NEW YORK — (PR Newswire) — The Linux movement has taken a leap forward today with the announcement of Indrema, a new consumer electronics company specializing in open source digital products for home entertainment. Using the Linux operating system, enhanced by a set of open source multimedia standards such as the Direct Rendering Infrastructure, the new OpenStream video architecture, and Mesa 3D… compatible graphics components, Indrema plans to turn the consumer electronics industry on its head. By leveraging an open source operating system and graphics API set, the company intends to open up third party development opportunities in the personal TV and game console markets for home entertainment.

“Up to this point software developers for game consoles had to marry to a proprietary platform where evolution is dictated by one company. Now entertainment software vendors can embrace an open platform where the system software is freely distributed and the graphics subsystem is upgradeable. Indrema will release a distribution of the Linux operating system specifically designed for TV and HDTV applications. We are working with the open source community to develop the missing pieces of the Linux platform to enable DVD-quality video support and next-generation 3D graphics performance. The days of the black box are over,” says John T. Gildred, founder and CEO of Indrema.

Indrema is currently working on the production of the L600, their first entertainment console based on Linux, DRI, Mesa 3D and OpenStream, an open source DRI-enabled video architecture for Linux developed by Indrema, Precision Insight and other members of the open source community. The new system will offer an impressive list of features: the new Gecko web browser, next generation 3D game performance, MP3 storage and playback, personal TV, HDTV support, and Internet Video Channels which integrates with the Personal TV system for near DVD quality electronic video distribution over the Internet.

The system uses an enhanced version of the x86 PC architecture, optimized for high-performance graphics on TV. Storage of video, MP3 and games is possible with its internal hard drive, and additional games and audio can be purchased and downloaded into the Indrema console over the Internet. The graphics processing power in the L600 is said to eclipse anything released so far by gaming system vendors. The L600 is expected to ship in time for the 2000 holiday season.

Long list of features

600 MHz Processor
64 MB Fast Memory
2/8/30/50 GB Hard Drive Option
100 Mbps Ethernet Port
1 Composite Video In, 1 Out
1 S-Video In, 1 Out
1 Component HD or SVGA Out
1 Stereo In, 1 Out (L/R)
1 Digital Audio Out (Optical)
4 USB Universal Ports
Built-in Infrared Sensor
Wireless Keyboard/Mouse Option
Special “DV Linux” Distribution
Supports Mesa 3D, DRI and OpenStream(tm)
Massive 3D HW Acceleration (GPU TBA)
MPEG2 Dual Stream HW Acceleration
HDTV Output Supports 480p, 720p, 1080i
3D Audio Converts to Optical Out
Integrated Mozilla Browser and E-mail
Quake 3 Arena/Unreal Tournament
MP3/VOB Storage and Playback System
Integrated Personal TV System

 
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