ZiLOG(R) Z8 Encore!(R) 8-bit Microcontroller Powers PC-TV Revolution With Hauppauge's WinTV-PVR Series

ZiLOG(R) Z8 Encore!(R) 8-bit Microcontroller Powers PC-TV Revolution With Hauppauge's WinTV-PVR Series

SAN JOSE, Calif., Jan. 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- ZiLOG(R), Inc. (NASDAQ:ZILG), the creator of the Z80(R) microprocessor and a leading innovator of integrated 8-bit microcontrollers and universal remote control solutions, today announced that it has entered into a strategic partnership with Hauppauge Computer Works (NASDAQ:HAUP), a leading developer and manufacturer of digital video, TV and data broadcast receiver products for personal computers. The partnership will see ZiLOG's award-winning Z8 Encore!(R) F08 Flash microcontroller family used to power the advanced remote control functions of Hauppauge's WinTV-PVR-150 board.

WinTV-PVR is a simple-to-install TV tuner card for personal computers, which provides consumers with a personal video recorder to watch, pause and record cable and satellite TV shows via their computer. It offers a cost-effective means for consumers to add television and entertainment functionality to their existing computer without the need to purchase a new multimedia entertainment PC.

In addition to supplying Hauppauge with its Z8 Encore! microcontrollers, ZiLOG has also provided access to its industry-leading database of universal infrared (UIR) device codesets. This extensive code coverage allows consumers to control external devices such as a set top box, DVD player, home cinema system and son on using a single UIR remote control. The set top box, for example, can easily be synchronized with WinTV-PVR on the PC, which now acts as a hard disk recorder. ZiLOG also provided its turnkey design and development services in order to make the product operate and function according to Hauppauge's strict specifications.

"The partnership with Hauppauge not only presented a great opportunity for us but also a real challenge," commented Jim Thorburn, CEO and chairman, ZiLOG. "Our team developed an entirely new IR engine for the Z8 Encore! Flash platform for Hauppauge, thus extending our IR offering into a secondary market other than standard UIR remote controls. We worked closely with Hauppauge to develop the WinTV-PVR series, and our superior customer service in terms of listening to customer requirements and change requests and implementing and delivering to them on time played a significant role in bringing this exciting product to market."

"When we needed to add IR blasting to our TV tuner boards, we turned to ZiLOG for their extensive list of supported set top boxes," said Ken Plotkin, CEO of Hauppauge. "Our WinTV-PVR products are sold worldwide, so we needed the best and most comprehensive list of set top boxes we could find. ZiLOG provided this for us."

The Z8 Encore! family

ZiLOG's Z8 Encore! family of high performance microcontrollers offer a robust feature set, this family offers the flexibility and high performance necessary to tackle the demanding applications that design engineers face today. With up to 64KB of program memory, software code can be changed, updated, and reprogrammed during development and into production. Contributing to this highly integrated design is a 10-bit A/D converter, an on-chip debugger, up to 24 interrupts, and up to 60 general purpose I/O pins. High performance is achieved through the Z8 Encore!(R) MCU's 20MHz CPU core speed. The Z8 Encore! family's performance is further enhanced with a 3-channel DMA controller (16-64KB parts only) and up to 4KB of RAM. Additionally, the option of running the I2C, SPI, and up to two UARTs in parallel, and the inclusion of up to four 16-bit timers with PWM capability, dramatically improves the flexibility. This next generation product, accompanied by an exceptional development tool kit, provides a comprehensive solution for programming needs.

About the WinTV-PVR Family

The WinTV-PVR family consists of several models, which allow PC users to watch, pause and record TV on their screen. The family of products includes features such as FM Radio, IR remote control, digital video recording and digital TV reception.

WinTV-PVR is used by home users and business professionals. Business users use the WinTV to keep track of breaking news by watching a TV news channel in a small window of their PC screen while they continue to do work on their PC. Home users like to watch and record their favorite TV shows while they answer e-mail or surf the net.

One of the biggest growth markets for PC based TV receivers are in the home entertainment centers. PC's are evolving to be the center of home entertainment systems, and TV is an integral part of home entertainment. The WinTV is a natural part of any PC based home entertainment system.

Also, there is a worldwide shift from analog to digital TV. In a few years, analog TV broadcasts will be completely replaced by digital TV broadcasts, and PC based TV receivers such as the WinTV can take advantage of the benefits of digital TV broadcasts: better pictures and clearer sound.

For more information about the WinTV-PVR series or any of Hauppauge's other digital video TV and data broadcast receiver products, visit www.hauppauge.com.

About ZiLOG, Inc.

Founded in 1974, ZiLOG won international acclaim for designing one of the first architectures in the microprocessors and microcontrollers industry. Today, ZiLOG is a leading global supplier of 8-bit micro logic devices. It designs, manufactures and markets a broad portfolio of devices for embedded control and communication applications used in consumer electronics, home appliances, security systems, point of sales terminals, personal computer peripherals, as well as industrial and automotive applications. ZiLOG is headquartered in San Jose, California, and employs approximately 500 people worldwide with sales offices throughout Asia, Europe and North America. For more information about ZiLOG and its products, visit the Company's website at: www.ZiLOG.com.

NOTE: ZiLOG and Z8 Encore! are trademarks or registered trademarks of ZiLOG, Inc. in the United States and in other countries. Other product and or service names mentioned herein may be trademarks of the companies with which they are associated.

About Hauppauge Digital

Hauppauge Digital, Inc. is a leading developer and manufacturer of digital TV and data broadcast receiver products for personal computers. Through its Hauppauge Computer Works, Inc. and Hauppauge Digital Europe subsidiaries, the Company designs and develops digital video boards for TV-in-a-window, digital video editing and video conferencing. The Company is headquartered in Hauppauge, New York, with administrative offices in New York, Singapore, Taiwan, Ireland and Luxembourg and sales offices in Germany, London, Paris, The Netherlands, Sweden, Italy, Spain, Singapore and California. The Company's Internet web site can be found at www.hauppauge.com.

Source: ZiLOG, Inc.

CONTACT: Stew Chalmers of Positio Public Relations, +1-408-453-2400, or
stew@positio.com, for ZiLOG, Inc.

Web site: http://www.hauppauge.com/

Web site: http://www.zilog.com/

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