(DVRs), and home-networking devices.
The new components will support a range of Windows Media 9 Series technologies to help ensure the broadest possible range of applications, the companies say. In addition to standard formats, this support is said to include the following audio and video technologies:
- Windows Media Audio 9 -- Provides playback of high-quality two-channel audio with high compression efficiency
- Windows Media Audio 9 Professional -- Delivers 5.1 or even 7.1 channels of discrete digital surround sound at bit rates as low as 128 kbps, and supports 24-bit resolution and 96 kHz sample rates to deliver better-than-CD quality sound
- Windows Media Video 9 (including VC-9) -- Delivers high video quality at all bit rates and even supports high-definition video, with up to six times the resolution of DVD-video, at approximately one-third the bit rate of MPEG-2
Microsoft says that it expects the use of STMicroelectronics's new ICs within affordable terrestrial, satellite, cable, and IP set-top boxes will enable broadcasters and network operators to deliver more high-quality content directly to the living room, thanks to the compression efficiency of Windows Media 9 Series, thereby increasing the potential audience and improving the economics of content delivery to consumers.
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