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Press ReleaseVideo Without Boundaries(TM) Chooses Sigma Designs EM8475 MPEG-4 Decoder Chip for New MediaReady(TM) 4000 Internet/DVD PlayerAdvanced Chip Features REALmagic(R) Video Streaming Technology for Highest Quality VideoFORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., July 30, 2003 -- Video Without Boundaries(TM), Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: VDWB), a leading provider of interactive, media-convergent home entertainment devices, today announced the selection of Sigma's EM8475 digital media processor, for Video Without Boundaries' new MediaReady(TM) 4000 Internet/DVD Player, from Sigma Designs, Inc. (Nasdaq: SIGM), a leader in digital media processing for consumer appliances. The EM8475, an advanced MPEG-4 decoder designed for set-top box applications, will drive digital video playback on the MediaReady 4000, a breakthrough in convergent home entertainment. The Video Without Boundaries (VWB) MediaReady(TM) 4000, slated for commercial release September 2003, combines a DVD/CD/MP3 player, Internet browser, email, and karaoke, along with a range of PC componentry, for the ultimate in multimedia access, storage, and playback. The product's open computing architecture will support a number of consumer upgrades; options planned for the near future include Personal Video Recorder (PVR), hard drives, video games, joysticks, video conferencing, and more. Sigma Designs' EM8475 MPEG-4 digital processor is the premier product for IP video streaming in set-top boxes and media gateways. Incorporating the company's award-winning REALmagic(R) Video Streaming Technology, the chip was the industry's first MPEG-4 chip to support full-resolution (720x576) and streaming video based on ISMA specification 1.0. The EM8475 provides highly integrated solutions for decoding of MPEG-4, as well as DVD, MPEG-2 and MPEG-1 formats. "Sigma Designs is at the forefront in digital media processing and MPEG-4 technology. By incorporating MPEG-4 support into our MediaReady(TM) software platform and deployment within the Lafayette 4000 series, will provides full- screen DVD quality movies to be delivered directly to the consumer mass market," said Jeffrey Harrell, President of Video Without Boundaries. "As most movie studios have endorsed the Internet as a valid distribution model for their content, the MediaReady(TM) 4000 bridges the last hurdle of convergence by providing high-quality video on demand over the Internet and supporting industry standard digital rights management (DRM) solutions." "The EM8475 was the first MPEG-4 decoder of its kind, and continues to exhibit exceptional performance in a wide range of deployments," said Ken Lowe, vice president of strategic marketing, Sigma Designs, Inc. "Adding Video Without Boundaries to the list of premier consumer electronics manufacturers using this high-performance, dependable processor is another validation of its overall quality." The EM8475 enables the rapid development of adding PVR, progressive DVD playback and streaming video playback functionality to advanced set-top boxes and other PCI-based devices. In addition to providing state-of-the-art MPEG-4 playback capability, the EM8475 will allow the MediaReady(TM) 4000 to access sophisticated online multimedia content containing audio, video, text, graphics and interactivity. MPEG-4's object-oriented environment supports complex scene manipulation at low bit rates, making it ideal for streaming content over today's broadband connections. In addition to its advanced online multimedia features, the MediaReady(TM) 4000 will include a full-sized wireless keyboard, 5.1 Surround Sound, picture- in-picture capability, karaoke microphone jack, wireless remote control, and microphone. Similar in size to a standard DVD player, the MediaReady(TM) 4000 is expected to retail for $349 (MSRP). VWB's MediaReady(TM) 4000 units via Lung Hwa Electronics, the company's manufacturing partner, will be available September, 2003 via specialty and mass consumer electronics retailers. The private-label units, carrying a market value of nearly $3.5 million, will be sold under the Lafayette brand in the United States and elsewhere. For more information on the MediaReady(TM) 4000 or VWB's other convergent home entertainment products, please visit www.vwbinc.com. About Video Without Boundaries Video Without Boundaries (OTC Bulletin Board: VDWB) is a leader in the converging digital media on demand, enhanced home entertainment and emerging interactive consumer electronics markets. VWB is focused on home entertainment media products and solutions that enhance the consumer experience, while providing new revenue opportunities for online music and movie content providers. VWB, and its subsidiaries, are leading suppliers of broadband products, services and content including its ability to deliver broadcast quality digital video and web interactivity at transfer rates as low as 56K. Website: www.vwbinc.com. About Sigma Designs, Inc.: Sigma Designs specializes in silicon-based MPEG decoding for steaming video, progressive DVD playback, and advanced digital set-top boxes. The company's award-winning REALmagic(R) Video Streaming Technology is used in both commercial and consumer applications providing highly integrated solutions for high-quality decoding of MPEG-1, MPEG-2, and MPEG-4. Headquartered in Milpitas, Calif., the company also has offices in China, Europe, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan. For more information, please visit the company's website at www.sigmadesigns.com. Forward-Looking Statements: Forward-looking statements and comments in this document are made pursuant to the safe harbor provision of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such statements relating to, among other things, the prospects for the company to increase the level of sales, maintain current sales levels, add new products and services and develop new Web sites are necessarily subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which are significant in scope and nature, including risks related to the demand for the company's products and services competition, and availability of capital. MediaReady and Video Without Boundaries are trademarks of Video Without Boundaries, Inc. REALmagic is a registered trademark of Sigma Designs, Inc. All other trademarks or registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners. VWB CONTACT: Steve Simon S&S Public Relations, Inc. 847-955-0700, ext. 237 steve@sspr.com SOURCE Video Without Boundaries(TM), Inc. |
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