Toshiba ships PS3-based video processor
updated 03:45 pm EDT, Tue April 8, 2008
Toshiba PS3-based video
For other electronics companies, Toshiba has begun shipping the SpursEngine TM SE1000, a video stream processor meant for use in various AV products; it encodes and decodes MPEG-2 and H.264 clips, in resolutions up to 1080p. It is notable however for being one of the first third-party products based on Sony's Cell Broadband Engine, the processor technology behind the PlayStation 3 gaming console. In its SpursEngine incarnation, the processor runs at 1.5GHz and consumes between 10 to 20W of power.
Sony has long seen the PlayStation as a general-purpose "computer," and has followed through with this on the PS3 by licensing the Cell to other companies for different purposes. Toshiba and Sony are especially close, having recently begun a joint venture to build not only the Cell, but the PS3's RSX graphics chipset.
