Is MPEG-2 encoding ready for prime time? By Nicholas Cravotta, Technical Editor
It seems like just yesterday that the PC industry was hotly debating whether to implement MPEG-2 decoding in hardware or in software. Today, even low-end PCs can handle adequate software decoding. Now it's time to argue over software encoding.
From EDN Europe: SmartPower ICs simplify offline SMPS design
By David Marsh, Contributing Technical Editor
"Green"politics is driving legislation that will force offline power-supply designers to rethink efficiency and emissions issues. Silicon vendors offer integrated devices that simplify complex implementation challenges. These challenges will soon include an obligation to implement active power-factor correction.
Design Features
RTL tools take design planning to a higher level By Jim Lipman, Technical Editor
RTL tools let you make some chip-design decisions before logic synthesis. Knowing what kinds of EDA tools are available and what they can and can't do will save you time and money.
Figuring out reconfigurable logic By Brian Dipert, Technical Editor
High-density programmable logic is blurring the historical division between what you do in hardware and what you do in software. Although the chips have supported in-system updates for more than a decade, the rest of the pieces required to solve the reconfigurable-system puzzle are only now moving into place.
