Video Without Boundaries, Inc., a provider of interactive, media-convergent home entertainment devices, announced the selection of Sigma's EM8475 digital media processor, for Video Without Boundaries' new MediaReady 4000 Internet/DVD Player, from Sigma Designs, Inc., a leader in digital media processing for consumer appliances. The EM8475, an advanced MPEG-4 decoder designed for set-top box applications, will drive digital video playback on the MediaReady 4000.

The Video Without Boundaries (VWB) MediaReady 4000, slated for commercial release in September 2003, combines a DVD/CD/MP3 player, Internet browser, email, and karaoke, along with a range of PC componentry. The product's open computing architecture will support a number of consumer upgrades; options planned for the near future include Personal Video Recorder (PVR), hard drives, video games, joysticks, video conferencing, and more.

Sigma Designs' EM8475 MPEG-4 digital processor is designed for IP video streaming in set-top boxes and media gateways. Incorporating the
company's REALmagic video streaming technology, the MPEG-4 chip supports full-resolution (720x576) and streaming video based on ISMA specification 1.0. The EM8475 provides integrated solutions for decoding of MPEG-4, as well as DVD, MPEG-2, and MPEG-1.

In addition to advanced online multimedia features, the MediaReady 4000 will include a full-sized wireless keyboard, 5.1 Surround Sound, picture-in-picture capability, karaoke microphone jack, wireless remote control, and microphone. Similar in size to a standard DVD player, the MediaReady 4000 is expected to retail for $349.
    VWB's MediaReady 4000 units, developed in conjunction with Lung Hwa Electronics, the company's manufacturing partner, will be available in September 2003 via specialty and mass consumer electronics retailers.  The private-label units will be sold under the Lafayette brand in
the United States and elsewhere.

(http://www.vwbinc.com ), (http://www.sigmadesigns.com)