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Digeo Introduces X-Stream Chipset Solution for Next-Generation Media Centers

Posted on: Monday, 3 May 2004, 06:00 CDT

NEW ORLEANS, THE NATIONAL SHOW (NCTA) and KIRKLAND, Wash., May 3

/PRNewswire/ -- Digeo, Inc., the leading provider of media center software and services, today announced Digeo X-Stream(TM), a new chipset solution designed by Digeo for use in the next generation of the Moxi(TM) Media Center and for sale to other set-top box, consumer electronics (CE) and personal computer (PC) manufacturers. The Digeo X-Stream chipset combines the functions of more than two dozen components in existing set-top box designs into a revolutionary architecture that reduces the cost of a media center up to 40%. With the increased power that Digeo X-Stream provides next-generation media centers, Digeo's DVR and other media center services can extend beyond two rooms and reach across a whole-home environment.

In addition to dramatically lowering the cost of a 1-TV Media Center, the Digeo X-Stream chipset is designed to significantly reduce cable operators' cost to deploy multi-room media centers, and to enable cable operators to offer new services throughout the home. The chipset integrates all functions required to implement up to four tuners, providing cable operators with media centers capable of supporting full media center functionality to four televisions in the home. Leveraging Advanced Video Codec (H.264, MPEG-4 AVC), the latest technology for video compression, the Digeo X-Stream chipset also allows cable operators to squeeze three times as much content into a given amount of digital bandwidth.

Other technologies powered by the Digeo X-Stream chipset that align with the evolving product and business objectives of cable operators include:

-- Data Communications -- Support for DOCSIS 2.0 and DOCSIS Set-top

Gateway provides compatibility with the future evolution of cable

operators' video security, voice and data infrastructure.

-- Advanced CableCARD -- Support for Multi-Stream CableCARD opens the way

for cable operators to promote retail sales of media centers.

-- Higher performance multi-TV architecture -- Dramatically increases the

performance of the media center, particularly where multiple services

and multiple TVs are supported, by means of dedicated processors for

transport stream processing, DOCSIS processing and system functions.

"In the course of bringing the first generation Moxi Media Center to volume deployment, Digeo listened carefully to what we had to say about our aggressive cost-reduction objectives, and where we want to take our networks in the future," said Wayne H. Davis, Senior Vice President, Engineering & Technical Operations of Charter Communications. "By designing its own silicon in addition to the software and hardware platform they already license to SA and Motorola, Digeo is in a unique position to drive down the costs for future media centers."

First Deployment of Digeo X-Stream in Next Generation Moxi Media Center

The Digeo X-Stream chipset will first see service as part of Digeo's continued development of its Media Center Platform by powering the second- generation Moxi Media Center. In addition to savings generated by leveraging the Digeo X-Stream chipset, future Media Center products will also achieve dramatic cost reductions by taking advantage of the rapid evolution of processor and graphics technologies in the PC market that have previously been unavailable in mainstream set-top boxes. Beyond the functions powered by the Digeo X-Stream, future products are expected to incorporate capabilities never before integrated onto a delivery platform for broadband services such as:

-- High-performance 3D graphics capable of rendering 400 Mpixels per

second to provide a faster and more compelling user interface.

-- Native high-definition user interface and applications that exploit a

clearer, crisper information display.

-- 1GHz x86 processor to provide additional performance headroom for new

software capabilities such as OCAP, Games, Jukebox, and other

applications in development for the Moxi Media Center.

-- Compatibility with the emerging High-Definition Multimedia Interface

(HDMI) standard for connecting media centers to high-definition

televisions.

These capabilities produce a next-generation media center that provides ten times faster processing performance than conventional cable DVR products, and a graphics performance that is up to one hundred times higher than conventional cable DVR products. As a result, Moxi technology will enable cable operators to deliver a level of interactivity and user appeal for presenting services and content that was previously only available on personal computers.

"Users of Digeo's Moxi Media Center have been blown away by the speed and appeal of its high-performance user interface. The key question has been how we can fulfill our vision to make that advanced capability affordable for every TV in the home," said Jim Billmaier, Chief Executive Office of Digeo. "Silicon integration is the central driver for us to achieve our goal of delivering an uncompromised Moxi media center experience to every TV in the home at the lowest cost per TV. Our X-Stream chipset brings PC-like performance to media centers at a fraction of the price."

About Digeo, Inc.

Digeo, Inc., provides media center software and services that inspire consumer loyalty, generate new incremental revenue, and position cable as the leading source for home entertainment.

The Moxi(TM) platform from Digeo powers a new generation of media centers through which cable operators can deliver high-revenue services and applications-such as digital video recording (DVR), high-definition TV, and on-demand and pay-per-view content-to the whole home at competitive cost per TV. The multi-TV architecture and breakthrough user interface of the Moxi platform provide all Moxi applications including DVR, DVD, information on demand, jukebox, photos, games, and more from any cable access point in the home using existing wiring. Digeo has also developed an innovative chipset that integrates essential media-center functionality and can substantially reduce future set-top box production costs.

Additionally, Digeo offers the Digeo(TM) iTV service to over one million subscribers, which is the most widely deployed cable iTV service in North America. With Digeo iTV, cable operators can increase the value of their existing digital set-tops by offering field-tested services that have demonstrated increased customer satisfaction and churn reduction, and effective cross-selling of video-on-demand (VOD) and pay-per-view (PPV) offerings.

Moxi(TM) Media Center customers include Comcast, Charter and Adelphia. Digeo is primarily backed by Paul Allen's Vulcan Inc. The company has offices in Kirkland, Wash., Palo Alto, Calif. and Longmont, Colo. For more information, please visit http://www.digeo.com/.

NOTE: Digeo and Moxi are trademarks of Digeo, Inc. All other product or service names are the property of their respective owners.

Digeo, Inc.

CONTACT: Diane Schreiber, +1-415-321-1871, or diane@sparkpr.com, orSteve Kerns, +1-415-321-1891, steve@sparkpr.com, both of Sparkpr, for Digeo

Web site: http://www.digeo.com/

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