Broadcom Corp., which makes semiconductors for wired and wireless communications, is talking about its new system-on-a-chip (SoC) that combines Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD formats into a single-chip design.
The new chip ("Broadcom BCM7440 Blu-ray/HD DVD SoC") is coupled with a software stack that is compliant with both Blu-ray and HD DVD specs, and could provide equipment makers with a suitable platform for next-gen disc players that support both formats, the firm said.
The SoC integrates multiple-core MIPS architecture, a multistream HD video decoder, dedicated graphics engines, DSP-based audio processors, a security processor, DDR2 interfaces, integrated video and audio outputs, and several system/network connectivity interfaces.
How much such a dual-format DVD player might cost at the retail level, if such units reach consumers, has not yet been released.
