TOSHIBA TEAMS UP WITH SIGMA ON LINUX PLATFORM FOR DIGITAL MULTIMEDIA APPLIANCES
Based on the Toshiba TX4938 Processor and the Sigma EM8620L Decoder,
New Platform Facilitates Rapid Development of DVD Players, IP Set-Top
Boxes and Digital Media Players
SAN JOSE, Calif., Sept. 6, 2005 —
Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc. (TAEC)* today announced that
it is collaborating with Sigma Designs, Inc., a leader in digital media
processing for consumer appliances, to offer a new Linux® platform
based on the highly integrated Toshiba TX4938 MIPS-based™ TX System
RISC microprocessor, and the Sigma EM8620L digital media processor. The
Toshiba/Sigma platform will provide customers with a quick-time-to-market
decoder solution for a range of digital multimedia appliances, including
DVD players, IP set-top boxes and digital media players.
"Over the past few years, TAEC has been working closely with Sigma
Designs on the development of a series of multimedia reference platforms,
and this new platform represents another milestone," said Shardul
Kazi, vice president of the Embedded Processor SoC Business Unit at TAEC.
"We are continuing to execute on a total solution strategy by designing
reference platforms based on our existing TX49-based ASSPs. With the Toshiba/Sigma
platform, we are providing our customers with a standard-definition or
high-definition MPEG-2/MPEG-4 and Windows Media® Video 9 decoder solution
for digital multimedia applications that can get them to market faster
and with less effort."
"This new reference platform with TAEC constitutes the continued
validation of Sigma's strength in providing complete solutions and technological
prowess," said Ken Lowe, vice president of strategic marketing, Sigma
Designs. "The digital consumer market requires a blend of faster
time-to-market and proven reliability. By working with partners like TAEC,
Sigma lays a solid foundation for consumer entertainment."
The new Toshiba/Sigma platform can be plugged into the PCI slot on the
Toshiba RBTX4938 reference board, or plugged into the Toshiba AVM49R multimedia
reference platform. Provided in a compact 6.7-inch by 6.7-inch mini-ITX
form factor, the AVM49R is a highly integrated, flexible and cost-effective
reference design that includes a 300-megahertz Toshiba TMPR4938XB 64-bit
MIPS-based RISC processor, and a Toshiba TC86C001F PCI-to-ATA66/USB companion
chip, both running under the MontaVista Linux operating system.
The EM8620L media processor from Sigma Designs provides a complete single-chip
solution for next generation IP video and connected media players, featuring
high definition Windows Media Video 9 support. The EM8620L offers a wide
range of media processing functions for video decoding, audio decoding,
and graphics processing based on REALmagic® HD technology, for the
highest quality image possible on high definition displays. For single-chip
systems, it features an on-chip RISC processor, PCI-bus, IDE controller
and additional peripheral ports for supporting other subsystems.
Pricing and Availability
The Toshiba AVM49R Multimedia Reference Platform Hardware Developer Kit
is currently available from TAEC for customers to license at $10,000.00
per license. The Toshiba RBTX4938 reference board is currently available
from Toshiba for customers to purchase for under $2,000.00 each.
About the Toshiba TX System RISC Family of Microprocessors and Platforms
Toshiba forged an alliance with MIPS Technologies, Inc. in 1989. Today,
Toshiba offers a full family of MIPS-based Reduced Instruction Set Computer
(RISC) microprocessors and peripheral circuits. The Toshiba TX System
RISC family consists of 32- and 64-bit processors available as standard
products or as a custom SoC tailored for an embedded design. The family
is composed of a range of processors from low-power consuming to high-performance
and includes special functions essential for the design of embedded products,
such as reduced code size and real-time capability. Toshiba offers access
to expert technology professionals for design questions and application
support.
Toshiba also offers TX39/49/99 System RISC Reference Platforms consisting
of hardware, software and system integration tools and documentation based
on products from Toshiba. This modular, configurable approach provides
a ready-to-use bill of materials and will evolve with the customer's design
and industry standards. Customers get a jump on software development and
on the competition. Platforms are available for home-entertainment, IP
set-top-box, industrial-control, mobile and wireless, and other digital
consumer applications.
About Sigma Designs, Inc.
Sigma Designs (Nasdaq: SIGM) specializes in silicon-based media processors
for IPTV set-top boxes, digital media receivers, high definition DVD players,
HDTV, and portable media players. The company's award-winning REALmagic®
Video Streaming Technology is used in a variety of consumer applications
providing highly integrated solutions for high-quality decoding of H.264,
WMV9, MPEG-4, MPEG-2 and MPEG-1. Headquartered in Milpitas, Calif., the
company also has sales offices in China, Europe, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea
and Taiwan. For more information, please visit the company's web site
at www.sigmadesigns.com/.
*About TAEC
Combining quality and flexibility with design engineering expertise, TAEC
brings a breadth of advanced, next-generation technologies to its customers.
This broad offering includes memory and flash memory-based storage solutions,
a broad range of discrete devices, displays, medical tubes, ASICs, custom
SOCs, microprocessors, microcontrollers and wireless components for the
computing, wireless, networking, automotive and digital consumer markets.
TAEC is an independent operating company owned by Toshiba America, Inc.,
a subsidiary of Toshiba Corp. (Toshiba), Japan's second largest semiconductor
manufacturer and the world's ninth largest integrated manufacturer of
electric and electronic equipment. In almost 130 years of operation, Toshiba
has recorded numerous firsts and made many valuable contributions to technology
and society. For additional company and product information, please visit
TAEC's website at chips.toshiba.com.
For technical inquiries, please e-mail Tech.Questions@taec.toshiba.com.
Information in this press release, including
product pricing and specifications, content of services and contact information,
is current and believed to be accurate on the date of the announcement,
but is subject to change without prior notice. Technical and application
information contained here is subject to the most recent applicable Toshiba
product specifications. In developing designs, please ensure that Toshiba
products are used within specified operating ranges as set forth in the
most recent Toshiba product specifications and the information set forth
in Toshiba's "Handling
Guide for Semiconductor Devices," or "Toshiba Semiconductor Reliability
Handbook." This information is available at chips.toshiba.com,
or from your TAEC representative .
All trademarks and tradenames used herein are
the properties of their respective holders.
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