Sonic Acquires Simple Star, Provider of Online Digital Media Software and Services
Adds Web Community for Multimedia Creation and Sharing to its Roxio® Consumer Product Line
29 April 2008 — Sonic Solutions® (NASDAQ: SNIC), the
leader in digital media software, today announced it has acquired the
assets of Simple Star, Inc., a privately held software products and online
service provider based in San Francisco, California. Simple Star is the
developer of PhotoShow™, a comprehensive multimedia storytelling platform
and online community that enables consumers to quickly and easily turn
personal photos and video clips into entertaining shows that can be enjoyed
and shared on PCs, TVs, handhelds, or published to popular social media
sites.
Over 13 million copies of the PhotoShow desktop software and flash-based
online application have been installed since the product was first introduced
in 2002. New installations now top 5 million a year. The product is broadly
distributed through a network of major partners, including online photo
providers Kodak, Shutterfly, and Snapfish, photofinishing service provider
Ritz Camera, as well as cable operators Comcast and Time Warner Cable.
Simple Star is further expanding its reach through its PhotoShow Developer
Program, which provides APIs for easily integrating multimedia creation,
playback and viral sharing tools into web offerings.
Last yar the company launched PhotoShowTV™, a new service available
through Time Warner Cable that enables cable customers to easily create
and publicly broadcast their content directly to cable TV through their
local on-demand service.
“With
over 300 million copies of Roxio software distributed, Sonic has one
of the largest installed bases of savvy digital media consumers in the
world, and these consumers are always eager for new services and products,”
said Matt DiMaria, general manager of the Roxio division of Sonic Solutions.
“Simple Star provides us with innovative new products and web services
that are a natural fit for our users and that will extend the reach of
the Roxio brand beyond the desktop to online and cable offerings. Simple
Star also brings to us a group of talented engineers and senior managers
who will help us expand and diversify our product line.”
“When we founded Simple Star, our goal was clear - empower consumers
to easily share their memories with the people they care about in new,
entertaining ways,” said Chad
Richard, Simple Star CEO. “The Roxio product line embodies this direction
and philosophy, making this an ideal union. The combination of Simple
Star and Roxio technologies puts Sonic in a tremendous position to take
advantage of the convergence of PCs, the Web, digital TV and portable
devices to define a complete ecosystem that will enable consumers to
form unique and highly personalized digital media connections.”
About Simple Star
Founded in 2001, Simple Star (http://www.simplestar.com)
develops software products and services that help consumers share their
memories in entertaining ways through PhotoShow, the most complete and
easy-to-use photo platform available. Simple Star distributes its award-winning
PhotoShow software through partners such as cable companies, digital
media software providers, online photo services, retailers with photofinishing
services and hardware manufacturers. Millions of new users are creating,
sharing and viewing PhotoShows every month. Across multiple business
sectors momentum is building that PhotoShow is an emerging standard.
Simple Star partners include Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Kodak, Shutterfly
and Ritz Camera Centers. To try PhotoShow visit: http://www.photoshow.com.
About Sonic Solutions
Sonic Solutions (NASDAQ: SNIC; http://www.sonic.com)
enables the creation, management, and enjoyment of digital media content
through its Hollywood to Home™ products, services, and
technologies. Sonic's products range from the advanced authoring systems
used to produce Hollywood DVD and Blu-ray Disc titles to the award-winning
Roxio®-branded photo, video, music, and digital-media management applications.
Sonic's patented technologies and AuthorScript® media engine are relied
upon by leading technology firms to define rich media experiences on
a wide array of consumer electronics, mobile devices, set-top players,
retail kiosks, and PCs. Always an innovator, Sonic has taken a leading
role in helping professional and consumer markets make the successful
transition to the new high-definition media formats and, through the
Qflix™ platform, Sonic is defining new models for the
digital distribution of Hollywood entertainment. Sonic Solutions is headquartered
in Marin County, California.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release may contain forward-looking statements
that are based upon current expectations, including the launch,
distribution, and market acceptance of BackOnTrack Online. Actual
results could differ materially from those projected in the forward
looking statements as a result of various risks and uncertainties,
including those discussed in the Company's annual and quarterly
reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This
press release should be read in conjunction with the Company's
most recent annual report on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and other reports
on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which contain
a more detailed discussion of the Company's business including
risks and uncertainties that may affect future results. The Company
does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements.
Sonic, the Sonic logo, Sonic Solutions, Roxio, Roxio Easy Media Creator,
Roxio MyMoments, Roxio BackOnTrack Online, Hollywood to Home, and AuthorScript
are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sonic Solutions or its subsidiaries
in the United States and/or other countries. All other company or product
names are trademarks of their respective owners and, in some cases,
are used by Sonic Solutions under license. Specifications, pricing
and delivery schedules are subject to change without notice.
to
archive