nVidia e Ati con Microsoft per i sistemi basati sul Windows

[Staff]

<br>I due colossi della produzione mondiale di processori grafici, hanno annunciato il loro supporto hardware e software per i sistemi basati su Windows XP Media Center Edition di Microsoft. Di seguito i comunicati stampa.<p>
<blockquote><i>MARKHAM, Ontario – ATI Technologies Inc. (TSX: ATY, NASDAQ: ATYT) announced new program support for system integrators to create exciting home entertainment solutions for new Microsoft® Windows® XP Media Center Edition systems. ATI is expanding its support to the system integrator channel. Available in August 2004, the ATI evaluation kit for system builders will be offered through ATI’s global Channel Partner Program and will feature a wide array of award-winning graphics and video technology solutions. <p>

ATI is the only provider of graphics, software and TV solutions for Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition systems with dedicated system integrator support and resources. <p>

Frank Azor, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Alienware Worldwide Product Group, said, “Alienware is delighted to work with ATI on our current DHS family of Microsoft Media Center Edition PCs. ATI’s amazing RADEON™ X800 continues their line of best in breed graphics cards, and RADEON™ X600 and RADEON™ X300 graphics cards provide affordable performance to the new target market of PC home entertainment consumers. ATI’s excellent support channel for partners was part of Alienware’s decision to go with ATI for new Media Center Edition machines.”<p>

ATI graphics and TV products currently certified under the Designed for Windows logo program will be extended to include certification for Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition. These additional Windows XP Media Center Edition technical requirements are designed by Microsoft to enable consumers and partners to make more informed decisions for PC purchases.<p>

“ATI’s complete approach to delivering graphics and video solutions at every price point will encourage growth of Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition and help support our system builder channel partners,” said Kurt Kolb, General Manager, Worldwide System Builder Channel and License Compliance, Microsoft Corp. “In addition, ATI’s tuners, graphics cards and drivers are all backed by dedicated direct support which will further enable system builders to design unique entertainment solutions with the latest hardware and software technologies in the marketplace.”<p>

Matt Skynner, Director of Discrete Desktop Graphics, ATI Technologies, said: “With award-winning RADEON™ graphics and multimedia products, ATI is the best choice for system integrators when creating new solutions for Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition.”<p>

Offered exclusively to ATI Channel Partner Program members, ATI’s evaluation kit for Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition is a “one-stop solution” for trial systems of Media Center Edition-ready PCs. Backed by ATI’s industry-leading graphics, the kit will be offered in two versions. The AGP solution will include RADEON™ 9250, eHOME WONDER™, Media Center remote control, and supported software, while the PCI-Express™ solution will feature RADEON™ X600 series, eHOME WONDER, Media Center remote control and supported software. Future ATI technologies that support Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition will also be available through these kits.<p>

ATI has the breadth of solutions that Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition requires: digital and analog TV tuner cards, graphics cards, and complimentary software solutions. Based on ATI’s award winning TV-on-the-PC technology, ATI’s eHOME WONDER is a hardware-based low profile PCI TV solution that features hardware MPEG-2 encoding allowing PC manufacturers to support Windows XP Media Center Edition across multiple processor platforms. An optional FM tuner is also available on the eHOME WONDER<p>

ATI supports system integrators through specialized programs designed to enable high quality solutions based on ATI’s award-winning graphics and video technology. ATI offers industry-leading dedicated direct support for all system integrators through membership with the ATI Channel Partner Program. System integrators are encouraged to visit ATI.com for information about obtaining the ATI development kits. For more information and to register with the ATI Channel Partner Program, visit http://www.ati.com/partnerprogram/index.html<p>

ATI Technologies is participating in the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference 2004, Toronto, Canada. The conference enables Microsoft Certified Partners to gain insight on business trends, initiatives and Microsoft strategies that can help build business success.</i></blockquote><p>
<p><blockquote><i> MICROSOFT WORLDWIDE PARTNER CONFERENCE—TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA—JULY 12, 2004—NVIDIA Corporation (Nasdaq: NVDA), the worldwide leader in visual processing solutions, today announced availability of its comprehensive Media Center product suite to system builders planning to introduce new PCs based on Microsoft® Windows® XP Media Center Edition (MCE) this holiday season. NVIDIA’s MCE product suite, established with input from Microsoft, gives system builders worldwide the opportunity to take advantage of competitively-priced hardware bundles. These bundles include NVIDIA’s cutting-edge graphics processing units (GPUs), TV tuners and multimedia software technologies, each designed to meet the needs of PC manufacturers looking to deliver the best media center experience on desktop and notebook PCs. <p>

“Microsoft’s announcement that it will license Windows XP Media Center Edition to PC system builders is great news for the industry,” said David Roman, vice president of corporate marketing at NVIDIA. “System builders now have the opportunity to broaden their product portfolios and deliver PCs geared for home entertainment. NVIDIA’s high-performance MCE product suite includes the most compatible and reliable hardware and software components to help system builders bring to market new media center PCs that deliver a stunning user experience.”<p>

Already the technology provider of choice for the majority of PCs based on the Windows XP Media Center Edition shipping today, NVIDIA has updated its MCE product suite of hardware and software technologies to include: <p>
-NVIDIA GeForce™ 6 series and GeForce FX GPUs for desktop and notebook PCs. Top-to-bottom product families that enable superior high-definition video playback and high-performance 3D gaming. NVIDIA’s video processing engine (VPE), a built in feature on select GPUs, delivers a cost-effective solution for enhanced viewing of all video content. <br>

-NVIDIA nForce™2 and nForce3 media and communications processors (MCPs). The ultimate foundation for Media Center PCs, NVIDIA MCPs feature integrated USB and Firewire ports for connecting a broad range of digital media devices, as well as advanced audio technologies with Dolby™ Digital surround sound. <br>

-Media Center-ready software. NVIDIA decoder drivers power crisp DVD playback, while integrated menu extensions give users full control of display and audio settings from the Windows XP Media Center Edition interface and remote control. <br>

-NVIDIA NVTV analog and digital TV tuner cards. Low-cost, low-profile hardware solution with MPEG-2 encoding delivers high-quality TV viewing over analog and digital signals.<p>
“NVIDIA’s comprehensive approach to delivering a broad range of products will be invaluable to the growth of Media Center Edition and our channel partners,” said Kurt Kolb, general manager, Worldwide System Builder Channel and License Compliance at Microsoft Corp. “By focusing the key components needed to deliver a top-notch Media Center experience, such as optimized video and TV playback and end-user controls, NVIDIA is empowering System Builders to deliver customized solutions with the latest hardware and software technologies – helping take the Media Center experience to the next level.”<p>

Jordan Malkin, operations manager of MicroStandard, one of the system builders showcasing a new series of PCs based on Windows XP Media Center Edition at this week’s Microsoft Worldwide Channel Partner Conference added, “MicroStandard is delighted to work with NVIDIA on our Microsoft Media Center Edition PCs. NVIDIA's awesome GeForce 6800 Ultra and GeForce FX 5700LE graphics cards provide credibility to our target market of PC enthusiasts. The company's unified drivers work seamlessly with MCE, enabling us to meet our customers' demands for a true powerhouse PC."<p>

In additional news, NVIDIA also announced that its graphics and TV tuner cards will be considered for the “Designed for Windows XP Media Center Edition” logo, a new certification program announced today by Microsoft to identify third-party products and technologies that have met a high-quality bar and are capable of delivering a great computing experience on PCs featuring Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition. Details around this extension of the Designed for Windows XP logo program will be available later this fall.<p>

For additional information about the NVIDIA MCE product suite, please visit http://www.nvidia.com.









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