SanDisk SSDs Scuttle into Lower-Cost Set-Top Boxes
"For the first time, SSDs are now a cost-effective alternative to hard drives in the STB market," said Doron Myserdorf, senior director, SSDs, SanDisk. "The successful integration of SanDisk P4 SSD with NDS STB software enables new business models in the STB market, and takes Video on Demand content beyond teh DVR to offer a high degree of DVR-like functionality on a new range of boxes."
A pair of SanDisk P4 SSDs. The ones used for set-top boxes will check in at 4GB, 8GB, and 16GB capacities.
Claiming that SSDs are affordable might sound like a bunch of hogwash at first glance, but these aren't the higher capacity SSDs you'll find in desktops and notebooks, even as boot drives. Instead, these lower-cost set-top boxes will sport SanDisk SSDs in 4GB, 8GB, and 16GB capacities, which SanDisk claims are "substantially less expensive." That doesn't leave a whole lot of room for recording, but will allow users to pause live TV and download a limited amount of content.
NEW SET-TOP-BOXES WITH DVR-LIKE FEATURES ENABLED BY NDS SOFTWARE AND SANDISK SOLID STATE DRIVES
Pay-TV Operators Able to Offer a New Range of STBS and Deliver Fanless Designs That Are Quiet and Energy-Efficient
AMSTERDAM, Netherlands, IBC, Stand 1.A71-September 9, 2010-SanDisk Corporation, the global leader in flash memory cards, and NDS, the leading provider of technology solutions for digital pay-TV, today announced that NDS has successfully combined NDS MediaHighway® STB software and SanDisk® P4 solid state drives (SSD) to enable a new range of lower cost set-top box (STB) with DVR like functionality.
By provisioning a set-top box with a small amount of storage, operators can introduce new revenue generating features such as live-pause and video on demand (VOD) with the ability to enable home networking functionality and advanced advertising solutions, including ad substitution. The new solution also allows for the deployment of energy-efficient STBs with decreased power consumption, small form factors and virtually silent operation.
The SanDisk P4 SSD offers the robust performance needed for video consumption, and is substantially less expensive in 4GB, 8GB and 16GB¹ capacities than hard disk drives, which are often only available in higher capacities. NDS has already integrated SanDisk SSDs for use with progressive download and live-pause technologies, and the SanDisk P4 SSD has an industry standard SATA interface which enables straightforward design and integration for STB manufacturers.
"For the first time, SSDs are now a cost-effective alternative to hard drives in the STB market," said Doron Myersdorf, senior director, SSDs, SanDisk. "The successful integration of SanDisk P4 SSD with NDS STB software enables new business models in the STB market, and takes Video on Demand content beyond the DVR to offer a high degree of DVR-like functionality on a new range of boxes."
"This exciting development underscores how seamlessly the SanDisk SSDs work with NDS MediaHighway technology," said Jonathan Beavon, director, segment marketing, NDS. "This innovative solution offers operators a low power and reliable alternative to conventional hard disk drives, enabling a new market segment."
Demonstrations of the technologies that can be applied to SanDisk P4 SSD enabled set-top boxes will be displayed on the NDS stand at IBC (stand 1.A71).
