Imagination demonstrates revolution in audio with complete connected radio/audio IP solution

Comprehensive audio codec portfolio and internet connectivity based on META multi-threaded processing/DSP and optimised software

Las Vegas -- 8th January 2009 -- Imagination Technologies, a leader in system-on-chip Intellectual Property (SoC IP), is showing its licensable META HTPP-audio platform solution for multi-standard audio at CES 2009. Powered by Imagination's META IP cores and software the IP platform is flexible, efficient, and proven in mass production in volume consumer products.

The META HTPP-audio IP platform enables a revolution for audio, delivering a complete solution for ‘connected’ audio products with full Linux capabilities, multi-threading for exceptional real-time performance, and a wide range of state-of-the-art audio codecs, all brought together in a small, flexible, highly-efficient platform.

Imagination’s portfolio of connected radio/audio technologies enable a growing range of ‘connected’ radios including award winning models from UK digital radio leader, PURE. Many of these technologies are also used in the majority of DAB radios, and many 'Internet' radios, not just from PURE, but also brands including Bang & Olufsen, Bose, Philips, Roberts, Sony, TEAC and Tivoli.

The META HTPP-audio solution, the latest addition to Imagination’s META processing roadmap, comprises:

• META HTP hardware multi-threaded processor/DSP IP co
• META Linux, a highly optimised version of the industry standard operating syst
• META CAP (Connected Audio Platform), a complete connectivity middleware solution based on the GStreamer multimedia framework, adapted by Imagination to facilitate the delivery of audio from almost any source
• META AAF (Advanced Audio Framework) , a comprehensive suite of audio codecs implementing all major audio formats including MP2, MP3, AAC, eAAC+, WMA, Dolby Digital, Real, plus audio post-processing tools

When combined with latest ENSIGMA UCC technology, WiFi as well as digital or analogue radio can also be added to the mix, as seen in the EVOKE Flow and AVANTI Flow products from PURE.

Says Tony King-Smith, VP marketing: "The revolutionary META HTTP-audio platform is enabling a new class of connected products that deliver a world of digital content to the user. By bringing all the parts of the system together in one highly optimised IP platform, our customers are able to create complete SoC hardware plus software solutions and bring them to market quickly, When combined with ENSIGMA UCC technologies, complete one chip SoC solutions are enabled, empowering their manufacturing customers to create powerful, flexible connected audio solutions at aggressive price points."

Says Paul Smith, GM, PURE: "Imagination’s META and ENSIGMA technologies form the basis of our advanced PURE EVOKE Flow and AVANTI Flow products. These technologies enable our products’ software capabilities to be taken to a new level, allowing PURE to deliver highly competitive, industry leading consumer products at aggressive price points."

The META HTPP-audio IP platform, and the META Linux, META CAP and META AAF are all available for licensing from Imagination now.

About Imagination's META CAP and META AAF

META CAP (Connected Audio Platform) is a complete Linux-based software solution for META processors that delivers audio from almost any source, including internet radio, flash memory devices, digital home music collections and, when combined with an ENSIGMA UCC Platform, digital or analogue radio.

META AAF (Advanced Audio Framework) is a collection of highly optimised software implementing a wide range of popular audio codecs and post-processing effects, highly tuned to run efficiently on META DSP threads and presented in an easy-to-use framework using component-based stream construction. META AAF can run on a single META thread to provide a self-contained subsystem or be partitioned across multiple threads to optimize loading for complex systems. The META HTP processor supports up to four processor threads, each individually configurable to run general purpose or DSP code.

About PURE’s Flow family of connected audio radios

PURE’s AVANTI Flow and EVOKE Flow products, which both utilise the META HTPP-audio solution, will be demonstrated at CES 2009.

AVANTI Flow has the same 'connected' functionality as EVOKE Flow – recipient of the UK’s 2008 What Hi-Fi? Sound and Vision Radio Product of the Year. PURE’s Flow family of radios combine digital radio with Wi-Fi technology, FM and iPod docking to embrace many different ways of listening to audio including Internet radio stations, DAB digital radio, FM, podcasts, listen again content* and media streaming from local PCs or network storage.

PURE is a division of Imagination Technologies.

About Imagination Technologies

Imagination Technologies Group plc (FTSE:IMG) – a leader in semiconductor System on Chip Intellectual Property (SoC IP) – creates and licenses market-leading embedded graphics, video, display and multi-threaded processors and multi-standard receiver technologies. These IP solutions are complemented by dynamic and extensive developer and middleware ecosystems. Target markets include mobile phone multimedia, handheld multimedia, home consumer entertainment, in-car and mobile computing. Its licensees include leading semiconductor and consumer electronics companies, as well as innovative leading edge start-up and fabless semiconductor companies. Imagination has corporate headquarters in the United Kingdom, with sales and R&D offices worldwide. See: www.imgtec.com.