RMI Brews Alchemy

LAS VEGAS -- RMI Corporation™ (RMI®), a leading supplier of processor based solutions for networking, communications and consumer applications, today announced that it is shipping the highest performing and most power-optimized embedded processor in the industry for multifunction portable media players (mPMP™), mobileTV, and personal navigation devices. The new RMI Alchemy™ Au1250 Media Processor brings 700MHz performance at remarkably low power. When coupled with its on-chip Media Acceleration Engine™, which off-loads full D1 video processing in hardware, the Au1250 processor delivers more Available MIPS for other user applications than have been previously available in portable consumer devices.

The Alchemy Au1250™ Processor is in full-production in a variety of performance levels ranging from 400MHz to 700MHz. The new 700 MHz offering, an increase of 17% in CPU performance, allows customers and developers to play DVD quality video, while simultaneously enjoying ample processing performance for such applications as GPS navigation with heavy maps, MobileTV, photo viewing, VoIP, web browsing, DRM, graphical user interfaces, OS services, and other software tasks.

Unlike competitive alternatives, RMI Alchemy’s low power claims are based on full chip power in real world environments. The Au1250 processor at 700 MHz establishes a new benchmark in Video and CPU power/performance, boasting published typical power consumption of <700mW (700 MHz CPU with 233 MHz DDR2 memory bus) while playing WMV9 video at 2 Mbps, D1 resolution with WMA audio from IDE hard drive driven to LCD display, running Windows CE 5.0, and with all on-chip peripherals active except the USB2.0 ports. This level of power/performance is enabling technology for next generation multi-function portable media devices.

“We are extremely proud to announce the 700MHz version of the Alchemy Au1250 Processor here at CES 2008,” said Mike Wodopian, vice president and general manager, Alchemy Solutions at RMI. “The processing performance of the Au1250 at 600 and now 700 MHz, along with its ability to simplify multi-format video playback, has ushered in a new class of portable devices where touch screen picture-in-picture video/mobileTV with navigation is common place on 4.3” to 7” consumer platforms. At 700 MHz, we are seeing the emergence of truly converged devices including browsing, e-learning, and gaming with advanced connectivity. Our customer’s success and rate of adoption allows us to continue pushing the threshold of performance while extending the power advantage we have in the market. We consider this power-performance point to be enabling technology for new devices.”

In a separate release:

LAS VEGAS -- RMI Corporation™, a leading supplier of Processor Based Solutions for networking, communications and consumer applications, today announced that Digital Cube, the largest provider of full-featured portable media solutions in the world, has selected the 700MHz RMI Alchemy™ Au1250 Processor for its latest offerings – the iStation U43 and the iStation T7.

The iStation U43 and T7 are multi-function Portable Media Players (PMPs) based on the WinCE 5.0 operating system, each with the option of either a 30GB/60GB hard drive. The media players contain navigation functions (GPS), audio and video playback as well as photo viewing and MobileTV capabilities. The iStation U43 has a 4.3-inch digital TFT-LCD touch panel and the T7 has a 7-inch digital TFT-LCD touch screen. Both offerings from Digital Cube contain full support for all relevant video and audio standards. The iStation U43 and the T7 both utilize the RMI Alchemy Au1250™ Processor enabling highly integrated solutions with world class video and CPU processing capabilities – bringing the most Available MIPS in the industry.

“We are proud to continue being associated with the RMI Alchemy Processor,” said Mr. Kyung R. Kim, director of marketing department, Digital Cube. “We have based our media solutions on the Au1200 Processor Family since 2004 and the latest offering of the Au1250 brings pin and software compatibility making our product transition very simple.”

In a separate release:

LAS VEGAS -- RMI Corporation™ (RMI®), a leading supplier of Processor Based Solutions for networking, communications and consumer applications, today announced that Yukyung, a mobile multimedia device No. 1, has picked the RMI AlchemyTM Au1250TM Media Processor for its latest mobile multimedia devices – the X5 and the X70 Mobile Internet Devices (MID). The Alchemy Au1250 chosen for these wireless devices include the recently announced 700MHz version of the industry leading Alchemy Processor Family.

Yukyung’s X5 and X70 Multifunction mobile multimedia devices are the latest offering from the Korean leader, building on its foundation of products including the Viliv® family of PMP and Navigator. The X5 and the X70 MIDs support HSDPA, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, wireless standards based on the Alchemy Au1250 processor (700MHz) with storage up to 60GB, 256MB DDR @ Memory, a 4.8” WVGA and a 7” WVGA Display with Touch Screen respectively. The MIDs offer PMP, Navigation, MobileTV, browser and an electronic dictionary operating on WinCE 5.0 with 6 hours of movie playback. The products will be available in the first quarter of 2008.

“We are happy to announce RMI as our partner in this development,” states Seung-Jin Yoo, vice president, Yukyung Technologies. “We have looked at many product offerings to match the performance and power requirements that we have and the RMI Alchemy Processor is the best solution for our customers’ requirements. We look forward to continuing our relationship and our success with RMI.”

RMI Corp.