STORAGE

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands -- At IBC 2003, September 12-16, Silicon Graphics (NYSE:SGI) debuts new SGI(R) InfiniteStorage solutions for broadcast and production. SGI InfiniteStorage accelerates workflows for broadcasters and production facilities by giving all systems access to the same data at the same time at any required speed-through a combination of SAN/NAS architecture. Sharing data rather than moving it typically doubles workflow efficiency. The open nature of the SGI(R) CXFS(TM) shared filesystem allows facilities to choose the best tools for the job without operating-system constraints and enables easy integration of media management tools. InfiniteStorage for Broadcast SGI will demonstrate its open digital infrastructure for broadcast using the innovative approach presently being built at Danish Broadcasting and other broadcast facilities throughout Europe. This data-centric, facility-wide build-out includes the use of Ardendo software for multi-resolution ingest and LAN and WAN browse/rough-cut edit, Pinnacle Liquid blue(TM) for collaborative editing, and playout via multiple SGI Media Server(TM) for broadcast servers under the control of vizrt(R) automation. The system features tight integration between ingest, edit, playout, distribution, and archive and allows for many times faster than real-time file sharing between workstations of different operating systems throughout the broadcast operation. Additionally, a Sony XPRI editor will be integrated into the workflow, demonstrating SGI's unique characteristic of accepting most file systems into the SGI SAN infrastructure. SGI will introduce several new capabilities for its open-architecture SGI Media Server for broadcast system, including support for D10/IMX MPEG-2 compression, DVCPRO25 and DVCPRO50 compression, and support for the MXF file format. With the introduction of these capabilities, as well as existing support for MPEG- 2 and SMPTE 360M exchange formats, SGI takes a leadership position in offering broadcasters an open-architecture platform for easy interchange between key applications such as ingest, edit, and playout. InfiniteStorage for Production SGI will feature its InfiniteStorage for production solution demonstrating high-speed sharing of media assets. Instead of wasting time moving files from point to point, facilities can now share files across any operating system (IRIX(R), 32- and 64-bit Linux(R), Windows(R)) in real-time -- regardless of resolution. Newly announced CXFS filesystem support for Mac OS(R) X and Windows(R) XP further enriches the InfiniteStorage solution. The heterogeneous SGI CXFS shared filesystem can scale to meet virtually any facility requirements -- either in storage capacity, bandwidth or client connectivity. Customers such as Ascent Media, Warner Brothers, EFILM, and Laboratoire Eclair use SANs based on CXFS to achieve far more efficient facility operations. Other customers include: -- Tippett Studio recently implemented an SGI InfiniteStorage SAN solution that incorporated their existing SGI(R) storage system, provided the 14TB of storage needed immediately, and would easily scale to larger data storage and management capabilities in the future. [See release dated September 10, 2003: "Tippett Studio Taps SGI InfiniteStorage Solutions To Manage Data Explosion Of Special Effects"]. -- The Orphanage and Pacific Title & Art Studio, two high-profile digital film and visual effects facilities serving the motion picture and television commercial market, recently selected highly scalable SGI InfiniteStorage solutions to increase workflow performance. The reason: SGI SAN Server(TM) family and SGI CXFS shared filesystem is the only SAN environment in the world that enables high-speed sharing of media assets between any operating system without copying files. [See release dated September 10, 2003: "SGI InfiniteStorage Solutions Power Two Leading Hollywood Digital Film and Visual Effects Companies"]. SGI is also collaborating with others to deliver its InfiniteStorage solutions to media customers. -- Discreet and SGI are qualifying key elements of the SGI InfiniteStorage solution, including the SGI SAN Server family and SGI CXFS shared file system, to work with Discreet's systems and software product lines, as part of the Discreet sparks(R) infrastructure program. The agreement also encompasses global co-marketing and sales of the SGI InfiniteStorage solution. Discreet, working with SGI, will resell SGI SAN solutions worldwide as an integral part of its high-performance infrastructure products designed to target a growing demand for robust, highly scalable shared storage environments. [See release dated August 18, 2003: "Discreet and Silicon Graphics Partner To Deliver SGI InfiniteStorage SAN Solutions for Film Mastering and Video Production"]. -- Quantel and SGI will build on their pioneering work at Peter Jackson's The Film Unit by working together to qualify elements of the SGI InfiniteStorage SAN solution to work with iQ and other generationQ systems. Illustrating the impressive openness of both systems, the Quantel iQ Resolution Co-existent(TM) finishing system has been integrated with SGI CXFS shared filesystem for SAN at The Film Unit. The result is an ultrafast, highly productive environment for Digital Intermediate (DI) color correction that eliminates transfer bottlenecks and makes the process more creative and flexible. The two companies expect to roll out the DI system worldwide in the near future. [See release dated September 12, 2003: "Quantel and SGI Boost DI Workflow at Peter Jackson's Film Unit"]. At IBC, SGI will demonstrate discreet(R) flame(R) digital effects running on Silicon Graphics(R) Tezro visual workstation, connected to the SAN via backdraft(R) media management system. High-end high-resolution editing and compositing will be shown on the SGI(R) Onyx(R) 350 system with InfinitePerformance(TM) graphics running Interactive Effects(TM) Piranha HD and Cinema(TM) software through a direct SAN connection. -- Tezro visual workstation brings performance and reliability to editing, compositing, and film mastering. The system represents the power of the SGI(R) Onyx(R) family brought to the desktop for HD editing and compositing. It enables real-time HD editing and compositing, easily handling two streams of real-time uncompressed 10-bit HD playback. Tezro also handles 2K film-resolution playback. -- SGI Onyx 350 system: This new system has much of the power of the SGI(R) Onyx(R) 3200, but is only half the size and represents a significant decrease in the overall cost of ownership. Silicon Color, Inc. and SGI will demonstrate the world's first real-time 4K resolution color correction solution featuring Silicon Color FinalTouch(R) color effects system based on RACE(TM) technology in the Silicon Color(R) Stand, 7.810. With a Silicon Graphics(R) Onyx4(TM) UltimateVision(TM) visualization system running Silicon Color FinalTouch color grading software, high-end post-production companies will be able to process infinite color effects in real-time at a resolution of 4K (4096x3112). The FinalTouch solution running on Onyx4 will allow multiple color nodes to be applied simultaneously to original film scans to create real-time color corrections and grading.