VideoLogic Ltd based in Cambridge, Massachusetts launched its new and provisionally-named MPEG Player at the show. This is a VESA Media Channel-based personal computer card that enables the user to run full screen, full motion compact disk-based software on desktop personal computers with MPEG 1 video and audio playback. VideoLogic developed the VESA Media Channel technology in association with IBM Corp and its use means that the hardware requirements are reduced to a single frame buffer and single RAMDAC as opposed to the two of each of these that is required by the old VGA feature connector-based approach, making the product cheaper. The VESA Media Channel is a dedicated real-time mutimedia highway that is independent of the technology and bus and is upgradable with a ribbon connector. It resizes the bus width so that it can communicate with both 16-bit and 32-bit devices. The MPEG Player product also features a SmoothScale algorithm that removes the jagged edges when the image is scaled. The product is aimed at those who want to play VideoCDs and also for putting together training and presentation material. It is compatible with Video for Windows, Windows OLE, the Whitebook VideoCD format and the Mirosoft Windows MCI MPEG command set. It will be available in September for under #250.
