DDD.L Regulatory News (DDD)

7 Feb 2008 09:17

DDD Group PLC07 February 2008 7 February 2008 DDD GROUP PLC DDD ANNOUNCES DELIVERY OF TRIDEF CORE 3-D DISPLAY PROCESSOR FOR HYUNDAI IT/ ARISAWA 3-D LCD HDTV Santa Monica, California (February 7th, 2008)- DDD Group plc (AIM: DDD), the 3Dsoftware and content company, today announces the delivery of the first TriDef(R) Core embedded 3-D image processor solution for 3-D HDTVs. The new Hyundai IT46" LCD HDTV incorporates Arisawa Manufacturing Company's X-PolTM 3-D opticalmaterial and is being introduced in Japan to support the recently announced BS113-D television programming from Nippon BS Broadcasting Corporation. TriDef Core is a custom circuit board that integrates with the existing 2-Dvideo electronics in the LCD HDTV. 3-D features enabled by the TriDef Coreprocessor include decoding the BS11 3-D broadcast signal format, playback ofspecially encoded high definition Blu-ray discsTM and real time 2-D to 3-Dconversion of standard and high definition content. The new 46" 3-D LCD HDTVs are already being demonstrated in Bic Camera consumerelectronics retail stores in cities around Japan, including Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Hokkaido and Fukuoka. Delivery of 3-D broadcast content recently began inJapan on the BS11 network, with specially made 15-minute 3-D programmingincluding sports, fitness and travel shows already being broadcast daily. Retailavailability of the 46" 3-D HDTVs is expected in March, 2008. The delivery of the TriDef Core embedded processor is part of a £57,000 jointdevelopment agreement with Arisawa Manufacturing Co., Ltd. ('Arisawa') andHyundai IT Japan Corp ('Hyundai'). By combining the high definition 3-D imageprocessing capabilities of the TriDef Core with the large 46" Full HD 3-D LCDdisplays developed by Arisawa's optoelectronics division, Arisawa, Hyundai andDDD have delivered an impressive and immediate solution for mass-market 3Dtelevision. Using Arisawa's innovative 3-D optics, the flat screen 3-D televisions arecapable of displaying conventional 2-D pictures as well as 3-D. When the viewerdecides to watch in 3-D, they simply activate the 3-D functions using theirremote control and put on a pair of 3-D glasses. The system then delivers a 3-Dimage from any viewing position in the living room with the same clarity andquality as the latest 3-D digital cinemas. In addition to the real time conversion feature, the TriDef Core also supportsthe playback of originally made 3-D movies from Blu-ray discs. This opens adirect in-home distribution channel for the latest generation of Hollywood 3-Dmovies that are in production for the growing 3-D digital cinema market. "The TriDef Core represents another substantial achievement for our company,"said Chris Yewdall, Chief Executive of DDD. "Embedding DDD's market-leadingTriDef solution in the latest 3-D televisions is the next step in deliveringhigh quality, easy-to-use 3-D home entertainment for the consumer. It turns 3-DTV into a familiar 'plug-and-play' approach that is equivalent to the existing2-D TV experience while substantially reducing manufacturing and support costsfor 3-D TV manufacturers." "We are very pleased with the results of our joint collaboration with DDD andHyundai," said Dr. Sanji Arisawa, President and Chief Executive Officer ofArisawa. "The high definition 3-D images on the new Hyundai 46" LCD 3-D HDTV arestunning. We are looking forward to introducing the 3-D HDTV experience toconsumers in Japan in the very near future." Enquiries: Chris Yewdall, President & CEO, DDD +1 (310) 566-3340e-mail: info@ddd.com Brewin DolphinKen Fleming, Director - Corporate Finance +44 (0) 141 314 8114 Notes to Editors About DDD DDD, also known as Dynamic Digital Depth, is transforming the viewing experiencewith applications for 3-D displays. Its patented technologies enable 3-D viewingwith and without glasses; simple integration of computer graphics applicationswith 3-D displays; supply of 3-D content through 2-D to 3-D conversion; and 3-Dtransmission over existing networks. DDD is quoted on the London StockExchange's Alternative Investment Market (AIM: DDD). Background •A new category of flat screen LCD and plasma displays are being developed and marketed by major consumer electronics companies that provide stereoscopic 3-D images both with and without the need for the viewer to wear glasses. Stereoscopic 3-D images appear to have natural in and off-screen depth. 3-D displays have already been included in mobile phones in Japan and Korea and in desktop PC displays and notebook computers in North America and Japan. •DDD's solutions provide an important bridge between conventional two-dimensional (2-D) software applications and content and the new 3-D displays. Normal 2-D pictures, video and computer graphics images are manipulated by DDD's patented software enabling them to be displayed on 3-D displays without requiring the content to be created specially for a 3-D display. DDD's solutions also enable automatic conversion of virtually any media from 2-D to 3-D without any pre-processing of the 2-D image. •DDD licenses these software applications, marketed under the TriDef(R) and DDD MobileTM brand names, to consumer electronics manufacturers for inclusion with the 3-D display products supplied to their end users. DDD also licenses its software directly to end users who already own 3-D displays and through an international sales channel. DDD's customers include Sharp Corporation, Samsung and Arisawa Manufacturing Company. •In September, 2007 Samsung launched a range of 3-D Ready DLP(R) rear projection HDTVs in North America. DDD's TriDef 3D Experience software solution enables a range of popular entertainment to be enjoyed in 3-D and is available in various accessory packs including 3-D glasses. The 3-D accessory packs are available online from DDD.com and other retail and distribution channels. DDD also supplies software that allows popular PC games to be played in 3-D on the new HDTVs. •In July, 2007 Samsung released the SCH-B710 'glasses-free' 3-D mobile telephone in South Korea. DDD entered into a development and license agreement with Samsung Electronics allowing Samsung to include DDD's 3-D mobile telephone software solution in Samsung's SCH-B710 3-D mobile telephone. The license agreement yields a royalty to DDD for each handset manufactured. Samsung renewed its exclusive rights for DDD's real time 2-D to 3-D conversion capabilities for use on 3-D mobile phones in Korea in October 2006. •In October, 2004 DDD signed an agreement with Arisawa Manufacturing Company Limited of Japan to develop 2-D to 3-D conversion solutions for consumer television. The agreement included a $250,000 development project to deliver TriDef Vision+, a hardware set top box capable of transforming normal 2-D DVD and broadcast signals into 3-D in real time. More information is available at www.DDD.com. About ArisawaArisawa is a materials company with three divisions specializing in electricalinsulating materials and industrial structure materials, electronics relatedmaterials and products and optoelectronics related material and products.Arisawa's optoelectronics division has been involved in the design anddevelopment of 3-D optical materials and 3-D displays since 1997. Founded in1909, Arisawa has been listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange since 1961. For thefiscal year ended 31 March 2007, turnover and operating income amounted toapproximately £194 million and £12 million, respectively. More information canbe found at http://www.arisawa.co.jp/en/index.html. About Hyundai ITHyundai IT is a manufacturer and supplier of the highest quality PC monitors anddigital TV's for both domestic and overseas markets. Headquartered in Korea,Hyundai markets a range of 3-D displays including the P240W slim TFT-LCD desktopPC monitor and the new 46" Full HD 3-D LCD TV. Trademarks: DLP is a registered trademark of Texas Instruments. TriDef and DDD Mobile aretrademarks of DDD Group plc. All other trademarks are the property of theirrespective owners. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange