Texas Instruments Inc. says it has developed semiconductor technology that will let manufacturers quickly produce digital video devices with more power and features. Officials say manufacturers will be able to use the new chip, microprocessor and software by year end. The company hopes the technology, called DaVinci, will give it the same stronghold in digital video components that it enjoys in the market for mobile phones, about half of which run on Texas Instruments chips. Chief executive officer Rich Templeton planned to announce the new technology Thursday in New York.
Texas Instruments" news comes two weeks after rival Intel Corp. announced plans to make a personal computer running on a Microsoft Corp. operating system and that serves as the nerve centre of a networked digital home. Texas Instruments officials said some manufacturers of digital video devices are already using the company"s newest technology, but they declined to identify the users. Company officials said the technology would allow digital cameras to correct colour and lighting problems instead of fixing them on a computer, and allow a single box to let TV viewers record, play or hold a videoconference.