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``Microsoft Windows and Sony's 1394 peripherals are a great combination for letting consumers do cool and fun new things with PCs,'' said Keiji Kimura, vice president, Personal IT Network Co., Sony Corp. ``These products work great together because Sony and Microsoft have been collaborating on driver software for DV and storage products. Sony's VAIO PCs with i.LINK (a trade name for IEEE 1394) ports, Digital Handycam and CD-RW drives will be a choice for customers seeking greater integration of their PC and AV appliances.''

``Microsoft and Sony share the vision of a simple and reliable connection between Windows-based PCs and digital AV products, enabling our mutual customers to easily do things like create, edit and store photos,'' said Carl Stork, general manager of Hardware Strategy and Evangelism at Microsoft. ``It has been great to work so closely with Sony to ensure customers have a positive experience.''

• IEEE 1394 Digital Video Support: Enabling the Best Video Capture
• Experiences
• Sony has been equipping its VAIO PCs with DV protocol drivers since June

1998. With the capability of connecting these appliances, users will be able
to upload DV data from camcorders to their PC. Sony developed an original
protocol driver for controlling DV data to ensure that its camcorders work
smoothly with its VAIO.

To achieve advanced plug-and-play video capture and editing with Windows, Microsoft worked with Sony to co-develop a driver based on source code licensed from Sony that enables DirectShow® API-compatible applications to control and capture video from IEEE 1394 DV camcorders. This software is available now on PCs running the Windows 2000 and Windows 98 Second Edition operating systems.

IEEE 1394 Storage Support: The Easiest Way to Add Drives to PCs

IEEE 1394 is the best solution available today that enables users to add high-speed, high-capacity storage devices, such as recordable CD drives, to their PCs. To help make this possible, Sony contributed to the refinement of Microsoft's IEEE 1394 storage device driver, which is included in Microsoft Windows 2000 and Windows 98 Second Edition. This software delivers fast, plug-and-play connection between Windows-based PCs and IEEE 1394 storage devices, such as Sony's IEEE 1394 CD-RW drive, model PCVA-CRW1.

Moreover, Sony provided Microsoft with IEEE 1394 CD-RW drives to help it carry out thorough testing aimed at ensuring high-quality IEEE 1394 storage support for Windows-based PCs.

In addition, Sony worked with Microsoft in the specification and testing of a software utility that allows users to reliably disconnect IEEE 1394 storage devices while the system is running. This software utility will be included with Windows 2000 and the next release of Consumer Windows, code-named ``Millennium.'' Also, Sony will include the utility with its IEEE 1394 CD-RW drive, model PCVA-CRW1, for use with Windows 98 Second Edition-based PCs.

About Sony

Sony is a leading manufacturer of audio, video, communications and information technology products for the consumer and professional markets. Its music, pictures and computer entertainment operations make Sony one of the most comprehensive entertainment companies in the world. Sony recorded consolidated annual sales of over $56 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1999. The Sony Web Page can be found at http://www.sony.co.jp/.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software 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.

NOTE: Microsoft, Windows and DirectShow 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.

SOURCE: Microsoft Corp