First with HDMI to Stream HD Movies, YouTube Videos, BitTorrent(TM)
Downloads, Flickr(TM) Photos and iTunes Music from Networked Computers,
Storage Devices and the Internet to Home Theaters; Controls PC-PVR
Recordings Remotely; Accesses iPods and Other Handheld Media Devices
SANTA CLARA, Calif., March 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- NETGEAR(R),
Inc. (Nasdaq: NTGR), a worldwide provider of technologically advanced,
branded networking products, today announced availability of the Digital
Entertainer HD (EVA8000), unveiled to worldwide acclaim at the Consumer
Electronics Show (CES) in January. The Digital Entertainer HD is the most
feature-rich media receiver on the market today for enabling consumers to
seamlessly stream digital content over their home networks to their
high-definition home entertainment systems. Using High Definition
Multimedia Interface (HDMI) technology, this must-have device supports open
standards for streaming digital content from Windows(R) as well as Mac(R)
computers, network storage devices, USB media devices, and from popular
Internet sites including YouTube and Flickr(TM). Backed by a one-year
warranty and 24/7 technical support, the Digital Entertainer HD is
available now in North America through select e-commerce sites at an MSRP
of $399. It will ship worldwide in the second quarter of 2007 through
e-commerce sites, select retail stores and value-added resellers.
Named a "Best of CES" product by CNET, Laptop Magazine, the Chicago
Tribune and a host of other media outlets, the Digital Entertainer HD was
also included in a Forbes.com feature story on "The Hottest Technology of
2007." Glenn Derene wrote, "Apple's iTV has grabbed the most headlines, but
NETGEAR's Digital Entertainer HD is arguably the better box, streaming more
video formats and even downloading video directly from YouTube."
"Consumers have been waiting for the ultimate entertainment solution to
bring PC and Internet multimedia content to their HDTV. Our Digital
Entertainer HD is the most advanced digital media device to do so, offering
robust capabilities, a user-friendly interface, and an elegant design,"
said Vivek Pathela, NETGEAR's vice president of product marketing. "We
designed it to give consumers the freedom to experience their collection of
digital multimedia files in a way that takes full advantage of the latest
HDTV technology and home entertainment systems."
The Digital Entertainer HD automatically discovers HD movies, TV shows,
music files, and personal photos on a home network, across multiple
computers, and organizes these into a single media library displayed on a
TV without the need for media server software running on the computer.
Users of the innovative Digital Entertainer HD can play HD movie downloads,
including those from BitTorrent(TM)'s new online marketplace, as well as
stream HD movies and Internet videos to their TV from Web sites such as
YouTube. The Digital Entertainer HD also accesses photos directly from
Flickr(TM) without a computer. It enables music lovers to enjoy an improved
audio experience by listening to their iTunes libraries and iPods on their
home theater system. The Digital Entertainer HD even plays Internet radio
directly and can access RSS news feeds and NOAA weather and maps.
The Digital Entertainer HD supports access to created, downloaded and
purchased content on standard Windows(R) XP and Vista PCs through Windows
Media Connect. The Digital Entertainer HD can also stream many unprotected
file formats from Macs, Linux computers, the NETGEAR Storage Central Turbo
(SC101T), many USB storage devices such as flash drives and the iPod(R),
and other portable music and video players.
Using the included remote, consumers can search their entire media
library by multiple criteria including title, actor, date, genre or
thumbnail images (from photos, album art or DVD covers). An HDMI port
displays video resolution up to 1080p on big-screen TVs and optical digital
audio output (TOSLINK) transmits full digital surround sound to the
consumers' digital audio receiver. When the PC has an optional TV tuner
installed, consumers can schedule recordings and pause or rewind live
broadcasts without the need for an additional DVR device. If there are
multiple Digital Entertainer HDs in the home, the "Follow Me" feature
enables consumers to pause a video in one room and resume it in another.
While in "Party Mode," they can synchronize music playback for whole-home
listening.
The Digital Entertainer HD decodes many leading audio formats (MP3,
WAV, WMA, WMA-Pro, FLAC, M4A, AAC, AC3), purchased music from iTunes on
Windows (M4P), video formats (MPEG1/2/4, WMV, XviD, H.264) and image
formats (JPEG, BMP, PNG, TIFF). It integrates a 10/100Base-T Ethernet
controller, support for 802.11g wireless networking, and two USB 2.0 ports.
It also supports multiple interoperability standards, including Universal
Plug-and-Play (UPnP AV), Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) and
emerging digital rights management technologies such as Microsoft(R)
Windows Media DRM 10 for Network Devices. It supports several wireless
security standards including WEP, WPA-PSK and WPA2- PSK.
"The number of U.S. digital home networks has mushroomed as consumers
demand more interconnectivity among their electronic devices, especially
personal computers, HDTVs and audio systems," said Jonathan Gaw, research
manager for home networking at IDC, a leading provider of global IT
research and advice. "Set-top digital media receivers such as the NETGEAR
Digital Entertainer HD target the growing demand for a device that is easy
to use, supports multiple platforms, and provides smooth content streaming
from popular Internet sites, in HD. Products that can meet these criteria
should do very well."
Similar in size to a standard DVD player, the Digital Entertainer HD
makes a stylish statement on top of a television and complements other
components in an entertainment system. Consumers connect the Digital
Entertainer HD to their home entertainment system and to a router, such as
a NETGEAR RangeMax(TM) Next Wireless-N Router with draft 802.11n technology
(WNR834M, WNR834B, WNR854T, DG834N). Smoothest HD video streaming is
assured when using NETGEAR's Powerline HD Ethernet Adapter (HDX101) to
connect the Digital Entertainer HD to the home network.
High-resolution photos of the NETGEAR Digital Entertainer HD (EVA8000)
can be downloaded at
http://www.netgear.com/Products/Entertainment/DigitalMediaPlayers/EVA8000.a
spx
About NETGEAR, Inc.
NETGEAR (Nasdaq: NTGR) designs technologically advanced, branded
networking products that address the specific needs of small and medium
business and home users. The Company's product offerings enable users to
share Internet access, peripherals, files, digital multimedia content and
applications among multiple personal computers and other Internet-enabled
devices. NETGEAR is headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif. For more
information, visit the company's Web site at http://www.netgear.com or call
(408) 907-8000.
(C)2007 NETGEAR, Inc. NETGEAR(R), the NETGEAR logo, and RangeMax are
trademarks or registered trademarks of NETGEAR, Inc. in the United States
and/or other countries. Other brand and product names are trademarks or
registered trademarks of their respective holders. Information is subject
to change without notice. All rights reserved.
NOTE: References to signal rates indicate maximum achievable rates
under ideal operating conditions. Actual data throughput will vary. Network
conditions and environmental factors, including volume of network traffic,
building materials and construction, and network overhead, lower actual
data throughput.
Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995 for NETGEAR, Inc.:
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the
meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Specifically, statements concerning expected performance characteristics,
specifications, market acceptance, market growth, specific uses, user
feedback and market position of NETGEAR's Digital Entertainer HD (EVA8000)
are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Safe Harbor. These
statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject
to certain risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, the
following: the future demand for the Digital Entertainer HD (EVA8000) may
not be as projected; the actual price, performance and ease of use of
NETGEAR's products may not meet the price, performance and ease of use
requirements of end-users; the performance of NETGEAR's products may be
adversely affected by real world operating conditions; the ability of
NETGEAR to market and sell its products and technology; the impact and
pricing of competing products; and the introduction of alternative
technological solutions. Further information on potential risk factors that
could affect NETGEAR and its business are detailed in the Company's
periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including,
but not limited to, those risks and uncertainties listed in the section
entitled "Part I - Item 1A. Risk Factors," pages 10 through 20, in the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2006, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 1, 2007.
NETGEAR undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to any
forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or
circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of
unanticipated events.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070314/AQW014)
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030730/NETGEARLOGO)
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