FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sorenson Brings G4 Speed and Quality to Video Compression
Logan, Utah, September 1, 1999 - Sorenson Vision, Inc., a privately held
maker of digital video compression tools, has announced Sorenson Video(TM)
2.1, a Developer Edition performance upgrade that takes advantage of the
new Apple Macintosh G4 platform. Sorenson Video 2.1 more than doubles
encoder speed when using a G4 to create video for QuickTime compatible
CD-ROM, DVD and Web-based applications. Decoders for playback are built
into all releases of QuickTime 3 and 4.
The latest version of the Sorenson Video QuickTime codec combines the same
high quality video compression engine - used by LucasFilm to publish the
Star Wars movie trailers on the web - with optimizations designed
specifically for Apple's new G4 machine. These capabilities combine to give
developers a very important performance boost with absolutely no compromise
on quality. The new version should be available in October, and will list
at $499.00. A small upgrade fee will apply to owners of previous versions.
When used with Sorenson's Broadcaster - a live QuickTime streaming tool -
the challenge of very high quality live video webcasts is greatly reduced.
"This performance breakthrough will enable live webcast applications that
many would not have considered before today," said M. Ray Brooksby, Vice
President of Sales and Marketing at Sorenson. "High quality live web
broadcasts have been a goal since the introduction of Sorenson Video into
QuickTime almost 18 months ago. It's fantastic to realize this potential."
"The need for speed is second only to the need for quality," says Jim Baker
of 21st Century Media, a leading creator of interactive marketing programs
for major corporate clients. "The G4 version of Sorenson Video delivers
both. We expect at least a 50% reduction in video compression time and to
nearly double the number of projects we can deliver from our compression
studio."
Sorenson Video 2.1 is a QuickTime system component that allows users to
take advantage of enhanced compression quality on any platform that
supports QuickTime 3 or 4. No royalties are required for applications
created with the Sorenson Video encoder.
The Sorenson Video codec is the result of over a decade of research and
development, and delivers an unparalleled combination of signal compression
and picture quality. This next-generation codec uses new vector
quantization techniques (the mathematical process by which this compression
is achieved), in addition to advanced motion compensation and other image
quality techniques. The result is a quality video stream whose high
compression allows it to be used in multimedia desktop and Web-based
applications, or anywhere that high-quality, low-bandwidth video is
required.
Based in Logan, Utah, Sorenson Vision, Inc. was founded by James L.
Sorenson, noted businessman and holder of more than 50 patents for products
and processes in a variety of fields--from medicine to cosmetics. Among
Sorenson's other companies are DataChem Laboratories, Sorex Medical,
Sorenson Laboratories, and Sorenco Laboratories. More information about
Sorenson's video technology and current line of products may be found at
Sorenson Vision's Web site at http://www.s-vision.com.
QuickTime is Apple's award-winning, industry-standard software architecture
for creating and publishing digital media for computers using Mac OS and
Windows operating systems. For additional information on QuickTime, please
visit the QuickTime Web site at http://www.quicktime.apple.com. Apple
Computer's home page is http://www.apple.com.
