Thursday, October 22nd, 1998
Silicon Valley upstart VM Labs last summer unveiled a chip that promises to unleash the full potential of DVD-Video. Dubbed Project X, the chip is a dedicated MPEG-2 processor that claims to bring
to a passive set-top DVD-Video player interactivity now only available with a computer and DVD-ROM. A Project X powered DVD player, for example, could run interactive 3D games or a Web browser from the TV set-top. Motorola, which helped bankroll the project, announced in September it would include Project X technology in set-tops starting in early 1999. Thomson and Toshiba have also licensed Project X. Toshiba officials announced the chip would appear in DVD players in 1999. Thomson, makers of RCA and ProScan brand electronics, said the company would incorporate the technology into “digital video projects” starting next year, which could include DVD-Video players, DVD-Divx players, and DSS satellite receivers.