Movidius News

poLight and Movidius partner to bring new digital camera experience and 3D to camera phones

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Horten (Norway), February 21, 2012 - poLight, the world leader in very high-speed and ultra low power autofocus actuated lenses, announced today that its actuator is enabling an enhanced experience of camera phone photography - bringing the experience closer to that of a digital still or video camera. poLight is working with multi-core processor specialist Movidius to demonstrate its capabilities at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona from 27^th February.

poLight has developed three new actuated autofocus devices based on a patented technology using optical MEMS and polymer technology. This technology enables camera modules with 1/5-inch to 1/2.5-inch sensors to achieve significantly higher resolutions of between 5MP and 12MP.

Thanks to its speed, the poLight device called "TLens" (Tunable Lens) will boost camera module performance (response time is 20x faster than traditional VCM technologies) while consuming 40x less power consumption to preserve battery life in continuous autofocus mode. Those significant improvements will enable new mobile applications such as Instant Focus^TM or All-in-Focus^TM that are currently not possible due to VCM performance limitations but also other 3D applications such as High Quality 3D Video capture.

High quality 3D Video capture: thanks to TLens' high precision and high speed, the user can generate higher quality 3D video and photos with dual camera smartphones. This capability has been demonstrated by multi-core processor specialist Movidius. "Integrating poLight TLens has enabled us to significantly increase the speed and performance of our new 3D mobile camera demonstration," said Sean Mitchell, CEO at Movidius. "In addition to the faster AF speed, synchronizing the two cameras using the TLens dramatically improves the 3D performance compared to traditional VCM, showcasing our high quality 3D multimedia features."

"I am very pleased to see that TLens speed and the easy synchronization methods can remove a barrier to reaching high quality 3D video capture," said Christian Dupont CEO of poLight.

poLight TLens' new devices are designed to serve the needs of large volume phone camera module customers worldwide. poLight will demonstrate the TLens experience during Mobile World Congress, Barcelona from 27^th February to 1 March 2012. To make an appointment, please contact press@polight.com

Movidius will demonstrate mobile 3D camera applications using TLens during Mobile World Congress in Barcelona from 27 February to 1 March 2012. To make an appointment, please contact pr@movidius.com.

Movidius and Toshiba Electronics Europe collaborate on high resolution 3D system solution for smartphones

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Dublin, Ireland and Duesseldorf, Germany, 1 February 2012 - Movidius, the mobile multimedia processor company, today announced it has partnered with Toshiba Electronics Europe to develop a complete 3D system solution for the smartphone market.

Movidius' MA1178 has been combined with Toshiba's 8 Megapixel EDOF (extended depth of field) cameras to enable 3D camera module manufacturers to deliver a compelling 3D imaging solution, ideally suited to top of the range smartphones. EDOF cameras offer distinct advantages over traditional autofocus in terms of 3D synchronisation.

The Movidius MA1178 Dual ISP and video processor chip seamlessly integrates into the handset's existing platforms with auto-calibration and configuration functionality to simplify the design process and reduce the cost of manufacture. The Toshiba 8 Megapixel EDOF cameras and the Movidius MA1178 allow a perfect focus matching of stereoscopic images, which leads to superior 3D picture quality. The system solution offers flexibility for customers to implement a symmetric or asymmetric set up of either two 8 Megapixel EDOF cameras or a combination of 8 and 3 Megapixel EDOF cameras.

In the crowded handset market, high quality 3D imaging capabilities offer mobile manufacturers the opportunity to differentiate their offering from their competitors, providing the end user with the best quality HD 3D experience and enjoyment.

"Movidius' Myriad 3D solution delivers multimedia features beyond what is offered by any other player in the mobile 3D market," commented Shiro Ando, Vice President, Toshiba Electronics Europe. "Movidius' leading 3D imaging capabilities complement the high functionality of Toshiba's EDOF cameras, enabling mobile handset makers to meet consumer demand for a superior 3D mobile experience. Simultaneously, they simplify the manufacturing process by rectifying distortion via software rather than requiring laser trimming during production."

"The team at Movidius is very excited to be partnering with Toshiba to develop this leading 3D solution," commented Sean Mitchell, CEO of Movidius. "Customers seeking to differentiate their product in the highly competitive handset market will benefit from Movidius' innovative and best quality 3D imaging solution as well as Toshiba's worldwide leading position as EDOF camera supplier to the mobile phone market."

Movidius will demonstrate its MA1178 product together with the 3D system solution at the MWC 2012 in Barcelona later this month. To secure an appointment with the Movidius team at Booth # 2.1E51 please contact us.

Movidius enables high definition multimedia features in MyVu Visual Communications System

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Dublin, Ireland – 14 December 2011 – Movidius, the mobile multimedia processor company, today announces that its leading Myriad media processing platform has been selected by ViewLink for its MyVu visual communications (VizCom) system. Movidius and ViewLink will demo the MyVu VizCom system at CES Las Vegas, January 10-13th 2012.

Aimed at the growing outdoor and adventure markets, the MyVu VizCom has advanced multimedia capabilities powered by Movidius’ Myriad platform. The MyVu VizCom system includes a wearable heads-up display with integrated 720p, 110° FOV camera and a fully functional, WiFi enabled Android controller which enables streaming and recording of video/audio content and can also be used for web browsing, gaming, email and hands-free Bluetooth operations, allowing users to share video and audio content anytime, anywhere.

Sean Mitchell, CEO Movidius commented, “Our ultra low power Myriad media processing platform has enabled ViewLink to develop an exciting new product category with its innovative visual communications system. The MyVu VizCom system builds on the already popular helmet and frame mounted camera market, while the headset’s video processing features allow ViewLink to differentiate its offering significantly in a rapidly growing market place. In particular the real-time video social networking aspects of this innovative product are very exciting.”

Kenneth “Kip” Kokinakis, CEO ViewLink added, “We selected Movidius for its world-class video processing capabilities, adding valuable features to our MyVu Vizcom system while optimizing the power consumption. As the adventure market continues to grow, we see more and more customers sharing user generated content on a variety of social media platforms. The MyVu VizCom system allows enthusiasts to share that content in real-time with their online network or on TVs, laptops and gaming systems in the comfort of their own homes.”

The Myriad silicon and software platform enables a wide range of differentiating mobile media features. With Myriad, device manufacturers can bring to market differentiated products that deliver the best mobile imaging experience for users to capture, edit, view and share their content through mobile social networks.

Movidius will demonstrate its Myriad technology at upcoming industry events including CES in Las Vegas, January 10-13th 2012.

Movidius Wins Red Herring Global 100 Award

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Dublin, Ireland and Los Angeles, CA - 8th December 2011 - Mobile multimedia specialist Movidius today announced that it was awarded the Red Herring 100 Global Award, given to the top 100 most exciting and promising private technology companies from North America, Europe and Asia.

Red Herring's Global 100 list has become a mark of distinction for identifying promising companies and entrepreneurs. Red Herring editors were among the first to recognize that companies such as Google, Skype, Baidu, Salesforce.com, YouTube, eBay and many others would change the way we live and work.

"Choosing the best out of the previous two years was by no means a small feat," said Alex Vieux, Chairman of Red Herring. "After rigorous contemplation and discussion, we narrowed down our list from 1,100 potential companies to 100 winners. It was an extremely difficult process. Movidius should be extremely proud of its achievement, the competition for the Top 100 was fierce. The Top 100 Global are truly the best of the best."

Red Herring's editorial staff evaluated the companies on both quantitative and qualitative criteria, such as financial performance, technology innovation, management quality, strategy, and market penetration. This assessment of potential is complemented by a review of the track record and standing of startups relative to their sector peers, allowing Red Herring to see past the "buzz" and make the list an invaluable instrument of discovery and advocacy for the greatest business opportunities from around the world.

Movidius is a fabless semiconductor company whose technology delivers unique multimedia capabilities including High Definition 3D Video. Typical user applications include creating, editing, sharing, viewing and real-time improvement of multimedia content. Movidius Myriad and Myriad 3D technologies are specifically designed for low power mobile phone and consumer electronics, enabling manufacturers to create highly differentiated products and enhanced user experiences.

Movidius Secures $9M Series C Funding

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Dublin, Ireland - 30th November 2011 - Movidius, the mobile multimedia processor company, today announced it has secured Series C funding of US$9 million. The funding round has been concluded with all existing shareholders including Celtic House Venture Partners, Capital E, Emertec Gestion and AIB Seed Capital Fund. Combined with previous investment rounds this brings the total investment raised to over US$30M.

This funding round will be used to develop Movidius' revenue growth as the company continues deployments of its Myriad platform to customers in the mobile phone and consumer electronics markets.

Movidius' Myriad 3D platform combines Movidius' industry leading low-power multi-core processor and application software technology to enable the integration of, for example, advanced autostereoscopic 3D multimedia capabilities including real-time ‘on the fly' 2D to 3D conversion of 2D video, HD 3D video capture and HD 3D display.

Sean Mitchell, CEO Movidius commented, "Our funding announcement comes as we end a year of tremendous growth which saw Movidius continue to engage with the top players in the mobile handset space. This latest investment is a ringing endorsement from our shareholders and demonstrates their continued confidence in our market leading 3D multimedia capabilities. Movidius is on track to meet its ambitious targets for growth, financial performance and customer engagement."

Roger Maggs of Celtic House Venture Partners also said "We are very excited about the Myriad technology and believe 2012 will be an exciting year for Movidius".

Movidius will demonstrate its Myriad technology at upcoming industry events including CES in Las Vegas and MWC 2012 in Barcelona.

Movidius Appoints South Korean Distributor

Wed, 08 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Dublin, Ireland and Sungnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, Korea, 8^th December 2010 - Movidius, the award-winning mobile multimedia processing specialist, has chosen Uniquest as its Korean distribution partner. Uniquest will provide sales, promotion and support for Movidius's recently launched Myriad 3D platform in Korea.

Myriad 3D offers a completely new level and quality of 3D user experience for phones and other mobile devices. Myriad 3D is the first platform in the world to be optimized out-of-the-box to enable a 3D experience in high definition (HD) on mobile devices, allowing handset designers for example to easily produce a whole new generation of 3D-enabled smartphones.

Launched in September and available now, Movidius' MA1133 is the first product in the Myriad 3D platform range. The MA1133 is the world's first semiconductor product capable of a range of unique 3D functions: preview, capturing and processing high-quality user generated 3D video and images on a mobile phone; converting any 2D video to 3D in real time, and upscaling and playback of content in HD.

"Movidius has selected Uniquest for its superb track record in delivering results for semiconductor companies in Korea" commented Paul Costigan, COO / President APAC of Movidius. "With its forward-looking technology industry Korea is an absolutely key market for us. Mobile 3D technology has been all over the news recently, and Korean OEMs recognize that 3D features are going to be a huge selling point in the next generation of phones. Partnering with Uniquest will help us to significantly grow our presence in this vital market where Movidius has seen significant interest in its 3D mobile multimedia capabilities."

Movidius' Myriad 3D MA1133 silicon and software platform is capable of capturing stereo still photos and video images using two separate high resolution cameras, and then processing them in real-time into 3D, whether still or video, using the powerful multimedia processing technology at the heart of the Myriad 3D platform. The same technology will intelligently process the 3D images for the best viewing experience on a 3D display without glasses (auto-stereoscopic).

MA1133 can also be used to view downloaded 3D or 2D content. Movidius' real-time conversion algorithms ensure an engaging and comfortable 3D viewing experience of 2D content. Movidius' Myriad 3D processing technology delivers excellent matching of the content and the display field depth resulting in a high quality 3D experience and avoiding issues that leave the viewer uncomfortable or even nauseous after prolonged use. Movidius has designed Myriad 3D to deliver an enjoyable and effective viewing experience, including simple switching between 2D and 3D display modes.

The 3D capture, image and display processing on the MA1133 all benefit from Movidius' proprietary multi-core processing technology. This technology delivers an unparalleled 20GFlops of processing power; previously unheard of in a mobile device.

"Mobile 3D imaging is creating a huge buzz in the Korean market", commented Andrew Kim, Vice President / COO, Uniquest. "And of the few available mobile 3D technology options, the Movidius products and solutions are clearly leading the market in capabilities and features. By using Movidius, Korean OEMs, who are always eager to differentiate, can deliver incredibly compelling 3D enabled phones and other devices to consumers. We look forward to working with the excellent team at Movidius on one of the most pivotal technology areas of mobile in 2011."

Further products based on Movidius' powerful, versatile Myriad 3D platform will be announced soon.

Movidius brings HD 3D to mobile devices

Thu, 30 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Dublin, Ireland - 30 September 2010 - Movidius, the award-winning mobile multimedia processing specialist, today launched Myriad 3D, its landmark mobile 3D imaging and video platform. Myriad 3D is the first platform in the world to be optimized out-of-the-box to enable a 3D experience in high definition (HD) on mobile devices, allowing handset designers for example to easily produce a whole new generation of 3D-enabled smartphones. The first product in the Myriad 3D platform range is the MA1133, the world's first semiconductor product capable of a range of unique 3D functions: preview, capturing and processing high-quality user generated 3D video and images on a mobile phone; converting any 2D video to 3D in real time, and upscaling and playback of content in HD.

Sean Mitchell, CEO of Movidius, commented, "Mobile phones are the place where 3D technology will gain real adoption the fastest. 3D entertainment may have started in the cinema, but the phone is something people experience every day. And having recently updated their TV sets to HD, consumers are not keen to upgrade again immediately to a 3D TV. Mobile phones on the other hand, are updated every 12-18 months. Also, many fundamental aspects of phones make them ideal for using our new Myriad 3D technology for viewing and capturing 3D images and displaying existing 2D content in full 3D without any need for special glasses."

3D glasses, absolutely necessary for both TV and cinema 3D experiences, can be expensive and cumbersome and can be seen as a barrier to adoption of 3D. Mobile devices such as smartphones however are typically held at a standard distance from the face; the perfect situation for using auto-stereoscopic screens and means the user can easily adjust the screen orientation to get into the 3D "sweet spot". Also, because of the size of the average smartphone, mobile phone cameras can easily be placed at the perfect eyes' distance apart to achieve excellent 3D image capture using the Movidius Myriad 3D platform for highest quality matching between the cameras.

The MA1133 is the first in Movidius' series of 3D products, with further product announcements to be made soon. The MA1133 was preceded by the MA1100, the world's first coprocessor to enable advanced real-time video editing on mobile phones, and MA1101, the Android O/S compatible version of the MA1100. Products are sampling to customers today.

Movidius scoops first Romanian R&D grant from EU

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Dublin, Ireland - 30 June 2010 - Movidius today announced that the company has been awarded a research and development grant from the first EU fund targeting Romania's R&D sector. This grant from the Regional Competitiveness and Employment Objective will enable Movidius to allocate a team of engineers and academics boosting its development of 3D video capabilities and design tools for its Myriad mobile multimedia platform.

Since the company's launch, Movidius has had a substantial development presence in Timisoara, Romania, today employing over 30 engineers focused on software development for the Myriad platform. Myriad brings an enhanced user experience to mobile devices, making it possible for users to capture, edit and share content via mobile social networks. The strength of Movidius' application software and design tools are central to the company's offering.

The EU Regional Competitiveness and Employment Objective is aimed at reinforcing competitiveness, employment and attractiveness of these regions by promoting innovation, entrepreneurship and environmental protection. The Objective is jointly funded by the European Regional Development Fund and the European Social Fund and the grant to Movidius was the result of the first call for such EU-funded R&D projects by the Romanian Government.

Dr. Valentin Muresan, General Manager of Movidius SRL Romania, commented, "This is great news for our center here in Romania. We're delighted to have not only the support of the Romanian Government but also the EU," Muresan continued, "Romania is an exceptional region in terms of producing highly-skilled software developers. The news of this grant will further stimulate our development capability and allow us to incorporate more future-looking applications, especially in the field of 3D video where Movidius already has a significant technological advantage."

Movidius secures Series B investment to fuel growth in mobile video

Wed, 19 May 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Dublin, Ireland - 19 May 2010 - Mobile video specialist Movidius today announced that it has secured US$7.5 million in Series B investment. The funding round has been concluded with existing shareholders including Celtic House Venture Partners, Capital E, Emertec Gestion, AIB Seed Capital Fund and angel investors. This round will be used to fund Movidius' growth plans as the company begins deployment of its Myriad platform providing advanced imaging capabilities including 3D video capture in the next generation of mobile handsets.

Movidius' innovative low-power processor and application software technology enables a wide range of advanced multimedia features on mobile devices including real-time editing of video content, 3D mobile video, as well as a variety of high-quality video enhancements for improving video download bandwidth utilization. By delivering the best mobile video experience for end-users to capture, edit, view and share content directly from their handset, Movidius' Myriad platform helps mobile handset OEMs substantially differentiate their multimedia smartphone offering while also providing operators with significant cost advantages and new revenue streams.

Sean Mitchell, CEO Movidius commented, "This funding is a powerful validation of Movidius' technology and market traction. It highlights the continued support and confidence from our shareholders. This investment will enable us to drive our first products into high volume production and to capitalize on the exploding mobile industry demand for the unique new user experiences we are enabling with the Myriad platform such as 3D mobile video."

Roger Maggs, Partner, Celtic House Venture Partners commented, "In Movidius we immediately recognized a team that had developed disruptive technology and that provides solutions that address both operator and OEM needs for greater differentiation of their products and services, especially in the increasingly competitive Smartphone segment. We continue to invest in Movidius because we are confident of its ability to deliver a truly world class technology that will fundamentally revolutionize the way in which users interact with their mobile handsets in a rapidly growing market."

"Despite tough conditions in the global economy, Movidius' success and progress over the past year reinforces the potential of its ground-breaking technology," commented Rudi Severijns, Partner, Capital-E. "Industry drivers and application trends clearly indicate a shift towards new mobile system partitioning approaches and Movidius is in a strong position with its flexible architecture to take full advantage of this fantastic opportunity."

Movidius is now sampling product to major players in the mobile market, and is moving from development to product deployment. Mass production of Movidius' products is expected to begin later in 2010, with mobile handsets containing those products due to hit the market early in 2011.

Here's a short video with Sean's comments on the context of the funding.

Movidius Launches Myriad Platform

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Dublin, Ireland & Hong Kong - 19th January 2010 - Movidius today announced the launch of the Android version of its new Myriad multimedia processing platform for mobile phones. Based on the technology underlying its premiere product, the MA1110, the Myriad silicon and software platform enables a wide range of differentiating mobile media features including real-time video editing and 3D imaging. In Myriad, device manufacturers can bring to market differentiated products that deliver the best mobile imaging experience for users to capture, edit, view and share their content through mobile social networks.

Movidius will be demonstrating the Android version of Myriad at Mobile World Congress in Hall2.1 at Booth Number 2.1C61, Barcelona, 15th-18th February 2010. Customer samples of Myriad based products and developer kits are available to qualified customers.

Movidius' Myriad combines superior real-time video editing capabilities, 3D imaging and HD quality video recording and playback in a single platform. Myriad also supports Movidius' best-in-class video enhancements for improving low-bitrate internet video and mobile television where applicable. All these features allow OEMs to differentiate handsets and other products with unique features in an increasingly crowded market.

User experience is everything. With consumer frustration at the poor quality of their mobile media experiences to date, Movidius' Myriad Android platform allows applications to include sophisticated video and photo processing to compensate for sub-optimal handset optics. This provides users with enhanced inline video and photo capture quality, while also providing creative enhancements through the addition of unique video and photo effects producing impressive results for sharing with family, friends and more.

"Consumers are getting more savvy about their mobile phones", said Sean Mitchell, CEO of Movidius. "As the iPhone has proven, today's consumers are buying usability and not just more megapixels. Handset manufacturers and network operators recognize this and are keen to add unique features such as video editing and now 3D imaging to the next generation of mobile phones so consumers can have the best possible overall experience for capturing, editing, viewing and sharing their photos and videos in real time directly in the handset."

Success in the mobile multimedia field is dictated by superb performance, but also through delivering a great user experience. With top rankings and featured in Wired Magazine and The New York Times, Seattle based photographer Chase Jarvis' iPhone app "Best Camera" is showing the way mobile photography can develop this new paradigm. "By providing consumers with an intuitive interface and powerful functionality, we achieved phenomenal success with the Best Camera app," said Chase. "The creative person in me is ecstatic about the technology Movidius is developing. It will enable breakthrough performance in mobile photography and video."

-ENDS-

Movidius Appoints New Board Member

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Dublin, Ireland - 18^th November 2009 - Movidius today announced that it has appointed Gary Johnson as non-executive member of the board of directors. Johnson brings over 20 years of experience from leading positions in several high profile technology companies and his appointment is the latest demonstration of confidence in the strength of Movidius' company and technology.

Johnson was previously CEO for PortalPlayer, and has recently been involved as a Director at Air Semiconductor and ITSUN Ltd. Johnson has been a NASDAQ-listed CEO twice across his career. Having overseen the growth and/or flotation of several businesses including S3 and PortalPlayer (floated in November of 2004 and sold to NVIDIA in 2007 for $360M), Johnson has built a reputation for backing and managing successful enterprises. Under his tenure at S3 Inc. he built the highly successful Trio product family bringing for the first time integrated video and graphics playback to the consumer PC market. At PortalPlayer the Applications Processors (AP) that were developed achieved notable success in many generations of mobile devices including Apple iPODs, SONY and Samsung MP3 players among many others. This led the way to highly innovative products incorporating High-Definition (HD) Video capability for the then emerging multimedia mobile phone market.

Johnson's expertise in strategic planning and execution, financing and negotiation, together with his enthusiasm for mobile technologies, make him a strong addition to a company that already has significant momentum behind it. Movidius gained strong investor backing, securing over $14 million of Series A funding in October 2008. The January 2009 launch and demonstrations of its premier mobile video processor, the MA1110, at Mobile World Congress 2009 were met with uniformly positive responses. Mobile social networking is seen to be the 'next big thing' in the mobile space and the ability of Movidius' technology to deliver mobile video editing is key to realizing a complete user experience.

"We're really excited to have someone of Gary's calibre joining the team," said Sean Mitchell, CEO of Movidius. "Gary's previous successful track record and strong industry relationships make him a very significant addition to our Board. He brings substantial experience to the table, and will play a key role in guiding Movidius' strategic direction in the future and in accelerating our market engagements."

Movidius Strengthens Management Team

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Dublin, Ireland 3rd November 2009 – Movidius today announced that it has appointed two new senior executives to its management team. John Bourke and Barry Jones have assumed the roles of Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Software Engineering respectively. The two industry veterans will play critical roles in delivering Movidius’ mobile video processing technology to the company’s global customer base.

John Bourke comes to Movidius with over 20 years of experience in various prominent financial positions within the technology industry. Before joining Movidius, Bourke was co-founder and CFO of GloNav Inc, a fabless semiconductor company specializing in GPS technologies, which was successfully sold to NXP Semiconductors and ST Ericsson in 2008. Prior to that Bourke was VP of Finance and Corporate Controller at CEVA Inc, and previously spent 10 years in numerous senior positions at Ernst and Young. These included Director of Corporate Finance and Director and Senior Manager of Audit specializing in technology companies.

A commercial technologist and successful serial entrepreneur, Barry Jones brings to Movidius over 20 years of experience in mobile handset technologies and an enviable record in successfully delivering client applications into mobile devices. Jones has worked with a variety of blue chip, SME and start-up companies. Over the years he has successfully brought more than 100 consumer electronics products to market, generating revenues in excess of $5 billion. Jones joined Movidius in June 2009 from Motorola where he was Operations and Development Director, responsible for managing mass-market mobile handset product development across four continents. Prior to this Jones was Operations Director at TTPCom Silicon and Terminals, within its software and silicon business units, where he helped deliver the company’s leading edge solutions into 30% of the worlds mobile handsets.

“Both Barry and John bring substantial track records of success to Movidius, and their appointment will further strengthen and compliment our already highly experienced team.” commented Sean Mitchell, CEO, Movidius. “Barry and John’s experience in delivering innovative applications for mobile devices will contribute significantly to our success as we now engage with customers in the next phase of Movidius’ growth.”

Movidia re-brands to Movidius

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Dublin, Ireland 20th October 2009 - Movidia today announced that it has embarked on a complete re-brand of the company, and with effect from today, will now operate under the name Movidius. Based on specific market feedback, the company has re-branded to create a more distinctive presence in the mobile handset sector.

The new name Movidius is intended to reflect the core brand values of the company: mobility, video and imaging, and connectivity of the social network in "us". As a unique and innovative name, Movidius also conveys aspects of the company's product focus on video, as well as allowing the company to leverage the heritage of the Movidia brand by making the transition as smooth as possible for everyone involved.

Sean Mitchell, CEO Movidius commented, "Movidius is focused on perfecting the user experience for mobile social networking which The Neilsen Company reported this past June is delivering the fastest growing audience for mobile internet services. The last six months have been incredible for us, and since launching the MA1110 in January, we have generated excellent traction with customers and partners, as well as the industry as a whole." Mitchell continued: "Our new brand will better reflect the core values of the company and help us define our unique position in the market."

Movidius was founded by an experienced management team from the semiconductor industry, and in October 2008, announced it had secured over $14 million of Series A funding. Launched in January and demonstrated at Mobile World Congress in February 2009, Movidius' premier product, the MA1110, is the first processor in the world to enable complex in-phone video editing, in real time, on power-conscious devices. The MA1110 uniquely addresses the growing demand for both mobile social networking and UGC (User Generated Content) functionality on mobile phones, and will enable OEMs to create highly differentiated devices with unique user experiences.

The first MA1110-based products will be sampling from Movidius in late 2009. The company's R&D and sales teams are located in Dublin, Hong Kong and Romania.

Movidius launches revolutionary multimedia processor for mobile phones

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Movidius launches revolutionary multimedia processor for mobile phones

High performance, low-power design meets demand for UGC capabilities for mobile social networking

Dublin, Ireland & Hong Kong – 15th January 2009 – Movidius (formerly Movidia) today announced the launch of its premier product the MA1110, a multimedia processor for mobile phones. The MA1110 is the first processor in the world to enable high performance in-phone video post-production in real time on power conscious mobile devices. Movidius’s processor is aimed at the booming market for phones for mobile social networking users and will allow mobile phone OEMs to develop a new generation of highly differentiated products with enhanced user experiences.

Movidius will be demonstrating the MA1110 at Mobile World Congress hall 2.1, stand A10, Barcelona, 16th-19th February 2009. Customer samples of MA1110 will be available in Summer 2009. Mass production of Movidius’s chip will commence later in 2009.

Movidius’s MA1110 brings unparalleled processing power to a mobile phone at compelling power points. Movidius’s breakthrough technology allows the multimedia processor to perform highly complex video-editing tasks such as real-time image stabilization, super resolution zoom, slow motion and color matching. Movidius’s MA1110 also supports high resolutions of all standard audio and video CODECs and APIs to ensure full compatibility with a wide range of content.

The MA1110 uniquely addresses the rapidly growing demand for both mobile social networking and UGC (User Generated Content) functionality on mobile phones*. Movidius’s chip can support complex video post-production features previously only achievable on a desktop computer. Users can capture, edit, view and publish their videos using only their phone; this enables them to skip the PC ‘stage’ entirely, and empowers a new generation of ‘Spielbergs on the move’.

For the first time, operators are seeing real and repeat data usage on mobile phones. New features available in the latest phones are encouraging users in their droves to take out more expensive tariff bundles for data and internet applications. Movidius’s MA1110 provides handset OEMs with the technology to satisfy initial multimedia requirements and, crucially, empower them to continue differentiating their products with unique UGC capabilities.

“This has never been done before”, said Sean Mitchell, CEO of Movidius. “Analysts are unanimous in pointing out that the market for social networking and UGC is exploding. Network operators and phone manufacturers are queuing up to release ‘Facebook phones’, or offer individual video features like slow-mo. Yet until now no phone has been able to perform complex video editing on a phone in real time. This is something we sought to address in order to really deliver a compelling user experience to unleash the real growth in this market.”

“There is an entire generation of phone users out there waiting for this. The MA1110 puts an editing studio in your pocket. Footage of football matches, weddings, holidays, parties, can all be edited, tailored and shared instantly wherever you are. The range of effects possible with the MA1110 is astonishing. Finally, we can have mobile multimedia as it was always meant to be: Powerful, personal and immediate. ”

Will Strauss, President of Forward Concepts commented, "Movidius's MA1110 looks remarkable. This is the only in-phone, post-production product that I've encountered. No other chip on the market can do this. Forward Concepts sees a huge potential market for mobile social networking and a lot of excitement around the area of user generated content. Handset OEMs want to differentiate mobile devices and I expect a strong demand for this product. It's the right technology at the right time. I look forward to seeing Movidius's demo in Barcelona."

Movidius was founded by an experienced management team from the semiconductor industry and in October 2008, announced that it had secured $14 million of Series A funding. The company’s R&D and sales teams are located in Dublin, Hong Kong and Romania.

*Editors Note:
According to UGC industry analysts Juniper Research strong growth is expected in mobile social networking revenues with a market size of $7.3 billion by 2013. Meanwhile In-Stat expects that the worldwide market for mobile video revenues could reach $6.2 billion in the coming five years, while ABI Research forecasts 140 million mobile social networking users by 2013.

About Movidius
Movidius is a fabless semiconductor company whose technology delivers unique video editing and post-production capabilities for the creation of User Generated Content for mobile social networking. Movidius’s video processor hardware and application software is specifically designed to suit low power mobile phone and consumer electronics, enabling handset manufacturers to create highly differentiated products and enhanced user experiences.

Movidius has offices in Dublin and Hong Kong, with a substantial software development centre in Romania. Movidius is venture backed, with investors including: Celtic House Venture Partners, Capital-E, Emertec Gestion, AIB Seed Capital Fund and Enterprise Ireland.