reprinted from a Sorenson press release: 

Sorenson Media Delivers Sorenson Squeeze 4.5.3

Free Maintenance Release for Current Sorenson Squeeze 4.5 Users Also Adds Two New Features

SALT LAKE CITY (Dec. 26, 2006)—Sorenson Media®, the worldwide leader of video encoding and compression applications for digital video professionals and enthusiasts, today announced the immediate availability of Sorenson Squeeze® 4.5.3. The latest update to the company’s award-winning software adds two new features and enhances the quality of compression and encoding of version 4.5.

Sorenson Squeeze 4.5.3 contains an error log feature for batch encoding that displays the name of any file with an error and error information as Sorenson Squeeze continues on to encode the entire batch of files. Users can save the error log text file and send it to Sorenson Media for help diagnosing encoding problems. The latest update also expands the 32-character file name limit to 63, which is the maximum QuickTime can accept.

Maintenance items on version 4.5.3 include support for encoding alpha channels while scaling; allowing Sorenson Squeeze versions 4.3 and 4.5 to coexist on same hard drive; eliminating pops and clicks on MP3 audio; adding a more robust filter in the Noise Reduction feature, and stopping a memory leak in Apple’s H.264.

The free maintenance release is recommended for all users of Sorenson Squeeze 4.5. For more information, visit www.sorensonmedia.com or download Sorenson Squeeze 4.5.3 directly from www.sorensonmedia.com/downloads.

Pricing and Availability

Sorenson Squeeze 4.5.3 is a free upgrade to owners of Sorenson Squeeze 4..5 For more information about purchasing a Sorenson Squeeze 4.5 product, or to find a reseller, call 1.888.767.3676 or visit www.sorensonmedia.com.

reprinted from a Seagate press release:

SEAGATE TO ACQUIRE EVAULT, INC. - ENHANCES STRATEGY FOR SEAGATE SERVICES

SCOTTS VALLEY, Calif.—21 December 2006— Seagate Technology (NYSE:STX) today announced the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire privately-held EVault, Inc., a leading provider of online backup services, as part of its effort to extend the company’s storage solutions offerings and strengthen the Seagate Services group. The company’s strategy for Seagate Services includes offering market-leading services in the areas of data recovery, online backup/recovery and archiving for small-medium businesses (SMB).

“Today’s announcement highlights a strategic next step into services, which is a natural extension of Seagate’s core business and will leverage our brand leadership and channel expertise to deliver solutions to the SMB market,” said Bill Watkins, Seagate CEO. “Over the past three years, Seagate has been executing a strategy designed to broaden its customer base and increase growth opportunities by expanding beyond its core hard disc drive business into the broader storage solutions category. Our objective for Seagate Services is to become a leading provider of services to manage and protect our customers’ digital content throughout its lifecycle.”

EVault is the most recent acquisition in the broader storage solutions area and the third for Seagate in the area of services. In 2005, Seagate purchased Mirra, Inc., a leading provider of networked digital content protection products for the home and small business markets; and Action Front, a professional in-lab data recovery company. These acquisitions provide Seagate with growing opportunities in the storage solutions market and are highly scalable with Seagate’s technology portfolio and market expertise.

With Seagate Services, the company is interested in pursuing underserved markets where it can leverage leading technology and market expertise, and provide unique value propositions to address growing customer needs. According to analyst reports, there are currently over 74 million small-medium businesses worldwide, and one of their most frequently cited IT challenges is improving data availability and recovery. As a category leader in storage technology, Seagate is uniquely positioned to address the customer needs of this multi-billion dollar market.

With the acquisition of EVault, Seagate Services will provide the following primary solutions:

- Data recovery through professional in-lab and on-site retrieval of content for corrupted or inaccessible storage devices - all media formats and all brands. For more details/service offerings: (www.seagatedatarecovery.com)

- Online backup, archival, and recovery services for designated user and application data. These services are targeted at the underserved SMB market, and will focus on customers with limited IT infrastructure or appropriate resources. For more details/service offerings: (www.evault.com)

EVault is one of the industry’s largest, and most profitable, suppliers of online network backup, recovery and data protection solutions for SMB and remote enterprise computing. Founded in 1997, the company is privately held, based in Emeryville, CA, with over 250 employees. It has more than 8,500 customers, including hundreds of financial, health care and legal organizations.

Seagate will acquire EVault in a cash transaction valued at approximately $185 million. The acquisition is subject to various standard closing conditions, including applicable regulatory approvals, and is expected to close in the third quarter of Seagate’s fiscal year 2007.

Blackmagic Design Announces Immediate Availability of Intensity, the World’s First High Definition HDMI Editing Card

San Jose, California – December 19, 2006 — Blackmagic Design Inc. today announced Intensity is now available to customers worldwide. An ultra low cost HDMI capture and playback card, Intensity users can now capture high quality uncompressed video direct from the HDMI connection on HDV cameras.

Intensity is an incredibly small HDMI capture and playback card that instantly switches between 1080HD, 720HD, NTSC and PAL video standards. Once Intensity is plugged into compatible PCI Express Windows or Mac OS X computers, users get the amazing quality of uncompressed video via HDMI from cameras, decks and set top boxes, enabling them to playback to any HDMI big screen television or video projector for editing in SD or HD with real time effects.

“The availability of Intensity gives tremendous opportunities to creative users everywhere who want to take high quality, uncompressed video out of low-cost HDMI cameras,” said Grant Petty, CEO, Blackmagic Design Inc.. “Our innovations in high definition editing products, generate significant savings for cost-conscious editors using Macs and PCs for post production.”

Intensity utilizes the same technology found in Blackmagic Design’s famous professional video capture cards that are used on award-winning feature films, documentaries and television shows. Users can capture to disk arrays for high speed uncompressed video, or when disk speed and space is tight, choose from a range of professional compressed codecs that go well beyond the quality limitations of HDV.

Customers recording to HDV tape also benefit from HDMI uncompressed capture and editing. Once the HDV footage is recorded uncompressed via HDMI, and graphics and effects are placed, the edited video will retain full HD resolution and color depth. This high quality editing can be viewed in real time via the Intensity HDMI video output on large screen televisions or video projectors. Because Intensity’s media files are fully compatible with Blackmagic Design’s DeckLink and Multibridge capture cards, users can even play-out to broadcast tape decks by moving content to a DeckLink or Multibridge based system.

Intensity is fully compatible with Adobe Premiere Pro®, Apple Final Cut Pro™, Adobe After Effects™, Adobe Photoshop™ and any DirectShow™ or QuickTime™ based software application. Intensity works with almost any video software.

Blackmagic On-Air 2.0 for Live Editing
Also immediately available is Blackmagic Design’s popular On-Air 2.0 software which is available for use with PCI-e capable Macs. Two HDMI video cameras can be connected for live mixing, when used with two Intensity boards plugged into the same computer. On-Air 2.0 supports auto-sync of video inputs, so users don’t need expensive cameras that feature genlock. On-Air 2.0 features “genlock-less” operation so any camera with HDMI outputs will work as an incredibly low cost solution.

Intensity Product Features
- HDMI in for capture from HDMI video cameras and HDMI HDV decks.
- Uncompressed video capture and playback
- Edit with Apple Final Cut Pro on Mac OS X, or Adobe Premiere Pro on Windows XP
- HD and SD Professional Compression codecs (Final Cut Pro or Adobe Premiere Pro)
- True 64 bit 1 lane PCIe support.
- Instantly switches between HDTV 1080i/59.94, 1080i/50, 720p/59.94, 720p/50, NTSC and PAL video standards.

Availability and Price
Intensity has a recommended retail price of only US$249 and is available immediately worldwide from Blackmagic Design authorized resellers.

About Blackmagic Design Inc.
Blackmagic Design Inc. manufactures the world’s highest quality video cards and converters for the post-production and television broadcast industries. The Multibridge, DeckLink and Intensity family of leading quality video products have changed the post-production industry and made HDTV more affordable for everyone. Blackmagic Design was founded by some of the world’s leading editors and engineers from the post-production industry. This industry knowledge and experience is constantly fed back into our products allowing us to introduce the most amazing, creative tools for the industry.

Blackmagic Design Inc. corporate headquarters are in the United States, with offices in the Netherlands, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong and Australia.

AZUREUS ANNOUNCES CONTENT AGREEMENT WITH BBC WORLDWIDE

Deal Marks the First Ever Peer-to-Peer Distribution

Partnership for the Network

Palo Alto, Calif. – Dec. 19, 2006 — Azureus, the company behind one of the most popular Internet applications for the distribution of large files, today announced a content partnership with BBC Worldwide, the first ever peer-to-peer (P2P) distribution partnership for the network. The deal signifies the company’s commitment to further provide compelling entertainment content for its users. Azureus will offer popular, high-resolution British comedies and dramas from BBC Worldwide on its new digital media platform, currently code named Zudeo (www.zudeo.com).

Under the terms of the agreement, BBC Worldwide will license international hit television series to U.S. users of the service, including Red Dwarf, Strange and Invasion Earth, debuting via broadband for the first time in the U.S. Other titles include International Emmy® award-winning, Little Britain, Doctor Who, Fawlty Towers (starring John Cleese of Monty Python), Coupling, Keeping Up Appearances, League of Gentlemen and Ideal among others. Additional content partnerships are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

“BBC Worldwide understands our commitment to providing consumers with a rich entertainment experience and our desire to offer quality content to our diverse global audience,” said Gilles BianRosa, CEO, Azureus. “We are thrilled to offer programming that encompasses such a robust fan base, as well as the opportunity to expose a new generation to cult favorites from BBC Worldwide catalogue via our new entertainment platform.”

“We are very excited to partner with Azureus and make our content available through this revolutionary distribution model,” said Beth Clearfield, Vice President, Program Management and Digital Media, BBC Worldwide. “We want to ensure that our most popular content – as well as programs that have rarely been seen in the territory – are part of the latest dynamic entertainment environment and can reach the largest audience possible.”

Recently launched this month, Azureus’ new platform currently operating under the code name Zudeo, enables content providers to easily publish, showcase, and distribute high resolution, long form content, including video and games in high definition or DVD quality over the Internet, at no cost. Innovative service features include content discovery through search, browsing, channels and tagging, as well as easier integration with firewalls, and a completely revamped, easy-to-use interface. Enhanced features including P2P streaming will be released in the near future. BBC content, along with other premium partners will be available on Azureus’ new platform early next year.

About Azureus Inc.

Azureus Inc. is the provider of the most popular P2P application for the transfer of large files. With more than three years of technology innovation, proven robustness, and more than 130 million downloads of its application, Azureus users connect with one another from more than 100 countries and 40 languages. In addition, leading companies including Sun Microsystems, employ Azureus servers to distribute applications or other content to their customers. The Azureus client is also included in Red Hat’s Fedora Linux Operating System.