3DsoundSurge Press Release: Defining Storage Convergence

Defining Storage Convergence

Hitachi, Toshiba and Panasonic Host Event for Unveiling of 4.7GB DVD-RAM Drives, Media at PC Expo

Next-generation Rewritable DVD Stores 2-Hour Videos on Bare Disc Media, Provides Cross-drive Support

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 7, 2000-- Hitachi, Toshiba and Panasonic, the industry's leading producers of rewritable DVD drives, will host a briefing during PC Expo to launch 4.7GB DVD-RAM drives and media. The media event will be held at Jacob K. Javits Center, Rooms lC02-1C03, at 9:00 a.m. on June 27. Building on the theme ``DVD-RAM...Defining Storage Convergence,'' the briefing will feature a demonstration that includes capturing video from a DVD camcorder; writing digital content to bare 4.7GB DVD-RAM media; and then playing the content on DVD-ROM drives, DVD players and DVD recorders.

The briefing will also feature presentations on 4.7GB DVD-RAM technology and applications from the host companies and other industry leaders. In addition, more than 40 vendors of products that support the DVD-RAM standard will demonstrate applications ranging from AV to computer, consumer to business. Following the press briefing, the partner demonstrations will be open to PC Expo attendees throughout the show.

4.7GB DVD-RAM Features

-- Recording capacity -- 4.7GB on single-sided disc (full-feature
   movie capacity)
-- More than 100,000 write/rewrite cycles
-- Write and read compatibility with 2.6GB DVD-RAM discs
-- Read compatibility with DVD-ROM, DVD-Video, DVD-Audio, DVD-R discs
-- Read compatibility with CD-formats to provide access to existing
   assets and data
-- Transfer rate of 22Mbits/sec
-- DVD-ROM drive and DVD-Video player support

With the availability of 4.7GB DVD-RAM drives and bare disc rewritable DVD media that can be read by a growing number of DVD-ROM drives and DVD-Video players, DVD-RAM provides a single, high-capacity solution for production and delivery applications, system back-up/recovery, and secondary storage, as well as rich multimedia content development and playback of videos and music.

Industry Participants

A listing of the companies that will be demonstrating DVD-RAM based hardware and software products follows. These companies represent a cross-section of the hundreds of suppliers that are incorporating DVD-RAM and other products into their systems that comply with the DVD Forum's specifications.

Adaptec
AdLib Publishing Systems
ADS Technologies
ASACA
B&M (MpegCarver)
Centura Software
CTI (Computech Int'l)
CyberLink
Cygnet
Daikin U.S. Comtec Labs.
Dantz Development Corp.
Dazzle Multimedia
DV Studio Technologies
EST
GEAR Software
HEURIS
Indigita
InterVideo
Hitachi
IBM
In-System Design
KOM
LaCie
Ligos Technology
Lineo
Maxell
Media 100
Mission Critical Linux
Panasonic Industrial Co.
Pinnacle Micro
Pinnacle Systems
ProSoft Engineering
Ricoh Silicon Valley
SAI
Sigma Designs
Spruce Technologies
Sonic Solutions
Toshiba
Tracer Technologies
US Design
VERITAS Software
VITEC Multimedia
VOB

Multiple Sources

Hitachi and Panasonic have announced plans to ship 4.7GB drives in the second quarter of this year. More announcements by other manufacturers are expected. The following media manufacturers have announced that they will release next-generation media at the same time:

CMC Magnetic Corp.
Eastman KODAK
Fuji-Film
Imation
JVC
Maxell
Mitsubishi Chemical
Panasonic
Ritek
TDK
Teijin
Toray

Additional Information

Additional information on theme ``DVD-RAM...Defining Storage Convergence,'' including the agenda, Frequently Asked Questions about DVD-RAM, and presentation materials are available on the Web at www.virtualpress.office.com.

Hitachi America, Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd. (NYSE: HIT - news), Japan, markets and manufactures a broad range of electronics, computer systems, consumer electronics and semiconductor products, and provides industrial equipment and services throughout the U.S. Additional information is available at Hitachi America's web site at http://www.hitachi.com.

Toshiba America Electronic Components (TAEC) Storage Device Division is the North American design, manufacturing, marketing and sales arm of Toshiba Corporation, a global technology innovator. Toshiba SDD markets high-quality peripherals to original equipment manufacturers, value-added resellers, value-added dealers, systems integrators and distributors in the United States. For additional information, please visit Toshiba SDD's Web site at http://www.sdd.toshiba.com.

Panasonic is the best known brand name of Osaka, Japan-based Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (NYSE: MC - news), one of the world's leading producers of electronic and electric products for consumer business and industrial use. For more information on the Panasonic DVD-RAM OEM drive and media, visit Panasonic Industrial Company's Web site at http://www.panasonic.com/oemdvd-ram. For more information on Panasonic-branded DVD-RAM drives, visit Panasonic Document Imaging Company's Web site at http://www.panasonic.com/storage.

Contact:

     Panasonic Industrial Co.
     Andy Marken, 408/986-0100
     andy@markencom.com
             or
     Toshiba America
     Lisa Zwick, 714/245-7500
     lisa_zwick@benjamingroup.com
             or
     Hitachi America, Ltd.
     Lisa Kaye, 650/463-8643
     circadia@ca.webergroup.com