New reference design for set-top PVRs uses Embedded Linux

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Sep. 19, 2001

Milpitas, CA -- (press release excerpt) -- Stream Machine and Sigma Designs today announced a complete Personal Video Recorder (PVR) reference design. Called "Harmony", the new reference design is intended to enable manufacturers to inexpensively add PVR functionality to their advanced set-top box products that address the rapidly-growing convergence marketplace. The design incorporates the SM2288 Audio/Video Codec chip from Stream Machine and the EM8475 DVD/MPEG4 Decoder chip from Sigma Designs, and uses an x86 processor running Embedded Linux as its system platform.

The Harmony reference design provides high-quality digital video recording and time-shifting functions. These advanced convergence devices offer consumers full control over their viewing experience by providing pause, instant record and other time-shifting features during live broadcasts, as well as offering the ability to record one or more programs at specified times in the future.

According to Mike Paxton, senior analyst with Cahner's In-Stat Group, "The overall market for personal video recorders (PVRs) will exceed 10,000,000 units per year by 2004, with most of the time-shifting PVR functionality destined to be delivered inside an advanced set-top box."

Dedicated support and integration for the Harmony reference design will be provided by Metro Link within their Metro-Media PVR architecture, which provides an easily customizable look, feel, and user interface integrated with a full media infrastructure layer. Metro Link will be working with both Stream Machine and Sigma Designs to support mutual customers developing set-top boxes and PVR devices using the Harmony reference design.

The Harmony Reference Design will be sold and supported by both Stream Machine and Sigma Designs. Price for the Harmony Reference Design is $5,000, and includes a board, software SDK, schematics, Gerber files, and a bill of materials. Availability is October 2001. Availability for the Metro Link PVR Toolkit will be announced shortly.

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