Digital Media Player/Server Announcement Roundup
By Alexander Grundner |
November 2nd, 2004
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This first week of November has been filled with a slew of new digital media server announcements. Being the case, we decided to post a quick digest overview of what consumers will be able to purchase over the holiday season.
* The following information is derived from both Sigma Designs’ press release and individual manufactures’ websites.
AL Tech Mediagate MG-25
Overview: As one of the first products on the market, AL Tech has recently launched its MG-25 portable multimedia player which includes an integral 2.5″ hard disk drive. The MG-25 is based on Sigma’s EM8510 digital media processor and is a sibling model to its already launched MG-100, a desktop DVD/DivX player with network and USB host connectivity. The MG-25 is positioned as a performance-price value leader and will be marketed on a worldwide basis.
“Sigma’s media processors combine the high quality video output consumers need along with a convenient development kit that enables us to focus on value-added features,” said J.Y. Kim, president of AL Tech. The MG-25 is available now directly from AL Tech.
Storage: 25GB
Supported formats: MPEG-1/2/4 (MPG, MPEG, AVI, M2V, VOB, etc), DivX 3.11 higher, XviD / MP3, OGG Voris, WMA / JPEG(JPG)
Data connectors: USB 2.0 high-speed
Video output: Composite, S-Video, Component video output / 480p, 720p, 1080i progressive scan
Audio output: Audio Stereo L-R / Coaxial Digital Output / 5.1Ch (DTS, AC3)
DTS Infocom MODIX HD-3510
Overview: Another new addition is the MODIX HD-3510 from DTS Infocom, which features an integral 3.5″ hard disc drive with up to 400 GB of storage capacity. The MODIX HD-3510 is based on the Sigma’s EM EM8511 digital media processor which provides complete audio/video processing and system control features. The MODIX HD-3510 features a wide range of media format options, HD Component output with programmable upscaling, and Digital 5.1 channel surround sound. It also offers an option for car audio/video applications.
“There is an increasing demand for devices that link the PC and downloaded media with living room playback. Using Sigma media processors will enable us to offer the widest support of new audio/video formats with a consistent high quality output,” said Hyung-Hee Park, CEO of DTS Infocom. The Modix HD3510 is available now directly from DTS Infocom.
Storage: Up to 400GB
Supported formats: DivX v3.11. 4.x or 5.x, MP3, MPEG-4 AVI, JPEG
Video output: HDTV handling resolutions of 480p, 720p, or 1080i
Audio output: DTS, Dolby Digital AC-3 5.1CH surround sound
Dvico TViX (DVD Jukebox)
Overview: Also new on the market is the TViX from Dvico, which features an integral 3.5″ hard disc drive with up to 250 GB capacity. The TViX is based on Sigma’s EM8510 digital media processor and supports video decoding for DivX 3.11, 4.x, 5.x, XVID, AVI, MPG, DAT, and VOB and audio decoding for PCM, MP3, Ogg Vorbis, WMA, AC3, and DTS. The TViX supports Video Out in both standard 4:3 and widescreen 16:9 high definition resolution. Dolby 5.1 channel surround sound, and offers an optional car-pack system.
“We have designed a full featured media player that supports the widest range of formats available today. The Sigma media processor offers great quality video output with unlimited scaling from any resolution to any aspect ratio of output,” said Jeff Lee, CEO of Dvico. The TViX is available now directly from Dvico.
Storage: Up to 250GB
Supported formats: VOB, DivX 3.11, 4.x, 5.x, XVID, AVI, MPG, DAT, PCM, MP3, Ogg Vorbis, WMA, AC3, and DTS
Video output: Standard 4:3 and widescreen 16:9 HDTV
Audio output: Dolby 5.1 channel surround sound
FIA On3 Pro Digital Media Player and Library
Overview: The FIA On3 Pro is an evolutionary breakthrough in car audio and video entertainment, and doubles as a home media player, making the unit truly mobile. The unit’s storage library has the ability to organize and store thousands of CDs, photo files, or more than 30 hours of DVD quality movies in a small compact device that weighs less than 4 lbs.
Operation of the On3 Pro is based on an internal embedded computer. The device is primarily controlled by two processors, an Intel RISC, which manages the media storage and housekeeping functions, and a Sigma graphics decoder, which decodes all graphics
for the display. The On3 Pro is available in high-capacity 80 GB or 120 GB library, and supports the most popular formats for audio and video, including MP3, MPEG Audio Layer 1 & 2, Ogg Vorbis, PCM WAV and AC3 for audio, and MPEG1 MPEG2, MPEG4, DivX, XivD, RMP4, MOV and AVI. The On3 Pro is available now directly from FIA (press release).
Storage: 80/120GB
Supported formats: MPEG-1/2/4, DivX, XivD, RMP4, MOV, AVI MP3, Ogg Vorbis, PCM WAV, AC3
Video output: HDTV and SPDIF
Audio output: Analog and digital 5:1 audio
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