Eskape Labs and Zoran Bring TV and Video Capture to The iMAC; Apple iMAC Users Can Now Watch TV and Capture High-Quality Video Through the USB Port

Business Wire, July 21, 1999

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 21, 1999--

Zoran Corporation (Nasdaq:ZRAN), a leading provider of integrated circuits (ICs) and software for digital video and audio applications enabled by compression, today announced that Eskape Labs has selected Zoran's highly integrated ZR36060 Motion-JPEG codec for their new USB TV and video-capture peripheral, MyTV(TM).

With an estimated street price of $159, Eskape Labs' MyTV offers a level of performance and flexibility previously not available at this price point. Introducing MyTV this week at the Macworld Expo, Eskape Labs plans to start shipments this September. MyTV is based on Zoran's Video-Inlet(TM) USB reference design.

It incorporates Zoran's real-time Motion-JPEG codec which enables high-quality, 30 frames-per-second video input through the USB port of an Apple (Nasdaq:AAPL) iMac. Zoran's compression technology, used in MyTV, opens up new applications for the Apple iMac that were previously not possible, including viewing television, capturing and editing video, creating video for websites and presentations, sending video email and video conferencing.

"Without Zoran's M-JPEG compression technology and integrated bit rate control, high-quality 30fps video capture for the iMac via the USB wouldn't be possible," said Christopher Knight, executive vice president of sales and marketing for Eskape Labs. Zoran has been there for us every step of the way. We look forward to working closely with them on future compression-enabled solutions."

"The success of the Apple iMac has created both an opportunity and a challenge for Zoran and its partners: how to enable affordable, high-quality video capture on the iMac," said Dr. Shmuel Farkash, vice president of video products at Zoran. "The only means available to bring video into the iMac is through its USB port. The USB limitation of a 12Mbps maximum bandwidth makes Zoran motion JPEG the ideal technology to overcome this bottleneck."

In addition to Eskape Labs' MyTV USB video peripheral, Zoran's M-JPEG compression solutions enable many other leading, award-winning, consumer products, including: The Matrox Marvel, the Pinnacle (Nasdaq:PCLE) Studio DC10plus, and the Avid Cinema for Macintosh with USB.

About Eskape Labs

Eskape Labs, Inc. is focused on developing multimedia and visual computing devices for the Macintosh market. The Company's approach is to deploy display solutions in new technology form factors such as Universal Serial Bus (USB) and IEEE 1394 (also known as FireWire and i.LINK).

Founded by former IXMICRO executives, Eskape Labs plans to market these unique peripheral products for the iMac, Powerbook and installed base of Macintosh desktop computers through both OEM relationships and retail channels.

With over thirty years of combined Macintosh product development, marketing and sales experience, the company will leverage its considerable Macintosh expertise to bring Mac compatibility to a growing wealth of "Wintel-centric" intellectual property.

About Zoran Corporation

Zoran Corporation develops and markets integrated circuits (ICs), IC Intellectual Property (IP) cores, and embedded and PC software for digital audio and video applications enabled by compression. Zoran also provides complete reference designs based on Zoran's technology. Zoran's product lines and IP include DVD and MPEG decoders, digital still camera system on a chip IC, JPEG codecs and digital audio.

All these standard-based products benefit from Zoran's Standard Plus(TM) technology. Zoran's ICs are used in numerous digital video and audio products. Leading applications incorporating Zoran's products and IP include standalone consumer DVD players, SuperVCD players, professional and consumer video editing systems, filmless digital cameras, digital speakers and audio systems.

Zoran is headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif. with additional operations in Haifa, Israel, Toronto, Canada and offices in Tokyo, Japan and Shenzhen, China. For more information about Zoran, call 408/919-4111, or visit our website: www.zoran.com.

Note to Editors: Video-Inlet and Standard Plus are trademarks of Zoran Corporation.

MyTV is a trademark of Eskape Labs.

All other terms and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners, and are hereby acknowledged.