embedded 135 MHz 32-bit RISC CPU with DSP instructions is tightly coupled with on-chip hardware accelerators enabling full-featured DVD playback and responsive Web browsing. A dedicated 135 MHz 32-bit Audio DSP allows for concurrent operation of multiple audio algorithms. The flexible video processor delivers simultaneous display of three sources including Web, DVD, and an external video source such as television. The Vaddis V has direct analog video output for interlaced and progressive televisions, eliminating the need for an external progressive scan chip or video encoder and Digital to Analog Converters (DACs).
"The highly integrated Vaddis V combines Zoran's motion and still image video decoding technology and new audio DSP core with a powerful host processor," said Ram Ofir, Director of Marketing at Zoran. "The Vaddis V leverages the experience Zoran has gained in both the DVD and digital imaging markets. These technologies enable enhanced Web browsing performance through DSP accelerated image and audio decoding. With the Vaddis V, our customers can offer a host of new applications taking advantage of the convergence of digital audio and digital imaging within the DVD platform. Zoran is working closely with its partners to deliver entire solutions that help our customers shorten their time to market."
"Our long and productive alliance with Zoran continues to yield innovative and competitive solutions for our customers," said Mr. Akira Kashiwagi, CEO, Fujifilm Microdevices Co., Ltd. "Currently, we are supporting customers integrating the Vaddis V into new consumer devices that extend the capabilities of the popular DVD platform to Web access, JPEG browsing, interactive DVD, and other advanced player functions."
Vaddis V Web Browsing Capability
Web Browsing on the Vaddis V takes advantage of the
embedded CPU and hardware accelerators, including an on-chip graphics
accelerator and Audio DSP. Graphics and text operations off-load the CPU for
responsive Web Browsing. The Vaddis V has integrated hardware deflicker
filtering for optimal presentation of text and Web user interfaces on a
television screen. DSP acceleration for JPEG decoding enables digital image
browsing applications. Zoran has been working with Planetweb and their advanced
Internet software to deliver Internet-enabled DVD on the Vaddis V platform.
"Zoran's Vaddis V processor is an excellent chip for running Planetweb's browser software. It provides the hardware acceleration necessary for high-quality browsing on a consumer electronics platform," said Ken Soohoo, CEO of Planetweb, a leading developer of Internet software products and services that integrate Internet browsing functionality into consumer electronic devices. Planetweb will demonstrate the Planetweb browser running on the Vaddis V in their booth at Comdex next week.
The Vaddis V's combination of Web Browsing capability and DVD playback enables new Internet-connected DVD applications. A new Interactive DVD standard from InterActual, creators of PCFriendly software, lets consumers expand their DVD experience with web-based games, cross-marketing promotions, e-commerce opportunities, chat rooms, and other interactive Web opportunities. InterActual's Internet-connected DVD technology, which merges DVD playback with Web content, has been used on hundreds of DVD titles released by major Hollywood Studios. It enables DVD title developers to combine the best of DVD with the flexibility and timeliness of the Internet.
"Zoran and InterActual are working together to bring the InterActual experience to advanced consumer electronics DVD players," said Todd Collart, President and CEO of InterActual. "Zoran brings the market leadership and technical expertise required to deliver a cost-effective, compelling solution for this emerging application."
Advanced DVD Standards and Features
As Zoran's fifth generation DVD system-on-a-chip, the
Vaddis V has been optimized for Universal DVD Players with DVD-Audio and
DVD-Video capability. The Vaddis V supports Meridian Lossless Packing (MLP),
Linear PCM (LPCM), and Watermarking for DVD-Audio players with up to 192 kHz
sampling and 24-bit resolution. With a vast array of trick modes including
smooth fast forward with audio playback, reverse playback, and Zoran's
proprietary video scaling, ZoranZoom™, manufacturers using the Vaddis V can
deliver the ultimate DVD-Video experience to the consumer. The Vaddis V is
capable of playing DVD discs recorded in consumer formats including DVD-RW and
DVD-RAM. Supported copy protection functions include: Copy Protection for
Pre-recorded Media (CPPM) and Copy Protection for Recordable Media (CPRM).
Flexible ports enable direct interfacing with the front panel, the infrared
sensor, multiple drive types (ATAPI, A/V, UDE, S2B), and an MPEG encoder.
The Vaddis V is well suited for emerging digital audio and video applications. With its 135 MIPS Audio DSP, it is capable of decoding and encoding Dolby Digital, AAC, and MPEG Audio Layers 2 & 3 (MP3) compressed digital audio. Using the on-chip video decoder and processor, the Vaddis V can support JPEG image browsing. Direct support for SmartMedia and Secure Digital flash memory cards is incorporated with a glueless interface.
The Vaddis V supports leading Audio and Video standards and formats including: DVD-Video, DVD-Audio, DVD-RW, DVD-RAM, SVCD, CVD, VCD, CD-DA, and CD-ROM. Other leading audio formats supported include: DTS Decoding; Dolby Digital, Dolby Headphone, Dolby ProLogic, MPEG Layers 1 and 2, MPEG-2 Multichannel, Karaoke, and 3D Audio.
Development tools including a Real Time Operating System (RTOS) kit, integrated development environment, and the Vaddis V Application Programming Interface (API) enable quick time to market for systems developers.
The Vaddis V (Zoran Part # ZR36750) is currently available in sample quantities with mass production parts available in Q2 2001.
About Fujifilm Microdevices Co., Ltd.
Fujifilm
Microdevices Co., Ltd. is a subsidiary of Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd with
headquarters in Sendai Industrial Park in Japan. It is dedicated to the design,
manufacture and marketing of multimedia products including: CCD image sensors,
JPEG codecs, MPEG, Audio and DVD decoders, high-speed serial bus interfaces
(IEEE 1394) and others.
About Zoran Corporation
Zoran Corporation, based in Santa
Clara, California, is a leading provider of digital solutions-on-a-chip for
applications in the growing multimedia and Internet consumer markets. With
almost two decades of expertise developing and delivering digital compression
technologies, Zoran has pioneered high-performance processing into various
audio, video, and imaging technologies. Zoran's proficiency in integration
delivers major benefits for OEM customers, including greater capabilities within
each product generation, reduced system costs, and shorter time to market. Zoran
is a leading supplier in the rapidly expanding DVD and digital camera markets
and in related digital audio and video applications. With headquarters in the
U.S. and operations in Canada, China, Israel, Japan, and Taiwan, Zoran may be
contacted on the World Wide Web at
www.zoran.com or at 408-919-4111.
Zoran and Vaddis are registered trademarks of Zoran Corporation.
All other
trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Contact Information:
Betty Watkins
Zoran Corporation
408-919-4273
bettyw@zoran.com