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On2 Technologies VP3 Codec Continues as Part of QuickTime 5’s Component Download Feature
New York, NY, October 10, 2001 — On2 Technologies Inc., The Duck Corporation (AMEX: ONT), the industry leader in video compression technology, today announced that the plug-in for On2’s VP3 codec will continue to be available via the component download feature in Apple’s QuickTime 5.
The VP3.2 plug-in allows any QuickTime user to decode On2 encoded content and affords QuickTime Pro customers the opportunity to encode video for broadband distribution within the QuickTime Pro application. The VP3.2 codec is the predecessor to On2’s most recent codec, VP4, and provides for full-screen, full-motion, television-quality streaming video at data rates as low as 200 kilobits per second.
"On2’s VP3 plug-in for QuickTime 5 is a testament to the quality of our codec and we continue to receive very positive feedback from developers who demand the highest quality," said Douglas A. McIntyre, President and CEO of On2 Technologies.
About On2 Technologies, The Duck Corporation
On2 Technologies (AMEX: ONT) is a leading technology firm at the forefront of video compression. The Company revolutionized video encoding with the creation of its advanced full-motion, full-screen, video compression and streaming technology (TrueMotion® VP3/VP4). On2 licenses its high quality video codecs for use in set-top boxes, electronic gaming devices and wireless applications. In addition, On2 offers a suite of products and services, including high-level video encoding, hosting, streaming, customized technical support, and consulting services. Headquartered in New York City, the Company has an office in Albany, NY, and operations in London, UK, and Seoul, Korea. On2 may be reached at 145 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10013, telephone 917-237-0500 or info@on2.com. Investor inquiries should be sent to invest@on2.com.
Contact info:
On2 Technologies Announces Plans to Produce Audio Codec
Audio for Video Coding System To Provide a Highly-Scalable Complement to Flagship Video Compression Technology
New York, NY, Sept 14, 2001 -- On2 Technologies Inc., The Duck Corporation (AMEX: ONT), the industry leader in video compression technology, today announced the upcoming beta release of their new Audio for Video Coding system (AVC), On2’s groundbreaking audio compression technology. AVC will be fully optimized to set a new standard of quality, clarity and range for audio delivery over the Internet and closed-area networks.
"The introduction of an audio codec that complements our video compression technology is a natural extension of our business plan. While clients evaluate our video technology and its ability to interact with other software, AVC will work seamlessly with our VP line of video codecs to provide a full-service solution," stated Douglas McIntyre, President and CEO of On2 Technologies. "On2 will now be able to offer the best video and audio available to potential licensees while eliminating integration concerns."
On2’s VP4 video compression technology is widely recognized as delivering the highest-quality video at the lowest available data rates, and AVC will seek to continue that tradition of quality and scalability. It will compress audio at data rates competitive with the best of today's audio codecs, with reduced complexity and overhead for easy deployment on desktop computers and next-generation IP-based TV set-top boxes.
"AVC represents a perfect application of On2's core competencies in algorithm design and efficient cross-platform integration", said Dan Miller, founder and CTO of On2. "We are bringing the same level of commitment to excellence to this project that we have applied in our years of experience with video codec design and implementation."
The AVC beta release will be made available to prospective customers shortly.
About On2 Technologies, The Duck Corporation
On2 Technologies (AMEX: ONT) is a leading technology firm at the forefront of video compression. The Company revolutionized video encoding with the creation of its advanced full-motion, full-screen, video compression and streaming technology (TrueMotion® VP3/VP4). On2 licenses its high quality video codecs for use in set-top boxes, electronic gaming devices and wireless applications. In addition, On2 offers a suite of products and services, including high-level video encoding, hosting, streaming, customized technical support, and consulting services. Headquartered in New York City, the Company has an office in Albany, NY, and operations in London, UK, and Seoul, Korea. On2 may be reached at 145 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10013, telephone 917-237-0500 or info@on2.com. Investor inquiries should be sent to invest@on2.com.
On2's VP4 Video Compression Technology to Exclusively Support RealNetworks' RealPlayer and RealSystem iQ
RealNetworks' Equity Investment in On2 Part of Multi-Year Agreement
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 19, 2001-- On2 Technologies, The Duck Corporation (AMEX: ONT), a leading technology and services company specializing in providing the highest-quality video compression, today announced an agreement with RealNetworks® to license its VP4 video compression technology, for set-top boxes and other devices. As part of the agreement, On2 will enable RealPlayer® as the exclusive media player for the VP4 codec, and the RealSystem® iQ architecture will become the only streaming media platform capable of delivering the VP4 codec. In addition, RealNetworks has made an equity investment of $1,000,000 in On2 Technologies common stock. The VP4 codec is the first ever compression technology to break the 1-megabit barrier for full-resolution, 60 field-per-second digital video delivery - achieving comparable quality to MPEG-2 at significantly lower data rates.
``On2's relationship with RealNetworks allies On2 with the unequivocal leader in Internet media delivery, and serves as a concrete validation of the quality of our VP4 compression technology,'' said Douglas A. McIntyre, President and CEO of On2. ``We believe that the combination of the RealPlayer, RealSystem iQ, and the VP4 codec will enable consumers to have the highest quality playback experience. Our customers will now be able to deliver the most robust, scaleable, user-friendly experience across any network, using any device, to consumers.''
``Today's announcement signals how serious we are in extending RealNetworks leading technologies to set-top boxes and other devices,'' said Martin Plaehn, Senior Vice President, Media Systems, RealNetworks, Inc. ``With On2 we are furthering our goal of delivering a great Internet media experience from any platform, in any format, to any device.''
Under terms of the agreement, On2 will develop a software plug-in to RealPlayer that will allow consumers to play files encoded in On2's proprietary VP4 format in the RealPlayer. In conjunction with the development of the codec software, On2 will develop a software plug-in to the RealSystem Server that will enable broadcasters to stream VP4 encoded files.
RealSystem iQ is a robust, standards-based, end-to-end system architecture that can provide a single common framework for global Internet media delivery - from any platform, in any format, and to any device.
About On2 Technologies, The Duck Corporation
On2 Technologies (ASE:ONT) is a leading technology firm at the forefront of video compression. The Company revolutionized video encoding with the creation of its advanced full-motion, full-screen,video compression and streaming technology (TrueMotion® VP3/VP4). Today, On2 offers a suite of products and services, including high-level video encoding, hosting, streaming, interface design, customized technical support, and consulting services. In addition, On2 licenses its high quality video codecs for use in set-top boxes,electronic gaming devices and wireless applications. Headquartered in New York City, the Company has an office in Albany, NY, and operations in San Francisco, CA, and London, UK, and Seoul, Korea. On2 may be reached at 145 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10013, telephone 917-237-0500 or info@on2.com. Investor inquiries should be sent to invest@on2.com.
Contact info:
On2 and Equator Achieve milestone in compression technology
Full resolution, 60 field-per-second display, DVD-quality video at less than 1 megabit per second
New York, NY, March 21, 2001 -- On2.com Inc. (ASE: ONT), a leading broadband technology and services company specializing in providing the highest-quality streaming video at the lowest possible data rates, today announced that their VP4 codec on Equator's MAP-CA Broadband Signal processor (BSPTM) has achieved a breakthrough in video compression technology. Targeted to the digital set-top box market, VP4 is the first ever compression technology to break the 1-megabit barrier for full resolution, 60 field-per-second digital video delivery -- current technology usually requires 3-8 megabits to achieve comparable quality.
On2's new VP4 video compression technology, which has been optimized for Equator's MAP-CA Broadband Signal processor (BSPTM), is delivering comparable quality to MPEG-2 at more than a 75% reduction in bandwidth.
"This is the single most important advance On2 has made since the introduction of VP3 and the public launch of its high-quality stream 18 months ago. Traditional broadcast networks will benefit greatly by multiplying the number of channels available through existing set-top compression technology," added On2 President and CEO, Douglas McIntyre. "This is a major step in providing a real return on investment for our customers."
"With the introduction of VP4 for the digital set-top, we are realizing our founding vision of enabling delivery of consumer-affordable, broadcast-quality digital video to any place at any time. With picture quality previously available only through DVD or broadcast satellite and high-band digital cable, VP4 will allow true video-on-demand, even over standard phone lines using cost-effective DSL solutions," said Dan Miller, On2 Founder and CTO.
In addition to set top box manufacturers, potential customers who would greatly benefit from this significant reduction in bandwidth include: DSL and Cable Modem providers, Video-on-Demand platforms and traditional media companies possessing large video libraries.
On2 will be demonstrating VP4 running on the Equator MAP-CA set-top platform on April 23rd at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) conference in Las Vegas at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
About On2.com Inc.
On2.com Inc. (Amex: ONT - news) is a leading technology firm at the forefront of video compression. Founded in 1992, the company revolutionized video encoding with the creation of its advanced full-motion, full-screen, TV-quality video compression and streaming technology (TrueMotion® VP3). Today, On2 offers a suite of products and services, including high-level video encoding, hosting, streaming, interface design, customized technical support, and consulting services. In addition, On2 licenses its high quality video codecs for use in set-top boxes, electronic gaming devices and wireless applications. Headquartered in New York City, with offices in Albany, NY, San Francisco, CA, and London, UK, On2 may be reached at 145 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10013, telephone 917-237-0500 or info@on2.com. Investor inquiries should be sent to invest@on2.com. More information is available at http://www.on2.com.
About Equator Technologies
Equator Technologies (http://www.equator.com) is the leading provider of comprehensive broadband digital communications and media processing infrastructure for the consumer technology market. The company's Broadband Signal Processor(TM) family, MAP-CA, which is built on a smart silicon platform, couples a uniquely fully functional one-chip solution with software tools. Equator's unmatched compiler technology delivers 100% C programming - enabling the rapid introduction and field upgradeability of high-performance, video-intense systems. With over 100 customers, Equator has gained traction in the consumer technology industry, having secured major market share in video conferencing and the digital head-end sector by offering rapid time-to-market and time-to-revenue solutions. Headquartered in Campbell, Calif., with additional international offices, Equator is a privately held company. For more information, visit www.equator.com.
On2 and Equator Enter Into a Formal Licensing Agreement
Equator's MAP-CA Broadband Signal Processor to Feature On2's New and Groundbreaking VP4 Codec
New York, NY, January 9, 2001 -- On2.com Inc. (ASE: ONT), a leading broadband technology and services company specializing in providing the highest-quality streaming video over the Internet and to consumer electronic devices, announced today that Equator Technologies, Inc., the leading provider of solutions for broadband signal processing, has licensed On2's new VP4 codec for use in their MAP-CA Broadband Signal Processor (BSPä). The term of the license agreement is for three and a half years.
"We are delighted to further extend our relationship with On2 with this formal licensing agreement. On2's technology will allow us to offer our customers unprecedented near-DVD quality streamed video," said Avi Katz, President and CEO of Equator Technologies, Inc. "The MAP-CA has become the processor of choice worldwide for high quality streaming video at low bit rates, and an ideal platform for cost-effective broadband-enabled products. The partnership with On2 reflects our strategic direction of providing our customers with a comprehensive, cost-effective, integrated solution of hardware and software."
"We are very pleased with our new agreement with Equator, and are excited at the combination of VP4 and Equator's technology," said Douglas McIntyre, President and CEO of On2. "Finally, the possibility exists for the delivery of sporting events and full length feature films over devices such as Internet enabled set-top boxes at the highest quality."
On2's new VP4 video compression technology, which has been initially optimized for consumer electronic devices, offers the highest quality streaming video at the lowest possible data rates. VP4 represents a major breakthrough in compression technology, by achieving near-DVD quality at 450 Kbps - up to a 30% improvement over any other compression technology available today.
On2's VP4 groundbreaking features include:
Near-DVD Quality at 450 Kbps: VP4 maintains the highest quality possible at 450 Kbps while delivering full-screen, full-motion at true 640x480 resolution at 24fps for film and 30 fps for video.
Near-VHS Quality at 150 Kbps: VP4 is the only compression technology that can achieve near-VHS quality at 150 Kbps, at a screen size of 320x240 resolution at 24-30 fps.
Seamless Bandwidth Management for IP-based delivery networks.
"VP4 marks a significant leap forward in video compression and streaming technology," said Daniel B. Miller, Founder and Chief Technology Officer of On2. "Never before have such levels of quality been available at such low data rates. By pushing the state of the art in compression further than ever before, VP4 for the first time brings the world of IP-based video delivery over bandwidth constrained networks into the realm of professional video quality that consumers have come to expect on their television sets."
About On2.com Inc.
On2.com Inc. (ASE: ONT) is a broadband application service provider offering a suite of products and services, including high-level video encoding, hosting, streaming, interface design, customized technical support, and consulting services. Founded in 1992, the company has consistently been at the forefront of the broadband revolution with the creation of its advanced full-motion, full-screen, TV-quality video compression and streaming technology (TrueMotion® VP3). In assisting new and traditional media companies, Internet enterprises and Web site customers to move from a traditional media distribution model to a broadband IP strategy, On2 is enabling the Internet to become a truly viable delivery medium for video, audio, 3D, and other media and data. Headquartered in New York City, with offices in Albany, NY, San Francisco, CA, and London, UK, On2 may be reached at 375 Greenwich Street, New York, NY 10013, telephone 212-941-2400 or info@on2.com. Investor inquiries should be sent to invest@on2.com. More information is available at www.on2.com.
About Equator Technologies
Equator Technologies (http://www.equator.com) is the leading provider of programmable solutions for broadband signal processing. The company’s VLIW MAP architecture Broadband Signal ProcessorTM is 100 percent programmed in high-level language, enabling the rapid development of high-performance, flexible, media-intensive systems. The MAP-CATM is the world’s fastest digital signal processor. Equator is a privately held fabless semiconductor company and was founded in 1996. The company is headquartered in Campbell, California, with offices throughout the world.
TrueMotion® is a registered trademark of On2.com. MAP-CA, Broadband Signal Processor, and BSP are trademarks of Equator Technologies, Inc. Other product and company names in this news release may be trademarks of their respective owners.
Samsung Shows Multimedia Set-top
By allNetDevices Staff
April 23, 2001
Samsung Electronics Monday unveiled its SMT F300 set-top box, which will deliver interactive television (i-TV), video-on-demand, and personal video recording capabilities.
The company is showing the set-top at this weeks National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) conference in Las Vegas. It is based on digital signal processors by Equator Technologies.
Equator divulged that the set-top box will be aimed at DSL users and will also act as a residential gateway. The company said the new set-top will be available in quantity in the fourth quarter of this year at a price that will be lower than comparable set-tops.
Equator and Samsung Announce a Formal Partnership to Revolutionize Broadcast Industry with New Set-Top Box, Making Residential Gateways an Economic Reality for Consumers
— Samsung’s Host-based SMT F300 set-top box offers Video-on-Demand and Personal Video Recorder capabilities to ADSL and cable modem customers –
LAS VEGAS, Nev. (NAB, Las Vegas Convention Center, Booth # L559) – Apr. 23 2001 – Equator Technologies, Inc., the leading provider of comprehensive broadband digital communications and media processing infrastructure for the consumer electronics market, and Samsung Electronics announced today a new enhanced streaming media set-top box from Samsung running Equator’s programmable BSPä MAP-CA™ digital signal processor. The host-based SMT F300 set-top box, which is designed and manufactured in a formal partnership, will offer Video-on-Demand (VOD), Interactive TV and time shift Personal Video Recorder (PVR) services, at a better price point than can be offered by competing multifunction devices. Bringing a broad range of data and video services directly to the home, the box, which is targeted at ADSL consumers, will also be able to function as a residential gateway. The F300 will be in volume production in Q4 2001.
In a December 2000 study, the high-tech market research firm, Cahners In-Stat Group, predicts the residential gateway market will rise sharply from $100 million in 2000 to $5 billion in 2005. By integrating Equator’s customizable, powerful BSP MAP-CA digital signal processor into Samsung’s multimedia home gateway and interactive set-top box, the companies will offer the broadcast market a very cost-effective, multifunction and flexible set-top box solution. Because the MAP-CA digital signal processor enables streaming high-quality video at low bit rates, service providers will be able to stream a greater number of enhanced services through one box, while maintaining the superior video quality their customers expect. Demand for broadband services will continue to increase as end users have access to more scalable advanced services and functionalities, such as analog PVR time shifting, at a substantially lower system cost.
"The flexibility of Equator’s programmable BSP MAP-CA digital signal processor is a perfect complement to our own powerful and easily upgradeable appliance," said Dr. H.W. Park, senior manager, digital set-top box group at Samsung Network Division. "Integrating Equator’s BSP digital signal processor into our SMT F300 set-top box will usher in a new age of more complex integrated services, enabling remote management and value-added services such as home security control and video-on-demand."
"We are very pleased that Samsung has selected our BSP MAP-CA digital signal processor for its next generation streaming video set-top box and multimedia residential gateway," said Dr. Avi Katz, president and CEO of Equator Technologies. "Working with a leading industry innovator like Samsung will help us in our goal to realize the full potential of broadband communications. Our formal partnership guarantees the delivery of the most cost-effective, flexible and upgradeable set top box and residential gateway to the marketplace -- benefiting our customers."
About Equator's MAP-CA Digital Signal Processor
The BSP MAP-CA digital signal processor delivers 30 GOPs (Billion Operations per Second) of processing power, offering more than ten times the performance of other available solutions. The highly integrated, system-on-a chip solution delivers core functions through software rather than dedicated hardware and is designed for high-performance, video-intense broadband applications. By using software downloads to update the functionality of products, even after they are launched and in the field, the life cycle of the equipment can be greatly extended, enabling companies to decrease their time-to-market and their time-to-revenue with new broadband services and devices. The programmable chip allows service providers to offer more services and more functionality, such as time shifting, video conferencing, broadcast media security, video security, VOD, DVD playback, and per viewer advertising.
About the Companies
Samsung
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., with 2000 sales revenue of US$27 billion is a world leader in the electronics industry. The Korea-based concern has operations in about 50 countries with 54,000 employees worldwide. The company consists of three main business units: Digital Media, Semiconductors and Information & Communications Businesses. For more information, please visit our website, http://samsungelectronics.com
Equator Technologies, Inc.
Equator Technologies is the leading provider of comprehensive broadband digital communications and media processing infrastructure for the consumer technology market. The company’s family of MAP-CA Broadband Signal Processor digital signal processors, which is built on a smart silicon platform, couples a uniquely fully functional system-on-a-chip solution with software tools. Equator’s unmatched compiler technology delivers 100% C programming – enabling the rapid introduction and field upgradeability of high-performance, video-intense systems. With over 100 customers, Equator has gained traction in the consumer technology industry, having secured major market share in video conferencing and the digital head-end sector by offering rapid time-to-market and time-to-revenue solutions. Headquartered in Campbell, Calif., with additional international offices, Equator is a privately held company. For more information, visit www.equator.com.
###
The following are trademarks of Equator Technologies, Inc., and may be used to identify Equator products only: Equator, MAP, MAP1000, MAP1000A, MAP-CA, MAP Series, Broadband Signal Processor, BSP, FIRtree, DataStreamer, iMMediaC, iMMediaTools, Media Intrinsics, VersaPort, and SofTV. Other product and company names in this news release may be trademarks of their respective owners.
Streaming Media TECHNOLOGY
A streaming media player consists typically of the following components: a streaming protocol decoder that communicates with the streaming server, a system bitstream decoder/controller, a video compression decoder, an audio compression decoder, an audio post processor (that corrects the audio data if audio data has been lost during the transport), a video post processor, a GUI interface and an overall system controller. Possibly there might be a decryption layer before the bitstream decoder. This technology section addresses these areas with the following sections: Internet Transmission Protocols, Media Packaging, Video Compression, Audio Compression, Digital Video and Encryption & Watermarking.
http://streamingmedialand.com/technology_frameset.html
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Streaming Media DATA
The following section is resource for technical as well as market data. How many households in the US will use DSL in 2002? What is the bandwidth of an MP3 song? You'll find it on this page.
http://streamingmedialand.com/data_frameset.html
Streaming Media TECHNOLOGY
A streaming media player consists typically of the following components: a streaming protocol decoder that communicates with the streaming server, a system bitstream decoder/controller, a video compression decoder, an audio compression decoder, an audio post processor (that corrects the audio data if audio data has been lost during the transport), a video post processor, a GUI interface and an overall system controller. Possibly there might be a decryption layer before the bitstream decoder. This technology section addresses these areas with the following sections: Internet Transmission Protocols, Media Packaging, Video Compression, Audio Compression, Digital Video and Encryption & Watermarking.
1. Streaming, Transmission and other Network Protocols
Internet transport protocols
(see book "TCP/IP Illustrated, Volume 1: the protocols" by W. Richard Stevens, go tho the Knowledge Center)
IP
TCP
Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center: Network Research (TCP performance)
UDP
ICMP
Matrix.Net: Internet Traffic Analysis
Streaming Protocols
RTP (RFC 1889) real-time transport protocol for audio and video data
RSTP (RFC 2326) communication protocol between a multimedia server and a multimedia client
IP Multicast Initiative: lots of resources on multicast
Shoutcast Streaming Protocol (also: MP3 streaming, "HTTP streaming", Icecast)
Note: Icecast servers are compatibal to Shoutcast streams.www.icecast.org
Microsoft MMS (Microsoft Media Server protocol): streaming protocol used by the Microsoft Media Server. Used to access unicast content from a Windows Media Server to a Windows Media Player.Only decent documenation is in the Help Menu of the Windows Media Services (download it from the Windows Media page).
MMSU: MMS over UDP.
MMST: MMS over TCP.
Microsoft MSBD (Microsoft Media Stream Broadcast Distribution protocol): The MSBD protocol is used to distribute streams between Windows Media Encoder and the Windows Media server components, and to transfer streams between servers.
HTTP (RFC 2616): protocol used by internet browsers and web servers. Typically a web server uses the TCP port 80. There are two ways to use HTTP for streaming:
- "HTTP streaming" - for example this is used by Quicktime. Download a media file (same functionality as downloading a file with FTP), then start playing the data that has been received by the client. In this case the server sends the file as fast as possible to the client - in streaming the server sends the media file with a specified bandwidth to the client (there are more differences between HTTP streaming and regular streaming...).
- "HTTP tunneling" - A streaming server sends its packets inside a HTML protocol in order to "bypass" a firewall that does not allow the specified port by that streaming server. To the firewall it looks like regular HTTP traffic...
Most streaming servers (RealServer, QuickTime, MS Media Services) can stream over HTTP in case UDP or TCP streaming fails (typically the problems are that the streaming protocols are using a port that is not permitted by the users firewall).
Tools
ShoutGrab Java app that connects to the popular Shoutcast server and captures streamed content to disk. Napster
Content Delivery Networks Protocols
ICAP (Intenet Content Adaption Protocol) Draft version (expires Aug 2001)
Content Alliance's Strawman Documents (work in progress):
Tools
List of Tools for Measuring and Network Monitoring (Stanford University)
Shunra: Cloud Software and Hardware that emulate Networks (WAN and LAN) - packetloss, extra latency, etc:
ping
traceroute
pathchar - a tool to infer characteristics of internet paths (detailed information between the router hops):
Peer to Peer (P2P)
Tutorials
Monochroms bagasch: Overview with lists of clients, Disc Burners, Encoders, Firewall, etc. huge, extensive list. Part I, Part II
Related Resources
3Com Whitepapers (lots of resources in networking)
Telecom Glossary
National Laboratory for Applied Network Research
2. Networks
Standards
Official Bluetooth Website
IEEE 802 Website: Wireless LAN
WMF Wireless Multimedia Forum
3G Partners Project (3GPP) / 3G cell phone standars
Tools
PacketBoy The complete network analysis suite costs $1,295, but you can download a 14-day trial version for free.
Tracelook An open source packet analyzer for Unix, it provides a graphical display for network traffic that's captured with the tcpdump command.
WinDump An open source port of tcpdump from Unix that runs on most Windows platforms.
3. Media Packaging and Meta Formats
Propertary Formats
Apple Quicktime (open, can be licenced from Apple)
Microsoft ASF: container for all types of media, used for streaming
Microsoft AVI: container for all types of media, mainly file format, more popular than ASF. (Windows Media Technologies, Developers)
Windows Media Metafiles: "All About Windows Media Metafiles", a Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) workshop.
RealNetworks: RealSystem Information Files
- .ram - Ram file to launch RealPlayer
- .rpm - Ram file for embedded presentations
RealNetworks Library: "Creating a RAM file manually"
Open Standards
SMIL (W3C), used by RealNetworks and Quicktime
.smil, .smi files
- RealNetworks: "Creating a SMIL file"
- W3C SMIL 2.0 Specs
MPEG-4
MPEG-7 (in development)
MIME types (RFC 1521, 1522)
Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions. Used in web browser to define what type of a document the downloaded file is. Seven types:
text. text/plain. text/html
multipart.
message.
application.
image.
audio.
video.
MIME Overview by Mark Grand.
Related Resources
W3C - Extended Log File Format
4. Video Compression
Tutorials
Codec Warehouse - a detailed list on different video compression codecs.
Open Video Compression Standards
MPEG
MPEGX.com - great resource on software.
The Data Compression Library - MPEG. Excellent resource on MPEG.
Official MPEG website
mpeg.org - good resource
MPEG LA: a company that handles all official MPEG-2 licencing.
MPEG-1
MPEG-2
MPEG-4
Tutorial on the MPEG-4 standard, several authors
MPEG-4 Industry Forum (M4IF)
Overview Articles
Official example implemenation of an MPEG-4 player (decoder): "IM-1 MPEG-4 player"
"An Introduction to Wavelets" (used in MPEG-4 and JPEG2000) by Amara Graps
H.261
H.263, H.263+
H.324
MJPEG (Motion JPEG)
DV (Digital Video Compression): DV-25 (25 Mbps), DV-50 (50 Mbps). DV compression is used by digital cameras that store the compressed video on tapes (or internal HD's) and communicate the recoreded videos to a PC via Firewire.
The DV, DVCAM & DVPRO Formats -- tech details, FAQ and links, by Adam Wilt
Propetary Video Compression Formats (these are not standards)
RealVideo G2, Real 8 (codeveloped by Real and Intel)
Sorensen Video used by Apple Quicktime. From "cd magazin" (1-2001): the Sorrenson codec is according to rumors, a for low bitrates optimized MPEG-2 version.
Microsoft Windows Media 8: "improved" version of MPEG-4 video.
On2: TrueMotion VP3. VP4.
Pixelon
Tranz-Send
Intel Indeo (vector quantization based). Sold to Ligos.
Cinepak
Motion Vector Quantization method (MVQ). Used by oplayo
LessDATA codec
Resources
Codec Central (by Terran, makers of the Media Cleaner compression software):
great resource to many codecs.
The Data Compression Library / 'Video' Section (excellent)
Compression FAQ: Very good resource fundamentual details on lossless compression (mathematical proofs, discussion of many different schemes, etc.), but image and video compression is also discussed.
DVD FAQ
The Graphics File Format Page: details on 2D and 3D file formats such as GIF, TIFF, etc.
Internet and Compression Resources: lots of links
Sun Microsystem's JMF library (Java Media Framework), Version 2.1.1:
video and audio decoding (H.261, H.263, JPEG, MPEG-1), streaming (RTP support),
Software Players
see the special section on all the players.
Software Encoder Products
Microsoft Windows Media Encoder
Terran: Media Cleaner
RealNetworks: Real Producer
Sorensen Broadcaster
DivX (MPEG 4 Encoder)
5. Audio Compression
Tutorials
MP3 Tutorial on angrycoffee.com
Webmonkey: Lots of articles about MP3 and streaming audio
Compression Standards
MP3 (MPEG-1, Audio Layer 3):
Fraunhofer Gesellschaft, Research lab in Germany. Inventors of MP3
www.mp3-tech.org: Lots of information on the MP3 standard (players, patents, Dolby's AC-3, etc.)
MP-3 Guide on music.zdnet.com
Ogg Vorbis: Open Free Audio
Ogg Vorbis is a fully Open, non-proprietary, patent-and-royalty-free, general-purpose compressed audio format for high quality (44.1-48.0kHz, 16+ bit, polyphonic) audio and music at fixed and variable bitrates from 16 to 128 kbps/channel. www.vorbis.com
Propetary Audio Compression Formats (these are not standards!)
Windows Media
RealAudio
Software Encoder Products
Lame
Open source MP3 encoder
Xaudio
XAUDIO SDK: MP3 and digital audio software for Windows95/98/NT, Windows CE, MacOS, UNIX and Embedded systems. Free for commercial and individual use.
Related Resources
EXCELENT: Wired Magazin's "P2P Pages": 240 links on Audio Encoders, Rippers, Players, Utilities, Hacks, etc.
Voice over IP (VoIP)
6. Digital Video
Tutorials
"The Lurkers Guide to Video", by Chris Pirazzi (SGI) (Excellent and vast resource!)
Technologies
7. Encryption and Watermarking
Tutorials
"Watermarking Digital Image and Video Data" by Gerhard Landelaar, Iwan Setyanwan and Reginald Lagendijk, Sept. 2000, IEEE Signal Processing Magazin. Excellent overview article.
"Public Key Authentication Framework: Tutorial", by Robin Whittle
"RSA Tutorial" by Michael Elkins
"Introduction to SSL", Netscape Developer resources
"Encryption and Security Tutorial" by Peter Gutmann (University of Auckland)
"Piracy Protection and DVD" by Debbie Galante Block, EMedia Magazine, September 2000
Technologies
Microsoft: Media Rights Manager
Resources
PacketStorm: huge library and resources on security
Streaming Media TECHNOLOGY
A streaming media player consists typically of the following components: a streaming protocol decoder that communicates with the streaming server, a system bitstream decoder/controller, a video compression decoder, an audio compression decoder, an audio post processor (that corrects the audio data if audio data has been lost during the transport), a video post processor, a GUI interface and an overall system controller. Possibly there might be a decryption layer before the bitstream decoder. This technology section addresses these areas with the following sections: Internet Transmission Protocols, Media Packaging, Video Compression, Audio Compression, Digital Video and Encryption & Watermarking.
1. Streaming, Transmission and other Network Protocols
Internet transport protocols
(see book "TCP/IP Illustrated, Volume 1: the protocols" by W. Richard Stevens, go tho the Knowledge Center)
IP
TCP
Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center: Network Research (TCP performance)
UDP
ICMP
Matrix.Net: Internet Traffic Analysis
Streaming Protocols
RTP (RFC 1889) real-time transport protocol for audio and video data
RSTP (RFC 2326) communication protocol between a multimedia server and a multimedia client
IP Multicast Initiative: lots of resources on multicast
Shoutcast Streaming Protocol (also: MP3 streaming, "HTTP streaming", Icecast)
Note: Icecast servers are compatibal to Shoutcast streams.www.icecast.org
Microsoft MMS (Microsoft Media Server protocol): streaming protocol used by the Microsoft Media Server. Used to access unicast content from a Windows Media Server to a Windows Media Player.Only decent documenation is in the Help Menu of the Windows Media Services (download it from the Windows Media page).
MMSU: MMS over UDP.
MMST: MMS over TCP.
Microsoft MSBD (Microsoft Media Stream Broadcast Distribution protocol): The MSBD protocol is used to distribute streams between Windows Media Encoder and the Windows Media server components, and to transfer streams between servers.
HTTP (RFC 2616): protocol used by internet browsers and web servers. Typically a web server uses the TCP port 80. There are two ways to use HTTP for streaming:
- "HTTP streaming" - for example this is used by Quicktime. Download a media file (same functionality as downloading a file with FTP), then start playing the data that has been received by the client. In this case the server sends the file as fast as possible to the client - in streaming the server sends the media file with a specified bandwidth to the client (there are more differences between HTTP streaming and regular streaming...).
- "HTTP tunneling" - A streaming server sends its packets inside a HTML protocol in order to "bypass" a firewall that does not allow the specified port by that streaming server. To the firewall it looks like regular HTTP traffic...
Most streaming servers (RealServer, QuickTime, MS Media Services) can stream over HTTP in case UDP or TCP streaming fails (typically the problems are that the streaming protocols are using a port that is not permitted by the users firewall).
Tools
ShoutGrab Java app that connects to the popular Shoutcast server and captures streamed content to disk. Napster
Content Delivery Networks Protocols
ICAP (Intenet Content Adaption Protocol) Draft version (expires Aug 2001)
Content Alliance's Strawman Documents (work in progress):
Tools
List of Tools for Measuring and Network Monitoring (Stanford University)
Shunra: Cloud Software and Hardware that emulate Networks (WAN and LAN) - packetloss, extra latency, etc:
ping
traceroute
pathchar - a tool to infer characteristics of internet paths (detailed information between the router hops):
Peer to Peer (P2P)
Tutorials
Monochroms bagasch: Overview with lists of clients, Disc Burners, Encoders, Firewall, etc. huge, extensive list. Part I, Part II
Related Resources
3Com Whitepapers (lots of resources in networking)
Telecom Glossary
National Laboratory for Applied Network Research
2. Networks
Standards
Official Bluetooth Website
IEEE 802 Website: Wireless LAN
WMF Wireless Multimedia Forum
3G Partners Project (3GPP) / 3G cell phone standars
Tools
PacketBoy The complete network analysis suite costs $1,295, but you can download a 14-day trial version for free.
Tracelook An open source packet analyzer for Unix, it provides a graphical display for network traffic that's captured with the tcpdump command.
WinDump An open source port of tcpdump from Unix that runs on most Windows platforms.
3. Media Packaging and Meta Formats
Propertary Formats
Apple Quicktime (open, can be licenced from Apple)
Microsoft ASF: container for all types of media, used for streaming
Microsoft AVI: container for all types of media, mainly file format, more popular than ASF. (Windows Media Technologies, Developers)
Windows Media Metafiles: "All About Windows Media Metafiles", a Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) workshop.
RealNetworks: RealSystem Information Files
- *.ram - Ram file to launch RealPlayer
- *.rpm - Ram file for embedded presentations
RealNetworks Library: "Creating a RAM file manually"
Open Standards
SMIL (W3C), used by RealNetworks and Quicktime
*.smil, *.smi files
- RealNetworks: "Creating a SMIL file"
- W3C SMIL 2.0 Specs
MPEG-4
MPEG-7 (in development)
MIME types (RFC 1521, 1522)
Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions. Used in web browser to define what type of a document the downloaded file is. Seven types:
text. text/plain. text/html
multipart.
message.
application.
image.
audio.
video.
MIME Overview by Mark Grand.
Related Resources
W3C - Extended Log File Format
4. Video Compression
Tutorials
Codec Warehouse - a detailed list on different video compression codecs.
Open Video Compression Standards
MPEG
MPEGX.com - great resource on software.
The Data Compression Library - MPEG. Excellent resource on MPEG.
Official MPEG website
mpeg.org - good resource
MPEG LA: a company that handles all official MPEG-2 licencing.
MPEG-1
MPEG-2
MPEG-4
Tutorial on the MPEG-4 standard, several authors
MPEG-4 Industry Forum (M4IF)
Overview Articles
Official example implemenation of an MPEG-4 player (decoder): "IM-1 MPEG-4 player"
"An Introduction to Wavelets" (used in MPEG-4 and JPEG2000) by Amara Graps
H.261
H.263, H.263+
H.324
MJPEG (Motion JPEG)
DV (Digital Video Compression): DV-25 (25 Mbps), DV-50 (50 Mbps). DV compression is used by digital cameras that store the compressed video on tapes (or internal HD's) and communicate the recoreded videos to a PC via Firewire.
The DV, DVCAM & DVPRO Formats -- tech details, FAQ and links, by Adam Wilt
Propetary Video Compression Formats (these are not standards)
RealVideo G2, Real 8 (codeveloped by Real and Intel)
Sorensen Video used by Apple Quicktime. From "cd magazin" (1-2001): the Sorrenson codec is according to rumors, a for low bitrates optimized MPEG-2 version.
Microsoft Windows Media 8: "improved" version of MPEG-4 video.
On2: TrueMotion VP3. VP4.
Pixelon
Tranz-Send
Intel Indeo (vector quantization based). Sold to Ligos.
Cinepak
Motion Vector Quantization method (MVQ). Used by oplayo
LessDATA codec
Resources
Codec Central (by Terran, makers of the Media Cleaner compression software):
great resource to many codecs.
The Data Compression Library / 'Video' Section (excellent)
Compression FAQ: Very good resource fundamentual details on lossless compression (mathematical proofs, discussion of many different schemes, etc.), but image and video compression is also discussed.
DVD FAQ
The Graphics File Format Page: details on 2D and 3D file formats such as GIF, TIFF, etc.
Internet and Compression Resources: lots of links
Sun Microsystem's JMF library (Java Media Framework), Version 2.1.1:
video and audio decoding (H.261, H.263, JPEG, MPEG-1), streaming (RTP support),
Software Players
see the special section on all the players.
Software Encoder Products
Microsoft Windows Media Encoder
Terran: Media Cleaner
RealNetworks: Real Producer
Sorensen Broadcaster
DivX (MPEG 4 Encoder)
5. Audio Compression
Tutorials
MP3 Tutorial on angrycoffee.com
Webmonkey: Lots of articles about MP3 and streaming audio
Compression Standards
MP3 (MPEG-1, Audio Layer 3):
Fraunhofer Gesellschaft, Research lab in Germany. Inventors of MP3
www.mp3-tech.org: Lots of information on the MP3 standard (players, patents, Dolby's AC-3, etc.)
MP-3 Guide on music.zdnet.com
Ogg Vorbis: Open Free Audio
Ogg Vorbis is a fully Open, non-proprietary, patent-and-royalty-free, general-purpose compressed audio format for high quality (44.1-48.0kHz, 16+ bit, polyphonic) audio and music at fixed and variable bitrates from 16 to 128 kbps/channel. www.vorbis.com
Propetary Audio Compression Formats (these are not standards!)
Windows Media
RealAudio
Software Encoder Products
Lame
Open source MP3 encoder
Xaudio
XAUDIO SDK: MP3 and digital audio software for Windows95/98/NT, Windows CE, MacOS, UNIX and Embedded systems. Free for commercial and individual use.
Related Resources
EXCELENT: Wired Magazin's "P2P Pages": 240 links on Audio Encoders, Rippers, Players, Utilities, Hacks, etc.
Voice over IP (VoIP)
6. Digital Video
Tutorials
"The Lurkers Guide to Video", by Chris Pirazzi (SGI) (Excellent and vast resource!)
Technologies
7. Encryption and Watermarking
Tutorials
"Watermarking Digital Image and Video Data" by Gerhard Landelaar, Iwan Setyanwan and Reginald Lagendijk, Sept. 2000, IEEE Signal Processing Magazin. Excellent overview article.
"Public Key Authentication Framework: Tutorial", by Robin Whittle
"RSA Tutorial" by Michael Elkins
"Introduction to SSL", Netscape Developer resources
"Encryption and Security Tutorial" by Peter Gutmann (University of Auckland)
"Piracy Protection and DVD" by Debbie Galante Block, EMedia Magazine, September 2000
Technologies
Microsoft: Media Rights Manager
Resources
PacketStorm: huge library and resources on security
Streaming Media INDUSTRY
1. Infrastructure Products
I. Streaming Software
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Streaming Servers
RealNetworks
Products:
- Players: RealPlayer, RealJukebox, RealSlideshow. RealPlayer has 150 million unique registered users. Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux.
- RealServer: Real Server Professional, Real Server Intranet, Real Server Plus, Real Server Basic.
- RealProxy: caching software server that communicates with an origin RealServer. To be installed inside an ISP or a company. Purpose: reduce backbone bandwidth cost.
- RealProducer: Encoder software. Input: AVI, WAV, MOV, MP3. Output: Real format (*.rm). Allows multirate encoding (needed for ShureStream). Administration: Web-based.
Streaming protocol: RTP/RTSP protocol (despite that the RealPlayer player works only with RealServers), propertary video compression format.
White papers: "RealSystem G2 Overview", etc.
Company: located in Seattle, WA. Streaming Software Products and Media Portal (real.com). Public company (NASDAQ:RNWK), 9/2000: $183 million revenue, $27 million profit.
Microsoft
Products:
- Windows Media Encoder: The media player (video and audio) that is shipped with every Windows box. Supports streaming from MS Media Services. Platform: Windows and Mac.
- Windows Media Player for PocketPC:
- Windows Media Player 7: Compression file/formats: ASF, WAV, AVI, MOV, MPEG, MIDI, IVF, AIF, VOD, AU, MP3, ID3
- Windows Media Rights Manager:
- Windows Media Services: Streaming server. Compression: Microsoft ASF (MPEG-4). Streaming protocol: MMS (proprietary). Platform: Windows 2000 and Windows NT. Supports Digital rights management. Administration: Web-based.
Company:
Developer Community:
Apple
Products:
- QuickTime Streaming Server 3: Free. supports RTP/RTSP and HTTP streaming, requires Mac OS X. Features: Serves QuickTime files stored on the server (video on demand), Supports more than 2,000 streams to QuickTime users concurrently, Supports hundreds of stored files, Acts as a reflector for live broadcasts, Provides access control to media files using authentication modules, Compliant with Lariat
- Darwin Streaming Server 3: open sourced, based on QuickTime Streaming Server, supports Linux, Mac, Windows, SunOS
- QuickTime Media Player: for Mac and Windows.
Whitepapers and Tutorials
Company: Computer manufacturer, HQ located in Cupertino, CA
Cashflow (formerly Entera)
Products:
- cIQ™ Streaming.
. Streaming server software. Apple QuickTime (Apple Darwin Server) clone. Flat fee per server software (unlimited streams per server installation).
Streaming and Webcache engine, with integrated streaming server. They cache the streams with some clever methods (Patents pending) and then start streaming them from the TeraEdge server - they support Real (licensed!), Quicktime and Microsoft.
Company: located in Sunnyvale, CA. Acquired by CashFlow for $440 million. Before it was a privately held company.
Burst.com
Product: Burstware. Streaming media server software solution, propietary transport protocol, codec neutral, live functionality, fail-safe functionality. Runs on Quicktime and MS Media Player with Burst plug-ins.
Company: located in San Francisco, CA. 11/20/00: Burst cut about 80 percent of its work force. Public on NASDAQ: BRST.
Kasenna
Products:
- Mediabase: Streaming and content management software. Three layers: 1) Media Distribution 2) Media asset management (acquisition, storage, meta data management) 3) Media streaming through Kasenna pump (QuickTime, MPEG 1/2), RealServer, streaming. Platforms: Irix (SGI), Linux, Solaris.
Mediabase originates from SGI/Warner Brothers interactive TV trials in Orlando, FL.
- VCD Architecture: Video Content Distribution Architecture.
Company: located in Mountain View, CA. Spin-off from Silicon Graphics (SGI). 13.6 million funding from US Venture Partners, Alloy Ventures, Entertainment Media Ventures and SGI VC funding.
Streaming21
Products:
- S21 Player: MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MP3, ASF, VCD. Microsoft Windows Media Player based.
- MediaServer: compression standards: MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MP3, ASF, VCD. Java based remote management. Scalable servers, fail-safe functionality.
- MP3 Server: User authentication and license access control. Architecture that facilitates e-commerce with ODBC
- MediaCaster: Live and scheduled multicasts and broadcasts. Up to 7 concurrent audio and video channels per server
Company: located in Los Gatos, CA.VC funded. 7/11/00: $11Mio Series B financing from iGlobe Partners Fund.
GMV Network
Products: GMV Network Distributed Media Framework™ (DMF) which consists of encoder, two tiered media reflector/distribution system, server and media players.
- INcoder: BeOS based live encoder.
- TCP Reflector / UDP Reflector / Transport Gateway: up to two tiers of stream distribution
- EdgeServer: streaming server
- Players: Windows Media Player, QuickTime, Winamp (MP3).
Propietary players: video applet (Java, H.263), GSM applet (audio)
Company: based in Chicago, IL.
2netFX
Products:
- HDTV over IP: Jointly developed with TeraLogic and 3Com.
- StreamRider Player: IP Multicast/Unicast player. Windows. MPEG 1/2/4, H.263. Streaming formats: RTP, MNS, OPV, RAW, IP. Standards: MPEG-1, MPEG-2, RTP, UDP, IGMP, IP, SAP, SDP
- ThunderCastIP Server: An industrial-strength video server with web-based remote management and scheduling. Supports live input (encoder: Array VideoONE, Optibase MovieMaker). Video formats: MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, H.263. MediaPlayer/QuickTime compatible.
- CastFX: broadcaster front-end application.
Company: formerly Media NOW!, located in San Jose, CA. Privately held. Investors: Canopy Group.
iVast
Products:
- iVAST Studio SDK: a suite of iVast technologies that integrate with 3rd party authoring tools.
- iVAST Server: MPEG-4 streaming server software.
- iVAST SystemWare: corba compliant middleware for 3rd party application integration (ad serving, accounting, e-commence, digital rights management).
- iVAST Player: MPEG-4 player (video, video object planes, 3D rendering, 2D vector graphics, interactivity).
Company: located in Santa Clara, CA. Privately held, VC funded.
Philips Digital Networks - MP4Net
Products:
- WebCine Player: MPEG-4 player, Windows.
- WebCine Encoder: MPEG-4, video and audio.
- WebCine Server: RTP, RTSP, runs on Linux.
3CX
Products:
- IXJET Streaming Server: Streaming server. Supports MPEG2, MPEG1, QuickTime and ASF files. Platform: Windows NT. Requires Microsoft Netshow Services.
- IXJET Live Server: Uses Array Microsystem's VF100/200 MPEG-1 encoder board.
- rcPlayer: Platforms: Windows, Mac. Requires QuickTime, DirectShow 5.1 or later for software MPEG-1 decoding or Java Media Framework MPEG-1 playback
Company: HQ located in San Jose, Ca. Privatly held. Formed from IXMICRO Network Division (IXMICRO: developers of popular Macintosh hardware products such as Graphics Accelerators, TV Tuner/Capture cards).
On2
Products:
- TrueCast™ Client/Server Architecture: streaming server. Compression technology: VP3™ Codec. Hosted by On2.
- Player: Java based VP3 decoder. VP3 Plug-in's for QuickTime player and RealPlayer.
Company: located in New York, NY. Public company: ASE:ONT.
DBS
Products:
- DBS Streaming Caster: live streaming software
- Streaming Indexer:
- StudioNet FC SAN:
- DBS Streaming Player: based onWindowsMedia Player.
Company: located in Korea.
ImageOn
Technology: Java based decoder.
Virage
Products: Video Application Server
LessData, Inc.
Products:
- LessData Video Player. Based on propietary technology. Promises superior video quality than Microsoft Media.
- Live Video Streaming Server
Company: based in Calgary, Canada, privatly held.
BroadWare
Products: Streaming server/hosting with Java based clients.
Company: privatly held. Based in Cupertino, CA.
Audio Streaming Servers
Icecast
Products: Open Source streaming audio server. Compatible with Shoutcast. MP3 streaming.
AOL: Winamp / Spinner / Shoutcast
Products:
- Shoutcast: Shoutcast is Nullsoft's Free Winamp-based distributed streaming audio system.
- Winamp: free audio player.
- Spinner: Spinner.com is the first and largest Internet music service, broadcasting over 22 million songs each week to listeners all over the world.
Multicast Streaming
FastForward Networks (now Inktomi)
Products: Multicasting with Software.
Company: 9/13/00: acquired by Inktomi for $1.3 billion.
Digital Fountain
Products: IP Multicast technology.
Company: located in San Francisco, CA. Privately funded.
Talarian
Products:
- SmartPGM (Pragmatic General Multicast): Middleware for reliable multicast transport protocol for applications that requiremulticast data delivery from multiple sources to multiple receivers.
- SmartTransfer: tool set for multicast file transfer over Talarian's SmartPGM protocol.
Company: located in Los Altos, CA. Public: TALR (NASDAQ). Acquired WhiteBarn, Inc. on 5/1/2000 (White Barn technology consisted of Multicast products). Revenue 1/5/01: $21 Mio.
Bandwiz
Products:
- Magic Media: Steaming Solution, using multicast based system. Seems to be similar to Digital Fountains approach.
Explanation of the Technology: "For example, if a media server is serving 20 different video clips to up to 400 simultaneous viewers, it uses up 400 times the typical clip bit rate. Switching over to Bandwiz, a server would be transmitting 20 clips at five times the bit rate, thus providing the same 20 clips to any number of simultaneous viewers at an aggregate bit rate of only 100 times the typical clip bit rate."
Company: located in Waltham, Massachusetts, has an Israeli R&D center.
Wireless Video Streaming
Packet Video
Products:
- PVAuthor: MPEG-4 encoder (no interactive MPEG-4 functionality). Software, Windows.
- PVServer: video streaming server. Platforms: Solaris or Linux. MPEG-4 video streams over RTSP/RTP.
- PVPlayer: decoder software for MPEG-4 video (9.6 kbps...384 kbps). Video stream supports MPEG-4 temporal salability and PacketVideo's Dynamic Rate Control. Platforms: a number of PDA's (WinCE), smart phones, PC's (Windows)..
Company: privately held, located in San Diego, CA. 300 employees (12/00).
Demo: PVAirguide - wireless streaming media showcase using a PocketPC WinCE 3.0 device.
Togabi
Products: MPEG-4 and H.263 based video/audio encoder, servers, and players that deal very well with Internet congestion, packet loss as well as with video streaming over wireless channels. Very impressive demo at Streaming Media West 2000.
Company: Offices in Seoul Korea and Raleigh, NC. 7 employees (12/00).
EMBLAZE Systems
Products:
- Emblaze Wireless Media Platform (WMP): MPEG-4 video encoding and streaming server for wireless carriers.
- Emblaze Wireless Device Solutions: Software decoder for wireless devices (phones, PDA, etc).
Company: (formerly GEO Interactive Media Group), Headquartered in Israel, London Stock Exchange (BLZ), 300 employees worldwide.
Mobixell
Products: Creating products for the 2.5G and 3G mobile market.
Company Founded in 2000, Mobixell is a US-based company with its R&D center located in Israel.
oplayo (formerly: )AVS Technologies
Products: Java based streaming player using Motion Vector Quantization method (MVQ). Targeting cell phones, PDA's etc. since it uses very little client CPU cycles.
Company: located in Espoo, Finland.
UB Video
Products:
- UB-Streamforce: low bit rate Video Codec.
- UB-Live: H.263.
- UB-Mobile: MPEG-4 codec.
UB Video designs MPEG-2, H.262, H.263++, MPEG-4 codecs for the embedded market. Platforms supported: PC, Equator MAP-CA (Media Processor), TI-C6000 (DSP). Propietary Algorithms for rate-control optimization, low complexity quantized DCT algorithms.
Company: located in Vancouver, BC.
Generic Media
Products:
- gMovie Maker: convert popular video, animation and still image files into the gMovie format. gMovie format is used by the gMovie Player for Palm OS devices.
- gMovie Player. free application that enables the playback of video, animation and still images in the gMovie format on Palm OS handhelds
Company: located in Palo Alto, CA
Peer to Peer (P2P) Streaming
Advantages:
- In theory huge savings on bandwidth backbone access cost for the content provider because the clients take care of the streaming.
Disadvantages/Issues:
- Works only well for broadband users (DSL, cable modem, T1 users).
- DSL: uplink bandwith is small, typically between 100 - 200 kbps.
- One peer needs to make more than one connection in order for the network to be effective. This is hard to achieve: use as an example DSL, downstream 300 kbps stream, upstream is only 100 - 200 kbps.
- Works only well for live broadcasts. Not well suited for VOD unless the edge or any of the clients has a relatively large cache.
- In order to take advantage of this system, a user needs to have the client software and other users with the client software (and the same live content!) need to be in the same networking region.
AllCast
Product: Peer-to-Peer streaming solution. A client receives a streaming channel and forwards it to other clients.
Company: Diffuse Network, Inc.
vTrails
Product: Peer-toPeer streaming solution.
- vTCaster: Server side device.
- vTEdge: ISP side device that talks to the vTCaster. Optional.
- vTPass: client side software that delivers the stream to a player and broadcasts it to other vTPass clients.
Company: located in Ramat-Gan, Israel, privatly held, investments from teamDCL. vTrails launched on June 20 2001
Kontiki
Product: P2P product/off-line downloading, positioned as a service (Kontiki Delivery Network).
Technologies: "Bandwidth Harvesting": 1. Time Shifting (downloading during off-times) 2. Adaptive Rate Multiserving (getting parts of a stream from different servers) 3. Outer Edge Caching (P2P concept)
Company: located in Moutain View CA, and in San Francisco, CA. VC-funded Barksdale Group, Benchmark Capital, Angel Investors, L.P. Round one: $ 18 mio. Backed by Marc Andressen and James Barksdale (Netscape)
Other Streaming Products
Tekadence
Products: The Tekadence Platform is an open, end-to-end solution for authoring, managing, distributing, and presenting networked software applications.
Vsoft
Products: VideoClick.
Company: located in Yoqneam, Israel and Chelmsford, MA. Privately held.
Streambox
Products:
- Portal (Music, TV, Trailers): The site specializes in searching, indexing and categorizing of streaming media content on the Internet.
- Streambox Ripper: software that converts CD, MP3, wav to MP3, Windows Media Audio ($19)
- Streambox VCR: download program
- Streambox TV: MPEG-2, Java based, broadband bandwidths, beta testing
- Compression Technology: Advanced Compression Technology (ACT) - no further explanations.
Company: Location: Seattle, WA. Investment by Lycos Korea (4/2000). 9/00: settled lawsuit with RealNetworks, agreed to use Real's SDK's: Specifically, Streambox agreed that it will modify its Streambox Ripper product so that it no longer transcodes RealMedia™ streams into other formats, and that it will modify its StreamboxVCR product so that it respects the copy protection feature in RealSystem™
Piranha
Products:
- Pirhana Byte: (compression program + download tool for regular documents)
- Pirhana Net - image compression tool for web pages
- Pirhana Stream - real time encoding, plug-in for Windows Media Player. Enhanced H263+ and MPEG-2+ streaming technologies.
Company: located in Dallas, TX. Public company: OTC Bulletin Board: BYTE.
Software Encoders
Microsoft
Product: Windows Media Encoder.
Terran
Product: Media Cleaner. Very popular software encoder package that supports most compression formats.
RealNetworks
Product: Real Producer
SorensonMedia
Product: Sorensen Broadcaster.
DivX
Product: free MPEG 4 Encoder
Lame
Product: Open source MP3 encoder
Telestream
Product:
- FlipFactory. Software that automate the entire encoding process: content acquisition, pre-processing, encoding and distribution to Internet media servers.
- Gigaflip.com
Anystream
Products:
- Media Markup Language (MML): XML-based common language and architecture that facilitates automatic exchanging, updating, supplying and controlling of streaming assets between networked partners and affiliates.
- Agility Encoding Platform: automated encoding, Codec-, device- and platform-independence, Automated distribution.
Company: located in Sterling, VI. VC-funded.
QuickEncoder
Products: Quickencoder Lite/Full/Plus: Easy to use video streaming media creation software for RealPlayer format. Automates the encoding process.
Company: located in Manchester, UK.
Ligos
Products:
- GoMotion®, the award-winning MPEG software codec .
- Ligos LSX-MPEG, fastest MPEG encoding solution available in software.
- Indeo (sold to Ligos from Intel), for serverless video and audio streaming from a single file
Company: provider of real-time media stream management software for the devices and networks
e-Vue
Products:
- e-Vue Image Studio: Convert existing image files to MPEG-4 compressed image files.
- e-Vue MPEG-4 SDK; Video Encoder SDK; Video Decoder SDK;
Company: s a spin-off and partner of the Sarnoff Corporation, Iselin, NJ.
Media Excel
Products:
- MPEG-4 encoder: realtime encoding software (video only), targeted for OEM.
- XLPlayerTM player: ISO-compliant MPEG-4 video player, also: H263, MPEG-1
Company: located in Austin, TX. Privatly funded, 25 employes (6/01).
Software Video Players
Microsoft
Windows Media Player.
RealNetworks
RealPlayer
Apple
QuickTime Player
PocketTV
MPEG Movie Player
Flavor Software
Products:
- Flavor Player plays MPEG-4 MP4 files.
- Mild Flavor: View and create MP4 files.
Company:
Philips
Media Excel
LessDATA
iVast
oplayo
helloNetwork
Destiny
Java Based Players
Sun Microsystem's JMF library (Java Media Framework), Version 2.1.1 that allows streaming.
Destiny
Products:
- VideoClipstream : Java based decoder for video. Embedding video into webpage without a player.
- Clipstream Audio: Audio Media Player:
- Radio Destiny broadcast network:
helloNetwork.com
Products: Java based streaming player.
Forbidden Technologies
Software Audio Players
Sonique
The coolest MP3 player for Windows. Can also receive MP3 streaming from Shoutcast or Icecast.
Sonique is owned by Lycos.
Winamp
MP3 player, can receive MP3 streaming from Shoutcast.
Apple iTunes
Rip CDs to MP3 files, creating playlists, burning music CDs, listening to 100s of Internet radio stations (using Kerbango service)..
Internet Radio Browsers
LifeWire! Broadcast
Product: LifeWire! Broadcast. Browser software for Internet stations.
Company: East Bay Technologies
II. Streaming Appliances
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Appliance Web
Portal about information appliances.
Streaming Server Appliances
nCube
Products: uses exclusively the Oracle Video Server (OVS) as streaming platform.
OVS runs now only on nCube platform (not anymore on SGI, Solaris)
Liberate (owned by Oracle) uses nCube.
Company: 6/99: acquired SkyConnect)
Partners: Motorola, Scientific Atlanta, Pace Microsystems, Alcatel, Real Networks, Cisco, Microsoft and Oracle
Pixstream
Company: located in Waterloo, ON, Canada. 8/31/2000: acquired by Cisco.
Optibase
Products:
- Video Streaming & Network: Decoder boards, Live video streaming solution, MPEG-2 decoder board.
- Content Creation:
- Developer Tools:
- Other Products:
Company: located in Israel.
SGI: Media Server Solutions
Products: Hardware/Software bundles. Integration of existing hard and software. Linux/NT or Irix based.
Cobalt Networks (divison of Sun Microsystems)
Products: Internet server and cache appliances.
Company: 9/13/00: Acquired by Sun Microsystems for $ 2 billion.
iTunerNetworks: MediaBox
Product: Hardware solution that supports live video and audio input
Technologies: RealAudio, RealVideo servers, Quick Time, Linux, Video encoder board integrated.
StarBak Communications
Product: Torrent Streaming Media Appliance: Ultra Sparc CPU. 100 base T Ethernet/Gigabit Ethernet. QuickTime server , Windows Media Origin Server Emulation (using MMS: MS streaming protocol), StarBak RTP/RTSP streaming engine (MPEG-1, MPEG-2 (Q1/01), MPEG-4 (Q2/01). Unicast/Mulitcast. StarBak Authentication engine. Administration via a web browser. 1U rack mount chassis. Price: Torrent 100: $6995.
Company: located in Columbus, Ohio. 25 Employees.
Sun: Sun Store Edge Video Central Platform
Quad Research
Product: MovieServ: Streaming server system with off-the-shelf components. 5 or 15 Fiber Channel disk drives. Up to 10 dual Intel PIII CPU's boards. Gigabit Ethernet cards. 19 in rack. Software neutral.
Avid
Products: Trilligent Cluster: Turnkey system that integrates servers, mass storage (RAID 1 storage) in a server rack. Software: network load balancer, distributed file system (multiple media server systems all have direct access to the same storage device, which is a single copy of the content), high reliability features. Platform: Windows 2000. Supported software: Windows Media Technologies, RealServer, QuickTime, Vsoft, Streaming21. Linear bandwidth scalability from 200 Mbps to 5000 Mbps. 90 GB to 7 TB storage.
Company: located in Tewksbury, MA. Avid is a leading company in video editing/effects packages and software (Softimage). $450 Mio Revenues. 1550 Employees.
Midstream Technologies
Products: Streaming Server appliance. To be released on April 23, 2001. Height: 2 RU. 2 Gigabit Ethernet outputs. Storage: 8 x 18 GB. Each stream can be encrypted. MPEG-2.
Company: located in Seattle, WA. 5/2/00: $4.75 mio Series A financing.
VBrick
Products:
- VBrick Encoder: Encoder/Streaming Server appliance. Input: Analog NTSC/PAL video. Compression: MPEG-1/2. Output: Ethernet.
- VBrick StreamPump: video streaming server software. Platform: Windows. Using IP multicast.
- VBrick Decoder: Decoder appliance. Input: Ethernet. Output: analog NTSC/PAL monitor.
- StreamPlayer II: software application that works with Microsoft Media Player.
Company: located in Wallingford, CT.
Vingage Corporation
Products:
- Vingage Video Server: Video server appliance with Microsoft, Quicktime and Real streaming servers. Using real time transcoding, the media asset is customized for each user’s playing environment (player, bandwidth, and platform). Input data are bitstreams in one format, encoded at a high bandwidth.
Company: located in Reston, VI.
Pulsent
Products: not announced yet.
Company: located in Milpitas CA. Funded by Techfarm.
Optivision
Products:
- NAC 4000/3000 Live Streaming Video Receiver: Hardware Video Decoder appliance/ hardware video encoder appliance. Input or Output: Ethernet. Output or Input: NTSC/PAL analog video. MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 compression. Uses Optivision's mpegNet™ streaming engine to support IP multicasting.
- NAC™3000-DVB: Streaming MPEG Video Server for DVB-ASI Networks
- VS-Pro: Appliance for encoding and decoding multiple MPEG video streams.
Company: located Palo Alto, CA. Privatly held, 50 employees.
Neuron Broadcasting Technologies
Products: Neuron DVS. complete Internet Broadcasting System in a box.
Company: located in Palm Beach, FL.
Clearband
Products: Turn-key solution for capturing encode and broadcast any real-time video. 300Kbps to 2.0Mbps. MPEG-2.IP multicast.
Caching Appliances
Network Appliance: Net Cache
Product: web caching hardware solution. Patented file system and microkernel technology.
Technology: Network Appliance promises to support the popular streaming formats: "The NetCache appliance provides native protocol support for all of the popular streaming media formats: Microsoft Windows Media Technologies, RealNetworks RealSystem G2, and Apple QuickTime.
Inktomi: Traffic Server Media-IXT
Product: Software.
Technology: "Media-IXT caches frequently requested streaming media content at the edge of the network, close to end users. When a user requests streaming media content, Media-IXT checks to see if the requested content is in the cache. If it is not, the request is forwarded to the origin media server which provides it. Media-IXT then stores the content in order to satisfy future requests for it." Doesn't mentioned which streaming standards it supports.
Partners:
Info Libria
Products: Content Commander, Media Mall, Dyna Cache
Content Commander .Hardware/Software bundle. "Content Commander, InfoLibria's platform for replication, management, distribution, and delivery of web-based objects and streaming audio and video, enables provider network managers to capture and manage content and content-related activity among distributed DynaCaches and/or MediaMalls."
MediaMall - Media cache. "MediaMall is InfoLibria's advanced streaming appliance for providers faced with large audiences, high volumes of video and audio content, and varied applications. MediaMall serves video and audio streams to the requestor from the edge of the network and enables providers to deliver the TV-quality video and CD-quality audio that customers demand. MediaMall is part of InfoLibria's complete Internet infrastructure solution."
Supports: Microsoft's Windows Media Technologies, RealNetworks' G2 platform, Apple Computer's QuickTime 4, and Cisco's IP/TV streaming media applications. Up to 1600 simultaneous 1 Mbps streams per Smart Content Engine platform.
"Edgecasting" - stream close to the consumers. Offer also "Live-Edgecasting".
Whitepapers
Partners:
Cache Flow: CacheFlow 110,.. CacheFlow 5000
Product: Hardware Caching engine, propietary CacheOS.
Technology: Big, fat cache servers. Software Add-ons:
- RealProxy for CacheFlow: "Allows enterprises and service providers to optimize the delivery of live and on-demand audio and video content through their existing networks - conserving bandwidth, reaching larger audiences and improving the user's experience. The CacheFlow streaming solution has been certified by RealNetworks as a fully compliant implementation of the RealSystem™ G2 and PNA transmission formats." Looks like a real server port to the CacheOS operating system.
- Akamaizer: "Intelligently and dynamically readies content for the Akamai FreeFlow™ service based on site-specific policies".
- Content Manager: "CacheFlow Content Manager (CCM) allows users to view, distribute, monitor, and purge their content from a network of distributed caches on a scheduled or an ad hoc basis."
Whitepapers
Partners:
Cisco - Sight Path:Edge Runner NetRunner
Product: Hardware/Software bundle.
Technology: NetRunner is a data distribution system for streaming data. It supplies the EdgeRunners, a streaming server and cache engine, inside firewalls, close to the customers.
- Edge Runner: "SightPath EdgeRunners simply plug into a power supply and into a LAN, and are ready to receive rich media from the SightPath NetRunner. SightPath's EdgeRunners self-organize on the network without any ongoing administration. Using SighPath's unique SODA technology, EdgeRunners automatically configure themselves and organize into a single cooperating system that calculates the fastest route for distributing media anywhere in the world. Working behind the safety of your firewall, SightPath EdgeRunners receive media from the SightPath NetRunner, an enterprise media management system. "
20 to 100 simultaneous streams of MPEG video.
MPEG, QuickTime, RealVideo and Windows Media video
- NetRunner:
Vividon
Product:
- Vividon Streaming Delivery Accelerator (SDA): SDA-1000 (Throughput: 100 Mbps), SDA-2000 (Throughput: 400 Mbps), SDA-5000 (Throughput: 700 Mbps), Caching Applicance for Streaming Applications.
Protocols: HTTP, MMS, RTSP/RTP, Microsoft Windows Media,
- .Vividon Service Manager: manages (configure and monitor) several SDA's.
Company: located in Sudbury, MA. Founded by MIT grad students. VC-Funded.
CacheWare
Products: Software that manages caching, content distribution and content access control.
- MetaServer: policy engine that distributes meta-information about available content to compatible enterprise edge servers.
- EdgeServer: a low-overhead server appliance that can reside anywhere in the corporate intranet or extranet.
- MetaManager: GUI to the MetaServer, and provides simple, intuitive access to and control of the MetaServer.
Company: located in Campbell, CA. Privatly held. Founded in 1995 as Ark Research Corporation, sold its remote mirroring business to LSI Logic in May 2000 for $23 million.
Storage Appliances
Omneon
Products: Omneon Video Area Network. Uses the IEEE 1394 (Firewire) - up to 3.2 Gigabit/sec on optical fiber. data storage (DIRECTOR and STORE), transport (SWITCH), connection of non-1394 devices to the network (MEDIAPORT).
Ciprico
Products: Storage Area network devices
Player Appliances
Kerbango
Products:
- Radio standalone player
- Radio Tuner Webpage
Company: (Spring 2000: Acquired by 3Com for $40 million)
SonicBox
Products:
- Internet radio appliance, where the decoding of the bitstream happens in a PC.
- Internet radio software tuner.
Company: located in Mountain View, CA. Privatly funded.
InnovaCom
Products:
- Transpeg: Hardware box, TransPEG 100 is designed for delivering MPEG-1 streams over single T1 and E1 lines. TransPEG 200
bonds T1 and E1 (2x or 4x) transmission lines for delivery of MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 near broadcast quality video.
- DVImpact: Hardware box,.
Company: "InnovaCom, Inc., a Nevada corporation, is a premier designer, developer, and manufacturer of hardware platforms and software applications that provide complete MPEG-2 digital video compression encoding, networking, transmission and DVD Pre-Mastering solutions. InnovaCom's standards-based MPEG-2 digital video systems provide users with highly desirable, broadcast quality video across a wide range of networks and applications."
Liberate
Products: Liberate is an software integrator for set top boxes
Tivo
Products: HD videorecorder.
Replay TV
Product: competitor of Tivo. 1/2001: Purchase by SonicBlue (formerly S3) for around $123 million in stock.
Frontpath
Products: ProGear, a wireless internet appliance, Transmeta CPU, touchscreen, Linux, RealPlayer ported.
Frontpath is owned by SonicBlue (formerly S3).
akoo.com
Products: Kima Wirless Technology. Wireless Audio System for.Internet radio, MP3s and computer audio programming on on any stereo or radio, all within a 1000 foot radius.
Hardware Encoders
Winnov
Products:
- Videum StreamEngine: hardware encoder box. CPU encoding/FPGA encoding. MPEG-4 and RealMedia. 2 - 4 streams.
- Videum VO/VA: Audio/Video Capture Cards.
Company: located in Sunnyvale CA and in Landsberg, Germany.
Pinnacle
Products: Stream Genie / Stream Factory
Worldstream
Products: Studio-in-a-box
ViewCast.com
Products: Osprey PCI-Capture Cards.
TeraNex
Products: Starfront Broadband pre-compression processor. Hardware box. Input: NTSC/PAL 601 digital video. Processing: de-interlacing, 3:2 pull-down detection and processing, noise reduction, crop, down sampling, detail enhancement. Output: 601 to LAN.
EnQuad
Products: Hardware platform for real time MPEG-4 core profile encoding.
Company: located in Tel-Aviv, Israel.
Streaming Studio Solution
GlobalStreams
Products: Broadcasting solutions and services company. GlobeCaster™ technology is an all-in-one production studio designed for live or on-demand programming. Vertical solutions: GS CorporateCast™, GS ContentCast™ and GS EduCast™.
Company: the products are based on formerly Play, Inc's. Trinity platform.
Video Conference Solutions
PictureTel
Products:
Company: .
Polycom (merger with PictureTel pending)
Products:
Company: .
First Virtual Communications (merged with CuSeeMe - formerly White Pine Software)
Products: Click to Meet™ and CUseeMe™ Videoware
Company: located in Santa Clara, CA. publicly traded, FVCX (NASDAQ). 300+ employees.
Raindance
VCON
Products: multi-function personal and group videoconferencing systems.
Technologies used: mainly ISDN (H.320) to business/enterprise communications over IP (H.323).
Company: Headquartered in Herzliya, Israel. Publicly traded on the Paris Stock Exchange (Le Nouveau Marché) as VCON. Revenues in 2000: $36.2M. Established in 1994.
Camera Appliances
Mobotix
Products: MOBOTIX produces weatherproofed network cameras with integrated ISDN- and Ethernet interface and integrated webserver to transmit video data over Internet (FTP, HTTP, eMail).
III. Interactive TV (ITV)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Set-top boxes / Hard ware solutions
Lysis: iDTV
Products: "Lysis offers the first comprehensive product suite for the digital media industry." European focused.
iMagicTV
ICTV
Products: Delivery platform provides cable operators with a headend-based solution that enables delivery of broadband Internet, email with attachments, and interactive TV applications.
Company: located in Los Gatos, CA.
SeaChange
Products:
- SeaChange VOD Over IP: Video On Demand (VOD) server solution for players on set-top boxes. Compression: MPEG-2, MPEG-4, ASF. Server Platform: Windows.
- Hotel VOD
- Product line for broadcast television.
Company: located in Maynard, MA. Public company: NASDAQ: SEAC. 99: Revenue: $85 Mio. 400 Employees. 5,000 MPEG-2 video servers installed.
EnjoyWeb
Products: Managed Media Delivery over IP. Software based media delivery system for set-top box makers as well as for Tivo, Replay TV, etc. Downloads video content in the background (for example overnight) to the set-top box so the viewer can watch the requested program the next day on his TV or computer.
Company: located in Sunnyvale, CA. Privately funded.
UltimateTV
Microsoft's mix between Tivo, Set-top box and satelite TV receiver.
AOL TV
TechniSat Data Services S.A
Products:
- DVB IP reception devices: DVB PC cards, including HomeStreamer (Set-top box with a HD).
- Set-Top Boxes
- Data Delivery Solutions: DVB SmartWare is a bundle of high-tech Data delivery Software modules.
- Data broadcast
Company: located in Luxenburg and Germany.
Scientific Atlanta
Motorola's Broadband Communication Sector (formerly: General Instrument)
Purchased by Motorola in 9/99.
Middleware Providers
Liberate
OpenTV
PowerTV
MicrosoftTV
Software Solutions
identive
Motion detection Technology.
Interactive Video Technologies IVT
Products: Video Operation Platform (IVOP): platform that creates and deploys interactive video applications (the underlying technologies are standard based). Proprietary development tool.
Company: NY
Hypnotizer
Products: Interactive video streaming technology for existing MS Window Media Player and RealPlayer. Propietary plug-in for existing players adds an video overlay layer where menus, information and animations can be played. Example: interactive menus for sports results and statistics during a streamed football game.
- Player plug-in for MS Media Player, Quicktime and RealPlayer
- Hypnotizer server to serve the interactive content
- Hypnotizer editor for creation.
Company: located in Paris, France
MShow
Products:
- MShow Player: application that integrates streaming video and audio, telephony, graphics and messaging.
- Togetherware: server where the players connect to.
ACTV
Fantastic
Products:
- Channel Editorial Center (CEC): plan, schedule and schedule broadcast material. Content types: 1) pre-caching content on the receivers end 2) download software 3) streaming.audio/video. Includes editor for a booking system, editor for a content online guide, subscription manager.Platform: Windows.
- Channel Management Center (CMC): Transport of the content over satellite, Internet (cable/DSL), mobile. Management of the bandwidth. Platform: HP Unix & Windows.
- Fantastic Channelsurfer: integrated environment with Audio/Video player, channel guide, e-commerce functionality. Platform: Windows (integrated in Explorer and Netscape), Set-top boxes.
Customers: mainly large telecom companies.
Company: located in Zug, Switzerland. Public on Neuer Markt (Frankfurt): FAN. Public since 9/99. 9/00 : Revenues $15 Mio, Loss: $30 Mio 337 employees.
Diva
Products: Video on Demand (VOD) products
- DIVA Video Server
- DIVA System Manager
- DIVA Digital Link
Company: founded in 95, Sarnof Spinn-off, located in Redwood City, CA. $100 equity raised.
Irdeto Access
Protecting digital content broadcast.
Cable/ITV/PayTV providers
MIH Limited
Large cable provider. Based in the Netherlands.
IV. Network Products
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Foundry Networks
RadWare
Alteon
Cisco
F5
Skystream
V. Streaming Media Infrastructure Products
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Logging Software
Lariat
Products: Lariat MediaReports: Measure media traffic, performance and trends by analyzing logfiles from Real, Microsoft, Quicktime.
Company: located in Seattle, WA. 12/00: 65 employees.
Asset Management and Distribution
Excalibur
Product: Excalibur Screening Room™ is a comprehensive, integrated solution for fast, easy and intelligent video asset management.
Kasenna
Lariat
Products: Lariat Station Manager: create channels, programs and schedules. Publish and deliver it to streaming media servers.
IBM: Content Manager VideoCharger
Products:
- Content Manager VideoCharger: transforms digital video into an effective desktop training and communications tool, helping you deliver high-impact information where it’s needed.
innovatv.com
Products: IMag. Interactive TV applications for the Web. Used by Road Runner, Cox@Home, and MediaOne Express.
Company: located in San Diego, CA.
Bulldog
Organize, search, index digital media
MediaSite
Products:
- Software for publishing, searching, and navigating video.
- Publisher: Tool for creating a video database. Publisher's core functions are to construct and describe video segments, and then create a video index. Advanced scene detection capabilities and customizable data fields enable tailoring the information created during the indexing process. Closed-captioned text can also provide a searchable transcript. Make use of speech recognition software.
- WebFinder: configurable client tool for accessing the video search and retrieval software (Publisher).
Company: located in Pittsburgh, PA. Started by Carnegie Mellon researchers. 12/00: 80 employees. Founded in 97.
Virage
Product:
- Video logger: Visual video search engine for video data
- Audio logger. Real-time audio cataloging software
Company: located in Redwood City, CA.
Pictron
Product: Video Gateway. Searchable video database
singingfish.com
Product: Propietary multimedia search engine, licenses the search engine to portals and websites
"Singingfish.com develops, markets and licenses streaming media search services to a broad range of high-traffic web portals, search and directory sites, Broadband service providers, content aggregators, news organizations, entertainment networks and others. Through our services, end-users can quickly navigate, locate and access the ever-expanding ocean of today's streaming media."
Company: Purchased by Thompson Multimedia (August 10 2000). Located in Seattle, WA.
Loudeye
Product: Media Syndicator: distribute, schedule media content.
StreamSage
Product:
- Indexing Engine: audio / video search engine that automatically identifies relevant content and immediately delivers personalized media streams in response to users’ queries.
- Query Server: that allows users to submit keyword or natural language search queries for audio / video content
Company: based in Washington DC and is funded by private investors
Digital Rights Management (DRM) / Security and Watermarking
Digimarc
Product: digital watermark technology and applications
Widevine
Product: Widevine Cypher provides transparent, standards-based security for RealMedia, Windows Media, and QuickTime streams.
sealed media
Product: Robust and persistent protection for all media on the Internet, including text, images, audio and video.
mediaDNA
Product: Digital Rights Management
PassEdge
AegiSoft
Product: Digital Rights Management
Company: located in Rockville, MD
Magex
Product: Software and infrastructure that enables to purchase music over the Internet. An MP3 file can be downloaded to a Rioport Audio Manager.
Company: located in New York. 4/00: US$80 million first round financing.
Intertrust
Product: Digital Rights Management (DRM) Technology
Company: NASDAQ: ITRU
TTR Technologies, Inc
Macrovision
eSynch Corporation
Product: Media Rights Manager. Proprietary encryption, browser-based media rights management, customized player technology, transaction processing, and reporting.
Company:
Mindport
Products:
- Mindport Sentriq: global digital rights and revenue protection via the web.
Company:
Authoring Tools
Confluent Technologies
Product: Fluition Production Edition: SMIL authoring tool. For Mac and Windows.
Oratrix
Product: GRiNS Editor for RealSystemG2 Pro (SMIL editor)
V. Miscellaneous
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Streaming Media Quality Metrics
Keynote Systems
Products: Streaming Perspective. A service to measure the streaming quality of a service provider.
Exodus Communications
BroadStream
Streamcheck
Products: Distributed system for real-time Quality of Service (QoS) with proprietary measurement metrics. Streamcheck monitors streaming performance through its distributed network of "scanners" connected to central Internet backbones, located in over 15 cities throughout U.S.A, Canada and Europe.
Company: Streamcheck is a wholly owned subsidiary of Candescent Software Inc. Located in Toronto, Canada.
Measurecast
Products: - MeasureCast Streaming Audience Measurement Service.
- Measurecast Internet Radio Index (monthly top 25 lists)
Company: founded in 99. Located in Portland, Oregon.
Data Casting
iBlast
Wavexpress
Collaborative venture of Wave Systems Inc., Sarnoff Corp., and The Fantastic Corporation
Other
BeHere
Product: 360 degree video
Vsoft: VideoClick
Accordent
Products:
- Dynasyne Technology
- VITECH
2. Service Providers
I. Content Delivery Networks - CDN (Hosting and Delivery Services)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Typical service offerings consists of:
- A network of servers located in many different geographical locations, typically inside ISP networks.
- Redirection service: the closest streaming server is selected (that has enough capacity = load balancing)
- Streaming applications running on their servers (Real, Microsoft, Quicktime)
- Advertisement insertion (iBeam)
- Revenues by hosting content professional services (acquiring videos, live broadcasting),
- Faster access to the content and higher viewing quality.
- Providing reports and statistics.
Akamai
Product: FreeFlow Streaming
- hosting web servers and streaming servers on the Akamai network
- production, signal acquisition and encoding services
How it works: Freeflow is a caching concept. The basic assumption is that 75% of the size of a web page consists of embedded objects. An embedded object is typically an image, for example a GIF or a JPEG file. Akamai has a network of web servers that are at the edges of the Internet. With Freeflow the actual web page is still requested from the original web server, but are the embedded objects reside on the Akamai servers. Akamai does also load balancing on their web servers (similar to burstware's conductor). Akamai's infrastructure employs over 4000 servers in 160 networks (typically in a ISP's network) in 45 countries.
Akamai is a technology oriented service company, the founders came from MIT. Akamai has a very good understanding of traffic patterns on the Internet.
Company: NasdaqNM:AKAM
Digital Island
Product :Footprint: Hosting service for streaming media. Customer adds the Footprint URL on their web page for streaming content. Then Footprint's servers figure out which streaming server to select (load balancing, get closest server) and then the streaming server on Footprint's servers delivers the content.
In general Digital Island does Web Hosting, Network Services and Professional Services.
Company: NASDAQ:ISLD .acquired Sandpiper Networks.
Globix
Products:
Globix is a provider of Internet hosting services with seven data centers in the US and one data center in Europe. In addition to that there six more global access POP's. Globlaix connects their data centers and POP's with their own fiber backbone which is typically a OC-48 (2. Gbps).
- Streaming Media Service: Globix provides streaming media hosting services and offers complete services (video production, encoding, hosting, hosting, managing).
Company: located in New York NY, Santa Clara CA and London UK. NASDAQ: GBIX. 6/00: 3 Months Revenues $21 Mio, 3 Months Loss: $31 Mio
iBeam
Product: iBeam has a propietary network for media streaming. They have a satellite network for distribution of the content to their servers. In reality iBeam uses the satellite network only to 10% for distributing the media content. Company is focused to serve only media content.
iBeam has a product called On-Target that allows to insert advertising. They also over service packages, such as All-hand meetings (recording, broadcasting on their network) and Corporate Training Solutions. They call their media distribution system iRelay and their redirection system (load balancing, picking the closest edge server) iDirector.
Microcast (Out of business - Chapter 11, March 2001)
Product: Hosting Service (turnkey video streaming solutions). They also have their "own" player - nothing else than an embedded MS Media Player or Real Player in a web page with advertisement and customized buttons and video selection.
Speedera
Product: hosting service provider, does also streaming
Cidera
Product: Satellite delivery network, Live Only
Press release: "Cidera, Inc., the Internet Broadcast Backbone, is an international leader in the satellite delivery of Broadband content to the edge of the Internet. Cidera uses innovative high-speed satellite technology designed to transport high-bandwidth data faster, more reliably, and more efficiently to ISP's and DSL and Cable access providers. Cidera is expanding its international network infrastructure to improve the movement of Web site content, streaming audio and video, live webcasts, large databases and Usenet News over the Internet. Cidera serves more than 300 Points of Presence (POPs) in North America and Europe."
Adero
Product: hosting service provider, does also streaming
Mirror-Image
Product: hosting service provider, own server network including Oracle servers.
InterPacket
Product: hosting and delivery per satellite
Shoutcast
TeVeo
Product: Webcam service
FVC.com
POPcast
Massive Media
Enron Broadband
Exodus
Streaming Media Corporation
8GB of throughput, satellite reception facility with 25 satellite dishes. Located in Denver, CO.
Multicast Media
st3
Services: content generation, asset management, content delivery. st3 has their own fiber optics network in the US.
Company: a wholly-owned subsidiary of NextLec Inc, based in Chattanooga, TN. Privatly held. 102 employees (7/01). Founded in 11/97.
Storage Service
Scale Eight
Service: provides large volume storage service at a central location (24/7, back-up, etc). Customer uses the MediaPort appliance to access the storage. The MediaPort has a cache of 36 GB, and connects via the Internet to Scale Eight.
Company: located in San Francisco, CA. VC funded: 7/00 $26.5 mio; 12/99 $5.0 million
II. Service Providers (Encoding etc.)
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There are a lot more service provider companies than the listed ones. At this point we have not focussed our efforts to cover this market. However, just send us an email (fabian@streamingmedialand.com include your company URL and category), and we will add your company to the listing.
Americas
Digital Outpost
Loudeye (formerly Encoding.com)
Vidyah.
biznews24.com
Jalva Media (Burlingame, CA and Mumbai, India)
VideoBookmark.com
TVHouse streaming media production company focused on business and financial news, Chicago IL
MyOffices (New York City)
Bluesponge (Montreal, Canada) Turnkey provider video e-mail, video banners, etc.
Generic Media Generic Media Publishing Service, (Palo Alto, CA)
Smartypants media (Chicago, IL)
VideoShare (Watertown, MA)
Mindsnare Encoding & Hosting (Van Nuys, CA)
Online Video Service Encoding & Hosting, DVD Authoring (Seattle, WA)
NSI Web Hosting (Farmingdale, NY)
Digital Planet - Multimedia Application Developers (Ronkonkoma, NY)
Europe
KlubRadio.de Live broadcasting services. (Berlin, Germany)
Webstreaming.com Encoding & Hosting (London UK)
Spakmedia (Barcelona, Spain)
TechniSat Data Services S.A (Luxenbourg)
STREAMMINISTER Webcasting and conferencing, (Germany)
Kamera Production, Content creation, Applications (Stockholm, London, Amsterdam, Paris, Oslo)
B-Reel (Stockholm, Sweden and Brussels, Belgium)
Groovy Gecko Encoding, live events, hosting. (London, UK)
III. Vertical Solutions
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Law
I-DEP
Internet browser-based deposition service providing live video, two-way audio, real-time court reporter transcript and private messaging.
Company: based in Chicago, IL.
Surveillance
Also see the Camera Appliances section.
BroadWare
Internet browser-based deposition service providing live video, two-way audio, real-time court reporter transcript and private messaging.
Company: privatly held. Based in Cupertino, CA.
VisioWave
Products:
- Video Surveillance system. Includes a server appliance rack, inputs for regular, existing analog video cameras, hardware encoders, management system, storage server, web center and SDK.
Technology: proprietary compression method, based on wavelets. Streaming transport over IP networks. Bandwidth can be changed in real-time.
Company: privatly funded, headquarters in Boulogne Billancourt, France, research center in Lausanne, Switzerland.
PC-Cam Hosting/Broadcasting
Spotlife
Service provider for consumers that want to stream their own content: Images, Live Video (Personal video camera - only Logitech products so far), Webcam, stored data. Spin-off company from Logitech. Logitech ships their software with all their PC video cameras.
Education
IV. Broadband Providers
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Cable Modem Internet Service Providers
Excite@Home
Time Warner Road Runner
DSL Internet Service Providers
SBC (Pac Bell, Ameritech, SNET, …)
Covad
NorthPoint
Concentric
Pacific Century CyberWorks
Satellite Distribution
Direct TV
Internet Backbone Service Providers
Qwest
UUNet
Level 3 Communications
Network map of the backbone
Global Crossing
WorldCom
3. Content Companies and Portals
Video on Demand (VOD)
Intertainer
Video on Demand service for broadband only, started in October 2001.
Platform for delivery with Cable: set-top boxes from Motorola, Scientific-Atlanta, Pace. Streaming with SeaChange, Concurrent, nCube. Microsoft MPEG-2 Video 3.375Mbps bandwidth
Platform for delivery with DSL: 640 Kbps connection required. Microsoft MPEG-4 Video. Microsoft Digital Rights Management (DRM) system is used exclusively.
Content from: Universal Pictures, Warner Bros., DreamWorks SKG, Twentieth Century Fox, New Line Cinema, NBC, Discovery, A&E, ESPN, Pearson Television, Warner Music, EMI Music, Sony Music.
Available in the US, in 35 markets, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington D.C. Before there was a trial in Cincinnati (ZoomTown.com service of Broadwing) and in Denver (Qwest).
Akamai provides streaming services. The content is encrypted using Microsoft's digital rights management technology. SeaChange's ITV System will enable the Entertainment VOD service to run on Motorola's DCT-5000+ set-top box.
Subscription: FirstPass is $7.99 per month. Premium Pass for $9.95 a month. Video on Demand: new releases for $3.99 or older movies for $2.99.
Company: located in Culver City, CA.Investors: from Comcast, Intel, Microsoft, NBC, Sony and Qwest. 2/99: 1st round from Intel, Comcast; 4/99: 2nd round from Intel, Comcast, US West, Sony; 7/99 3rd round $3 mio from NBC, GE; 1/00: $56 mio from Microsoft, results in 20% ownership.
CinemaNow
majority owner is Lions Gate Entertainment
MovieFly
Movies.com
Movie and TV Portals
Yack.com
MeTV.com
Live@
real.com
Atom Films
Portal that hosts independent films.
Camera Planet
On2
LOADtv
pseudo.com
iFilm.com
StreamSearch
flip2it
Microsoft Music and Video Guide
Worldwide Broadcast Network (wwbc.net)
MovieFlix.com
2000 movies (shorts and full length) online for free. Mostly older movies.
CanalWeb
Internet TV Station with channels in French and German. Largest streaming content provider in Europe. Four Channels: CanalWeb.net (in French), CanalWeb.de (in German), TV Bourse.net (French Fincance TV), TV Web regions. Producing 80 hours new content every week.
MediaTrip.com
AdCritic.com
The best of ads and commercials.
Alltrue
World's largest library of short reality-videos.
Heavy.com
3TOON Hypnosis: The first Interactive Movie online
Asiaonair, Digital Broadcast Network
Original videos covering various topics on and about Asia and quality affiliated content via its media network. Based in Malasyia
Yahoo Movies: Shorts, Trailers, Movie News
Yahoo Broadcast: on-demand audio and video content, news, entertainement, music full-length movies, TV shows.
<a href="
http://streamingmedialand.com/industry.html" target="_new">http://www.urbanentertainment.chttp://streamingmedialand.com/industry.html.
SkyStream Networks of California has come up with a solution called zBand which anybody who's wished they could get their car to fly over traffic snarl-ups will understand. Instead of worming their way through busy internet pipes, selected programmes are sent directly to cache servers at the network edge - in other words, nearest to the users. For entertainment webcasts this could mean the internet service provider, while professional users would be more likely to get their own server.
"Delivering streaming media to and from the edge is a critical component of our broadband strategy," says broadband services manager Tom Sauer of SkyStream partner RealNetworks, best known for its RealVideo and RealAudio webcasting decoders.
The bottleneck-defying leap can be made in a number of ways. SkyStream has teamed up with the EchoStar Data Services satellite network for dedicated broadband connections, but equally the signals could be carried in spare capacity on digital satellite, cable or terrestrial TV networks.
Analysts Pioneer Consulting estimates that the market for broadcast-based distribution of internet and streaming content alone will be worth some $14 billion by year 2005. Serving potentially millions of viewers simultaneously, it also opens up the possibility of consumers downloading content onto their own PC hard drive - perhaps overnight - for viewing later.
The system has already been adopted by Advent Television of Singapore for its DataOne datacasting service, and the Chinese Ministry of Education is to equip some 800,000 schools as part of a three-year distance-learning project.
When BT finally gets its act together with ADSL - already widely available in the US - consumers will have an online-all-the-time link to the internet capable of handling a bit rate of up to 2Mbit/s, which is widely considered adequate for watching on-demand movies for example at home.
But the actual connection speed can vary according to the condition of the network and the viewer's distance from the point of presence (PoP), the telecoms node connecting them to the internet. UK video processing equipment specialist Snell & Wilcox believes that in practise, the link might be running at less than half the theoretical rate.
At IBC the company announced a co-development with Equator Technologies of California designed to combat the problem. "We've brought our experience in broadcast-quality video processing to broadband media delivery," proclaimed chairman Professor David Youlton [Snell & Wilcox]. "Our technology coupled with Equator's MAP-CA processor in the set-top box allows us to deliver for the first time a video experience superior to VHS at sub-megabit data rates."
Equator's MAP-CA is claimed to be the the world's highest-performance digital media processor. "Alternative solutions using fixed-function MPEG2 codecs require twice the bandwidth of the MAP-CA solution," added Youlton.
Looking on was Richard Doherty, director of research for technology assessment and market research firm, The Envisioneering Group. "The video quality that Snell & Wilcox (overleaf, top) and Equator have demonstrated at just 800kbit/s is amazing, better than VHS quality," he claimed. "For the first time system operators will be able to offer quality video over real-world ADSL links."
The programmable VHS-plus/Megabit-minus set-top boxes, due to ship before the end of the year, can also be remotely reconfigured and upgraded by operators online, so avoiding costly replacements or call-outs as technology advances.
October 2000
http://www.sohoindependent.com/oct00/articles/production/2000100005.html.
SkyStream Networks Unveils Newest Version of zBand Content Delivery Platform
SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 10, 2001--SkyStream Networks
zBand 4.0, the only all-inclusive content delivery software solution, enables service providers and enterprises to manage content services more efficiently and cost-effectively than ever before
Assuring content security and self-management a high priority; SkyStream partners include InterTrust, Irdeto and Viaccess
SkyStream Networks, the leading provider of networking solutions for broadband media delivery, today unveiled the company's latest version of its zBand(TM) Content Delivery Platform. zBand 4.0 harnesses the power of satellite multicast networks to answer an ever-increasing demand for affordable solutions for domestic and international enterprises and broadband service providers looking to deliver rich content to any audience at any location using any device. SkyStream partners that have integrated leading technologies within zBand 4.0 include InterTrust (Nasdaq:ITRU - news), Irdeto Access and Viaccess.
``Today's broadcasters and other service providers are in a highly competitive environment where reliability, flexibility, and performance are critical to the success of rich content delivery to consumers and businesses worldwide,'' said Jim Olson, president and CEO, SkyStream Networks. ``Through strong partnerships and continued innovation such as the development of zBand 4.0, SkyStream is empowering its customers to build more intelligent networks -- allowing for the maximization of existing bandwidth and creation of exciting new revenue generating services.''
With new enhanced security and service management features made available through partners, InterTrust, Irdeto Access, and Viaccess, SkyStream's new zBand 4.0 is the ideal platform for broadband service providers looking to efficiently and cost-effectively integrate content delivery solutions that will maximize existing bandwidth and enable them to create new revenue-generating services such as managed data delivery, corporate communications and training as well as video asset delivery for enterprise customers.
``By integrating InterTrust's Rights/System with zBand 4.0, SkyStream can now offer service providers an end-to-end solution to protect, deliver and profit from their content,'' said Talal Shamoon, executive vice president of business development, InterTrust. ``For providers looking to enhance content offerings and build e-commerce into their services, our combined solution offers rapid time-to-market options.''
SkyStream's technology partnerships also provide broadband service providers with the ability to use zBand 4.0 to enable enterprise customers to ``self-manage'' their content delivery services, allowing customers to upload content remotely and set the security, reliability, and scalability parameters of their own services. Enterprises and service providers can use zBand 4.0 to maximize the value of their network assets by quickly ``building up and tearing down'' enterprise content delivery services based on individual customer needs and requirements.
``It is important for network operators to have a proven solution for content delivery in their networks -- one with all the requirements including security, management and delivery,'' said Erwan Bigan, Chief Technical Officer of Viaccess, a France Telecom Company. ``We're pleased to announce the Viaccess transport-level content security technology integration with SkyStream's zBand Content Delivery Platform.''
``By integrating Irdeto's CypherCast IP conditional access system into SkyStream's next generation zBand platform, the company's enterprise clients are guaranteed robust content protection at all points in the data transport chain. This includes everything from the content server through the corporate firewall directly to uniquely addressable end users whose entitlements can be managed dynamically from a central location,'' said GL Wright, senior vice president and general manager of Irdeto Access, Inc.
About the zBand 4.0 Content Delivery Platform
The zBand 4.0 Content Delivery Platform provides tools for content delivery, aggregation, management, targeting and presentation, in a single open platform that is secure, scalable, and reliable. This platform enables service providers to create and manage content delivery services including:
Satellite Data Delivery Services -- Used separately or in conjunction with SkyStream Networks' Source Media Routers and Edge Media Routers, zBand 4.0 creates a complete end-to-end satellite data delivery solution.
Corporate Network Services -- zBand 4.0 provides an integrated solution for managing reliable and secure delivery of mission critical content -- whether customer data, training, corporate communications, streaming media, or other digital assets -- to all points within or outside the enterprise.
Video Asset Delivery -- zBand 4.0 manages the delivery of large video assets to network operation centers, head-ends, movie theatres, video-on-demand servers, POPs, MDUs, and consumer set-top boxes. zBand 4.0's content delivery and network architecture is designed and tested to address the unique data security and integrity demands of video asset delivery.
New Features in zBand 4.0
Support for international languages making the zBand 4.0 interfaces easy to deploy for corporations with global presence
New secure web-based interface for content uploading and server management
Integration with major IP transport security systems and DRM systems for end-to-end content security
Additions to zBand's open APIs and software development kit for easier and faster integration with existing solutions
Availability
zBand 4.0 is available directly from SkyStream Networks and through authorized channel partners around the world.
About Skystream Networks
SkyStream Networks is an international networking infrastructure company whose products enable service providers and broadcasters to deliver digital services like content delivery, satellite broadband delivery, corporate communications and enhanced television. SkyStream's media routers and content delivery software allow service providers to deliver media-rich content with a consistently high level of performance and quality to millions of people or multiple locations closer to the user, leveraging the global reach of digital television, satellite and cable networks. SkyStream's customers are satellite, content distribution, Internet and cable companies around the world, including Clear Channel, DotCast, EchoStar Communications Corporation, Europe Online, Gilat, Granite Broadcasting, iBlast, NewSkies Satellites, Pacific Convergence Corporation, SpeedCast and Telefonica. SkyStream Networks' Website can be found on the Internet at www.skystream.com.
November 2001:Consumer Broadband Satellite Services
Publication Date: November 2001
Price: CD-rom w/single-user license - $2,000
CD-rom w/corporate license - $3,000
Description
Consumer satellite access has remained a central focus for satellite players over the last five years. As broadband Internet demand grows exponentially, satellites are seen as a way to bypass inadequate terrestrial infrastructure and offer service to unserved users. However, technology and cost limitations have forced many satellite companies to scale back aspirations and delay service. Based on these trends, the question arises: Can satellites adequately fulfill the long-term requirements of the consumer access market?
This new report from Northern Sky Research provides a complete analysis of the global consumer broadband satellite market, including potential consumer demand and vendor supply over the next 5 years. The report profiles key service providers and equipment manufacturers, as well as future services expected for deployment over the next twenty-four months.
Based on a conservative and thorough forecast methodology, there appears to be a significant market opportunity for satellite players in the consumer arena, especially across North America, Europe and Asia. If they live up to their advertised potential, Ka-band systems threaten to upset the status quo with existing consumer Ku-band systems and have the potential to compete with terrestrial alternatives on both a performance and cost basis.
Primary elements of the report include:
Regional and Global Forecasts for Consumer Broadband Satellite Access Services
Review of Trends, Opportunities and Market Potential for Equipment Vendors
Review of Existing and Future Consumer Service Providers
Trends in Market and Technology Development, Including the Impact of Ka-band
Discussion and Assessment of Competing Broadband Access Technologies
Profiles of Over 30+ Companies in the Satellite Services and Equipment Markets
Forecast highlights:
Transparent explanation of step-by-step methodology and assumptions utilized for all forecasts
Bottom up-top down construction of global consumer broadband satellite demand, by region
Formulation of three distinct market supply scenarios based on various cost, technology and business model assumptions
Complete forecasts for subscribers, service revenue and customer premise equipment (CPE), by region
Analysis and identification of top countries within each region for consumer broadband satellite services
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Table of Contents
1.0 Introduction
1.1 Sources of Information
1.2 Scope of the Report
2.0 Market Definition and Forecasts by Region
2.1 Market Definition and Forecasts
2.1.1 Basic Market Definitions
2.2 Market Forecasts
2.2.1 Residential Subscriber Demand
2.2.2 Service Revenue Potential
2.2.3 Residential Access Equipment (CPE) Market
2.3 Best Regional Prospects
2.3.1 North America
2.3.2 Latin America
2.3.3 Western Europe
2.3.4 Eastern Europe
2.3.5 Asia-Pacific
2.3.6 Africa-Middle East
2.4 Types of Services Offered
2.4.1 Broadcast/No Return
2.4.2 Asymmetric Satellite Connection with Terrestrial Return
2.4.3 Two-way Satellite
3.0 Consumer Service Providers
3.1 Discussion
3.2 Market Trends
3.3 Company Profiles – North America
3.3.1 AlphaStar/SkyCrossing
3.3.2 DirecWay/DirecPC – Hughes Network Systems
3.3.3 DISH Network - EchoStar
3.3.4 Pegasus Express Powered by DIRECWAY
3.3.5 StarBand
3.4 Company Profiles – Latin America
3.4.1 DirecTV Latin America
3.4.2 rStar
3.4.3 Star One
3.4.4 Other Latin America Ventures – DirecPC in Mexico
3.5 Company Profiles – Europe
3.5.1 BTopenworld
3.5.2 DirecPC Europe
3.5.3 Eutelsat
3.5.4 Kokua Communications
3.5.5 SES-ASTRA NET
3.5.6 Tiscali
3.5.7 Other European Offerings - DirecPC
3.6 Company Profiles – Asia/Pacific
3.6.1 ipSTAR Broadband – Shin Satellite Public Company
3.6.2 Speedcast – AsiaSat
3.6.3 Telstra BigPond Broadband – DirecPC/DIRECWAY
3.6.4 Other Asian Offerings – DirecPC-Based
3.6.4.1 China – Chinacast
3.6.4.2 India – HECL
3.6.4.3 Korea – Unitel/Samsung
3.6.4.4 Japan – SCC
3.6.4.5 Taiwan - ERA
3.6.5 Other Asian Offerings – Gilat/StarBand Partnerships
3.6.5.1 Australia - Cable & Wireless Optus
3.6.5.2 China – Jingxin Hero Telecommunications
3.6.5.3 India – Bharti Broadband Networks, Inc.
4.0 Equipment Manufacturers
4.1 Business Model
4.2 Development Trends
4.2.1 Ka-band
4.2.2 DVB-RCS and DVB-RCT
4.3 Company Profiles
4.3.1 Gilat Satellite Networks
4.3.2 Hughes Network Systems
4.3.3 Norsat
4.3.4 Philips
4.3.5 SkyStream Networks
4.3.6 ViaSat
4.3.7 Additional Manufacturers
4.3.7.1 ECC
4.3.7.2 Nera SatCom
5.0 Future Consumer Satellite Services
5.1 Impact of Ka-band
5.2 WildBlue
5.3 Hughes Network Systems -- Spaceway
5.4 Other Future Services
5.4.1 EuroSkyWay
5.4.2 EchoStar – StarBand
5.4.3 ipSTAR – Shin Satellite
6.0 Competing Technologies
6.1 High Speed Cable Services
6.2 Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)
6.3 Licensed Broadband Wireless
6.4 Fiber Optic Access
6.5 Unlicensed Broadband Wireless
6.6 Power Line Technology
6.7 Summary
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Coming to a Screen Near You: Content Monetization
A new alliance between InterTrust, SkyStream, Artesia and other technology leaders could be the ticket to a new blockbuster business for Hollywood. The Rights/Alliance Program will create digital media subscription solutions for the entertainment market. The solutions, which will integrate InterTrust's digital rights management (DRM) technology to protect data, will help content owners and service providers easily launch digital content businesses. With SkyStream zBand content delivery platform and Intertrust Rights/System DRM, content can be delivered independently from its access rules, allowing for secure mass distribution.
zBand 4.0 Performs at Breakneck Speed
When service providers said they wanted a faster, more flexible content delivery platform, SkyStream Networks took their demands seriously. The result is zBand 4.0, the latest version of the industry's most open and extensible content delivery platform. The zBand platform is designed to support a wide array of consumer and business applications. They include point-of-sale kiosks, video-on-demand, corporate communications, and streaming media and customized content delivery.
Many times faster than competitive systems, zBand 4.0 supports up to 480 mbps of throughput using satellite broadcast networks. This dramatic improvement in performance will help enable new applications unfeasible in other broadband environments, such as faster, more seamless updates of multiple point-of-sale kiosks and modifications to large-scale customer databases.
Chinese and Linux Spoken Here
All of zBand's components are now fully compatible with Linux, a bonus for service providers seeking to use an entirely Linux-based platform. To better meet the needs of international service providers, zBand 4.0 supports international languages (including double-byte characters) through Unicode. The service provider may convert menus and other aspects of the zBand interface into their native language.
Web Interface Frees up Service Providers, Empowers Customers
Service providers will applaud more than zBand's improved performance, multilingual capabilities and Linux compatibility. They will welcome equally the new web interface, which allows remote access and login to zBand.
The new interface empowers customers to securely upload new content, modify scheduling and targeting and a variety of other functions from any PC connected to the Internet. "Through implementation of the web interface, service providers can give their customers the ability to self-manage their zBand data services. This provides more flexibility, control and savings for both the customer and the service," explains Evan Young, a SkyStream product line manager.
Prior to zBand 4.0, customers relied on the service provider to upload and manage their systems. An automotive manufacturer, for example, now can use the web interface to upload daily sales reports for dealers to view, without having to notify their service provider.
End-to-End Protection for Digital Assets
Finally, the latest version of zBand 4.0 will be a boon to the digital cinema market. SkyStream recently formed a partnership with InterTrust Technologies to integrate zBand and InterTrust's Rights/System Digital Rights Management (DRM) platform. Slated for delivery in early 2002, the solution will provide "persistent protection" of digital assets throughout the transmission process. Other enhancements include secure targeting of digital content delivery according to end-user preferences and automated billing.
To receive more information about zBand, please contact
SkyStream/Intertrust Joint Solution Benefits
Scalability - Both SkyStream Networks and InterTrust have designed server and client technology to scale to thousands or even millions of users.
Security and Reliability - InterTrust's Rights/System ensures "persistent protection" of content, while SkyStream's zBand guarantees secure and reliable content delivery across broadcast or multicast-enabled networks, using AES (Configurable key length up to 128 bits), block-chaining modes (CBC, ECB, OFB), DSA (1024), SHA-1, and customizable FEC and PGM protocols.
Support for Multiple Devices - PCs (Win® 98/NT/2000, Linux®, Solaris®), set-top boxes, PDAs, and cell phones.
Support for Any Content Type - Audio, Video, Documents (e.g. PDF, MP3, Real Video/Audio)
Flexibility of Business and Commerce Rules - Subscription, pay-per-view, rent, own.
Integration with Billing Systems - InterTrust's Rights/Servers connect to existing commerce
infrastructure to provide rapid deployment of new business offerings.
Integrated Solution - Lower deployment cost, quicker time to market, professional integration available.
Broadcast Technology Leaders Premier MP-3 Datacasting Technology for Revenue-Generating Services at NAB 2000.
Harris, Alticast, NDS, Samsung and SkyStream Demonstrate Pre-Paid MP-3 Application for DTV Using DASE Technology.
LAS VEGAS, Nevada, NAB 2000, April 9, 2000 - Five leading technology companies - Harris Corporation, Alticast, NDS Group plc, Samsung Electronics Corporation, and SkyStream Networks - will premier a technology that gives TV stations the opportunity to deliver new, revenue-generating pre-paid services along with free over-the-air programs on their DTV channel. The first public demonstration will take place during the National Association of Broadcasters Convention April 10-13.
The demonstration will showcase one of many possible applications of ATSC-proposed data transmission and DASE (DTV Applications Software Environment) technology-a pre-paid MP-3 music distribution service--at the Harris exhibit (Las Vegas Convention Center Booth #L-6524).
Participating companies have brought together every component needed to deliver pre-paid services:
Harris Corporation has integrated the system and will demonstrate the MP-3 application in its NAB booth.
Alticast has developed the interactive DASE application and provides the DASE authoring tool.
NDS has integrated smart card and its Open VideoGuard™ conditional access technology.
Samsung Electronics has developed the DASE Integrated Receiver Decoder (IRD). This IRD will be made available under the Harris brand name for broadcast authoring verification applications.
SkyStream Networks manufactures the DBN-35 source media router that is marketed under the Harris DATAplus™ brand name. SkyStream has worked with Harris to define the NAB demonstration and encapsulate the MPEG-2 transport streams.
Throughout NAB, attendees can obtain a personal smart card at three locations-the Harris exhibit, the SkyStream exhibit (Sands Booth #I-7433), and the Alticast exhibit (in Sun Microsystems exhibit, Sands Booth #M-8745). The smart card, which is authored with personal information and a simulated pre-paid "credit," allows its bearer to download an MP-3 file that has been encapsulated into the DTV signal by SkyStream Networks' source media routers and transmitted over the air to the Samsung DASE IRD in the Harris booth.
By inserting the smart card into the IRD, the card bearer will trigger an interactive application created by the Alticast authoring tool, enabling an MP-3 audio file to be downloaded onto a flash memory card. The Samsung IRD will automatically debit the pre-paid smart card and track the downloaded file. Downloaded MP-3 files can then be played on a Samsung Yepp MP-3 audio player.
Samsung is offering a chance to win a free Yepp MP-3 player to one person who obtains a "lucky" smart card each day of NAB. Additionally, each smart card bearer will receive a discount coupon on a Samsung Yepp, as well as other opportunities to win prizes at NAB. A key advantage of over-the-air distribution of MP-3 digital audio is that it distributes files quickly, overcoming the lag-time problems that frequently plague consumers as they attempt to download MP-3 files distributed over the Internet. Lag-time problems are caused by the size of MP-3 files, which can require up to 4.5 mbps of bandwidth. And, because MP-3 file transfers take place live along side of video content, audio can be offered in association with such television music programs as MTV. According to a recent study by Multimedia Research Group, Inc., it is estimated that the U.S. market alone for MP-3 digital audio distribution will ultimately approach $12 billion annually. The NAB demonstration is the first of many public demonstrations planned by the participating companies. Participating companies intend to continue to work with industry leaders and to demonstrate DASE-based applications to support proposed DTV business models.
CHINA CENTRAL TELEVISION SELECTS SKYSTREAM'S NETWORKING EQUIPMENT TO DELIVER RICH INTERNET CONTENT NATIONWIDE
Leading Television Broadcaster in China with an Audience of 1.3 Billion Chooses SkyStream's Source Media Routers to Maximize Bandwidth Efficiencies, Reduce Costs and Offer Compelling New Services to Consumers
SUNNYVALE, Calif. - December 3, 2001 -SkyStream Networks, the leading provider of networking solutions for broadband media delivery, today announced that China Central Television (CCTV), the largest broadcaster in China, is now using SkyStream's Source Media routers (SMRs) to deliver rich data and video-integrated web content via satellite to 1.3 billion home viewers nationwide. This marks the first time ever that a national television broadcaster in China has adopted such content routing technologies for IP data delivery via satellite.
With a total of 11 television channels broadcasting throughout China, CCTV, is the country's leading broadcaster of television and web content to consumers. With Internet usage in China continuing to grow at a rapid pace, CCTV required a cost-effective, high-performance solution for reliably delivering IP content to consumers nationwide - one that would provide the broadcasting company with maximum control over managing and utilizing its bandwidth to increase efficiency. CCTV found that solution in SkyStream's industry-leading SMRs.
"SkyStream Networks' unique media routing technology enables CCTV to reliably deliver rich media and IP content via satellite to a massive audience throughout China," said Mr. Han Jianqun, director of Teletext Department, Advertisement, Economy, and Information Divisions, China Central Television. "With SkyStream, CCTV is able to manage bandwidth more efficiently, while reducing operational costs and creating compelling new content services for our customers. We are confident in SkyStream Networks' family of content delivery products and solutions and look forward having a long-term co-operation between both parties."
ABOUT SKYSTREAM'S SMR
The SkyStream Source Media Router (SMR) is an intelligent network device that enables satellite operators and television broadcasters to deliver rich digital content to multiple locations or viewers simultaneously, ensuring maximum scalability and accessibility to high-bandwidth content. With a SMR in their network, satellite operators can offer content delivery services, "turbo Internet," and media asset distribution services like digital cinema to hundreds of thousands of locations at the same time. SkyStream's SMR platform recently was named the industry leader, with a 40 percent market share, based on units sold worldwide. (Source: Northern Sky Research)
"Increasingly, service providers in Asia and all over the globe are looking for solutions that will enable them to prepare their networks to meet the growing demand for bandwidth-intensive services, plus help them to reduce operational costs and reach profitability more quickly," said Jim Olson, president and CEO of SkyStream Networks. "We are proud to announce that our family of customers now includes CCTV, the largest broadcaster in China, and that our SMRs were chosen to transform their network into a highly efficient Internet content delivery platform to the benefit of consumers nationwide. SkyStream looks forward to working with CCTV on a long-term basis."
ABOUT CCTV
With 11 stations and a national audience of 1.3 billion, China Central Television is the largest, industry leading broadcasting company in China. In recent years, CCTV has successfully expanded its international reach into local cable and DTH networks through collaboration with a number of television broadcasters and other organizations overseas, making its content available in countries and regions including: Asia, Africa, North America, Europe and Oceania. CCTV delivers a wide variety of news and information regarding China's politics, economy, society, culture, science, education and history, serving both as a window through which local and foreign viewers can better understand China as well as a bridge connecting the country with the rest of the world. For more information about CCTV, please visit the company's website at www.CCTV.com.
ABOUT SKYSTREAM NETWORKS
SkyStream Networks is an international networking infrastructure company whose products enable service providers and broadcasters to deliver digital services like content delivery, satellite broadband delivery, corporate communications and enhanced television. SkyStream's media routers and content delivery software allow service providers to deliver media-rich content with a consistently high level of performance and quality to millions of people or multiple locations closer to the user, leveraging the global reach of digital television, satellite and cable networks. SkyStream's customers are satellite, content distribution, Internet and cable companies around the world, including Clear Channel, DotCast, EchoStar Communications Corporation, Europe Online, Gilat, Granite Broadcasting, iBlast, NewSkies Satellites, Pacific Convergence Corporation, SpeedCast and Telefonica. SkyStream Networks' Website can be found on the Internet at www.skystream.com.
###
http://www.skystream.com/press/2001/011203-cctv.stm
SkyStream Networks, a leader in digital media delivery and InterTrust® Technologies Corp, a leader in Digital Rights Management (DRM) have created a secure content management and delivery solution so that you can protect your content, deliver your content, and profit from your content. Service providers, network operators, and content providers need to be confident that digital assets are protected at every point in the value chain. SkyStream Networks and InterTrust have created a solution to provide secure content delivery and access over any broadcast or
multicast enabled network, by combining InterTrust's Rights/System® with SkyStream Networks' zBand™ content delivery platform.
Digital rights management (DRM) securely protects digital assets by providing "persistent protection" of content. Persistent protection enables content to be accessed only in accordance with the rules that the content owner has specified. This provides content level access control and security. Persistently protected content remains secure even after it has been delivered via the zBand secure transmission environment.
Broadcast networks offer the ability to deliver content to large numbers of clients simultaneously,
but much of these networks' potential has gone untapped due to their inherent unreliability. SkyStream Networks' zBand content delivery platform provides the reliability required to use satellite, fiber, and digital terrestrial broadcast networks to reach large and dispersed audiences. zBand provides the highest degree of reliability for content delivery, ensuring digital media is delivered to the right place at the right time. Customizable forward error correction (FEC) enables reliable content delivery over one-way broadcast networks. In two-way networks, zBand uses an enhanced pragmatic general multicast (PGM) protocol to offer asynchronous and on-demand repair of damaged data.
With zBand and Rights/System, content is Packaged Once, Distributed Broadly, and Played Anywhere. Protected content can be delivered independently from its access rules, allowing for secure mass distribution. The content can be consumed anywhere, on any device, as long as access is authorized.
With zBand, content can be delivered to PCs, set-top boxes and other client devices without the risk of unauthorized access. Movie trailers, advertisements, music videos, and other content can be pre-positioned to consumer devices in advance of their public release window and protected from advance consumption by InterTrust's Rights/System. The zBand system manages the positioning, delivery, and expiry of the content, while Rights/System manages the security and access.
zBand and Rights/System integration also protects the consumer. By using trusted connections,
the consumer is assured that content being delivered to the zBand client is from an authorized zBand server. This trusted connection prevents server spoofing and other malicious attacks.
The diagram illustrates a typical integrated end-to-end secure content delivery solution, but this is just one of many approaches:
Click here to view full size image
SkyStream/Intertrust Joint Solution Benefits
Scalability - Both SkyStream Networks and InterTrust have designed server and client technology to scale to thousands or even millions of users.
Security and Reliability - InterTrust's Rights/System ensures "persistent protection" of content, while SkyStream's zBand guarantees secure and reliable content delivery across broadcast or multicast-enabled networks, using AES (Configurable key length up to 128 bits), block-chaining modes (CBC, ECB, OFB), DSA (1024), SHA-1, and customizable FEC and PGM protocols.
Support for Multiple Devices - PCs (Win® 98/NT/2000, Linux®, Solaris®), set-top boxes, PDAs, and cell phones.
Support for Any Content Type - Audio, Video, Documents (e.g. PDF, MP3, Real Video/Audio)
Flexibility of Business and Commerce Rules - Subscription, pay-per-view, rent, own.
Integration with Billing Systems - InterTrust's Rights/Servers connect to existing commerce
infrastructure to provide rapid deployment of new business offerings.
Integrated Solution - Lower deployment cost, quicker time to market, professional integration available.
About SkyStream Networks
SkyStream Networks is a worldwide networking infrastructure company whose products enable service providers to create new revenue streams by delivering digital media services like TV-quality Internet video, content delivery networks, distance learning and personalized broadband portals over any network, including satellite, fiber, digital television or digital cable. Visit www.skystream.com for more information.
About InterTrust Technologies Corporation
Over the past eleven years, InterTrust has dramatically changed the landscape and importance of DRM. As the first company to devise a digital commerce network, the MetaTrust Utility®, to help other businesses manage and protect their proprietary data, InterTrust acts as a neutral third party to ensure security and interoperability over the Internet and other electronic devices. InterTrust's more than 40 licensees and partners include Adobe, AOL/Time Warner, BlockBuster, BMG Entertainment, Cirrus, Compaq, Digital World Services, Enron, Magex, Mercurix, Mitsubishi, Nokia, Philips, Samsung, Texas Instruments, Universal Music Group, and Wave Systems. For more information, visit Intertrust at www.intertrust.com.
U.S. Congressman asks RIAA, IFPI for answers about CD copy-protection
_POSTEDON 2002-01-06 20:58:13 by Editor
In a letter to Recording Industry Association of America Chairman & CEO Hilary Rosen and International Federation of the Phonographic Industry Chairman & CEO Jay Berman, Virginia Congressman Rick Boucher questions the heads of the world's two most important trade organizations representing the music industry about the legality of copy-protected compact discs.
"I am particularly concerned that some of these technologies may prevent or inhibit consumer home recording using recorders and media covered by the Audio Home Recording Act of 1992 (AHRA)," Boucher tells the pair in his letter, a copy of which was provided to Dotcom Scoop.
The music industry has publicly acknowledged that it wants to release its products on copy-protected media, effectively prohibiting consumers from making copies of the originals.
The AHRA, long a topic of debate in the music industry, provides for royalties to be paid to record labels on all blank digital music media (CDs, digital audio tapes and minidiscs).
Boucher's letter poses five questions to the RIAA and IFPI and asks for a "prompt response," but the Republican does not mention what action he will take if he does not receive an answer or if his questions are not answered to his liking.
"Would you and your member companies support independent testing of the effect on sound quality, on listening behavior, and on the performance and operation of home networks, before these technologies appear more widely in the U.S. market? Assuming you and your member companies support such testing, are you prepared to provide assurances that no assertion would be made that these tests and any peer review of the tests would violate the Digital Millennium Copyright Act?," Boucher asks.
Vivendi Universal is currently on track to release most of its CDs in a copy-protected format by mid-2002, according to published reports.
Boucher is considered a proponent of consumer and artist rights and has long been a thorn in the RIAA's side.
The letter comes at a time when both the music and movie industries are facing antitrust scrutiny for their online music subscription and video-on-demand services. The music industry has taken steps internally to quell these fears by cross-licensing some catalogs between rivals MusicNet and Pressplay.
The letter also comes as the Future of Music Coalition is about to kick off its second "Policy Summit" in Washington, D.C. on Monday. Boucher and Napster CEO Konrad Hilbers are two of the events keynote speakers. The RIAA's Rosen, former Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic and Listen.com founder Rob Reid are among the panelists.
Satellite Radio: Will Drivers Tune In?
By Lou Hirsh, Wireless.NewsFactor.com
Bucking analyst skepticism, two competing satellite digital radio companies are betting that dissatisfaction with traditional radio -- and the quest for better sound quality on car systems -- will drive up the popularity of their services.
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Currently, the only licensed players in the game are XM Satellite Radio (Nasdaq: XMSR - news), which began nationwide service in the United States on November 12th, and Sirius Satellite Radio (Nasdaq: SIRI - news), which plans a February 14th launch.
Both companies use their own satellites to beam about 100 original music and information channels to listeners via special car receivers for a monthly fee. And both operators say they are setting the stage for a booming audience, making deals with automakers to include receivers as optional equipment and with major car-audio manufacturers to market the units in stores.
Bumps in the Road
But according to industry analysts, a number of hurdles remain to be cleared before satellite radio can become a natural part of the morning commute.
P.J. McNealy, a senior analyst at GartnerG2, told Wireless NewsFactor that these services are likely to do well among truckers and others whose professions require them to drive long distances with standard radio signals fading in and out.
Others listeners, however, could find the services limiting since they do not offer local news, weather and traffic information, McNealy said. Also, music programming is genre-based -- meaning users cannot choose specific tunes as they would on an in-car CD player or tape deck.
In the coming months, satellite radio will face competition from other technologies that are now in the works, such as in-car MP3 players and terrestrial-based transmission services.
In addition, McNealy noted that drivers in some areas with tall buildings will have trouble receiving satellite signals -- although officials of both companies said such problems have been prevented by placement of signal repeater units at several locations across the country.
Will They Pay?
The biggest impediment could be consumers' tight grip on their wallets. While various analysts over the past decade have projected there would be as many as 20 million satellite radio customers by 2005, most experts have cut those estimates drastically in the current economic climate.
Currently, many doubt whether listeners will want to shell out a monthly subscription fee -- US$9.99 for XM and $12.95 for Sirius -- plus the cost of the receiver, which is priced between $200 and $1,000, depending on features.
"The real question is going to be whether people will pay $10 or $12 a month for what they've been getting for free," McNealy said.
As satellite radio companies see it, the answer to that question is an emphatic yes. Representatives told Wireless NewsFactor that their services offer 24 hours of CD-quality sound and also address other woes plaguing traditional radio, such as excessive commercials and limited playlists.
"When cable TV first came out, people said nobody would pay for something they got for free," said Mindy Kramer, director of corporate communications at New York-based Sirius. "But people found out they liked the improved choices and the better reception."
Going for Ubiquity
Kramer said social trends and current events point to rising demand for satellite radio as commute times continue to grow in major cities and cars are used more frequently because of air travel safety concerns.
"With people spending more time in their cars and flying less often than they used to, we think there's a significant audience for this service," she said.
Kramer said Sirius is not releasing customer projections but expects popularity to grow as more receivers are unleashed on the road and people hear the difference in quality. The company has deals in place for its receivers to be included as optional equipment in Ford and DaimlerChrysler cars and in Freightliner trucks, giving Sirius access to a large chunk of the 10 million to 15 million new vehicles sold annually in the United States.
Aftermarket Sirius receivers are being produced by familiar names in car audio -- Kenwood, Panasonic, Jensen and Clarion -- and will be sold in retail stores alongside traditional car stereo equipment.
Similarly, XM receivers are being offered as optional equipment on several GM models, including the Cadillac Seville and Deville, and will be extended to more GM cars in 2002. XM spokesperson Charles Robbins said XM service is already available in Freightliner and other trucks, and plans call for its inclusion in Porsche cars by 2003.
Aftermarket XM receivers, manufactured by Sony, Pioneer and Alpine, are being sold in the car audio sections of electronics outlets.
Easy To Use
Officials of both companies noted that many new receivers also can access AM and FM stations, and they said services likely will be extended at some point to users of home and portable devices. In addition, the companies contended that the new technology creates no learning curve for users.
"There are no extra steps involved," Kramer said. "The listeners will get into the car and turn on the radio, like they always have."
Receivers for both services look similar to car radios but include a screen that displays the artist and title of the song being played. The two satellite services currently cannot be accessed via the same receiver, but that is expected to change in about two years, according to the companies.
Spanning the Genres
Beyond ubiquity issues, the services tout entertainment and information options that local radio stations cannot offer.
Deejays at Sirius' studios in New York will play music of all genres on 60 commercial-free music channels, and the service also will include 40 news, talk and information channels, including CNN, Fox, ABC and NPR.
Sirius also plans to offer live concerts and other special events. "The technology can pull programs from anywhere on the planet," Kramer said.
XM said its deejays, located in Washington, D.C., New York, Nashville and Charlotte, offer tunes on 71 music channels -- more than 30 of which are commercial free. XM also offers 29 channels of sports, news, talk and children's programs.
Complementing FM
Although spokesperson Robbins said Washington-based XM does not release customer figures, industry experts estimated its number of subscribers totaled between 20,000 and 30,000 as of December 2001.
Robbins said the company considers itself a complement to traditional radio and does not expect to cause extinction of AM and FM.
"There is a need for local radio," he said. "We see ourselves as a national alternative, and it is being well received so far."
Despite naysayers, Robbins said XM has received a "wildly enthusiastic" reaction from listeners and even garnered a "Product of the Year" honor from Fortune magazine.
"It's gotten a good response, and we intend to be around for a long time," he said.
More turbulence ahead for digital music
Reuters
January 7, 2002 5:26 AM PT
WASHINGTON--Despite a year of headline-generating turmoil, musicians, techies, media executives and lawmakers gathering for the second Future of Music conference on Monday will find that much remains unresolved on the digital-music landscape.
Over the past year, recording companies managed to force the shutdown of the free online song-swapping service Napster and roll out services of their own, but then saw new threats sprout up hydra-like in the form of second-generation free services like Kazaa and Morpheus.
Recording artists won a battle with the industry when they secured the right to be paid directly for Internet-based broadcasts. But they still wield little control over the music they create, advocates say.
Tech firms rolled out a steady stream of digital-music devices and services, but saw funding for new ventures dry up in the face of lawsuits and a weakened economy.
And players on all sides won the attention of Capitol Hill, only to see the Sept. 11 terror attacks wipe digital-music issues off the congressional agenda.
"It's really changed very little, which is unfortunate, because I think change would be very productive," said Eric Schierer, a digital-music analyst with Forrester Research Inc.
Anti-establishment tone
Despite the presence of Capitol Hill players and music-industry heavyweights, the tone of Monday's conference is expected to be distinctly anti-establishment.
Conference organizer Jenny Toomey, an activist and musician with the punk band Tsunami, hopes to shine the spotlight on independent artists who retain control of their music.
Panelists will include musician/entrepreneurs such as Ian Mackaye of Fugazi and Dave Fagin of the Rosenbergs, who have found success outside usual music-industry pathways.
Napster CEO Konrad Hilbers is scheduled to speak as well.
But while the buzz on and off the dais will likely focus on the recording industry's recent moves, 2001 may be remembered as the year the industry finally caught up with the digital revolution that has swept up so many music fans.
The industry won a key court battle with Napster, forcing the hugely popular song-swapping service to remove all copyrighted songs from its system. Napster, which shut down in July, is expected to test a new, industry-sanctioned service this week.
Recording companies also rolled out their own digital music services last month, MusicNet and Pressplay, which offer limited access to some music for a monthly fee of between $9.95 and $24.95.
Recording giant Vivendi Universal EAUG.PA introduced its first copy-protected CD in December and said it intended to format all its releases to prevent "ripping," or digital copying, by the middle of this year.
But the industry's biggest trials may still lie ahead. New song-swapping services with names like Kazaa and Morpheus sprung up in the wake of Napster and quickly gained millions of users. Recording companies promptly filed suit, but the new services, which do not route traffic through a central server, will be more difficult to shut down, analysts say.
The U.S. Department of Justice has launched an antitrust investigation of MusicNet and Pressplay to determine if Vivendi and the four other major recording companies -- AOL Time Warner Inc.'s Warner Music Group, Sony Corp., Bertelsmann AG's BMG Entertainment, and EMI Group Plc -- colluded illegally to set rates and terms for the use of their music.
According to initial reports, the services have gotten off to a slow start.
RealOne Player -- the software associated with MusicNet -- was downloaded 18,000 times in the past week from software library Download.com, compared with 1.5 million downloads for Morpheus and 1 million for Kazaa, according to Download.com director Kelly Green.
MusicNet and Pressplay will find little success as long as they offer a limited catalog and restrict how the songs may be used, said Mark Mooradian, an analyst with Jupiter Media Metrix. But immediate profits may not be the industry's goal, he said.
"It's important for them to have a proven concept out and start learning about consumer behavior ... this year is about watching the business strategy shake out rather than signing up record subscription numbers," he said.
Hilary Rosen, the recording industry's top lobbyist, said the services would find success in the long run.
"I think it is a challenge to migrate consumers from what they've been getting for free illegally to a pay service, but hopefully, as time goes on, the features and services of the services will win people over," said Rosen, president of the Recording Industry Association of America.
The music industry is also looking at a weaker bottom line. U.S. album sales fell almost 3 percent last year to 762.6 million units, the industry's worst performance in at least a decade, prompting some retailers to slash CD prices below $10.
Rosen attributed the decline to a weak retail environment, restricted radio playlists that leave little room for new artists and the availability of free music online.
Conference organizer Toomey said the industry was paying the price for charging too much for retail CDs. The industry's troubles presented an opportunity to revamp how business is done, she said.
"When you've got a leak in the bathroom, you're tempted to just fix the pipes, but when you've got a whole wall falling down you can make a whole new bathroom," said Toomey, who recently paid a $2,000 plumbing bill
01/07/2002 Media player to bring a little Moxi to trade show
Steve Perlman and his Moxi Media Center. The device enables people to watch TV shows, movies, Flash animations, and listen to music, whether broadcast, pre-recorded or downloaded through the Internet.
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Amid the latest in high-tech — from wearable gadgetry to automobile accoutrements — the loudest buzz at the 2002 International Consumer Electronics Show will likely center on entertainment devices for the living room.
At the show that opens Tuesday, hardware makers plan to unveil DVD players that double as digital music or photo storage centers. New entries are also expected among a small but fast-growing crop of networked devices that are designed to play MP3s and Internet radio as well as host personal music collections.
Analysts think one product in particular will stand out because it appears to deliver the best yet in digital convergence — the ability to integrate digital audio, video, television and computer data in a single device.
The Moxi Media Center is a souped-up digital media server with an 80-gigabyte hard drive. It can deliver to as many as four televisions video that has been recorded from a TV signal and video or audio stored on the hard drive or from a built-in DVD/CD player.
It supports interactive TV, instant messaging and e-mail.
Not only does this set-top box hook up to multiple televisions through extension boxes connected via wireless or Ethernet networks, it can also feed to computers.
In secret development for two years, the product comes from a company founded by WebTV entrepreneur Steve Perlman.
"It takes all the digital media and brings it not only to your PC but also your TV and audio system," said Perlman. His Palo Alto, Calif.-based company is also announcing a name change, to Moxi Digital, from Rearden Steel Technologies.
The media center's built-in software is designed to work with cable or satellite TV, and later versions will also support digital photo and video management, the company said.
A user in one room could watch a television program — live or recorded — while someone in another room could watch the same program but also be able to pause it or otherwise control the video recorder. At the same time, yet another person in the house could use the media center to listen to music files.
Josh Bernoff, an analyst with Forrester Research, thinks the Moxi threatens not just major consumer electronic companies but also software providers and makers of current digital video recorders.
"This is a real disruptive technology," he said.
Moxi's business strategy differs from those of rivals that are struggling to become profitable. The company has no plans to manufacture the hardware, which some providers of interactive TV or digital video recorders have found to be a rough, often money-losing venture. Instead, it plans to license the technology to cable and satellite TV operators, which in turn can choose their own hardware and software partners.
Moxi uses the open-source Linux operating system, meaning other companies can easily change software layers or build new applications on top of the platform. The company says it will offer the technology to cable operators at $425 for a single-TV household, adding $250 to equip a second TV.
The company has a powerful, wide range of investors, including cable media giant AOL Time Warner, satellite TV provider Echostar Communications, and networking equipment giant Cisco Systems.
Echostar, which is poised to merge with its larger rival DirecTV, was to announce at CES its plans to use Moxi's technology.
"The innovation coming out of this Moxi company is really a generation beyond what other companies are doing," Bernoff said. "If it works, they'll own the world."
Analysts say Moxi's technology, open-ended platform and licensing model could help lead the way to the next generation of personalized television — a world of movies on demand in which programs and advertisements could be tailored to household tastes.
But Moxi is not alone.
The race to successfully converge the television with the personal computer, VCR or DVD player and stereo is crowded with companies vying for a piece of a very lucrative pie — 100 million television-viewing households in the United States alone.
Companies like TiVo have pioneered personal video recorder technology that allows viewers to pause live TV and record shows onto a hard disk, giving viewers more control of what they watch and when.
Cable and satellite TV companies and their set-top manufacturers are already offering advanced boxes that incorporate home networking, personal video recording and interactive TV features.
"It'll be a squeeze in an already very confusing and squeezed marketplace," Richard Doherty, president of The Envisioneering Group, said of Moxi. "But there's nothing else on the drawing board that even comes close."
Although Moxi appears to have a head start over others, Perlman knows from his WebTV days that success is not guaranteed.
WebTV, now part of Microsoft's TV division, only has about 1 million subscribers after more than four years on the market.
The greatest unknown is how consumers, still warming to the potential of digital entertainment, will receive the technology.
"The world isn't really ready for this," said Bernoff. "But in 2002, we'll see the world getting itself ready for this kind of product."
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Thomson Multimedia and Gracenote Team to Provide One-Stop Resource for Digital Music; Companies Unite To Launch Combined CDDB and mp3PRO Encoding Solution
INDIANAPOLIS & BERKELEY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 7, 2002--Thomson multimedia (NYSE: TMS) and Gracenote have joined forces to launch a one-stop digital music solution that combines mp3PRO and the Gracenote CDDB(R) Music Recognition Service. The exclusive partnership gives software and hardware developers simple, streamlined access to the newest generations of the world's most popular digital music codec and music recognition service. The announcement was made jointly today by Thomson multimedia, the exclusive licensing representative for mp3 patents and software of Fraunhofer and Coding Technologies, and Gracenote.
As part of the agreement, Gracenote will offer a bundled CDDB music recognition/mp3PRO encoding product for the consumer electronics market, streamlining the licensing and integration process for two essential pieces of the digital media infrastructure. The mp3PRO format provides higher quality files at lower bit-rates, which allows more efficient use of hard drive space for digital encoding. The Gracenote CDDB service provides automatic music identification and file naming, which facilitates file management and playlist functionality, and eliminates the need for manual data entry. The combined product also allows seamless integration of Gracenote's content delivery solution and other value-added services.
"We are delighted to partner with Thomson multimedia to bring CDDB and mp3PRO technology to devices. This agreement gives device manufacturers everything they need for a digital music product in one package, and effectively doubles the size of their hard drives at a fraction of the cost," said David Hyman, CEO of Gracenote.
"Our partnership with Gracenote will establish mp3PRO as the format standard and also gives us the opportunity to reach out to device manufacturers with a sound business model," said Henri Linde, Vice President, New Business of the Patent and Licensing unit for Thomson multimedia. "This is an important step to make it easier for developers to access and integrate mp3PRO technology."
Gracenote estimates that that they will have products available for developers by early in the second quarter of 2002.
About Gracenote:
Gracenote is a content delivery platform specializing in music recognition technology that enables relevant information and services to enhance the music listening experience. Gracenote designed its platform for media players and encoders, consumer electronics manufacturers, record companies, and on- and off-line consumer brands. Its network of technology and services opens new direct interactive channels to online music fans worldwide. Over 8,000 partners worldwide, serving more than one million consumers daily, rely on Gracenote's CDDB(R) technology, which is the industry standard in Music recognition Services (MRS). Gracenote was founded in 1995 and is headquartered in Berkeley, California. For more information about Gracenote, please see www.gracenote.com.
About Thomson multimedia
With sales of 9.1 billion Euros (U.S. $ 8.3 billion) in 2000 and 73,000 employees in more than 30 countries, Thomson multimedia (Euronext: 18453) (NYSE: TMS), provides a wide range of technologies, systems, finished products and services to consumers and professionals of the entertainment and media industries. To advance and enable the digital media transition, Thomson multimedia has five principal activities: Digital Media Solutions, Displays and Components, Consumer Products, New Media Services, and Patents and Licensing. The company distributes its products under the popular THOMSON, RCA and TECHNICOLOR brand names.
About Coding Technologies:
Coding Technologies is focusing on developing and implementing unique audio compression technologies for the broadcasting, Internet and telecommunication markets. The company offers its audio solutions to system designers, chip/device manufacturers and content providers. Coding Technologies, a privately held company having offices in Stockholm, Sweden, and Nuremberg, Germany, combines the exceptional skills of a Swedish company specialized in audio compression technologies and a spin-off from the renowned Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits. For more information, visit www.codingtechnologies.de.
About The Fraunhofer Gesellschaft:
The Fraunhofer Gesellschaft is the leading organization of applied research in Germany. It operates 47 research centers in Germany with about 9,000 employees, about half of them scientists and engineers. The Fraunhofer Gesellschaft expands to a worldwide Organization, especially in USA and Asia. Home of the Fraunhofer Gesellschaft is Munich, Germany. One of the goals of the Fraunhofer policy is a rapid transfer of innovations into products. The total research expenditure is about US$ 700 million. The Fraunhofer Institut Integrierte Schaltungen (Fraunhofer IIS-A), based in Erlangen, Germany, is one of the 47 research centers. Fraunhofer IIS-A is the leading international research lab in the field of high quality low bit rate audio coding. Fraunhofer IIS-A has been the main developer of the most advanced audio coding schemes, like MPEG Layer-3 and MPEG-2 AAC (Advanced Audio Coding). Fraunhofer IIS-A plays a major role in the ongoing work for the MPEG-4 Audio standardization process and contributes to many other standards bodies as well, like ITU-R TG10/4, ITU-R WP10C and AES.
Motorola Brings the Broadband Home to CES
Award-Winning Technologies Provide New Home-Entertainment Options for Consumers
LAS VEGAS, Jan. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Everyone talks about the broadband home, but Motorola is making it real. At this year's Consumer Electronics Show (Booth #165, Central Halls 3 -5), Motorola, Inc. (NYSE: MOT - news) Broadband Communications Sector is introducing new broadband products that make home entertainment smarter, simpler and more synchronized than ever before. These products include a plug-and-play home theater system (DCP501), a wireless digital audio receiver (Motorola simplefi(TM) receiver), its latest high-speed SURFboard® cable modem (SB4200), broadband signal boosters and splitters, and its 4DTV® digital satellite system (including the DSR-922 digital satellite receiver, DSR-905 sidecar, and HDD-200 high-definition decoder).
In recognition of its advanced broadband-home technology, Motorola has received two CES Innovation Design and Engineering Awards. Motorola's DCP501 -- the first offering from Motorola's DCP 500 Series Home Theater System -- and the Motorola simplefi wireless digital audio receiver were recognized for bringing a new level of entertainment to the broadband home.
Motorola's broadband products are designed to make it easier and faster for consumers to take advantage of the exciting new applications broadband can deliver into and throughout their homes. For Motorola, the ``broadband home'' means playing the coolest new video game up to 100 times faster with your friend overseas from your wireless laptop while downloading MP3s from the Internet and then listening as your PC's digital music files are streamed wirelessly through your home stereo speakers. It means access to the latest and greatest home entertainment options like video-on-demand, always-on high-speed broadband connection and interactive TV through one gateway with the convenience of one service provider.
Most importantly, it means putting the pieces in place to realize broadband's full promise for consumers. Motorola envisions -- and can deliver -- a broadband-enabled home that provides Internet access and high-bandwidth entertainment virtually anywhere. As consumers take an increasingly active role in adopting technology for the home that will utilize broadband's convenience, speed and reliability, Motorola is taking the lead with the products that will enable them to take full advantage of broadband's potential.
About the Products
Motorola DCP501
The DCP501 Home Theater System is the first consumer electronics product that combines a digital cable receiver, CD/DVD player, and AM/FM stereo-AV receiver (powered by a 5x100 Watts/channel amplifier) -- all with the ease of plug-and-play installation. Motorola designed the DCP501 to provide an easy option for consumers who want to experience today's most popular entertainment technologies and interactive broadband services from a single, convenient unit.
This DCP501 was developed based on Motorola's market research, which showed a dramatic increase in consumer demand for home theater products and interactive digital cable services. Additional studies showed that consumers preferred a single-unit solution that would enhance their experience by simplifying remote controls and wiring operations.
Motorola simplefi
Motorola developed the simplefi wireless digital audio receiver with its California-based software partner, SimpleDevices, to take advantage of the convenience and quality of digital audio. Digital music is ultra-popular, but Motorola recognizes that few consumers want to sit in front of their home PCs to listen to it. The Motorola simplefi is a great-looking and easy-to-install system that enables users to stream Internet digital audio to the existing stereo equipment in their homes. The Motorola simplefi marks the first time that high-fidelity playback of digital streaming audio is made possible in an easy-to-use wireless home product.
Consumers can take advantage of the broadband connection to quickly download content in traditional MP3 fashion or stream it directly through the home stereo system. All they need is the Motorola simplefi package (which includes a wireless network adapter to be attached to the home computer and the simplefi receiver) and a home stereo. A wireless remote puts the controls right in the user's hand. With one push of the remote's ``TagIt!(TM)'' button, content is easily tagged for review later. This tagged data can be used to search for concert tickets, purchase CDs or read artists' biographies.
SURFboard cable modem SB4200
The SB4200 cable modem is the newest member of Motorola's industry-leading SURFboard cable modem family. The Motorola SB4200 is extremely consumer-friendly, offering both Ethernet and USB interface connectivity to help ensure compatibility with almost any PC or Macintosh network-ready system. The modem offers increased speed and ease of use for all kinds of applications, can support up to 32 users, and offers a conveniently located stand-by switch, which enhances security and convenience.
To many broadband users, Motorola-brand SURFboard cable modems signify the most reliable and continuously online connection available. In fact, over 65 percent of store-sold cable modems are Motorola's. Retailers and consumers choose Motorola because of its superior quality. They know they can enjoy a true 'continuous connection' while browsing the Internet and downloading at speeds up to 100 times faster than traditional 56K modems!
Broadband Signal Boosters and Signal Splitters
Motorola broadband booster and splitter products provide a crystal-clear signal; allowing individuals to enjoy the best cable-delivered entertainment and services and helping business users grow.
Signal Booster
The Motorola Signal Booster is designed to improve broadband signal strength up to 32 times and help eliminate the common effects of ``snowy'' pictures. This amplifier enables the clear transmission of multiple voice, video, and data services via broadband consumer products, such as set-top terminals and cable modems. The Signal Booster, which comes with a one-year limited warranty, is sold as a self-install kit with all of the necessary equipment included.
Signal Splitter
The Signal Splitter line of in-home splitters enables several broadband products to be used from the same signal source. Unlike traditional splitters, Motorola's Signal Splitters have been designed to reduce distortion and potential surge damage. The Signal Splitters are available in two-, three- and four-way splitter combinations.
4DTV Digital System
Motorola's 4DTV product family benefits satellite TV customers with more choices, better value, and higher quality. The 4DTV system allows C-Band owners and serious home-theater enthusiasts to receive the same master broadcast signal that small dish companies, cable companies, and local broadcast affiliates receive prior to their rebroadcast of the program. It provides customers with the highest-quality picture and sound -- technically superior to any other consumer TV delivery system.
Motorola is showcasing its full-featured DSR-922 4DTV digital satellite receiver and its DSR-905 sidecar. The DSR-922 is a single-box solution that allows consumers to surf between analog and digital channels in a totally seamless fashion. The DSR-905 provides a unique add-on option for existing C-Band systems, allowing subscribers to add digital performance -- and up to an additional 200 channels -- to their current analog systems at an exciting price-point. Both the DSR-922 and the DSR-905 sidecar can receive master broadcast high-definition television (HDTV) signals when used with the HDD-200 High-Definition Decoder, also on display at CES.
About Motorola Broadband Communications Sector
The Motorola Broadband Communications Sector was created when General Instrument Corporation (GI) was acquired by Motorola, Inc. in January 2000. Combining GI's leadership in converged voice, video, and data networks with Motorola's global reach and brand identity, the Motorola Broadband Communications Sector focuses on broadband solutions that deliver interactive television, the Internet, and telephone services over wired and wireless networks. For more information about the Motorola Broadband Communications Sector, visit www.motorola.com/broadband.
About Motorola
Motorola, Inc. (NYSE: MOT - news) is a global leader in providing integrated communications solutions and embedded electronic solutions. Sales in 2000 were $37.6 billion.
MOTOROLA and the Stylized M Logo are registered in the US Patent & Trademark Office. All other product or service names are the property of their respective owners.
SOURCE: Motorola, Inc.
Fullplay Introduces New OS And Applications For Digital Media Products
LAS VEGAS, NV--(INTERNET WIRE)--Jan 07, 2002-- Fullplay Media Systems (OTC: FPLY - news), formerly Interactive Objects (OTC: OBJX - news), today introduced the Fullplay Media OS(TM) and Media Manager(TM) at the 2002 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, NV.
The Fullplay Media OS is a real time embedded operating system (OS) designed specifically for multimedia products. Fullplay's Media OS is a completely modular design. Core OS features include FAT file systems support, multi-threaded operations, advanced memory management, a hardware abstraction layer, and task scheduling. Complete programming and debugging tools, as well as software libraries and system APIs are also provided with the basic Fullplay Media OS toolkit.
Sitting on top of the Fullplay Media OS is Fullplay's new Media Manager applications layer. The Media Manager controls the various codecs, digital rights management schemas, and streaming media services that are available today. The Fullplay Media Manager supports a wide array of audio formats including MP3, Microsoft WMA, Dolby AAC, PCM, Redbook CD, and Ogg Vorbis; video formats including MPEG-1, MPEG-2 (DVD) and MPEG-4; image formats such as JPEG and Kodak Photo CD; and streaming media formats such as Shoutcast MP3 and Microsoft Windows Media Services. Digital rights management tools from Microsoft and InterTrust are also fully supported. "The Fullplay Media OS and Media Manager represent the next generation of digital media systems design," said Dennis Tevlin, President and CEO of Fullplay. "By building an OS and applications layer from the ground up for digital products, we enable new products that are as powerful as computers, but as simple to use as CD and DVD players."
The Fullplay Media Manager also contains a number of unique "auto" features that enhance the quality of the user experience. These features include:
- Auto Content Recognition - Instantly recognize movie titles,
artist, album, and song titles.
- Auto Content Sensing - Eliminate multiple copies of the same
songs or videos and record only what you don't have.
- Auto Record - Listen or watch while recording your favorite CDs
or DVDs simultaneously.
- Auto Playlist Creator - Automatically generate new playlists
using "sounds like" song comparison.
The Fullplay Media Manager is a "middleware" layer that is OS independent. As such it can work with other operating systems including Microsoft's Windows CE(TM) and embedded XP(TM), Linux, and other embedded systems.
About Fullplay Media Systems, Inc.
Fullplay is a leading designer of embedded software and hardware solutions for the converging Internet, digital media, entertainment and consumer electronics markets. Fullplay partners with many of the top brands in consumer electronics and entertainment, and holds a focused technology portfolio that includes the Dharma(TM) Digital Media Development Platform; the Fullplay Media OS and Media Manager; the Darwin(TM) Digital Audio Jukebox; and the Muse Media Center. Fullplay is headquartered at 12600 SE 38th, Suite 150, Bellevue, WA 98006, USA. Fullplay is listed on the OTC.BB under the symbol "FPLY" and can be reached on the web at www.fullplaymedia.com.
Certain information included in this communication contains statements that are forward-looking, such as statements relating to the future anticipated direction of the high technology industry, plans for future expansion, various business development activities, planned capital expenditures, future funding sources, anticipated sales growth and potential contracts. These forward statements are subject to a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual operations or results to differ materially from those anticipated. These risks include, among others, risks associated with unproven sales of the Company's products, risks associated with the software development process and risks related to the transition to a new management team. Certain of these risks and other risks are described in the Company's Registration Statement on Form SB-2 and Form 10-KSB filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The registration statement is available from the SEC's Web site at www.sec.gov/
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Delphi Connection Systems Bring Connectivity to Consumer Products and Vehicles
LAS VEGAS, Jan. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Delphi Connection Systems continues to keep lifestyles connected as the worlds of automotive and consumer products continue to merge, and will demonstrate its expertise in integrating fiber optics into automotive electronic devices at the International Consumer Electronics Show here, Jan. 8-11.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20001019/DELPHIAS )
Showcasing its IDB 1394 plastic optic fiber connection system as well as other products used in handheld devices, Delphi Connection Systems, a business segment of Delphi Automotive Systems (NYSE: DPH - news), will participate at the IDB Forum(TM) (Intelligent Transportation System Data Bus) booth, focusing on automotive grade version of IEEE-1394. 1394 is also known as Apple's Firewire® and Sony's i.LINK,® and is a high-speed digital technology that helps enable a wide range of consumer electronics and computer products to easily interface with one another.
Delphi, the leading global supplier of automotive connection systems, is a member of the IDB Forum, an independent, not-for-profit trade association. The IDB Forum actively promotes the global integration of intelligent transportation system data bus networking into vehicles, consumer and automotive electronics.
1394 has been available in the marketplace for several years, with products such as desktop computers, portable computers, audio equipment, and digital video cameras. Delphi has been participating in the development of 1394 connection system standards for vehicles with the Joint Automotive Working Group (AuWG), a partnership between the IDB Forum and the 1394 Trade Association.
``The automobile has very stringent electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) requirements, because electronic devices are packaged together tighter than consumer products in a typical home,'' said Larry Matola, Delphi senior project engineer. ``The automotive industry favors the use of fiber optics for high speed data communications because there are minimal EMC issues.''
Delphi's plastic optic fiber connection system, available in 2002, is designed for the automotive environment and is compatible with IDB 1394 standards. This connection enhances the consumer's ability to blend the automobile with consumer products. When new vehicles are equipped with IDB- 1394, their state-of-the-art audio and video capabilities can be used with other 1394 enabled products -- such as laptop computers, video displays, MP3, DVD and CD players, Playstation II(TM) or other devices.
Delphi's Specialty Electronics, also featured at the show, provides a wide range of electronic connector products and customized interconnect solutions for the telecommunications, computer, industrial electronics, medical and automotive markets. This is in addition to Delphi's high-speed interconnect products that are designed for consumer handheld electronics products such as cellular phones, Palm/PDAs, MP3 players, pagers, laptop computers and camcorders.
With Delphi's complete systems capability, customers have the benefit of leading vehicle electrical/electronic (E/E) architecture and electronic integration capabilities, as well as Delphi's expertise in fiber optic assembly and processing. Add to this the ability to combine the IDB 1394 plastic optic connection system with Delphi's full range of automotive grade connection systems, and customers have a single stop for all their connection and automotive electrical system needs.
``We're not just bringing connectivity to the vehicle,'' said Matola. ``With Delphi's components for mobile electronics and our flex products, we're bringing connectivity to your lifestyle.''
To learn more about Delphi Connection Systems, log on www.delphiconnect.com . For more information about Delphi Automotive Systems, visit Delphi's Virtual Press Room at www.delphiauto.com/vpr .
Cirrus Logic to Feature Innovative Digital Entertainment Electronics At CES
-0- *T Who: Cirrus Logic Inc. (Nasdaq:CRUS - news)
(BUSINESS WIRE)-- What: A look into the future of consumer digital entertainment
products
When: International Consumer Electronics Show (CES)
January 8-11, 2002 in Las Vegas
Where: Las Vegas Convention Center -- Cirrus Logic booth
No. 3439, Central Hall; and CES Wi-Fi pavilion with
Cirrus Wireless Networking Pod -- Booth No. 11710, South
Hall 3.
or- Marriott Hotel (located across from the convention center) -- 10 meetings rooms each and Cirrus-powered digital entertainment products. -or- Digital Experience media reception -- Aladdin Resort & Casino Tuesday, January 8th from 6 to 9 p.m.
Demos include:
DVD Home Theater: Hear and see how Cirrus chips enhance the entertainment experience, featuring home theater audio and the Company's new solution for DTS 96/24 high quality multi-channel audio. Also on display will be an Enhanced DVD Internet-enabled platform for the next generation of DVD, featuring interactive content with eCommerce in mind.
Wireless Home Networking: Check out Cirrus' platform solutions for 802.11b and 802.11a as well as the industry's leading WhiteCap(TM) and WhiteCap2(TM) technology -- so robust that high-fidelity video and audio entertainment content can be streamed to every room, every corner -- even in the harshest home environment.
Internet TV: Learn how Cirrus is leading the digital entertainment revolution with next generation design solutions. Featured is an emerging solution for an IP based Internet TV system with software applications for Internet browsing, Video-on-Demand, MP3 streaming audio and more.
Total-E(TM) DVD Receiver: Find out how to reduce design time with Cirrus' highly integrated DVD front-end/back-end-solution -- includes up to 8 different Cirrus Logic chips.
Media Streaming: Cirrus' innovative reference platforms for time-shift personal video recorders (PVR), recordable DVD players and recordable SVCD players enable the routing of music and video from multiple sources, such as your entertainment center or PC to speakers in all areas of the home.
Enhanced DVD: The next generation in DVD technology will add browser navigation to the DVD experience to access supplemental content on the DVD or from the Web. Supplemental content can include interactive screenplays, games, current filmographies, virtual screenings, celebrity chat events, licensed merchandise ordering and more.
Panasonic and Microsoft Announce Adoption of Windows Media Technologies In Panasonic Consumer Devices
Companies Cooperate to Provide Windows Media Support In New 2002 Panasonic DVD Players;
Adoption of Windows Media Technologies Expands to Panasonic Chips For DVD and CD Players and Adds to Existing Support in Panasonic e-wear(TM) SD Audio Player SV-SD80
LAS VEGAS, Jan. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Today at the 2002 International CES, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd. (NYSE: MC - news; Panasonic) and Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT - news) announced plans to support Microsoft® Windows Media(TM) Technologies across a range of Panasonic-brand consumer devices. The two companies will reveal the first example of their cooperation in a keynote address by Bill Gates this evening, with the unveiling of the new Panasonic DVD player model DVD-RV32, the first of many Panasonic DVD players that will support Windows Media Audio (WMA). This is the first public demonstration of a DVD player supporting WMA; the DVD-RV32 is expected to be available to consumers in the United States in February. Panasonic also is supporting WMA in its e-wear(TM) SD Audio Player SV-SD80, and will be supporting Windows Media Technologies on its chips for DVD players and CD players beginning with WMA.
(Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO )
``Adding WMA support for playback on CD-R and CD-RW, as well as DVD and DVD-R playback, to our products makes them more attractive to the millions of users in terms of both ease of use and compatibility,'' said Fumio Ohtsubo, managing director of Matsushita Electric. ``Panasonic consumers will be able to listen to CDs with over 22 hours of their own WMA music on a single disk right on their DVD players. The addition of WMA will give this new Panasonic DVD player extremely high levels of compatibility and flexibility.''
``This is a significant evolutionary step in the convergence of digital media technology with traditional audio and video consumer electronics,'' said Dave Fester, general manager of the Windows Digital Media Division at Microsoft. ``Today Panasonic, one of the leading consumer electronics brands in the world, ushers in a new era for consumers that will make it easier than ever to bring their digital media from their PC right into their living room.''
Today's announcement underscores the continued adoption of Windows Media Technologies by the world's leading consumer electronics companies. Windows Media is now supported by the leading chip manufacturers for DVD and CD players and is incorporated into more than 100 consumer devices.
First DVD Player Supporting WMA Unveiled Today: Panasonic DVD-RV32
The Panasonic DVD-RV32 will play prerecorded DVD videos, self-recorded DVD-R(1) video discs, audio CDs and self-recorded CD-R/RW(2) discs with WMA as well as MP3 formats. The DVD-RV32 is the first of many Panasonic DVD players that will support WMA. This broadens the range of digital media content that can be played on a single device. The Audio Navigation Menu conveniently displays the titles of the songs on the disc, allowing users to find and play their favorite tracks, even from the tree-structured menu screen on a television, just by using the remote control. The new DVD-RV32 has a manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of $199.95 (U.S.).
Windows Media Audio and Video Benefits
Windows Media Audio makes it possible to store twice as much CD-quality music on hard drives, portable music players and other consumer electronics devices compared to MP3. WMA also lets consumers transfer more than 22 hours of music onto a single CD or create nearly a week of uninterrupted music, more than 250 albums, on a single DVD-R disk. Windows Media Video -- the best technology for both streamed and downloadable movies -- enables a full-length feature film to be stored on a single CD, or eventually, multiple films on a single DVD-R.
Visitors are welcome to experience for themselves the full benefit of the new Panasonic DVD-RV32 DVD player with WMA capability at the Panasonic booth (Las Vegas Convention Center, booth no. 2001, in the Central Hall) as well as at the Microsoft booth (LVCC, no. 1401) at CES.
About Windows Media
Windows Media is the leading digital media platform, providing unmatched audio and video quality to consumers, content providers, solution providers and software developers as well as business, education and government users. Windows Media offers the industry's only integrated digital rights-management solution and the most scalable and reliable streaming technology tested by independent labs. Windows Media Technologies includes Windows Media Player for consumers, Windows Media Services for servers, Windows Media Tools for content creation, and the Windows Media Software Development Kit for software developers. Windows Media Player, available in 26 languages, is the fastest- growing and now leading media player. More information about Windows Media can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmedia/.
About Panasonic
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd. is a worldwide leader in the development of technologies for and the production of electronic and electric products for consumer, business and industrial use. It recorded sales of $61.45 billion for the fiscal year ended March 2001. Matsushita Electric and its affiliates have over 290,000 employees in 46 countries.
Panasonic brand DVD players and e-wear audio players are marketed in the United States by Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company. The company is a division of Matsushita Electric Corp. of America, the principal North American subsidiary of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd.
Additional information about Matsushita Electric and its Panasonic brand products is available at http://www.panasonic.com/ .
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software -- any time, any place and on any device.
(1) This unit can play Panasonic DVD-R discs recorded with the Panasonic
DVD Recorder DMR-E20. Other DVD-R discs may not be playable, depending
on the DVD-R disc used and the recording conditions.
(2) This unit can play CD-DA format audio CD-R and CD-RW discs. It may not
be able to play some CD-R or CD-RW discs due to the condition of the
recording.
Specifications are subject to change without notice.
Microsoft, Windows Media and Windows are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
SOURCE: Microsoft Corp.
Zandiant Technologies to Introduce the First 802.11 Wireless MP3 Player for the Automotive Aftermarket
LAKE FOREST, Calif., Jan. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading mobile electronics developer Zandiant Technologies will introduce an exciting new automotive MP3 Player that will merge the fast-paced consumer electronics market with the automobile. Zandiant's new device, debuting in conjunction with this week's 2002 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, enables MP3 and Wav files to be downloaded to the vehicle via IEEE 802.11 wireless technology. By introducing the wireless connection, buyers will be able to eliminate having to transfer music onto CD-ROMs or other media for playback in their vehicles. Zandiant's device will connect to aftermarket car stereo receivers, interfacing in the same manner as typical add-on CD changers. Zandiant's extensive experience in developing aftermarket and OEM mobile entertainment products provided a distinct advantage in product development. Key features of the device include:
-- Wireless Connectivity -- 801.11 technology is utilized to move music
files from the desktop PC to Zandiant's device.
-- Solid State Memory -- By steering away from commonly used hard drive
technology, Zandiant ensures reliable operation in harsh automotive
environments.
-- Advanced Power Management -- Zandiant's specialized power management
scheme addresses unique demands on power efficiency in the vehicle.
-- Interface to aftermarket car stereo receiver(s) -- Device installation
is as easy as putting in an aftermarket CD changer; Zandiant has also
eliminated the cost and complexities associated with developing a
unique user interface for control of the MP3 Player.
The user can use an existing media player on the desktop PC to set up a number of MP3 files to be downloaded to the vehicle when the vehicle is turned-off and parked. The Zandiant device will wake up only during periods of file downloads. ``We see great future potential for this device as we look to expand the functionality to eventually create the possibility of a 'virtual briefcase' where rich content beyond MP3 files, such as audio books and audio/video images are conveniently sent to and from our vehicles,'' said Thomas Yamasaki, Zandiant Director of Marketing and Business Development.
Scheduled for release this year, Zandiant will be demonstrating this device to gain key market feedback to make further enhancements and improvement prior to product rollout. ``Zandiant is well positioned to create this product because it draws on the capabilities we have developed specifically for In-Vehicle Computing Systems for the aftermarket and OEM markets,'' said Albert Wong, Zandiant President and CEO. Demonstrations are being given from January 8th to 10th, at Zandiant's Hospitality Suite, located directly across from the Las Vegas Convention Center. For more details, contact (949) 230-6379 or info@zandiant.com.
About Zandiant Technologies, Inc.
Zandiant Technologies was spun-off from Clarion Co., Ltd. in February of 2001 under the leadership of Albert Wong, co-founder and former Chief Technical Officer of AST Research. Headquartered in Lake Forest, California, Zandiant specializes in the development of mobile entertainment, wireless and computing products. As an engineering consultant to the world's leading consumer electronics manufacturers and automotive suppliers, Zandiant excels in bringing digital technologies into the mobile environment. Forthcoming products developed by Zandiant include Clarion's Joyride(TM), the first automotive computer to provide DVD video with Dolby® 5.1 Channel Surround Sound and DTS® Digital Surround. Another emerging technology developed by Zandiant is in the area of Class ``D'' Audio Amplifiers. Zandiant has developed a full line of car amplifiers, ranging from 2-channel to 5.1-channel models. Zandiant offers Professional Engineering Services and licensed Product Designs to mobile electronics manufacturers. For more information, contact info@zandiant.com.
Joyride(TM) is a trademark of Clarion Corporation of America.
Dolby(R) is a registered trademark of Dolby Laboratories.
DTS(R) is a registered trademark of Digital Theater Systems.
For further information, please contact Thomas Yamasaki of Zandiant, +1-949-599-6513, tyamasaki@zandiant.com.
SOURCE: Zandiant Technologies, Inc.
January 1, 2001 Takamitsu Tsuchimoto, President
New Year Message from the President
A Happy New Year to all of you, and thank you for your continued support of our company.
In the 20th century, we saw various developments moving at a dizzying speed, which in turn generated a great many problems. Taken together, they serve to warn us that we must take action to protect the world we live in. As the 21st century begins, we need to reflect on the lessons of the past and rethink our approach if we are to ensure a comfortable way of life for future generations.
Contributing to 21st century motorization by resolving environmental issues and utilizing IT
In the 21st century, we must address the serious problems caused by automobiles, and work to preserve the global environment. In all facets of our business, we must focus on resource conservation, waste elimination and "green" product promotion. We plan to redouble our efforts in these areas companywide, while helping develop low-emission, fuel-efficient eco-cars that contribute directly to the protection of the environment.
Another major issue concerning automobiles is the IT (Information Technology) revolution. In the car-infotainment(*) field - encompassing AVC and ITS - establishment of a new communications and broadcast infrastructure is expected to achieve seamless integration of home, mobile and car equipment. By providing highly advanced IT-based intelligent systems, we will enhance lifestyles and improve safety and efficiency.
(*) Infotainment: A coined word combining "information" and "entertainment"
Creating new corporate values by maximizing technologies, global compatibility and brand power
In the field of car-infotainment, it is extremely important to apply IT and utilize the emerging information, communications and broadcast infrastructure available to the automobile. To that end, we will strengthen our affiliation with the FUJITSU Group, drawing on its technologies and business infrastructure. By promoting our collaboration with the TOYOTA Group companies, we plan to eliminate overlapping development efforts for improved efficiency. We will also offer original FUJITSU TEN technologies to further the cooperative relationship with the TOYOTA Group.
To earn global recognition, it is vital to increase the rate of global participation in all operations - including production, procurement, and sales - and to conduct product development that is world class. Knowing that area-limited activities would only disintegrate within several years, we must resolve to meet the challenge of global expansion, no matter how difficult it may be.
Since we were previously focused primarily on the OEM business, our original brands were unable to establish a strong enough market presence. From now on, we will rectify the shortcoming by working to enhance the ECLIPSE brand image.
While the Japanese economy awaits an upswing in personal consumption, investment by the private sector seems to be bringing about a slow economic recovery. However, prospects for the American economy are less than promising, and this may pose a threat for the economies of Asia.
With the macroeconomic outlook unclear, we must take the initiative ourselves, moving confidently, aggressively and with resolve to generate business growth.
As we start a new year, we remain a company committed to creating safe and comfortable motorization.
We look forward to your support and guidance.
http://www.fujitsu-ten.co.jp/english/release/2001/20010101e.htm.
a telematics outline to consider from June 2000
Global In-Car Computing Market
Pub Time: 2000/06
Chapter 1 Overview of global in-car-computing market
1-1. Definition of in-car-computing
1-2. Outlook on global in-car-computing
1-3. Development of in-car-computing in Japan, US and Europe
1-4. Global in-car-computing players
1-5. Car navigation system sale channels of OEM
1-6. Global in-car-computing market forecast
1-6-1. Global in-car-computing market forecast
1-6-2. Japanese in-car-computing market forecast
1-6-3. U.S. in-car-computing market forecast
1-6-4. European in-car-computing market forecast
1-7. Issues of in-car-computing
1-7-1. Integration of receivers and antennas
1-7-2. Development of voice recognition system
1-7-3. Data bus inside vehicle
Chapter 2 Global car navigation system market
2-1. Japanese car navigation system market
2-2. U.S. car navigation system market
2-2-1. DVD car navigation system market
2-2-2. Difference in strategy between GM and Ford
2-2-3. Navetech map database
2-2-4. Car navigation system in U.S. retail market
2-2-5. US car navigation systems supplied on OEM basis
2-2-6. Market share of car navigation system suppliers in US
2-3 European car navigation system market
2-3-1. Car navigation systems in European retail market
2-3-2. European car navigation system supplied on OEM basis
2-3-3. Market share of car navigation system suppliers in Europe
2-4. Car navigation system in other markets
2-4-1. Australian car navigation system market
2-4-2. South Korean car navigation system market
2-4-3. Singapore car navigation system market
2-4-4. Taiwan car navigation system market
Chapter 3 Global telematics market
3-1. U.S. telematics market
3-1-1. Telematics systems on OEM basis
3-1-2. Button comparison between OnStar and TeleAid
3-1-3. Comparison of telematics functions in U.S.
3-1-4. OnGuard
3-1-5. Telematics business by Motorola
3-2. Telematics market in Europe
3-2-1. Telematics services on OEM basis in Germany
3-2-2. Telematics service in the rest of Europe
3-2-3. PASSO
3-2-4. Car multimedia service TERACOM in Sweden
3-2-5. VW Gedas
3-2-6. New telematics services based on DAB
3-2-7. Next-generation telematics SmartMove
3-3. Telematics Market in Japan
3-3-1 ETC
3-3-2. Emergency call services in Japan
3-3-3. I-mode car navigation
3-4. Telematics based on cellular phone
Chapter 4 Digital radio, IC audio system
4-1. Digital broadcasting service for vehicles
4-2. Digital satellite radio in U.S.
4-2-1. Intense competition between XM and Sirius
4-2-2. Sirius Satellite Radio (CD radio)
4-2-3. XM Satellite Radio Inc.
4-3. IDAB terrestrial digital radio in the U.S.
4-4. Terrestrial digital radio in Europe
4-4-1. DAB
4-4-2. DVB-T terrestrial digital television
4-5. Japanese digital satellite radio broadcasting
4-5-1. Company profile of Mobile Broadcasting Corporation
4-5-2. Method to receive broadcasting and problems
4-5-3. Approval for service by authorities
4-5-4. Broadcasting programs
4-6. New trend in in-car audio equipment
4-6-1. Debut of IC audio
4-6-2. IC In-car audio player
4-6-3. CD-R audio
4-6-4. Hard disk audio equipment
Chapter 5 Car PC and auto PC
5-1. Auto PC
5-1-1. Overview of auto PC
5-1-2. Auto PC with Pentium
5-1-3. Comparison of auto PC models
5-2. Car PC
5-2-1. Notebook car PC
5-2-2. Debut of car PC
5-2-3. Q-PC and Talontek
5-2-4. CAA (Computer Aided Animation)
Chapter 6?@ Interviews with global in-car-computing companies
6-1. Matsushita Electric Industrial/Matsushita Communication Industrial
6-1-1. Sirius Satellite Radio
6-1-2 DVD car navigation system for U.S. and European markets
6-1-3. In-car entertainment system in U.S.
6-1-4. DAB radio
6-1-5. New DVD navigation system for Japanese market
6-2. Alpine
6-2-1. Car navigation system for U.S. market
6-2-2. Honda Acura
6-2-3. Sirius Satellite Radio
6-2-4. Navigation system business in Europe
6-2-5 New products with data bus for audio/video equipment
6-3. Clarion
6-3-1. Clarion Auto PC
6-3-2. Upgraded version of Clarion auto PC
6-3-3. MP3 Audio Player
6-3-4. Ce NET car infortainment system
6-3-5. DAH9500z DAB receiver
6-3-6. Car navigation system for European market
6-4. Pioneer
6-4-1. Car navigation system for U.S. market
6-4-2. Car navigation system for European market
6-4-3. Characteristics of Carrozzeria AVIC D-9000
6-5. Kenwood
6-5-1,Sales of navigation system in Germany
6-5-2. Kenwood's business relationship with Denso
6-5-3. Touch-panel approach
6-5-4. Voice recognition system
6-5-5. Procurement of DVD player, LCD
6-5-6. Development of digital radio IDAB
6-5-7,Excelon Z919 car stereo for MP3-encoded CD
6-6. Denso
6-6-1. Denso Windows CE Navigation
6-6-2. Voice recognition system
6-6-3. Development of CPU for navigation system
6-6-4. Navigation system for U.S., European markets
6-7. Xanavi Informatics
6-7-1. DVD-type navigation system
6-7-2. Microprocessor for navigation system
6-7-3. Voice recognition system
6-8. Fujitsu Ten
6-8-1. Entry into U.S. navigation system market
6-8-2. Pronounced Technologies
6-9. Sony
6-9-1. Personal-computer car navigation system
6-9-2. Sony's OEM supply to VW
6-9-3. Application of Memory Stick to navigation system
6-9-4. Development of real-time navigation system in tie-ups with ETAK, Palm
6-10. Sharp
6-10-1. Reflective/permeable color TFT LCD monitor
6-11. Delphi Delco Electronics
6-11-1. Delphi's marketing activities in U.S.
6-11-2. Sales to Japanese automakers
6-11-3. Car navigation system for GM
6-11-4. Auto PC
6-11-5. Car multimedia
6-11-6,OnStar service
6-11-7,XM satellite receiver; MP3, CD-R players
6-11-8,Use of WAP service, Bluetooth system
6-11-9,Tie-up with GM, Sony on Memory Stick
6-12. Visteon
6-12-1. Vehicle Emergency Messaging System (VEMS)
6-12-2. Voice recognition system
6-12-3. ICES auto PC
6-12-4. NavMate navigation system
6-12-5. Visteon's alliance strategies
6-12-6. CD-R jukebox
6-13. Magellan Driver Information Systems
6-14. Intel
6-14-1. Concept of in-car computing
6-14-2. Pentium for in-car equipment
6-14-3. Adoption of Bluetooth wireless technology
6-15. GM
6-15-1. GM OnStar service
6-15-2. Opel OnStar
6-16. Motorola
6-16-1. Motorola's ITS-related semiconductors
6-16-2. iRadio
6-16-3. Mobile GT
6-17. VDO Dayton
6-17-1. Car navigation system
6-17-2. MS6000, MS5000 car multimedia system
6-17-3. MS4000 car multimedia system
6-17-4. MS3000 car multimedia system
6-17-5. Ericsson and Mannesmann VDO
6-17-6. U.S. navigation system market
6-18. Bosch/Blaupunkt
6-18-1. DAB strategy
6-18-2. Development of car PC
6-18-3. Travel Pilot navigation system
6-18-4. Radiophone
6-18-5. VOCS08 voice recognition system
6-18-6. Gemini 148 Personal Information Center
6-19. Becker Automotive Systems
note mention of samsung and evolution as partners
have you seen this: http://www.ickorea.com/products/data.asp
Evolution Technologies Announces World’s First Wireless MP3 Player
Submitted by: Dave Conabree on April 19th, 2001
Emerging digital audio MP3 gear provider, Evolution Technologies, beats Goliath to market with the breakthrough product of the year — the Evolution NeckPhone™ - the world’s first wireless digital MP3 player.
Evolution combined state-of-the-art audio technology and street-smart styling into an MP3 player and FM radio that has no wires and no box, just a sleek headphone-like instrument that kicks out CD quality sound. Evolution’s NeckPhone™ is compact and ergonomically designed for ease of use. It has no moving parts and its lightweight construction makes it truly innovative. It’s high-tech, yet hip and comfortable. Hands-free convenience and stay-in-place technology allows the listener to wear the Evolution NeckPhone™ virtually anywhere — skiing, hiking, roller blading or during any outdoor activity.
"The Evolution NeckPhone™ is the first in our line of players that will broaden the market for digital music worldwide," says Evolution president, Brad Deifer. "We believe it is superior to many of the other portable music players in its audio quality, loudness, and battery life, and have high expectations for its success in the consumer market."
"We want Evolution to be on the bleeding edge of music gear technology," Deifer continues. "The Evolution NeckPhone™ truly revolutionizes the way listeners take music files on the road — it gives users incredible sound quality with absolute freedom of movement."
Deifer has been working under the radar for the past year, gathering investors, manufacturers and audio rep firms to bring his product to market. He has scored big in the marketing arena by getting RollingStone.com on board to support the Evolution NeckPhone™ launch.
"We were so psyched when we saw the product, we didn’t hesitate before becoming involved," said Joe Licari, RollingStone.com exec. "We like their grassroots approach and the fact that it wasn’t Sony or Phillips, but a virtually unknown company who raced to market with the world’s first digital wireless MP3 player."
Evolution Technologies has already inked deals with the country’s premiere retailers — both online and off. Their first public appearance at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in January validated their enthusiasm for the NeckPhone.
"Our booth was 15 people deep the entire show," said Deifer. "We were literally barraged with requests for interviews and product reviews - and we were selected as one of 15 contenders for ‘Best in Show’."
Units are expected to hit the shelves April 15, 2001.
on 6/5/01--i predicted a MTV branded digital audio player using an e.digital reference design:
Murgirl- I predict that we will see a MTV branded digital audio player using an e.digital reference design. I will go further and say this very well may be the first major design win for QDesign/edigital's player and will come out this summer. I realize the likelihood of a MTV branded RIO as well. MTV could try both.
What are the reasons for such a prediction:
1]Texas Instruments and QDesign Announce Enhanced Digital Audio Music Storage Design for Portable Players
New Reference Design to Offer Users Five Times More Storage Capacity
July 13, 1999 Texas Instruments and QDesign Corporation today announced an agreement to pair TI's world-leading programmable digital signal processors (DSPs) with QDesign's advanced Music Codec. The design will give consumers the ability to create and store up to five times more music on portable audio players while maintaining high audio fidelity. TI, the world leader in DSP and analog, will deliver a hardware design using the industry-leading programmable, low-power TMS320C5000 DSP, which QDesign will use to support the recording, storage and playback of QDesign Music files. QDesign's music application will allow users to encode their favorite music from audio CDs to both MP3 and QDesign Music files. Users also may convert MP3 audio files to smaller QDesign Music files for longer playback time on both desktop computers and TI DSP-based portable audio devices.
QDesign developed the QDesign Music Codec to deliver the highest quality audio at the lowest possible data rates. Apple Computer, Inc. has adopted the new generation audio coding technology as the audio compression solution for QuickTime 4, the industry standard for web-based audio and video streaming.
Apple's QuickTime 4 is integral to the TI - QDesign reference design. With this new platform, QuickTime is used as the architecture to download music files from the Internet, store them and play them back.
2]RioPort partners with QDesign for MP3
July 16, 1999
QDesign Corporation, a developer of digital audio compression technologies for on-line music and new media announced today that RioPort Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Diamond Multimedia, has selected its implementation of MP3 technology for integration into its portfolio of future RioPort software products. "QDesign is one of the most innovative providers of audio compression technologies," said Don Spencer, director of engineering for RioPort, in a press release. "Our technology partnership with QDesign ensures that the RioPort products continue to benefit from the latest advances in on-line digital audio." The first of RioPort's products to include the QDesign MP3 technology is the Rio Audio Manager software application, designed to enable users to easily search for and acquire, create, organize and playback their favorite music or spoken audio programming.
3]MTV buys into Diamond's RioPort MP3 player
20 Jul 1999
MTV Networks Online, a division of Viacom has signed a deal with Diamond Multimedia Systems subsidiary RioPort to deliver digital music over the Internet. The deal calls for the two companies to distribute and sell digital music across MTV's properties, which include MTV.com, VH1.com, Nick.com, SonicNet and the upcoming Buggles Project site. The companies expect to have downloads ready this fall.
RioPort will created branded online audio players for each of MTV's sites, all of which will support RioPort technology platforms. MTV will also have access to RioPort's catalog of SDMI-compliant licensed music. "Our audience demands and expects that we help them download music. RioPort provides us with the opportunity to be able to do so in a secure and easy way that is SDMI compliant," MTV Networks Online president Fred Seibert said in a release. "With this agreement, RioPort is our private label download solution, aggregating content, providing music management software, and licensing and marketing the production of consumer hardware devices."
[at this time, rioport was still a subsidiary of Diamond Multimedia-- therefore the RIO would be the likely player.]
4]S3 splits Diamond into hardware, Net units
Setting its sights on an initial public offering, digital music distributor RioPort gets a $30 million infusion, spinning off from its parent company, graphics chipmaker S3.
October 26, 1999
5]QDesign Music Codec is the audio compression solution for users of QuickTime by Apple Computers
November 2, 1999 - e.Digital Corporation announced today that it will support QDesign Music playback in e.Digital's portable Internet music player design. The QDesign Music technology is the award-winning audio compression solution for QuickTime 4, Apple Computer's cross-platform (Mac OS and Windows) architecture for digital media creation and delivery. The QDesign Music Codec is a new generation audio coding technology that was designed to deliver the highest quality audio at the lowest possible data rates. Encoded in the QDesign Music format, consumers can include up to 2.5 hours of music on portable audio players equipped with 32MB storage. To enable consumers with the ability to encode in the QDesign Music format, QDesign announced last week the release of MVPO, the Company's new digital music software that allows music libraries to be created in both MP3 and QDesign Music formats. As the first cross-platform digital music system, MVP will enable both Mac and Windows users the ability to playback all popular digital audio formats (CD Audio, AIFF, WAV, and others), as well as, most digital music videos available on the Web and enhanced CDs.
6]E.DIGITAL AND RIOPORT, INC. COLLABORATE TO DEVELOP SEAMLESS, SECURE INTERNET MUSIC DELIVERY SYSTEM
January 6, 2000 - e.Digital Corporation announced an agreement with RioPort, Inc., a pioneer in the digital audio download market, to integrate RioPort's secure digital audio platform with e.Digital's Internet music player design. As a result, e.Digital will be able to provide portable hardware manufacturers with a secure, licensable solution for seamlessly delivering digital audio content to consumers.
7]QDesign selects e.Digital portable internet music player design for showcase product
Custom Music Player to Demonstrate the New QDX Codec for Digital Music to Executives in Music and Electronics Industries
August 1, 2000 - e.Digital Corporation announced today that it has been contracted by QDesign Corporation to create and deliver special edition portable digital music players incorporating a Texas Instruments DSP and featuring the QDesign QDX scalable music compression format. The special edition QDX / MP3 digital audio player is expected to be delivered to QDesign by the end of August and will be used to showcase the new QDX technology to leading members of the digital music industry.
The new QDX format is a next generation technology to MP3 that makes digital music easy for consumers and content providers alike. Storing up to an entire audio CD in 16MB flash, QDX provides higher compression and audio quality than MP3. To heighten and simplify the digital music experience for consumers, QDX offers a unique Fit-To-Media™ function that allows all QDX encoded audio to be dynamically and automatically scaled to fit in portable audio players . This combination of scalability and audio quality eliminates consumers' need to understand bit rates, sample rates or file size; users simply click-and-drag a chosen playlist to the device for playback - one single file provides absolute portability.
To simplify digital music for content providers, QDX also features Fit-To-Stream™ for optimal Internet or wireless delivery. Fit-to-Stream™ allows QDX encoded music to be dynamically adapted to fit available bandwidth during streaming or network delivery, guaranteeing the consumer the highest possible quality of service. Fit-to-Stream™ allows music distributors to provide on-demand, customized access to content by music subscribers wherever they are and at the best possible quality and brings unprecedented flexibility in music downloading and streaming options.
"QDX was officially launched at the Jupiter Plug.In conference last week and we received some tremendous feedback," says Richard J. Beaton, President and Chief Technology Officer of QDesign Corporation. "The QDX/MP3 Digital Audio Player designed by e.Digital will showcase the quality and flexibility of our technology to those industry leaders who are creating music, innovating on new content distribution models and defining the future of digital music."
8] In addition to bringing remarkable compression quality and user convenience features to digital music, QDX offers enhanced format security to copyright owners by integrating encryption and watermarking that prevents access to content by unauthorized players. QDX is designed for SDMI compliance and is compatible with the InterTrust's MetaTrust Utility ™ and other industry-approved digital rights management/copyright protection measures. For more detailed technical information, the QDX White Paper is available at the company's website located at www.qdesign.com.
9]InterTrust and Diamond Multimedia's RioPort Division Partner in Digital Rights Management for MP3 Music Portables
Supports New Portable and Dynamic Music Distribution Models
April 26, 1999 - InterTrust Technologies Corporation, the MetaTrust Utility™, and Diamond Multimedia Systems, Inc.'s RioPort division announced today a strategic partnership to use InterTrust® digital rights management (DRM) technology in RioPort's line of MP3 portable devices. The RioPort-InterTrust agreement will enable a new generation of secure, portable and dynamic music distribution models. InterTrust and RioPort, as members of the Secure Digital Music Initiative (SDMI), will continue to work with the music industry to offer solutions for the secure delivery and use of digital music.
10]RioPort Service Delivers Music to Devices
Digital audio platform developer RioPort is testing a service that delivers secure music directly to audio players and cell phones. RioPort will provide the service to consumer electronics and Internet appliance makers, and online retailers as part of its downloadable music platform. The service would prevent unauthorized redistribution of music by delivering tracks to devices; the tracks bypass the user's PC and cannot be passed along to others. Labels including A&M Records, Dreamworks Records, Priority Records and Moonshine Music are providing promotional tracks for trials of the service. RioPort has digital distribution deals in place with all five major label groups; MTV is integrating RioPort's platform to sell downloads through its streaming audio sites.
11] MTVi download service
Cable music outlet MTV's online unit plans to team with streaming music device maker RioPort.com Inc. to offer paid music downloads through affiliated radio sites Radio MTV.com and VH1at Work Radio.com.
Under the deal, RioPort's existing PulseOne Media Service platform will gather content plus provide the software application and technology for the online service. At the same time, PulseOne can boast that it is the first service to have forged deals with all of the Big Five labels--Bertlesmann's BMG Entertainment, EMI, Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group. Starting this month, the service will offer some 8,000 titles from the major labels and a couple thousand titles from independent labels, according to RioPort CEO Jim Long
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tin--i suspect this is a portalplayer based DataPlay player; if my memory serves me well, a long time ago i speculated that we would see a MTV portalplayer MP3 player- trying to find the post but ihub is not easily searchable
Tin--did you catch the MTV logo!!!!!!!!!!!!!