New York, USA, Nov. 10, 2000 - Hauppauge Digital, Inc. (NASDAQ:HAUP), the leading developer and manufacturer of analog and digital video, TV and data broadcast receiver products for personal computers, today announced the launch of their WinTV-HD, which enables PCs to receive and display high definition digital TV on a PC screen.
WinTV-HD is the first high definition digital TV receiver board for PCs allowing the reception, decoding and display of all 18 ATSC digital TV formats in a resizable window on the PC display, without the need for an internal cable connection to the graphics card. In addition to being able to watch TV-in-a-window, the WinTV-HD can display high definition TV full screen using either the PC's display or an external large screen HDTV monitor.
WinTV-HD uses the most advanced VSB/QAM demodulator technology on the market, assuring users of superior off-air reception, as well as the ability to receive in-the-clear digital cable programming when it is deployed by cable operators. With its dual analog and digital capability, the WinTV-HD is an ideal product as the FCC-mandated transition from analog to digital transmission progresses over the next few years. There are currently 166 digital television stations broadcasting in 56 major cities.
The Dolby Digital (AC-3) audio portion of the digital broadcast is decoded in software and output to the PC's speakers; an S/PDIF digital output is also provided for interfacing to "Home Theater" audio systems. When tuned to an analog TV station, WinTV-HD's dbx-TV noise reduction circuitry delivers crisp, clear stereo audio.
Ken Plotkin, Hauppauge Digital's Chief Executive Officer, stated, "WinTV-HD joins our very successful line of analog TV cards. We expect that WinTV-HD will secure a strong presence in the consumer market, particularly with sports fans and the technology-minded. With its ability to output the decoded digital picture to a consumer's large-screen HDTV monitor, WinTV-HD will help drive the PC into the living room as the nexus of the digital home entertainment system!"
"'VIP Connectors' and 'Feature Cables' have always been troublesome in PC video systems," added Ken Aupperle, Hauppauge's President. He continued, "They are often plagued with compatibility problems, and many newer graphics cards no longer have them at all! In the mid-1990's, Hauppauge was the first analog television board maker to eliminate them completely, initially through innovative use of video overlay technology, and later by moving the live video over the high-speed PCI bus. It's only natural that Hauppauge is again first in implementing these benefits in the digital television board market."
Compatible with Microsoft Windows 98, WindowsMe and Windows2000 and occupying a single PCI slot, WinTV-HD is easy to install. And at just 7.5 inches long, WinTV-HD fits all popular PC's. An external cable assembly is provided, allowing connection of analog camcorder, VCR and camera inputs even when the PC is built into a cabinet or installed below a desk. An integrated IR remote control rounds out the package, without requiring additional slots or ports on the user's PC.
This is Hauppauge's third digital TV product for the U.S. market. The previous products were the "AirModem" and the WinTV-D both introduced in 1999. WinTV-HD will be available for $399 starting November 15 directly from Hauppauge's Web Store at www.hauppauge.com.
WinTV-HD will be demonstrated at Comdex2000 in Las Vegas, November 13 to 17, at Hauppauge's booth number L6026.
Hauppauge Digital, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAUP) is the leading developer and manufacturer of analog and digital video, TV and data broadcast receiver products for personal computers. Through its Hauppauge Computer Works, Inc. subsidiary in the U.S. and its Hauppauge Digital Europe Sarl subsidiary in Europe, the Company designs and manufactures analog and digital video boards for TV-in-a-window, digital video editing and video conferencing. The Company is headquartered in Hauppauge, New York, with sales offices in Germany, London, Paris, The Netherlands, Sweden, Italy, Singapore and California. The Company's Internet web site can be found at http://www.hauppauge.com.
