Sonic Brings DVD Capabilities to Pace DVR Set-Top Boxes

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Sonic Solutions, the leader in digital media software, announced today it is demonstrating its Sonic AuthorScript CE engine on a new digital video recorder (DVR) recently launched by Pace Micro Technology, a leading digital set-top box provider specializing in the development of emerging technologies across all television platforms. Pace’s recently announced Tahoe HD DVR is expected to be one of the first DVRs with DVD burning and playback functionality to be compatible with several different North American cable conditional access systems. With AuthorScript CE running on the Broadcom BCM7038 chipset, Multiple System Operators (MSOs) can offer their customers easy, powerful, and reliable DVD play-and-burn features. The Pace Tahoe HD DVR is being demonstrated at the Pace booth (#5958) at this week’s National Cable Television Association (NCTA) Show.

“Sonic is powering the new generation of CD- and DVD -enabled set-tops,” said Jim Taylor, senior vice president and general manager of Sonic’s Advanced Technology Group. “AuthorScript CE makes it possible for cable customers to have a simple, all-in-one device that can save their favorite programs to standard, play-anywhere DVDs while freeing-up recording space on the hard drive . AuthorScript CE is crafted from Sonic’s powerful Hollywood and PC recording technology, optimized for the consumer electronics environment, providing device manufacturers with an ideal, ready-made solution that makes it easier and faster to integrate these new capabilities into a variety of set-top products.”

Sonic’s collaboration with Pace is the latest in a series of recent licensing and development relationships that Sonic has formed to broadly deploy its AuthorScript technology beyond the traditional PC and into the CE market. At CES in January 2005, Sonic announced that Broadcom, a leading provider of highly-integrated semiconductor solutions for broadband communications, has licensed AuthorScript CE for inclusion in Broadcom’s set-top box reference platforms; in late 2004, Sonic announced that cable hardware provider Scientific-Atlanta is embedding AuthorScript CE into its popular DVR set-top boxes. TiVo recently released its popular TiVo ToGo service which is based upon the AuthorScript engine; AuthorScript also provides the DVD formatting and burning functionality built into Microsoft’s Windows XP Media Center Edition. “The traditional lines between PCs and CEs are definitely blurring,” explained Taylor, “and at Sonic we expect our technology to foster new digital media experiences on both sides of the convergence equation.” Advertisement

Pace is demonstrating its complete family of products for use in all of today’s current US cable systems. The newest members of its set-top box family include the Tahoe HD DVR and Chicago SD all digital products.

About Sonic AuthorScript CE

Optimized for the consumer electronics environment, AuthorScript CE allows CE manufacturers to easily and flexibly incorporate DVD /CD recording and playback into consumer electronics devices such as DVRs. The AuthorScript CE software development kit (SDK) supports video and audio data conversion, formatting and burning to DVD -Video and Video CD, data recording to disc, and music CD ripping, burning, and playback.

AuthorScript CE is part of the AuthorScript family of media engines and offers all the advantages that have made Sonic's software the preeminent solution for DVD /CD recording and authoring on the PC, including comprehensive support for multiple formats, unsurpassed playback compatibility, and OpenDVD for reading and re-editing recorded discs.

AuthorScript has been licensed by industry-leading companies including Adobe, AOL, Avid, Broadcom, Kodak , Microsoft, Scientific-Atlanta, and Sony . It is also the underlying engine in Sonic's DVD applications including MyDVD, DVDit, and RecordNow, which are bundled by major OEMs such as Adaptec, Compaq, Fujitsu, Hewlett-Packard, Hitachi, Matrox , NEC, Panasonic , Philips, Plextor, Pioneer, Sony , ViewSonic, and many others.

About Sonic Solutions

Sonic Solutions (NASDAQ: SNIC) is the leader in digital media software, providing a broad range of interoperable, platform independent software tools and applications for creative professionals, business and home users, and technology partners. Sonic’s products range from advanced DVD authoring systems and interactive content delivery technologies used to produce the majority of Hollywood DVD film releases, to the award-winning Roxio- and Sonic-branded CD and DVD creation, playback, and backup solutions that have become the premier choice for consumers, prosumers, and business users worldwide.

Sonic products are globally available from major retailers, online at Sonic.com and Roxio.com, and are bundled with PCs, after-market drives, and consumer electronic devices. Sonic’s digital media creation engine is the de facto standard and has been licensed by major software and hardware manufacturers, including Adobe, Microsoft, Scientific-Atlanta, Sony , and many others. Sonic Solutions is headquartered in Marin County, California.

For more information visit http://www.sonic.com.