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Toshiba Announces Cell Based A/V Reference Design
Toshiba Corp. has developed a "Cell" next-generation microprocessor based A/V reference design for consumer electronics manufacturers. Shipments are expected to start in the second quarter of 2006.
What first draws attention is this reference design contains almost every necessary peripheral such as an HDD, a DVD drive, a terrestrial digital broadcast tuner, a D4 terminal, an AC power supply and a cooling system. The reference design, which looks like a completed product, is well ahead of other semiconductor manufacturers' current development platforms. "This reference design was a challenge for us," said a company spokesperson. "We intended to show our commitment to the idea that today's semiconductor manufacturers must offer a platform to this extent to enable development of digital consumer products."
The main board is embedded with two terrestrial digital broadcast tuners, a satellite broadcast tuner, a terrestrial analog tuner, main memory, a power supply network and other components. The case houses peripherals including a DVD drive and an HDD capable of storing HDTV content. Its output interfaces include HDMI and D4 jacks. Toshiba's "SCC (Super Companion Chip)," announced at the "HOT CHIPS" event in August 2005, is used as a Cell companion chip.
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