Empower Technologies™ announces new single board media computers powered by TI OMAP35x Processors

Low cost, low power industrial grade single board media computer for interactive kiosks, digital signage, and other high performance media applications.
 
June 30, 2009 - PRLog -- Richmond, BC - Empower Technologies (TSX.V: EPT) (“Empower”) today introduced EMP3530-SDK media development platform and two cost-effective, high-performance EMP3503/3530 (EMP35xx) single board media computers. EMP3503 and EMP3530 are single board media computers for interactive kiosks, digital signage and other high-performance media applications. It delivers High-Definition (HD) video up to 720p screen resolution. The EMP35xx comes with Empower’s Linux Embedded Operating System (LEOs) and Empower’s own industrial grade always-play media player software “LEOs Media Player1.0” (LMP1.0). The EMP35xx solutions are also complemented by an optional USB WiFi or a 3.5G wireless data modem. Also available for licensing is the enterprise content management software running under the onboard web server that allows for remote user browser access to upload contents, perform software upgrade or content maintenance functions.

The EMP35xx is a complete embedded image processing and multimedia system ready to load an application, so customers can have an always-on always-play network ready embedded single board media computer. The EMP3503 single board media computer leverages the laptop-like performance of the OMAP3503 single-core device from Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI), which features an ARM® Cortex™-A8 CPU core. The EMP3530 leverages the OMAP3530 dual-core processor that has the Cortex-A8 CPU as well as a TI TMS320C64x+™ digital signal processor (DSP) core.  In addition, the EMP3530 includes a 3D graphics engine that can run OpenGL® ES 2.0. Unlike its competing rival, the IPC (Industrial PC), EMP35xx is an embedded always-on fanless media device, which is low power, low heat and capable of instant on and instant off. As a result, the unit is much more economical to operate and will last longer due to less wear and tear on the display and the electronics.

For digital signage, interactive kiosk or new media developers that need to develop their own unique media applications to run under EMP3503 or EMP3530, EMP3530-SDK media development platform is available. This development platform kit comes with an EMP3530 single board media computer with JTAG connector onboard, a CD with LEOs SDK and programming manuals. Empowers’ LEOs operating system Software Development Kit (SDK) is software development tool that allow developers to easily write application code via the API (Application Program Interface) without worrying about the underlying hardware. To program the TI C64x+™ DSP processor core (only available in EMP3530), the developer needs to acquire the Code Composer Studio™ software from TI.

Digital signage in a nutshell is typically a display screen connected to a media computer that may or may not have network access or control. It plays video or animated content. As the price is coming down on large LCD/Plasma display panel and media computer, they are rapidly replacing the static poster board or mechanical billboard or dot matrix LED display one sees in a shopping mall, airport, or highway. Interactive kiosk is a type of digital signage targeted to personal sales, messaging and interaction. It usually has a smaller display screen and a media computer hidden from the sight of the user. The user can interact with the media computer either through touch screen or a set of buttons or keyboard in front of the display. ATM (Automated Teller Machine) is probably the most popular and the most successful interactive kiosk implemented today. The interactive kiosk technology is just beginning to get noticed by other industries such as retail and hospitality to improve their operation efficiency, customer satisfaction, and cost saving. Anyone who has taken a flight lately will notice the check-in kiosks in the airport.

Empower President and CEO Paul Leung stated, “The EMP3530 and EMP3503 single board media computers are the PMP (Personal Media Player) equivalent for the industrial and commercial user. Similar in features to consumer PMPs, these solutions are small, easy to install and cost-effective. The EMP35xx single board media computer breaks from the tradition of using the PC to drive the display in the digital signage industry and interactive kiosk industry.”

In the age of green living, the EMP35xx is the perfect choice for customers that prefer green products to reduce their carbon footprint in their overall business. EMP35xx’s inherent power management technologies allow developers to harness low power consumption and low heat dissipation in their designs. For example, hundreds of these digital displays are used in public areas, such as a shopping mall or airport, and with the EMP35xx, customers can reduce the load from power grid in a big way to power the fanless media computer and from the air conditioner to cool the building.

“Empower capitalizes on the performance and handheld power levels provided by TI’s OMAP35x devices to deliver a solution that performs fast, efficient processing now required by the latest innovative industrial and media equipment in the market. With access to the right level of performance and integration, Empower is able to provide the right level of flexibility and value for customers,” said Alejandro Erives, OMAP35x marketing manager, TI.

The EMP3530-SDK media development platform, EMP3530 and EMP3503 single board media computers are available immediately from Empower Technologies in open frame or boxed configuration. For details, please visit www.empowertechnologies.com or email sales@empowertechnologies.com.

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Empower Technologies is a developer and provider of Linux-based embedded operating software, development platforms and system technologies for embedded computing industry which includes the automotive, RFID, industrial control, and medical devices sectors
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