Posted by: cksla
In reply to: None Date:10/12/2001 1:29:32 PM
Post #of 28796
First MJPEG Portable Multimedia Player Launched
The era of the portable multimedia player is upon us, allowing the enjoyment of digital multimedia - movies, animation, music videos, etc - even when away from the PC.
MagicEyes, a Korean domestic venture specializing in multimedia solutions, has announced the launch of the world's first portable multimedia player supporting the Motion JPEG (MJPEG) format. The player, dubbed MkiVki, incorporates the company's own multimedia signal processor (MMSP), and enables users to make their own motion pictures. It also provides digital multimedia content like music video clips, movies, fashion and games.
MkiVki is the first portable multimedia player based on MJPEG, the company claims. "It is expected to grow fast as the next multimedia device that supports a wide range of digital contents, from digital camera to MP3 player. It also can be fixed to each user's taste with various optional functions, such as voice communication, digital camera and external large storage," said Myoung-rae Cho, CEO of MagicEyes.
Functions Available
The MkiVki incorporates an 80MHz MMSP-1 processor (Fig), a 2.5-inch LCD (resolution 480 x 234) and 32/64 Mbytes of Flash memory for MJPEG processing of up to 20fps (frames per second).
The embedded serial port supports connections with cell phones, and the high-speed USB 1.2 PC interface and IrDA 1:1 support connections to enable communications between different MkiVkis. These can occur in real time using the removable PC camera, along with the microphone and speaker. VGA still pictures can be captured at the pixel size of 340K, while VGA motion pictures can be captured at up to 10fps.
Through a graphical user interface, the MkiVki also provides PIMS processing functions, such as MP3 file playing, voice recording, and a calculator, calendar and scheduler.
A service tool bar, integrated for use with the Internet, is provided, and Webbased motion picture editing software has been incorporated.
MMSP Technology
MagicEyes, initially established by former Samsung Electronics engineers, has been focusing on system-on-a-chip (SoC) development since 1998, and finally succeeded in launching its MMSP multimedia one-chip solution last year.
The MMSP-1 includes a 16-bit DSP core, MMU, memory controller, cache controller, 2D graphics processor, LCD controller, image capture/audio/video processor, USB slave controller, IrDA controller and PLL. Interface and analog circuits are included, and the solution allows bi-directional data transfer between devices. The addition of memory and an interface terminal to the MMSP-1 is all that is required to implement a system.
"All the components on the single chip, except the 16-bit DSP, are our own developments. The MMSP-1 can reduce the development period and expenses - as well as power consumption - dramatically compared to existing multimedia devices composed of three or four chips," said a spokesperson for the company.
MagicEyes is currently working on development of the MMSP-2 chip and solution. This is targeted at supporting high-performance 3D games and motion pictures with high resolutions on low-power portable devices - 250mW, maximum. The MMSP-2 is also designed as a SoC, and includes a 32-bit CPU, graphic/video processor, sound synthesizer and communications peripherals.
With the MMSP-2, various multimedia systems can be developed by adding memory and I/O components, such as an LCD module. Key features include high-performance parallel processing bus architecture, MPEG4 CIF 30fps encoding/decoding, and JPEG/MJPEG encoding/decoding.
MagicEyes is involved in talks for further developing its MMSP series with Nokia, Hewlett-Packard and Intel. The company is also co-developing a one-chip A/V code chip for IMT-2000 along with some of the big domestic telecom companies, and is planning to establish an office in the US at the end of this year.
by Luz Park, Seoul
(October 2001 Issue, Nikkei Electronics Asia)
AI
