AUSTIN, TX. – August 16, 2000 – Cirrus Logic Inc. (NASDAQ:CRUS) today announced that Compaq Computer Corporation (NYSE: CPQ) has selected its Maverick™ EP7209 Market Specific Processor (MSP) to power the new Compaq iPAQ Personal Audio Player PA-1. The Compaq design win extends Cirrus Logic’s leadership position in the portable Internet audio arena and reinforces the company’s position as one of the industry’s most innovative system-on-chip (SOC) suppliers.
The iPAQ Personal Audio Player, announced August 15, is a hand-held device that enables users to rapidly download digital music files from the Internet through a USB interface to a PC, and plays back crystal clear digital audio sound. The iPAQ PA-1 is equipped with 64 MB MultiMediaCard flash memory which can hold up to two hours of digital-quality music and is compatible with multiple music formats, including MP3, WMA and AAC.
“The new PA-1 utilizes Cirrus Logic’s Maverick processor to put CD-quality digital music in the palm of your hand,” said Kevin Kyle, general manager, Internet and e-Tronics Division, Consumer Products Group, Compaq Computer Corporation. “The Maverick processor’s programmability, ultra-low power consumption and small form-factor enables Compaq to deliver a lightweight, stylish and portable digital music device that provides hours of listening enjoyment on the go.”
With the Maverick processor’s ability to decode MP3, WMA and AAC sound files, the iPAQ Personal Audio Player will be capable of handling the most popular audio compression formats available in the market. In addition, the Maverick processor can be quickly modified to support newly emerging audio compression standards (codecs), or add valuable features such as equalization, without redesigning the players.
“The Maverick family of MSPs offers the flexibility to design a variety of Internet devices, from portable audio players like the iPAQ PA-1 to complicated, networked home stereo systems,” said Matthew Perry, vice president and general manager of Cirrus Logic’s Embedded Processors Division. “The highly integrated Maverick MSP delivers the performance, flexibility, security, and time-to-market features needed to create innovative Internet entertainment appliances.”
The Maverick EP7209 processor provides high-quality audio decoding for the most popular Internet audio coding standards. As an off-the-shelf MSP, the Maverick processor features a programmable ARM®
processor core, the ARM720T, which not only allows decoding of audio in real time, but also provides the ability to run multiple popular operating systems, including Windows CE, Linux and others.
Further, taking into account the latest digital rights management concerns music content providers, Cirrus Logic’s Maverick processor is the first chip shipping which conforms to SDMI standards and supports both the Windows® Media technologies and InterTrust® Rights PD management solutions for securing digital rights for artists and music content providers.
Cirrus Logic is already one of the top suppliers of embedded processors for portable Internet audio devices for popular brand names like S3 Diamond Rio, Creative Labs and Nike, according to Forward Concepts, an industry research firm.
About Cirrus Logic
Cirrus Logic is a premier supplier of high-performance analog and DSP chip solutions for Internet entertainment electronics. Building on its global market share leadership in audio integrated circuits and its rich mixed-signal patent portfolio, the company targets high-volume audio, storage and communications applications. Cirrus Logic sells its products under the Crystal®, Maverick™ and 3Ci™ brands as well as its own name. Founded in 1984 in Silicon Valley, Cirrus Logic operates from headquarters in Austin and major sites located in Fremont, Calif. and Broomfield, Colo. as well as offices in Europe, Japan and Asia. More information about Cirrus Logic is available at www.cirrus.com.
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Safe Harbor Provision
Any forward looking statements and all other statements that may be made in this news release that are not historical facts are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially. Please refer to Cirrus Logic’s current Form 10-K and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for more information on the risk factors that could cause actual results to differ.
Note to editors: Cirrus Logic, Maverick, MaverickLock and MaverickCrunch are registered trademarks of Cirrus Logic Inc. All other product names noted herein may be trademarks of their respective holders.
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Bill Schnell Manager Public Relations (512) 851-4084 |
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