Video Anywhere: Stretch Announces Production Availability of Its H.264 Scalable Video CODEC

SUNNYVALE, CA, Jul 07 (MARKET WIRE) --
Stretch Inc., the pioneer and leader in software configurable processors,
today announced the integration of its H.264 Scalable Video CODEC (SVC)
into the Stretch Intelligent Encoder. H.264 SVC joins H.264 AVC, MPEG4,
and MJPEG as a plug-in for the Intelligent Encoder framework and is
available for all Stretch reference designs and OEM DVR add-in cards.

H.264 SVC is the next generation video compression technology standardized
by the Joint Video Team of ITU-T and ISO/IEC. H.264 SVC finds particular
value in surveillance applications, where video needs to be transmitted
and stored at different frame rates and resolutions, depending upon
bandwidth or storage limitations. Unique to Stretch's implementation,
H.264 SVC is easily decoded by H.264 AVC compliant decoders. This
combination of flexibility and backward compatibility enables video to be
streamed to and viewed by any network-connected device, making possible
Video Anywhere.

Explaining the flexibility afforded by the new CODEC, Albert Wang, Stretch
CTO and founder, said, "The layered structured of SVC means that the
stream can be resized before being transmitted over networks of
constrained bandwidth. As remote security monitoring becomes more common,
SVC provides operators an easier and more cost effective means of
supporting dispersed locations and mobile personnel."

SVC uses a layered approach to video compression in which a base layer of
minimum resolution, frame rate and quality is compressed first. Additional
layers of incrementally higher frame rate, resolution, or quality are then
encoded using only the information needed to enhance the previous layer to
the desired degree. Once stored on a hard drive, files are easily modified
to remove layers in order to reduce the frame rate, quality, or
resolution, recovering valuable storage space. Stretch's H.264 SVC
implementation includes the ability to extract H.264 AVC compliant
streams in real time, ensuring compatibility with existing H.264
infrastructure.

"SVC is an ideal solution for the challenges faced by the surveillance
industry," said Bob Beachler, Stretch vice president of marketing. "As the
industry moves towards high-definition solutions, either HDcctv or IP
network camera based, the ability to scale video becomes increasingly
critical. The ability to dynamically size video dependent upon bandwidth
constraints or decoder performance realizes the vision of Video Anywhere.
With the release of Stretch SVC, we expect H.264 SVC to rapidly become the
CODEC of choice for the surveillance industry."

The Stretch SVC plug-in for the Intelligent Encoder is available
immediately. Contact Stretch for pricing information.

About Stretch

Stretch Inc. is the world leader in software configurable processors, the
first to embed programmable logic within the processor. Using familiar
C/C++ programming tools, system developers automatically configure
Stretch's off-the-shelf processors to achieve extraordinary performance,
easy and rapid development, significant cost savings, and flexibility to
address diverse markets and changing application needs. Stretch devices
are used in video processing, machine vision and wireless applications
worldwide. For more information, visit www.stretchinc.com.

Stretch and the Stretch logo are registered trademarks of Stretch Inc.

Media Contacts:

Leslie-Ann Campbell
Stretch Inc.
408-543-2754
Email Contact

Patrick Corcoran
Cain Communications
360-314-4732
Email Contact

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