Quantum Corporation Introduces the World's First IEEE 1394 A/V Hard Drive Specification for Consumer Electronics Products

Business Wire, August 22, 2000

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

MILPITAS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 22, 2000

Standardized Interface Enables Smart Communication

Between Intelligent Consumer Devices

Quantum Corporation's Consumer Electronics Business Unit, a division of the Hard Disk Drive Group (NYSE:HDD), today announced the availability of the world's first IEEE 1394 audio/visual (A/V) hard drive specification for the consumer electronics (CE) industry. This milestone creates a common protocol for a new breed of hard drive-equipped CE devices that will independently play, record, store and exchange digital A/V content over 1394 networks.

Quantum led the development of two A/V hard disk drive (HDD) specifications with the collaboration and consensus of the world's leading CE companies that participate in the 1394 Trade Association A/V Working Group. These standards, accepted in late July by the 1394 Trade Association's board of directors, will make it easier for CE manufacturers to integrate 1394 HDD technology in products ranging from digital video recorders to cable and satellite set-top boxes, television sets, music jukeboxes and game consoles.

"When we started our work with the 1394 Trade Association in 1996, it was thought by many that IEEE 1394 would simplify the maze of wires used to connect A/V products," said Tex Schenkkan, vice president and general manager of Quantum's Consumer Electronics Business Unit. "Today, it is widely understood that 1394 technology provides more than just a simplified connectivity path. Used as an interface for A/V hard disk drives, it enables smart communication between very intelligent recording and playback devices. This opens the door for a variety of new products and services that can deliver capabilities previously unimaginable."

Quantum Pioneers 1394 A/V Hard Drive Technology

In 1998, Quantum developed the world's first isochronous, A/V streaming recording subsystem featuring an Embedded File System and Stream Manager that provided capabilities including 48x fast-forward and rewind; live broadcast pause; live instant replay; and 32x slow motion in both directions. Using Quantum QuickView(TM) isochronous recording and play back technology, frame accurate A/V streaming is managed within the drive itself without the necessity of a host device.

Quantum QuickView technology with 1394 Function Control Protocol (FCP) performs all of these functions while recording both MPEG and DV formats directly from an isochronous 1394 input. These accomplishments were tested in working environments with various CE manufacturers, proving some of the initial concepts that defined what a 1394 isochronous A/V HDD could be.

"Quantum demonstrated its vision for 1394 technology very early on and has created a real product in this area," said Mark Kirstein, vice president of research for Cahners In-Stat Group. "Looking ahead, it is clear that 1394 technology will become the interface of choice among CE manufacturers because of ease-of-use, performance and flexibility. Hard drive vendors like Quantum, who are positioning themselves as leaders in adopting this new interface technology are clearly headed in the right direction."

Quantum's Joint Development with Panasonic Yields First Shipping

1394 Digital Video Recording Subsystem

In April of 2000, Quantum announced the results of another pioneering 1394 activity - their joint development with Matsushita Electric of a 1394 A/V hard drive, which will be used in Panasonic CE products scheduled to begin shipping in the latter half of 2000. The subsystem, incorporating built-in copy protection, is designed for embedding in digital CE products ranging from television sets to cable and satellite set-top boxes and digital A/V recorders. It is capable of recording, storing and playing back content directly on the drive itself using specially engineered firmware and chip technology.

The advent of this subsystem is the result of an ongoing joint development relationship between Matsushita Electric along with its subsidiary Matsushita-Kotobuki Electronics Industries, Ltd. (MKE) and Quantum's Consumer Electronics Business Unit. This is the second product to be marketed as a result of this relationship. The first product, DV Editor, is a non-linear video editing system for the home selling under the Panasonic brand name.

"Matsushita Electric and Quantum have focused considerable resources on 1394 development with each company pioneering protocols and technologies that turn hard drives into digital recorders without the need for expensive, conventional PC system architectures," said Dr. Paul Liao, chief technology officer of Matsushita Electric Corp. of America and president of Panasonic Technologies, Inc. "Through our combined efforts, we have been able to provide the advanced benefits of 1394 plug and play architecture for a variety of consumer electronic devices that will ultimately provide great benefits for consumers."

Strong Growth Forecasted for the 1394 Market

The IEEE 1394 market has hit its inflection point, with growth of over 300 percent in 1999 compared to 1998, according to a recent report from Cahners In-Stat Group. The report says that growth will continue as the interface penetrates more products in the computing and digital camcorder markets, and as the interface is adopted into a variety of device categories in both the computer and the CE industries.