Adobe, Broadcom Bring HD Flash Video to Netbook Platforms

June 3, 2009

Broadcom and Adobe Systems are collaborating to enable hardware accelerated playback of high definition (HD) Adobe Flash technology based video content on platforms powered by Intel Atom processors. This collaboration paves the way for rich, seamless entertainment experiences on Intel Atom processor enabled netbooks and nettops, offering users new options for accessing and engaging with Web content from popular online providers worldwide.

As a result of this work, Adobe Flash Player software, a key component of the Adobe Flash Platform, will be optimized and supported in Broadcom Crystal HD netbook solutions and further accelerate the transition to H.264 video delivery on netbooks. Users of Intel Atom processor powered netbooks, like the recently announced HP Mini 110XP incorporating Broadcom’s Crystal HD Enhanced video accelerator, will be able to view rich Flash technology based content and applications from sites such as YouTube, CBS, BBC iPlayer, Pandora.tv and others. The smooth, high quality playback of HD video is expected to yield very low system power consumption and low CPU utilization. Flash Player with support for Broadcom’s Crystal HD solutions is expected to be available in the first half of 2010.

“Enabling Adobe Flash Player with our industry-leading Crystal HD video technology provides an essential advantage in accessing and viewing online multimedia content,” said Dan Eiref, vice president and general manager of Broadcom’s Consumer Electronics Group. “Our Crystal HD solutions will optimize the playback performance of Adobe Flash technology based videos, at lower power consumption, paving the way for more exciting mobile Web content and entertainment experiences for netbook users.”

“With 80 percent of all videos online delivered with Flash technology today, netbooks are one of the platforms that are ideal for users to experience the vast amount of rich multimedia Web content on the go,” said David Wadhwani, vice president and general manager, Platform Business Unit at Adobe. “Broadcom’s low cost, high performance media processing engine for netbooks combined with Adobe Flash Player will deliver great video experiences.”

"We are pleased to see industry partners like Broadcom innovating and developing solutions around the Intel Atom processor," said Noury Al-Khaledy, General Manager of netbook and nettop platforms at Intel.

To address the growing consumer demand for HD content playback on cost effective netbooks, Broadcom features a family of low power, high performance netbook solutions driven by its Crystal HD Enhanced Media Accelerator. The technology enables OEMs to expand product capabilities to include flawless playback of all Internet streaming video. Support for 720p and 1080p (H.264 video) content playback will enable users to enjoy a mobile media player experience with no frame drops or jitter, even with a 100% CPU load. Additionally, Broadcom’s Crystal HD Enhanced Media Accelerator solutions provide the highest quality video playback of multi-format (VC-1, H.264 and MPEG-2) HD content for the mainstream PC, netbook and nettop markets. The solutions are available in add-in card formats that include PCI Express mini-cards and ExpressCard 34, and are in full production today.