Microsoft adds Dolby products to Windows 8

Struggling audio tech licensor Dolby Labs has signed an agreement with Microsoft that will have Dolby products used in the upcoming Windows 8 operating system.

Microsoft will use the Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 and 2.0 channel encoding for Windows 8 PCs and tablets.

OEMs will have to pay a base royalty rate to Dolby for the products once they start shipping the OS in October of this year. OEMs will also have to pay to add the Dolby functionality to optical disc drives.

Dolby told investors last year that Microsoft had not committed to them, but it appears there has been a change of heart.

Chief Executive Officer Kevin Yeaman added: "There will certainly be a shift in the mix of revenue because most of the revenue will now come directly from OEMs where as in the past most of the royalties came from Microsoft and the independent software vendors."

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 3 May 2012 22:02

A5J4DX

deals nothing but deals

4.5.2012 15:02 #1

Jeffrey_P

If this happened five years ago the news may mean something. Although Windows x did not natively support Dolby for the PC, it's been available for the more than ten years.

Maybe it's the must have smartphone people that will be able to enjoy 5.1.

Charging a PC vendors is BS. It will just jack-up the price of an already floundering PC market.

It seems the smartphone generation could care less about A/V quality just as long as they get self gratification and try to impress their friends by steaming sad quality AV.

Dolby was a pioneer... However, DTS has better dynamic range plus channel separation.

Jeff

Cars, Guitars & Radiation.

4.5.2012 15:23 #2

DADEO1

"OEMs will have to pay a base royalty rate to Dolby for the products once they start shipping the OS in October of this year. OEMs will also have to pay to add the Dolby functionality to optical disc drives"

Translation - You the customer will pay extra for this.

4.5.2012 20:41 #3

AfterDawn: News