Sigma Media processor to power Comcast/Panasonic AnyPlay portable DVR

Sigma Designs, a leader in digital media processing System-on-a-Chip Solutions (SoCs) for consumer electronics, has announced that its highly integrated EM8622L media processor was selected by Panasonic, the market leader in high-end portable DVD players and Plasma HDTVs, to power the new AnyPlay P-DVR being jointly developed with Comcast Corporation, the nation's leading provider of entertainment, information and communications products and services.

The Comcast/Panasonic co-branded AnyPlay P-DVR Model TZ-LC100 is the industry's first portable DVR player powered by tru2way technology and will allow Comcast cable customers to record programming at home and take it with them wherever they go. Powered by Sigma's EM8622L, the AnyPlay P-DVR incorporates digital video recording functionality into a Panasonic portable DVD player platform and features 60GB of digital video recording capacity, an 8.5" folding LCD display screen, and integrated stereo speakers. Dual audio headphone jacks are included to support personal viewing. Comcast and Panasonic announced at CES 2008 that the P-DVR will be available beginning in early 2009.

According to Ken Lowe, VP of strategic marketing at Sigma Designs, "We're pleased that Sigma's advanced EM8622L SoC is powering the video processing of such an innovative Panasonic product. This announcement highlights the breadth of consumer electronics products powered by Sigma from HDTVs and Blu-ray Disc players in the living room to mobile devices that can offer consumers the best video experience everywhere they go."

According to Dr. Paul Liao, Chief Technology Officer, Panasonic Corporation of North America, the principal North American subsidiary of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., "We've been pleased to work with Sigma Designs while developing the portable DVR platform. The company's chips enable our product to give customers a reliable and sharp, crisp video viewing experience wherever and whenever they want it."

When placed onto a companion docking station that functions as a standard DVR set-top box, the AnyPlay P-DVR lets viewers watch and record their favorite television programs from their television sets. However, unlike a traditional set-top box, it can be taken out of its docking station, so recorded programs can be watched anywhere in or out of the home on the AnyPlay P-DVR. It also can play back DVDs and audio CDs.

Sigma provides advanced media processor silicon and software that constitute a system-on-a-chip (SoC) solution for designing HDTVs, IPTV set-top boxes, Blu-ray Disc players, Digital Media Adapters (DMA), portable and mobile devices, enabling customers to focus on software development and value-added features that extend far beyond basic operations. The next-generation technology contained in Sigma's EM8622L media processor enables consumer electronic devices to offer stunning, precise pictures and remarkably beautiful sound as well as intelligent interactive features.

Sigma Designs is a leading fabless provider of highly integrated system-on-chip, or SoC, solutions that are used to deliver multimedia entertainment throughout the home. Sigma's SoC solutions combine its semiconductors and software and are a critical component of multiple high-growth, consumer applications that process digital video and audio content, including internet protocol TV, or IPTV, high definition DVD players, high definition TVs, or HDTVs, and portable media players. Headquartered in Milpitas, Calif., Sigma Designs also has sales representatives in the United States, Belgium, China, Japan and Taiwan and sells its products through a third-party distributor in Korea. For more information, please visit Sigma Designs' web site at www.sigmadesigns.com.