VIA Releases Enhancements to Open Source Xine Media Player

[Apoptosis]

VIA expands software element of embedded platforms to boost support for hardware-based video acceleration in VIA digital media chipsets

Taipei, Taiwan, 26 August 2004 - VIA Technologies, Inc, a leading innovator and developer of silicon chip technologies and PC platform solutions, today released enhancements to the open source Xine project in the form of VeXP 3.0 (VIA enhanced Xine Player, version 3.0) supporting hardware-based MPEG-4 and MPEG-2 video acceleration for entertainment devices based on VIA C-series digital media chipsets.

VIA processor platforms, comprising a wide range of power efficient x86 processors, feature rich chipsets and a full compliment of companion chips, incorporate cutting edge hardware-based features that spread the workload across the platform to improve performance of critical applications while reducing the workload on the system. VeXP 3.0 and the accompanying source code make it easier for software developers to incorporate support for MPEG-4 and MPEG-2 hardware acceleration in Linux-based Personal Electronics devices based on VIA processor platforms that feature the VIA CN400 or VIA CLE266 chipset.

“VeXP 3.0 is the latest in a growing range of free source code and programs from VIA that bring a valuable software element to our total silicon platforms,” said Justin Hsu, Executive Assistant to the President, VIA Technologies, Inc. “By providing such a complete solution we are helping our partners to gain a competitive edge in the development of smart Personal Electronics devices and expedite implementation of new features and capabilities.”

Hardware digital video acceleration in VeXP 3.0 will work on systems based on the VIA CN400 and VIA CLE266 digital media chipsets. With support for an extensive range of media formats that include AVI, ASF, CDDA, DVD, MP3, VCD and RM, VeXP 3.0 is able to reduce the workload on the system processor by more than 50% when used with, for example, the forthcoming VIA EPIA SP Mini-ITX and VIA EPIA N Nano-ITX mainboards.

Linux distributions supported by the player include Fedora Core 1, Mandrake 9.2, MontaVista 3.1, Red Flag 4.0, Red Hat 7.3/8.0/9, and SuSE 8.1.

More information is available from VIA Arena (http://www.viaarena.com/?PageID=325) and the VeXP 3.0 application can be downloaded from SourceForge.net (sourceforge.net/projects/viaexp/).



VIA also provides the VIA PadLock ZIP Utility and source code that utilizes the VIA PadLock ACE (Advanced Cryptography Engine) as a free download for developers who wish to incorporate support for VIA PadLock hardware security features into existing software or customize the utility to meet their individual needs. More information may be found at:

VIA PadLock ZIP Utility and source code: http://www.via.com.tw/en/padlock/padlock_software.jsp

VIA PadLock ACE: http://www.via.com.tw/en/padlock/padlock_hardware.jsp

For further information on the VIA EPIA SP Mini-ITX and VIA EPIA N Nano-ITX mainboards, please visit the VIA Embedded Platform Division website at:

VIA EPIA SP: http://www.viaembedded.com/product/epia ... oardId=261

VIA EPIA N Nano-ITX: http://www.viaembedded.com/product/epia ... oardId=221



About VIA Technologies, Inc.

VIA Technologies, Inc. (TSE 2388) is the foremost fabless supplier of market-leading core logic chipsets, low power x86 processors, advanced connectivity, multimedia, networking and storage silicon, and complete platform solutions that are driving system innovation in the PC and embedded markets. Headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan, VIA’s global network links the high tech centers of the US, Europe and Asia, and its customer base includes the world’s top OEMs, motherboard vendors and system integrators. http://www.via.com.tw