ViXS Systems Ports Orb Embedded Solution onto XCode(TM) Family of ICs

Orb Embedded Solution brings content virtualization to the Consumer
Electronics world using ViXS hardware-based transcoding

TORONTO, Feb. 20 /PRNewswire/ - Orb Networks and ViXS Systems today
announced the porting of the Orb Embedded Solution (OeS) onto the ViXS
XCode(TM) family of products.
"ViXS chipsets are powerful hardware-based transcoding solutions which
expand the recording and playback capabilities of Consumer Electronics (CE)
devices," said Sally Daub, President and CEO of ViXS Systems. "Our
cost-effective, feature-rich solutions enable the transition of existing
digital TV distribution networks into tomorrow's hybrid world of
MPEG2/H.264-based broadcast/broadband delivery. As new types of TVs get
connected, as set-top boxes and personal video recorders connect to Pay-TV
services, and as broadband video offerings over the internet proliferate, ViXS
chipsets will help today's CE devices move in the direction of tomorrow's CE
services."
The OeS platform illustrates the power of the ViXS chipset and puts the
chipset in contact with the computing and networking community, whether in the
home or through networks. Subsequently, devices and services enabled by the
Orb platform detect the transcoding resource, and can then direct media -
which require processing - to this available resource.
"Ultimately, consumers want to pick their media, pick their screen, and
press play," said Joe Costello, Chairman and CEO of Orb Networks. "The OeS
platform enables device manufacturers to build better and synergistic product
families because it bridges the gaps between content formats, media location,
playback location, and user interface."
ViXS offers a family of chipsets that support solutions used in today's
high-volume digital TVs, CE products, portable media players, as well as
tomorrow's hybrid systems. The XCode(TM) family of ICs provide the foundation
for numerous in-demand CE applications such as quick conversion of video
content from one format to another and HD/SD video
transcoding/decoding/encoding. Other features and benefits of ViXS chipsets
include:
- Conversion support for MPEG4 AVC, MPEG4 Part 2, MPEG2, VC1/WM9
- Bitrate, resolution and format conversion
- High-speed transcoding up to 10x real-time
- Support for iPod, iPhone(TM), PSP(TM) and other portable media player
(PMP) formats

The OeS is a distributed, dynamic, flexible platform that powers and
manages multiple devices, applications and services, and also enables
transparent communication of media catalogs and computing capabilities. It is
available for embedded operating systems, numerous programming languages, and
is network protocol independent.
About Orb Networks, Inc.
------------------------
Orb Networks is an award-winning developer of software and services that
unlock the digital media stored on personal computers. Orb MyCasting gives
consumers secure, free, instant, and everywhere-access to everything from
their photos and video to TV and music on virtually Web-enabled device. The
company's partners and affiliates include: AOL Winamp, AMD, Creative Labs,
Hauppauge, Hutchison, Nokia, Orange and Vodafone. Orb Networks is a privately
held company in Emeryville, Calif. For more information about Orb Networks and
the Orb MyCasting service, please visit corp.orb.com.
Contact information:
--------------------
Ron Perrotta
Orb Networks Inc.
(650) 814-0502
ron.perrotta@orb.com

About ViXS Systems, Inc.
------------------------
ViXS Systems Inc. is a fabless semiconductor company enabling advanced
video processing technologies for top-tier Consumer Electronic (CE) and
Personal Computer (PC) companies. The company has developed advanced video
codecs with unprecedented capabilities for processing, managing, protecting
and distributing broadcast-quality video. ViXS supplies IC solutions and full
production reference designs to the world's top CE and PC manufacturers, OEMs
and ODMs. ViXS XCode(TM) video processors are deployed worldwide in a variety
of designs such as IPTV/cable set-top boxes, multimedia PC boards, digital
TVs, PVRs, and Blu-ray and HD DVD products. Unique video technologies
developed by ViXS, such as encoding, transcoding and decoding, provide CE and
PC manufacturers with the necessary feature differentiators they need to
become leaders in their respective markets. An additional ingredient for the
success of these products is ViXS' support of worldwide Conditional Access
(CA) and Digital Rights Management (DRM) whereby one product platform can
support worldwide coverage. To date, ViXS has issued and filed over 100
patents. Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, ViXS is a global company with
offices located worldwide. For more information, visit www.vixs.com.
Contact information:
--------------------
Tony Swierkot
ViXS Systems Inc.
(416) 646-2000 X331
tswierkot@vixs.com

SOURCE ViXS Systems Inc.

Ron Perrotta, Orb Networks Inc., (650) 814-0502, ron.perrotta@orb.com; Tony
Swierkot, ViXS Systems Inc., (416) 646-2000 X331, tswierkot@vixs.com