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 24 /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 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," 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 (NYSE:TXN) 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 (NYSE: TMS; Euronext Paris: 18453) provides services, systems and technology to help its Media & Entertainment clients -- content creators, content distributors and users of its technology -- 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. http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20010105/NEF016LOGO http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: Texas Instruments Incorporated CONTACT: Maxime Boiron, +33-4-93-22-16-55, or , or Christy Brunton, +1-281-274-5805, or , both of Texas Instruments Incorporated. Please do not publish these numbers or email addresses. Web site: http://www.ti.com/ http://www.awox.com/ http://www.thomson.net/

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