Nero Digital Supported DVD Players

KARLSBAD, Germany - Dec. 7, 2004 - Ahead Software, leaders in digital media technology, in collaboration with Siemssen & Co. GmbH, specialists for technical consumer goods, today announced the launch of an innovative new DVD player, the first ever to support video files in the Nero Digital format for use in home movies. Nero Digital(TM), co-developed by Ahead and Ateme, is the first complete MPEG-4 audio and video solution for home entertainment and CE devices. Siemssen and Ahead have jointly developed a hardware product that can now display video files coded in Nero Digital (MPEG-4) straight onto your TV screen in the same high quality you've come to expect.

The "SCO 5000ND" DVD player is now available at www.siemssen-resale.de for EUR 99.00.

TV premiere for Nero Recode video files
All you need to do to experience Nero Digital file formats "Live" on TV is to follow these three simple steps: First, install the Nero Recode CE DVD transcoding software that comes with the package on your PC, then convert the existing video files into Nero Digital format and finally burn them onto a CD or DVD. They are now ready to play back on the newly developed DVD player. The encoding process simultaneously reduces the films to a fraction of their original file size, with almost no apparent loss in quality.

"Personal" home movies - simple to use and without restriction

In addition to current standard functions and video file support, such as MP3, JPEG, VCD and SVCD, the "SCO 5000ND" DVD player manufactured by Siemssen also supports the playback of DVD audio files. The integration of Nero Digital offers enormous advantages, such as the support for various audio languages and subtitles. The latter can be retrieved using the same navigation buttons as those used to play back a standard DVD. In addition, the device is equipped with an AC3 Decoder as well as a YUV Output to enable full-screen reproduction (Progressive Scan) via video projectors, and plasma or LCD screens. The attractively designed slimline casing also offers other special features, such as a 5-in-1 card reader for all standard memory cards that allows MP3 files or even photo files to be visualized straight onto your TV screen. The product also supports DivX and Xvid playback functions, as well as the Nero Digital function.

"By combining the Nero Recode CE software with our devices, we now offer the complete solution for archiving video files in the best possible quality" stated Roberto Cataneo, Head of Digital Product Development at Siemssen, "We are very happy to have had the chance to collaborate with Ahead on developing our DVD products to include the Nero Digital standard profile in the last few months, thus allowing us to establish the first ever device of its kind on the market."

For additional information on Nero Digital, please visit www.nerodigital.com .

About Ahead
On the global digital media market Ahead Software offers the most reliable CD/DVD-software applications in the entire industrial segment. Since the company was founded in 1995 its leading product, Nero, has established a loyal clientele of more than 160 million users throughout the world.

Ahead's award-winning flagship product, Nero 6, provides an all-in-one comprehensive digital media solution. Ahead's product line also includes Nero Digital(TM) - audio/video technology, the new Nero PhotoShow Elite - the easy and complete photo solution, SIPPS - VoIP, and across - professional computer aided translation software. Ahead distributes its products globally through world's leading drive manufacturers and PC makers, as well as leading worldwide retailers, online partners, and also directly to consumers at www.nero.com . Ahead Software AG is headquartered in Karlsbad, Germany, with its subsidiaries Ahead Software Inc. located in Glendale, California, USA and Ahead Software K.K. located in Yokohama, Japan.

About Ateme
Ateme is headquartered in France ( www.ateme.com ). It is a world leading providers of hardware and software solutions for video and signal processing in embedded market. Ateme delivers custom services on top of its boards and algorithms. Since 2002, Ateme centers its strategy on applicative reference designs which targets the specific markets of video-security, broadcast and consumer electronics. The result to OEM is a faster product design, a shorter time to market and total costs reduction. Ateme operates worldwide thanks to its distribution network.

About Siemssen
Siemssen is a service provider, specializing in technical consumer goods and based in Hamburg, Germany, that can look back on a very long corporate history (founded in 1846). Siemssen is one of the leading service providers for diverse brand names in Europe and is considered by those in the know to be the technological pioneer of digital end devices. For further information, please visit our homepage at www.siemssen.de