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ATI Theater 550: PVR-on-a-chip

Om Malik points us to news that ATI has launched a new chip that is specifically designed for synchronized audio and video decoding, in other words a PVR-on-a-chip.

The 550 Pro provides audio and video decoding on the same silicon - a first for the Theater family - which ensures audio and video remain in full synchronisation. The 12-bit video decoder features 3D Comb Filtering for NTSC and PAL, and five-line 2D Comb Filtering.
...
The chip was designed to operated on both PCI and PCI Express add-in cards, but ATI is also pushing the product's scope for integration directly onto a PC's motherboard. In the notebook market, in particular, Acer, Compal, Quanta and Wistron have committed themselves to building the 550 Pro into upcoming laptops.

If NVidia doesn't have a similar product in the pipeline, I'd be surprised. I look forward to more competition in this space. Getting one of these chips into a big laptop will be interesting.

Between Tivo/PVR functionality (now integrated into one chip), P2P file sharing platforms, Hi-Def. TV, BitTorrent, broadband Internet, falling HDD costs, rising CPU power, we're seeing a confluence where entertainment should continue to be interesting and challenging for both the content providers as well as us the customers. Any thoughts on this confluence would be appreciated.

Om Malik on Broadband: PVR on a chip
also
ATI Theater 550 PRO [ati.com]

by Gen Kanai September 14, 2004 in News

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