Tiger Telematics Engages Micronas Audio ICs for New Mobile Entertainment Device (0404)
London, UK/ Freiburg, Germany March 03, 2004: Gametrac Europe Ltd, subsidiary of Jacksonville, FL based Tiger Telematics Inc (TIGR) and Zurich, Switzerland based semiconductor manufacturer Micronas (SWX Swiss Exchange: MASN, Prime Standard Segment, TecDAX, Frankfurt: MNSN) today announced that Gametrac Europe will use two of Micronas' cutting edge audio ICs to bring extensive audio features into its 400-MHz-processor powered multi-entertainment Gametrac (GT) device, unveiled at the Microsoft booth at CES this year. The GT is a mobile pocked-sized console offering high gaming quality using both Bluetooth 2 and GPRS for multi-player gaming. The gaming device has gaming with additional in-built entertainment functions including GPS and a MP3 player.
The ARM9-400-MHz processor and the high-resolution 2.8-inch TFT color screen together with the GPS make Gametrac a unique mobile gaming device. Constantly linked with GPRS, Gametrac allows wide-area network gaming and since it is wired for GSM tri-band networks it can be used in five continents. Gametrac users can enjoy multi-player and online gaming, along with a MP3 player, movie player and camera. The platform allows service providers such as advertisers to develop customized feature-rich content, which can be sent to the users through a GPRS network.
"Micronas is another solid relationship in our strategic plan to involve large technologically innovative firms to bring the innovative Gametrac to the market. Consumers want high quality audio features in a leading edge gaming console. The two Micronas ICs, a single-chip MIDI synthesizer with compressed audio and speech decoder functions and a high precision stereo digital-to-analog converter, are the ideal combination for enjoying wide range of high quality audio," said Mike Carrender, CEO Tiger Telematics. "Users can enjoy a high quality and full featured MP3 player in our multi-entertainment device."
"Gametrac ushers in a new area of mobile gaming. Equipped with audio ICs from Micronas, this gaming platform also enables users to download and enjoy their digital music on the move," said Shawn Richards, director marketing multimedia at Micronas. "Gametrac's confidence in the Micronas audio solution demonstrates coverage of the extensive audio solution requirements of the latest converging consumer markets."
Technically, the Micronas audio ICs are excellent. The MAS 3515G MIDI synthesizer and audio decoder belongs to Micronas´ MAS digital audio decoder/encoder family targeted for the high-growth portable multimedia device markets. Based on the Micronas MAS DSP platform, the MAS 3515G features include leading-edge wavetable based MIDI synthesis in combination with MP3 decoding capabilities in a miniature 40-pin BGA package (6.0 mm x 8.0 mm x 1.2 mm). The MAS 3515G can provide up to 40 voices of high-quality MIDI audio for gaming, ambient and ring melodies, all of which are key audio features in mobile and converging multimedia products.
The DAC 3560C is a single-chip, high precision, stereo digital-to-analog converter designed for audio applications providing three integrated audio amplifiers for a stereo headset, mono earpiece and a mono loudspeaker driver. Moreover, mixing additional analog sources to the D/A-converted signal is supported. For applications with a noise-critical power supply environment, the DAC 3560C is equipped with an integrated Low Drop-Out Voltage Regulator (LDO). The LDO provides a stable 2.85 V output voltage and is intended for supplying the headphone and earpiece drivers. With the LDO, the power supply rejection ration (PSRR) on audio outputs is improved to more than 100 dB. The DAC 3560C comes in 6 x 6 x 0.9 mm 40-pin Plastic Quad Flat No leads package (PQFN40).