AWOX Introduces World's First DMA / Home Media Server Reference Design Based on TI's DaVinci(TM) Technology

AWOX Introduces World's First DMA / Home Media Server Reference Design Based on TI's DaVinci(TM) Technology

April 29, 2006

New SALAI Reference Design from AWOX to be Produced by Thomson Allows ODMs to Develop Next Generation Networked Entertainment Devices in Record Design Cycle Time

    HOUSTON and MONTPELLIER, France, April 29
/Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- AWOX, a leader in the home
networking market, today announced the availability of
SALAI, an advanced digital media adaptor (DMA) and Home
Media server reference design based on TI's DaVinci(TM)
technology.  SALAI will be produced in Thomson's facility
at Batam Indonesia for ODM's next generation digital media
adaptor devices.  Leveraging TI's fully programmable
TMS320DM644x processors based on DaVinci(TM) technology and
TI's WLAN development kit for consumer electronics, AWOX has
integrated its highly flexible UPnP (Universal Plug and
Play) compliant software architecture on SALAI, enabling
OEMs to get to market quickly with robust and interoperable
innovative digital media solutions.  With the SALAI complete
hardware and software platform, a flexible turn-key solution
is now available to manufacturers to easily develop software
plug-ins in order to customize advanced feature sets based
on the requirements of their customers. 

   "Whenever a manufacturer wants a solution that
offers seamless connectivity for networked audio and video
content anywhere in the home, AWOX software based
architecture facilitates it," said Alain Molinie, CEO
of AWOX.  "With DaVinci technology, TI has brought all
of the pieces together on one DSP platform giving us a
neatly packaged end-to-end solution that is available
today.  Also, because DaVinci technology supports all major
codecs, it has allowed us to offer greater capabilities like
high definition (HD) video, gaming, video on demand (VoD)
and personal video recording (PVR) on a single
device."

    AWOX's reference platform is capable of supporting
MPEG-2 1080iHD, WMV9/VC-1 and  MPEG4 ASP in 720p format. A
wide range of advanced coding technologies such as MPEG-1,
MPEG-2 MPEG-4, DivX, Nero, H.264, WMV9 and VC-1 are also
supported in standard definition format.  In addition, the
solution includes an HDMI port and supports both Internet
Protocol (IP) DVB-T networks, allowing OEMS to develop
hybrid products very quickly. By offering a complete
reference platform that includes a hard disc drive, an LCD
connector, USB 2.0 OTG standard support, a wide variety of
peripheral sets, (memory card, compact flash) and
transcoding capabilities, SALAI addresses the
interoperability challenges OEMs are facing in shaping
digital convergence in the home.  

    "We are delighted to have Thomson manufacturing 
SALAI, a new reference design based on DaVinci Technology
from Texas Instruments and very excited by our
collaboration which will enable Awox to market high tech
products produced with high quality level," said Alain
Molinie.  "With its inherent flexibility and
connectivity, SALAI addresses the key requirements of
triple play service delivery at an affordable price
point," he continued.

    "The inherent integration of DaVinci technology
translates into quicker time-to-market as well as a reduced
bill of materials (BOM), enabling companies like AWOX to
meet product price points with appropriate margins,"
said Arnaud Duclap, business development manager for TI's
DSP group in Europe.  "In addition, TI's CE WLAN DK
1.0 for stationary platforms seamlessly connects to DaVinci
technology and allows manufacturers to easily embed
full-featured WLAN into their products that meets the
performance needed for multimedia throughout the
home."  

    TI's TMS320DM644x Processors Based on DaVinci
Technology Reduce System Cost

    The TMS320DM644x architecture is a highly integrated
system-on-chip (SoC) that has absorbed many of the external
components required for digital video, dropping hardware
bill of materials by as much as 50 percent.  The DM644x
devices are based on TI's performance-leading
TMS320C64x+(TM) DSP core, an ARM926 processor, video
accelerators, external memory/storage interfaces and
networking, video and audio peripherals that match consumer
entertainment equipment specs.  TI's DaVinci technology is
the industry's first platform optimized for streaming
video, image and audio performance.  With limitless
scalability options, DaVinci technology helps streaming
media manufacturers keep up with their ever-evolving
industry.

    About Texas Instruments

    Texas Instruments Incorporated provides innovative DSP
and analog technologies to meet our customers' real-world
signal processing requirements. In addition to
Semiconductors, the company's businesses include Sensors
& Controls, and Educational & Productivity
Solutions. TI is headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and has
manufacturing, design or sales operations in more than 25
countries. 

    Texas Instruments is traded on the New York Stock
Exchange under the symbol TXN. More information is located
on the World Wide Web at http://www.ti.com .

    About AWOX

    AWOX is the European leader in the development of
middleware technologies for aggregation of digital content
on home networks.  Aggregation of content enables users to
share their music or movies stored on their computer or set
top boxes in digital format (MP3, DIVX¡­) with their
audiovisual devices anywhere within the home.  Various
members of the family can share the same multimedia file
simultaneously, in different places, and totally
independently. 

    AWOX patented modular software platform supports a wide
range of integrated multimedia products.  The company's core
business is developing software and electronic products for
license to OEMs, operators and consumer electronics
manufacturers, based on UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) and
DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) standards.  AWOX's
modular architecture helps manufacturers to rapidly add
network functionality by adapting AWOX's hardware reference
design, customizing AWOX's internationalized user interface,
and developing new plug-ins. AWOX also uses its own
technologies to develop innovative electronic products for
the consumer market.          

    With headquarters in Montpellier, France and operations
in Paris and Singapore, AWOX can be contacted on the World
Wide Web at http://www.awox.com . 

    About Thomson - Partner to the Media &
Entertainment Industries

    Thomson (Euronext Paris: 18453; NYSE: TMS) provides
services, systems and technology to help its Media &
Entertainment clients -¨C content creators, content
distributors and users of its technology ¨C- realize their
business goals and optimize their performance in a rapidly
changing technology environment. The Group is the preferred
partner to the Media & Entertainment Industries through
its Technicolor, Grass Valley, RCA and Thomson brands. For
more information: http://www.thomson.net .       

    About Thomson's Technology Division
    
    Thomson's Technology division develops and supplies
advanced products, services and technologies to
entertainment and media companies.  One of three divisions
of Thomson, S.A., it has four business units: Corporate
Research; Intellectual Property & Licensing, which has
a portfolio of more than 50,000 patents; Silicon Solutions,
which develops advanced integrated circuits; and Software
& Technology Solutions, which focuses on content
security, image quality and user interface.     

    Trademarks

    DaVinci and TMS320C64x+ are trademarks of Texas
Instruments.  All other trademarks and registered
trademarks are property of their respective owners.    

    For more information, please contact:

     Maxime Boiron
     Texas Instruments
     Tel:   [phone]
     Email: [e-mail]

     Christy Brunton
     Texas Instruments
     Tel:   [phone]
     Email: [e-mail]   

SOURCE  Texas Instruments Incorporated