Chips&Media Now Supports RealVideo HD in Hardware IP

Seoul, Korea ---  Dec. 18,  2007  -- Chips&Media, Inc. today announced  that they are the first company to develop video IP supporting hardware decoding of RealVideo media at HD resolutions up to and including 1080p.   By adding support for RealVideo, Chips&Media has enabled a new class of consumer electronic devices to support RealVideo, RealAudio and RMVB native file playback from D1 (standard TV) to HD resolutions including full 1080p (1920x1080p @ 30fps).  Semiconductor and multimedia processors who incorporate the Chips&Media video IP can now offer full screen playback of RealVideo/RMVB content to TVs, DTVs, portable media players (PMP), media boxes and other consumer devices.

By partnering with RealNetworks and joining the Helix community developer program, Chips&Media, a leading video IP provider, optimized and hardwired the source code of the RealVideo and RealAudio codecs for hardware supported video playback in semiconductor and multimedia application processors.  

“We are excited about the possibilities that are now available to OEMs and consumers with the addition of HD and D1 playback support of RealVideo and RMVB content with the Chips&Media IP platform.  RealVideo content can now be viewed natively on devices such as portable media players and the newer high definition flat panel televisions which are becoming increasingly popular with consumers,” said Martin Schwarz, area vice president of Format for RealNetworks.

Chips & Media ported and optimized the RealVideo and RealAudio codecs by joining the Helix developer community sponsored by RealNetworks.   The Helix community platform includes source code developed by RealNetworks over the past nine years for the creation, delivery and playback of digital media, as well as a set of interfaces for building media-enabled applications. With over 125,000 members, the Helix community uses this source code to build media-capable products with industry-leading technology, intellectual property and commonly used interfaces.  RealNetworks has also released a family of products built on top of the Helix platform, including the popular RealPlayer, Helix Universal Server, Helix Producer and other products.

“We appreciate RealNetworks and value our relationship,” said Dr. Jesse Joonho Lim, president & CEO of Chips&Media. “I believe our market-proven, high definition, multi-codec, video technology can enhance RealNetworks’ universal platform offering and its market leadership, positioning RealNetworks favorably for the D1 and HD portable and consumer electronics market.”

Chips&Media, Inc. is a leading video multi-standard video codec solution provider, based in Seoul, Korea (Republic of). Chips&Media’s video codec technologies cover the full line-up of video standards such as MPEG-2, MPEG-4, H.263, H.264/AVC, RV and VC-1 from CIF to HD resolution. The company has been providing its advanced ultra low power multi-codec video IP's to top-tier semiconductor companies including Freescale Semiconductor as well as semiconductor companies based in US, Europe, Korea, Taiwan, China and Japan.