Metro Link Joins Stream Machine and Sigma Designs To Support Personal Video Recording for Advanced Set-Top Boxes

MILPITAS, Calif. - September 19, 2001 - Metro Link announced today that they will provide integrated support for the newly introduced Harmony reference design into their Metro Media PVR architecture. Metro Link will be working with both Stream Machine and Sigma Designs to support mutual customers developing Advanced Set-Top Boxes and PVR products using the Harmony reference design. Metro Media support for the Harmony Reference Design will allow customers to retain a proprietary branded look and feel for their PVR products in an open hardware and software environment without sacrificing functionality or performance.

Advanced Set-Top Boxes, alternately known as "convergence" products because they bring together video, voice, and data features in one package, offer consumers full control over their viewing experience by providing pause, instant record and other time-shifting features during live broadcasts, as well as offering the ability to record one or more programs at specified times in the future. The Harmony reference design cost-effectively adds this functionality by providing a high-quality viewing experience on low cost x86 platforms running LINUX. It is able to do this by leveraging the power of Stream Machine's SM2288 MPEG audio/video codec and the flexibility of Sigma Designs' EM8475 DVD/MPEG-4 decoder.

This advanced hardware will be optimized by Metro Link, who will provide dedicated support and integration for the Harmony reference design within their Metro-Media PVR architecture. This modular architecture conveniently provides an easily customizable user interface which is integrated with a full media infrastructure layer. Metro Link will be working with both Stream Machine and Sigma Designs to support mutual customers developing set-top boxes and PVR devices using the Harmony reference design.

"The complete solution offered by the Harmony reference design is a key piece in promoting full-scale PVR deployment in set top boxes," said Greg Lafferty, Vice-President of Sales for Metro Link. "Our Metro Media Toolkit for the Harmony Reference Design offers an integrated turn-key PVR solution which provides customers with a powerful, flexible way to offer a branded look and feel. We look forward to working with the customers of Stream Machine and Sigma Designs to bring a new class of product into the mainstream."

"Metro Link's support of the Harmony Reference Design will ensure dedicated customer support, integration and rapid deployment of our hardware in advanced set top boxes," said Ken Lowe, Vice-President of Business Development for Sigma Designs. "Adding PVR functionality to the set-top box offers service providers the opportunity to roll out potential revenue-generating services such as personal video recording and video on demand, and our solution is timed perfectly for the needs of this market."

"The Harmony solution is ideal for OEMs who wish to capitalize on the convergence wave by building custom-branded products on top of an open x86 hardware and LINUX software environment," stated Brian Heuckroth, Vice-President of Marketing for Stream Machine. "We are convinced that there is world-wide demand for this technology, and that our combination of chips, system design, and middleware will enable OEMs to offer the most cost-effective, branded solution with the highest-quality video available."

Metro Link's Metro-Media PVR Tool Kit

Metro-Media with PVR is a modular and flexible software toolkit that can be custom-built to individual specifications. The toolkit allows you to build full-featured PVR solutions quickly without worrying about the hardware details during application development. The Metro-Media PVR Tool Kit includes the Metro-Media Device Connection (MMDC) server, and a variety of hardware support. A typical PVR application will include modules supporting: Audio/video capture/compression and decompression; TV tuning (DVB,NTSC,ATSC); TV picture control; User input device; and Disk Storage; Electronic Program Guides; and PVR Engine.

The MMDC server acts as a communications hub. It routes commands between the various plug-in modules and provides a unified interface through which other system components communicate with hardware drivers and with each other. The PVR engine coordinates activity of the various hardware modules in order to host PVR functionality, such as: Time-Shifting, Program Recording, and Disk Space Management. There is also an EPG Manager, which provides integrated support for TV listing information, and a complete TV Tool Kit designed to simplify development of user interfaces optimized for TV output. The optional Universal Plug 'n Play module allows remote devices to control the PVR and access the Electronic Program Guide data using standard UPnP services.

About Stream Machine

Stream Machine is at the heart of digital home entertainment, providing cost-effective semiconductor solutions that enable industry-leading video and audio compression. Stream Machine's proprietary compression technology offers the highest quality video at the lowest possible bit-rates and is compatible with all the important consumer standards, including MPEG-2, MP3, and Dolby Digital. Stream Machine's high level of integration provides the low system cost necessary to bring top-quality digital video and audio entertainment to consumers at a price they can't resist. Cirrus Logic recently announced a definitive agreement to purchase Stream Machine which is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter. For more information, please visit www.streammachine.com. Phone 408.435.9166 (USA) or 86-10-8453-4071/4075 (Beijing, China).

About Sigma Designs, Inc.

Sigma Designs specializes in silicon-based MPEG decoding for streaming video, progressive DVD playback, and advanced digital Set-Top Boxes. The company's award-winning REALmagic( Video Streaming Technology is used in both commercial and consumer applications providing highly integrated solutions for high-quality decoding of MPEG-1, MPEG-2, and MPEG-4. Headquartered in Milpitas, California, the company also has sales offices in China, Europe, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea and Taiwan. For more information, please visit the company's web site at www.sigmadesigns.com. Phone 408.262.9003

About Metro Link, Inc.

Metro Link specializes in analog/digital video software solutions, customer integration support and 2D/3D2d/3d and MPEG support for embedded systems. Metro Link's solutions are deployed in single board computers, system on chip (SOC) devices, internet appliances and set top boxes. Metro Link also offers a suite of device connectivity solutions focusing on Universal Plug n Play for consumer electronics, home appliances, white goods, micro controllers, and computer networking products.

Metro Link's multi-media infrastructure solutions include Metro-Media PVR and DVD multimedia software, which provides a complete and scalable PVR/DVR media support layer and extensible architecture supporting simultaneous record/playback of video with synchronized audio. To learn more, visit www.metrolink.com. For more information, please contact Greg Lafferty at greg@metrolink.com, 1-800-821-8315; phone 954-660-2500; fax 954-938-1982.All trademarks are property of their respective holders.