Philips Semiconductors announces TriMedia processor Internet radio design win
Low-cost TriMedia media processor supports broad range of audio Internet appliance applications
Philips Semiconductors, a division of Royal Philips Electronics, today announced that its Philips TriMedia™ processor has been selected to power Philips Consumer Electronics' highly advanced FW-i1000, an Internet radio mini shelf system. The FW-i1000 is the first true audio convergence product that combines a CD mini shelf system with Internet audio.
The FW-i1000 takes full advantage of the Philips TriMedia TM-1300 processor, and is optimized for low-cost, high performance digital appliances. Philips Consumer Electronics' selection of the TM-1300 underscores the TriMedia processor's flexibility and cost advantages to support communications, control functions, user interface and audio processing in the FW-i1000 Internet audio system.
"Philips' TriMedia processor is the ideal processor to run the Internet audio functions of the FW-i1000, as it enables Philips Consumer Electronics to deliver the most advanced features to the emerging Internet appliance audio market," said Jean Marc Matteini, General Manager, Philips Consumer Electronics Internet Audio. "Using the TM-1300, the FW-i1000's innovative design supports a broadband Internet connection and processes high bit-rate audio streams to provide high quality Internet radio stations from all over the world, as well as MP3 streams from consumers' PCs."
"We are pleased to have Philips TriMedia processor selected as the media processor for the FW-i1000," said Jan Grotenbreg, Director of Marketing, TriMedia Product Segment. "Traditionally, the TM-1300 has been used for video applications. However, its flexibility and performance combined with its low cost make it the perfect solution for the FW-i1000. Our next venture in Internet appliances will focus on designing a processor for audio-only applications that will dramatically reduce the processor cost even further."
The FW-i1000 uses a broadband connection established through a home network to connect users to Internet radio channels around the world. The Internet radio allows consumers to sort radio stations by genre, region and language and uses standard IP communications protocol along with MP3 audio decoding standard. It can also be used to playback MP3 files from a PC. In addition, the radio can also be upgraded with software to support new services in the future due to the programmable TriMedia processor.
A single, low cost Philips TM-1300 processor can support most audio/video encoding and decoding standards, communications, Internet browsing, the Java™ Virtual Machine, system control and GUI functions needed for Internet appliances. For additional information about Philips TriMedia products, please visit www.trimedia.philips.com.
Philips Semiconductors, which had annual revenues of approximately US$5 billion in 1999, designs and manufactures semiconductors and silicon systems platforms. Philips Semiconductors is spearheading the emerging field of systems on silicon solutions with the innovative Nexperia™ platform and VLSI Velocity™ tool set. The company's Sea-of-IP™ design methodology allows plug and play intellectual property blocks for easily customizable products. The company is a leader in communications, consumer, PC peripherals and automotive semiconductors, which are key applications for convergence in end-user products. Philips Semiconductors is headquartered in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, and has operations throughout the world. For more information: www.philips.semiconductors.com.