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Synaptics AudioSmart Far-Field Voice Technology Brings Voice Control to Service Provider Set-Top-Boxes for Ultimate TV Experience

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New Solutions Include Powerful VideoSmart VS-550 SoC w/Built-in FFV for New Smart STBs, and a USB Plug-in Accessory for Existing STBs

IBC 2018 CONFERENCE, AMSTERDAM, Netherlands, and SAN JOSE, Calif., Sept. 13, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Synaptics Incorporated (NASDAQ: SYNA), the leading developer of human interface solutions, today announced two new AudioSmart® Far-Field Voice (FFV) solutions for both emerging and legacy set-top-boxes (STBs). For new STBs, Synaptics has fully integrated its AudioSmart FFV capabilities directly into its VideoSmart™ VS-550 multimedia processors, providing unmatched performance and lower bill of materials. For the millions of existing STBs already deployed, users can simply connect via USB a Synaptics-enabled standalone accessory and instantly add a voice assistant to their television services.

Consumer demand for smart speakers to control music and home automation is rapidly growing, and smart home users now expect to be able to naturally use their voice to control their TV experience without having to hunt for a custom remote control. Synaptics’ new AudioSmart FFV and VideoSmart solutions represent a powerful blend of the latest voice, audio and video technologies that enhance capabilities of Android STBs while enabling them to be more space- and cost-efficient. That combination benefits consumers and the television ecosystem including service providers, STB makers, and USB plug-in device makers.

“Through our strategic acquisitions of innovative companies and complementary technologies, Synaptics is leveraging those acquired assets’ synergy to create highly integrated human interface solutions,” said Huibert Verhoeven, senior vice president and general manager, IoT Division, Synaptics. “Our comprehensive portfolio of market-leading voice and video solutions offer service providers a one-stop-shop technology partner that can help enhance their subscription TV services for a compelling consumer TV experience.”

Integrated Voice and Video: 
Synaptics’ AudioSmart FFV capabilities are already market-proven in service provider STBs and were previously available only through discrete DSPs such as those deployed with major customers in South Korea. Now Synaptics has designed its SoC with integrated FFV that offers higher performance for enhanced voice processing capabilities. The VideoSmart VS-550 UHD SoC with quad core 15K DMIPs CPU performance and gaming caliber graphics is a market-leading solution for Android TV set-top-boxes and is currently being deployed across several Pay TV operators around the world.

The VS-550 infused with AudioSmart FFV capabilities provides STBs with a single-chip solution with voice features for all major speech-recognition engines, including those from Google and Amazon, as well as service providers’ own proprietary services. That integration also enables multimedia designs with higher performance and more FFV features than before, such as improved echo cancelation; more-powerful noise suppression; a customizable, high-performance voice-trigger solution; and industry-leading voice barge-in technology enabled by full-duplex acoustic echo cancellation which detects the wake-word even when the TV volume is high. Enabling a FFV solution in STBs is especially challenging, when compared to smart speakers, given that the audio playback is coming through TV speakers. The Synaptics solution overcomes this challenge with unique, proprietary technology which is field-proven, having been deployed in STBs for many years using AudioSmart discrete DSPs.

Standalone USB Accessory with FFV: 
More than 300 million STBs shipped worldwide in 2017 – a figure expected to reach nearly 360 million units in 2018, according to a report by ResearchAndMarkets.com. While STBs in development can have Synaptics’ new highly integrated VideoSmart SoC with AudioSmart FFV designed-in directly, millions among the installed base of STBs don’t have FFV capabilities. To minimize service provider capital expenditures, Synaptics also offers a solution for ODMs to develop a simple to use plug-in USB accessory that takes advantage of USB ports common in STBs, thus enhancing existing users’ experience with rich FFV features and provides a lower-cost alternative to standalone voice-assistant device.

IBC 2018 Conference: 
Please join us at IBC 2018 in Amsterdam, Sept. 14-18, where Synaptics will be showcasing its latest voice and multimedia solutions for the smart home. To make an appointment at IBC, please contact your Synaptics account representative.

About Synaptics: 
Synaptics is the pioneer and leader of the human interface revolution, bringing innovative and intuitive user experiences to intelligent devices. Synaptics’ broad portfolio of touch, display, biometrics, voice, audio, and multimedia products is built on the company’s rich R&D, extensive IP and dependable supply chain capabilities. With solutions designed for mobile, PC, smart home, and automotive industries, Synaptics combines ease of use, functionality and aesthetics to enable products that help make our digital lives more productive, secure and enjoyable. (NASDAQ: SYNA) www.synaptics.com.

Join Synaptics on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook, or visit www.synaptics.com.

AudioSmart, VideoSmart, Synaptics, and the Synaptics logo are trademarks of Synaptics in the United States and/or other countries. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.

For further information, please contact: 
David Hurd 
Synaptics 
+1-408-904-2766 
david.hurd@synaptics.com

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This website contains forward-looking statements that are subject to the safe harbors created under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements give our current expectations and projections relating to our financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance and business, and can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. Such forward-looking statements may include words such as "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "believe," "estimate," "plan," "target," "strategy," "continue," "may," "will," "should," variations of such words, or other words and terms of similar meaning. All forward-looking statements reflect our best judgment and are based on several factors relating to our operations and business environment, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control. Such factors include, but are not limited to, the risks as identified in the "Risk Factors," "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and "Business" sections of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for our most recent fiscal year, and other risks as identified from time to time in our Securities and Exchange Commission reports. Forward-looking statements are based on information available to us on the date hereof, and we do not have, and expressly disclaim, any obligation to publicly release any updates or any changes in our expectations, or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any forward-looking statement is based. Our actual results and the timing of certain events could differ materially from the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements do not reflect the potential impact of any mergers, acquisitions, or other business combinations that had not been completed as of the date of this filing.

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