Microsoft Outlines DVD Support

Teams With Key Industry Leaders to Provide Complete DVD Solution On Windows and Windows NT

REDMOND, Wash. - Jan. 6, 1997 - Microsoft Corp. today announced its strategy for supporting digital video disc (DVD) applications in future versions of the Microsoft® Windows® and Windows NT® operating systems. DVD support will be provided via device and class drivers along with the ActiveMovie™ and DirectDraw® APIs.

"We are excited about the potential of DVD and the opportunities it poses to bring high-quality digital and audio to the PC experience; it enables superior movie viewing while enabling a whole new class of software applications," said Moshe Dunie, vice president, Windows operating systems division at Microsoft. "We are committed to providing support in both Windows and Windows NT via our Win32® Driver Model class drivers and ActiveMovie."

On the Windows and Windows NT platforms, a DVD-ROM class driver is being developed. This new driver will greatly reduce the burden of device driver development and enable higher-quality drivers for the consumer. A universal disc format (UDF) file system is being developed and will support UDF-formatted DVD discs. Based on development of the Win32 Driver Model Streaming Class Driver, DVD decoder board manufacturers can write a minidriver across both Windows and Windows NT.

"Matsushita has been a leader in DVD development since the inception of DVD," said Masahiro Nagasawa, director and member of the board, Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Ltd. "The support for Panasonic DVD drives in future versions of Windows is being developed from the ground up and will give customers a seamlessly integrated DVD solution."

Microsoft APIs are a key strength in the success of interactive multimedia on the Windows platform. The ActiveMovie API is being enhanced to support both DVD hardware and software. Advanced features of ActiveMovie 2.0 will allow playback of MPEG-2 video and high-quality audio. The ActiveMovie DVD interface will enable the creation of more robust media applications that deliver content with increased clarity and picture quality and high-definition sound on a single disc.

"Committed to offering its customers the best DVD technology, Compaq is very enthusiastic about working with Microsoft and other industry leaders to bring to market the highest quality, most compatible DVD solution possible," said Laurie Frick, vice president, consumer division, Compaq Computer Corp. "Compaq fully supports the industry's efforts to advance the development of DVD, and we plan to implement it in our product line during 1997."

"As the world's largest supplier of MPEG decoders, we are excited to help make interactive DVD a reality for the consumer," said Prem Nath, president and CEO at Mediamatics Inc. "Our architecture is optimized for the DirectDraw and ActiveMovie APIs to enable cost-effective software-only DVD playback for the consumer."

"DVD-ROM will play a significant role in transitioning the PC to the center of entertainment in the home," said Andrea Cuomo, vice president of strategic marketing and key accounts at SGS-Thomson Microelectronics Inc. "Together with ActiveMovie, our hardware DVD technologies will make watching movies and interaction with multimedia titles a truly compelling user experience."

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.

Microsoft, Windows, Windows NT, ActiveMovie, DirectDraw and Win32 are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.

Other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

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