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Industry Leaders Embrace Microsoft's Newest Addition to Windows XP Family

"Every digital media enthusiast, every college student, every teenager, every apartment dweller, will love this technology," said Jim Allchin, group vice president of the Platforms Products Group at Microsoft. "Windows XP Media Center Edition takes the great photo, music and video experiences introduced last fall with Windows XP to the next level and adds a new TV experience that only the power of the PC can deliver. It's an example of how innovation continues to make the PC even more central to people's lives. We're thrilled that industry leaders and partners share Microsoft's vision and enthusiasm for media center PCs."

Industry Leaders Support Windows XP Media Center Edition

Microsoft is working closely with computer manufacturers and third parties who share a common vision for developing innovative products that offer consumers new ways to use their PC for entertainment and digital media. The development of media center PCs required strong industry collaboration with the following companies:

    Technology Companies
    -- Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD) and Intel Corp. have teamed with
       Microsoft to help ensure that their CPUs deliver the best performance
       for Windows XP Media Center Edition, which included work by Intel to
       optimize the Intel Pentium 4 processor platform specifically for media
       center PCs.
    -- Dolby Laboratories Inc., teamed with Microsoft and Dolby decoder
       licensees (CyberLink, InterVideo and NVIDIA), will implement its audio
       technology within Windows XP Media Center Edition. The technology will
       be integrated with the DVD viewing experience to enable consumers to
       configure Dolby audio using the Media Center interface. In addition,
       it will provide them with the quality assurance of the Dolby brand via
       a logo-bearing software "faceplate" within Media Center's DVD
       experience.
    -- ATI Technologies Inc. and NVIDIA Corp., partners in the Designed for
       Windows XP logo program, have teamed with Microsoft to develop new
       DirectX(R) video card acceleration interfaces and enhanced their
       drivers and hardware to deliver improved video performance for Windows
       XP Media Center Edition.
    -- CyberLink Corp., InterVideo Inc. and NVIDIA, partners in the Designed
       for Windows XP logo program, have teamed with Microsoft to enhance
       their DVD and MPEG-2 video decoders to deliver better DVD-viewing and
       recorded TV experiences in Windows XP Media Center Edition. The
       decoders were designed to be compatible with Media Center's PVR
       functionality to enable smooth fast-forwarding and rewinding of
       recorded and "live pause" television.
    -- Emuzed Inc. and Hauppauge Computer Works Inc., partners in the Designed
       for Windows XP logo program, have teamed with Microsoft to optimize
       their TV capture tuner cards to deliver an enhanced TV-recording
       experience within Media Center.
    -- Royal Philips Electronics has teamed with Microsoft to develop and
       license infrared remote control protocol technology royalty-free to
       manufacturers that are building media center PCs and remote control
       devices. The Microsoft and Philips remote control protocol is based on
       Philips' patented RC-6 Infra Red protocol technology and will help
       ensure remote control compatibility and improve the consumer
       experience.
    -- Universal Electronics Inc. (UEI) has teamed with Microsoft Corp. to
       deliver the connectivity software that allows consumers to connect,
       control and interact seamlessly with their cable and satellite set-top
       boxes through Windows XP Media Center Edition.

    Electronic Program Guide Companies
    -- EPG Inc. (Korea) and Tribune Media Services (United States and Canada)
       are providing the free* electronic program guide service for Windows
       XP Media Center Edition. Tribune Media Services will offer 14 days'
       worth of TV listings and show descriptions via the Internet, and EPG
       will provide TV listings for the current day plus seven days out to
       enhance the TV and personal video recording (PVR) experiences in media
       center PCs. This service will enable consumers to easily search for
       and schedule recording of the TV shows they are most interested in.

"HP and Microsoft are redefining the home-entertainment experience by rolling up an entire suite of entertainment products into the new HP Media Center PC. We're creating new ways to conveniently access digital video, digital imaging, digital music and 3-D gaming -- all in one device," said Duane Zitzner, executive vice president, HP Personal Systems Group. "HP sees the emerging digital media center market as a huge growth segment and looks to drive the continued expansion of the overall digital lifestyle."

"We view Windows XP Media Center Edition as a critical aspect in providing digital freedom -- the ultimate evolution of digital convergence and seamless integration of entertainment -- to all our customers," said Dr. Daeje Chin, president and CEO, Digital Media Business, Samsung Electronics Co. "With our new Home Media Center, enabled by Windows XP Media Center Edition, Samsung will help bring families closer together by introducing a new, social way for people to enjoy digital content and services."

About Windows XP Media Center Edition

Windows XP Media Center Edition, which builds on the rich media capabilities of Windows Media Player, turns a PC into a media center that integrates digital entertainment experiences -- including live television, PVR, digital music, digital video, DVDs and pictures -- with the freedom of remote control access. A new experience called Media Center will serve as a unified destination for entertainment on the media center PC and is designed to be viewed from anywhere in the room. Windows XP Media Center Edition's dual-purpose functionality makes it ideal for digital media enthusiasts and consumers in small, space-constrained environments, such as teenagers, college students, young adults and families who want to use their PC for entertainment and digital media.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software -- any time, any place and on any device.

• Standard Internet connection fees apply.

NOTE: Microsoft, Windows, DirectX and WebTV are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

Industry Support

"ATI Technologies' graphics chips, including the latest family of RADEON 9700 and RADEON 9000 products, are the perfect solutions for Microsoft eHome graphics and video display technologies. As a critically acclaimed leader of PC multimedia solutions, ATI is proud to be a part of Microsoft's eHome success."

• Godfrey ChengDirector of Marketing Multimedia Products ATI Technologies Inc.

"As the leaders in digital video entertainment software and as developers of the award-winning PowerDVD software DVD decoder, CyberLink is proud to be a strategic partner with Microsoft on the launch of Windows XP Media Center Edition. We are confident that Windows XP Media Center Edition will provide people with new and exciting ways to utilize their PC and bring the wonders of digital media entertainment into the average household."

• Alice H. Chang CEO CyberLink Corp.

"This development is both fun and innovative. Integrating the power of the PC, DVD player, TV and home audio system, all controlled by a Media Center remote, opens up a compelling new world of home digital entertainment possibilities."

• Richard Hockenbrock Vice President of Licensing Operations Dolby Laboratories Inc.

"Emuzed's TV Capture and Tuner card in conjunction with Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition will provide consumers with an unparalleled digital media experience by combining the entertainment of the television with the power of the PC."

• Dhaval Ajmera Executive Vice President, Marketing and Sales Emuzed Inc.

"It is a great pleasure for us to participate in this revolutionary service. Windows XP Media Center Edition is a wonderful platform, which upgrades the PC into a real multimedia center. After just a few moments of use, Windows XP users will find how convenient and exciting it is to enjoy television with Windows XP Media Center."

• Jo Hwang Suh CEO EPG Inc.

"Combining the rich media experience of the PC with television makes Windows XP Media Center a blockbuster! With over 10 years of experience making PC-based TV receivers, Hauppauge is proud to share our expertise with Microsoft's development teams - Windows XP Media Center will redefine what it means to watch TV!"

• Dean Cirielli President Hauppauge Computer Works Inc.

"Microsoft is creating a new market by combining the best of PC and entertainment technology to create a singular operating system for consumers to manage everything from Word files to music to recording television. We are pleased that Microsoft chose InterVideo to power the DVR and DVD playback because it validates the hard work and technology of our entire company. We look forward to working with Microsoft to help create the ultimate media management operating system."

• Steve Ro Founder and CEO InterVideo Inc.

"Intel is excited to work with Microsoft and PC manufacturers on this new category of extended digital entertainment experiences for the PC platform. The advanced features and power of the Intel Pentium 4 processor will enable Media Center Edition PCs to bring richer entertainment choices for television, digital photos and music anywhere within a room."

• Jeff McCrea Vice President of the Desktop Platforms Group Intel Corp.

"Windows XP Media Center brings the best of the home entertainment experience to the PC world. By combining NVIDIA's full family of graphics and multimedia processors with Windows XP Media Center, users can utilize music, photos, DVD and video collections from anywhere in the room with a single remote control."

• Dan Vivoli Vice President of Marketing NVIDIA Corp.

"For years, consumers have been using a remote control device to control their audio/video experience. Creating a similar experience for the Windows XP Media Center is a logical step in making convergence of the computer and entertainment sectors really happen from an end-user perspective. As a leading innovator and provider of remote control devices for the traditional audio/video consumer electronics market, we are pleased to work with Microsoft leveraging our patented Infra Red protocol technology and products."

• Xavier Delmeiren Vice President, Remote Control Systems Group Philips Components Royal Phillips Electronics

"TMS' database and ability to interface with many applications and systems makes our data highly compatible with leading-edge applications such as Windows XP, and we are pleased to be part of this innovative new product. Consumers will find that our TV listings and entertainment information provide a highly accurate tool that they can rely on to help make programming decisions."

• Barbara Needelman Vice President, Entertainment Products TMS

"We are excited to work with Microsoft on Windows XP Media Center Edition because home connectivity truly is the next frontier. For more than 15 years, UEI has been focused on simplifying the user interface for the growing complexity of devices in the home. This expertise positions us perfectly to complement Microsoft's product offerings and deliver a truly connected experience for consumers in our mutual quest to bring innovative computing technology into the home."

• Rob Lilleness President and COO Universal Electronics Inc.