Sigma Designs Enters XBMC Arena With 3-D SoC Processor

Collaboration Expected to Expand Company Footprint in European Developer and Device Market

MILPITAS, CA — Sigma Designs (NASDAQ: SIGM), a leading provider of System-on-Chip (SoC) solutions for home entertainment connectivity and control, has announced its first XBMC port on their high performance media processor SMP8656 SoC. XBMC is a free and open source media player application developed by the XBMC Foundation (a non-profit technology consortium XBMC.org). Sigma Designs leading SoCs with XBMC’s award-winning open architecture platform is expected to open the European developer market serving the installed base of XBMC users. Sigma Designs advanced and cost-effective processor solutions deliver superior picture quality and high performance 3-D graphics and the Open GL ES 2.0 support offers a new level of interactive experiences.

As an award-winning free and open source (GPL) software media player and entertainment hub for digital media, XBMC is very popular with developers and runs on a variety of platforms such as Linux, OSX, and Windows. XBMC also allows for easy connection to the content in iTunes and other Apple devices. Hundreds of software developers have contributed to XBMC, and 100-plus translators have worked to expand its global reach, making it available in more than 30 languages. XBMC’s confirmation gives Sigma Designs a main entry point and leverage in the XBMC community.

“We are thrilled to be recognized by the award winning XBMC organization,” said Waheed Rasheed, vice president of product marketing at Sigma Designs. “Together with our open framework SDK solution for SMP8656 supporting the XBMC middleware for high end digital media hubs, and with XBMC’s open architecture, interactive OTT applications and fully customizable features, we are offering consumers an immersive user experience and new levels of services. This engagement between Sigma Designs and XBMC will result in highly interactive and cost-effective device solutions to the fast growing EMEA markets.”

Consumers purchasing compatible devices will be treated to an enhanced media experience with entertainment providers such as interactive advertising, games, video on demand (VoD), and social networking, to name a few.

“Sigma Designs’ SoC technology has a long history of providing unparalleled media solutions, from the first 1080p capable media player chipset to the first 3D broadcast of the World Cup,” said Nathan Betzen, XBMC community manager. “We are excited to add Sigma Designs offerings to our supported hardware line-up as they make yet another leap forward by embracing the next generation of open source, mainstream media player graphics and software. This effort has the potential to uncover opportunities in numerous markets.”

A demonstration of the SMP8656 running XBMC can be seen at IBC Booth BM7/BM8 at RAI, Amsterdam September 6th to September 11th 2012.