InterVideo WinDVD 5 and Audio Pack deliver complete enjoyment of today's new audio technologies

EDP Weekly's IT Monitor, May 24, 2004

Focused on the growing demand for DVD-Audio titles recently reported by the DVD-Audio Council, InterVideo, Inc. (Nasdaq: IVII) announced recently that the optional DVD-Audio Pack for WinDVD 5 is the only software solution on the market that provides DVD-Audio support without requiring additional hardware.

With more than 75 million units sold worldwide, InterVideo WinDVD is not only the leading DVD playback software, it is recognized for consistently setting the pace for audio playback on PCs. The DVD-Audio Pack combines with WinDVD 5 to provide a complete feature set that consumers can use as a checklist for the software they need to enhance the audio quality of their PCs today and in the future.

The demand for DVD-Audio playback software is being driven by the growth in player sales and the dramatic increase in the number of titles available.

The DVD-Audio Council reports that over 10 million stand-alone DVD-Audio players (which also play CDs) have been sold--almost four times the number sold last year. In addition, the number of DVD-Audio releases more than doubled in 2003 and is now approaching 700. The increasing number of titles being released by many labels include releases by superstar artists such as Britney Spears, R. Kelly, Sting, The Who and Neil Young.

InterVideo's DVD-Audio Pack automatically detects the DVD-Audio source so users can quickly and easily navigate the audio content to skip tracks, play music and access special audio disc menus. When used with DVD-Audio discs, the unique software enables users to enjoy the extra features that are making this format so popular such as photos, discographies, slide shows and more.

In addition to DVD-Audio support, InterVideo's WinDVD 5 Audio Pack also includes support for other new technologies that aren't available with similar software video/audio playback solutions.

InterVideo software serves as the enabler for Intel's HD Audio technology, delivering an in-depth PC listening experience that rivals home theater systems. When combined with InterVideo's optional DVD-Audio Pack and a PC incorporating the upcoming Grantsdale chipset Intel HD Audio technology, WinDVD 5 provides a complete, easy-to-use solution for playback of the highest-quality sound.

InterVideo WinDVD 5 and the DVD-Audio Pack can be used to play the new CD/DVD Audio flip disc, called DualDisc. The CD/DVD Audio discs are double-sided discs with Compact Disc-compatible digital audio (44.1kHz 16-bit) on one side and high-resolution (192kHz 24-bit) DVD-Audio content on the other side.

Support for the WMA format is included in WinDVD 5 and does not require the WinDVD 5 Audio Pack.