National Semiconductor introduces new set top platform
The platform supports Microsoft TV Advanced software and Bsquare's SDK for Microsoft TV; Microsoft Windows CE; Liberate TV Navigator; WindRiver's VxWorks; and Linux operating systems is fully enabled for TV broadcast services enhanced with the Internet, time-delay recording, multimedia gateway, video-on-demand, and streaming video.
The Geode SP1SC10 reference platform integrates National analog chips with the Geode x86 processor. National contracted with Inprimis Technologies to design the Geode SP1SC10. Inprimis Technologies, a wholly owned subsidiary of Inprimis Inc. provides hardware and software design services for interactive TV set-top boxes and other Internet/information appliances.
The platform will be demonstrated at Comdex in Las Vegas, later this month. The demonstration and development platform includes a full set of multimedia functions and peripheral interfaces. The system includes: National Semiconductor's SC1200 Geode processor, 10/100-Mb/s Ethernet controller, IEEE-1394 controller with two ports and AC97 Codec; Sigma Designs' EM8400 MPEG A/V decoder; Philips' SAA7114 video decoder; a SmartCard interface; V.90 modem; and two PCI expansion slots.
The SP1SC10 is priced at $2,000 and includes a sample platform and software. The Geode SC1200 processor is priced below $50 for quantities of 10,000 units.
Edited by Tom Butts