The BCM7440 incorporates dual MIPS RISC processor cores along with a 2D graphics engine and dual-stream, multi-format video decoder. Broadcom says the chip and accompanying software stack support both HD DVD and the competing Blu-ray format.
BCM7440 function diagram
(Click to enlarge)
Typical BCM7440-based HD DVD / Blu-ray player design
(Click to enlarge)Microsoft says that HD DVD discs "consistently outsell and outrank similar titles of competing optical disc formats." More than 240 movie titles are currently available in HD format, and major studios have announced over 300 HD DVD movies for 2007, according to the company.
A key feature of HD DVD players is interactivity, including such capabilities as picture-in-picture and director's commentary, according to Microsoft. The company says that its implementation of HD DVD's interactive layer, HDi, is based on "easy-to-program Web standards that provide studios with a familiar and simple development environment." Planned interactive offerings for this year include the ability to download new trailers and share favorite bookmarked scenes with other HD DVD owners, the company adds.
Amir Majidimehr, VP of Microsoft's Consumer Media Technology group, stated, "We've seen strong sales of HD DVD players and movies so far, but using this new platform, companies can produce HD DVD players in record time." Additionally, "the power and high integration of BCM7440, combined with the Windows CE 6.0 HD DVD platform, results in even lower cost players for consumers than the high value products already in the market," he added.
Several high-volume manufacturers are already planning to use the new platform, according to the companies. The first players incorporating the new platform are expected to ship during the second quarter of this year.
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