New devices from Cisco's Linksys division, D-Link, HP and Niveus Media
deliver new video formats, form factors and HD TV over wireless home
networks; Internet TV beta debuts with more than one hundred hours of free
full-screen video.
NEW YORK, Sept. 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Today at DigitalLife,
Microsoft Corp. joined initial launch partners in revealing highly
anticipated details about new Extenders for Microsoft(R) Windows Media(R)
Center. These devices, which are expected to be available for purchase this
holiday season, will allow easy access to premium cable, high-definition
TV, popular video formats including DivX, music, paid movies, photos and
more from any TV in the house, with a wired or wireless network connection.
People can even pause a recorded show in one room, and then resume it from
the same moment in another room.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO)
Microsoft also announced that the Extender technology will be
incorporated in HP's current line of MediaSmart high-definition
televisions.
Adding to the wealth of content available on PCs running Windows Media
Center in Windows Vista(R) (available in Windows Vista Home Premium and
Ultimate), Microsoft also launched a beta test of Windows Media Center
Internet TV, which will offer more than 100 hours of ad-supported
entertainment from MSN(R) Video, including full-length shows, music
concerts and movie trailers.
"We are excited to reveal the first series of totally quiet, cool, and
sleek-looking Media Center Extender devices, designed to deliver the
ultimate entertainment experience to every TV set in your home," said Joe
Belfiore, corporate vice president, Entertainment and Devices eHome
Division, Microsoft. "These products are the initial third-party devices
that can wirelessly connect a TV with a PC, with features including live
high-definition TV, PVR, movies, pictures, music and online services. In
addition, the Internet TV beta allows Windows Media Center as well as
Extender users to enjoy free* high- quality television from some of their
favorite studios and networks in Media Center, directly over the Internet."
New Devices Build a Wireless Entertainment Bridge Throughout the Home
The Media Center Extender with DVD Player (DMA2200) from Linksys, a
division of Cisco, is an elegant solution that combines an upscaling DVD
player with a dual-band Wireless-N Extender for Windows Media Center. It
allows consumers to enhance their entertainment systems by teaming Extender
for Media Center functionality with DVD playback capabilities in a single
device. For consumers seeking a smaller form factor, Linksys will also
offer the Media Center Extender (DMA2100), which delivers all the appealing
features of Extender for Windows Media Center in a compact dual-band
Wireless-N solution that is ideal for spaces, such as bedrooms, that call
for a smaller device footprint. These new Linksys Media Center Extenders
give consumers easy access to their HD television content, digital music
and digital photos using just one remote control, and feature both digital
and optical audio outputs that enable consumers to utilize their existing
custom audio systems. They will be available for consumers to purchase in
the U.S. this November at estimated street prices of $349.99 and $299.99,
respectively. More information is available at http://www.linksys.com/mce.
The D-Link DSM-750 MediaLounge HD Media Center Extender is housed in a
sleek, 17-inch, black aluminum chassis, and connects to the home network
using Ethernet or dual-band draft Wireless-N networking to make it easy to
enjoy the Windows Media Center experience with friends and family on a home
entertainment center. The DSM-750 lets customers enjoy HD videos with
resolutions of up to 1080i; supports Windows Media Video (WMV), DivX, and
XVid formats; and includes a USB 2.0 port for instant access to music,
photos and videos stored on removable USB flash drives or hard drives. The
suggested retail price for the device is $349.99 (U.S.).
The HP MediaSmart LCD HDTV, currently available in 42-inch and 47-inch
sizes, will support Extender for Windows Media Center technology through an
optional software download, expected to be available in early 2008. The
MediaSmart TVs support 1080p video, 802.11n wireless, and DivX, XVid, WMV
and other video formats -- delivering all the compelling features of the
Media Center Extender platform incorporated directly into a TV. Although
existing MediaSmart users can already access photos, music, videos and
movies by simply connecting their TV to their wired or wireless home
network, Media Extender functionality will provide them with a new set of
enhanced features -- such as controlling live TV and accessing Windows
Media Center Internet TV -- all easily accessible using their TV remote
control. The HP MediaSmart TV is available in Best Buy stores nationwide,
and through a wide range of audio/visual specialty stores throughout the
country.
Designed for the high-end home theater enthusiast, the Niveus Media
Extender - EDGE offers a high-fidelity experience, uncompromised 1080p
video, digital audio and the same amazing 3-D user interface found on the
award- winning Niveus Media Center. Additionally, the Niveus Media Extender
features the proprietary Niveus Glacier Passive Cooling System for cool and
quiet performance and a sleek and stylish audio/visual form factor. The
Niveus Media Extender - EDGE is expected to be available in early November.
Pricing has not yet been announced.
Windows Media Center Internet TV Beta Is Launched
On the morning of Sept. 28, 2007, U.S. users of Windows Vista Home
Premium edition and Windows Vista Ultimate edition will find a new feature
inside Media Center: the beta release of Internet TV. This new feature will
allow people to enjoy a range of television and video content on their PCs
and TV sets without a TV tuner in their PC. This streaming video content
will be supported by an advertising platform provided by YuMe and will be
available to viewers for free.*
The content available in Internet TV comes from MSN Video, with more
than 100 hours available at the start of the beta period, including the
following:
-- Full episodes of TV shows such as the critically acclaimed "Arrested
Development"
-- Full-length music concerts by artists such as Chris Cornell, Snoop Dogg,
Elton John, Pink, John Mayer and the Pussycat Dolls
-- High-quality movie trailers from major movie studios
-- The latest news segments from MSNBC
-- Sports clips from FOX Sports
Internet TV has been designed for both the TV and PC screen, and
features high-quality video optimized for broadband streaming. Viewers can
enjoy these high-quality videos on Extenders for Windows Media Center,
including Xbox 360(R) consoles, as well as PCs running Windows Media Center
in Windows Vista (available in Windows Vista Home Premium and Ultimate).
Extend Your Digital Entertainment to the Whole Home
Watching a recorded TV show in the living room, pausing it, and then
quickly resuming it from the bedroom or kitchen will soon become even
easier with these new low-heat, quiet, home-theater-designed devices.
Extenders for Windows Media Center support streaming live high-definition
TV, including premium cable channels in the United States, along with
formats such as high- definition WMV. The D-Link, HP and Linksys devices
add built-in support for dual-band Wireless-N networking; and the D-Link
and HP devices have expanded support for popular video formats such as
DivX, XVid and H.264. These devices allow people to almost instantly start
enjoying their entertainment -- there's no need for a built-in hard drive
to cache the video before viewing.
New Extender devices are expected to be available this holiday season
and will unleash photos, music, videos, and both live and recorded TV from
PCs running Windows Media Center in Windows Vista for viewing and listening
on big-screen TV displays or standard definition TVs, delivering the
ultimate entertainment solution with a wide range of flexibility -- ready
for today and the future.
These Extenders will lead the industry in supporting the ability to
send protected HD content to additional rooms, including recorded TV from
over-the- air Advanced Television Systems Committee or Digital Cable
tuners. Extenders also support on-demand broadband content from Media
Center Online Media partners such as up-to-date sports reports from
FOXSports.com, kids programming from Nickelodeon, downloadable TV episodes
from Showtime Networks, and subscription movies on demand from Starz VONGO,
along with support for a wealth of third-party plug-in applications.
More information about new Extenders for Windows Media Center is
available at http://www.windowsvista.com/extender.
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) is the worldwide leader in
software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize
their full potential.
* Internet service charges may apply. A broadband connection is
necessary
to view Internet TV. The feature will not work with a dial-up
connection
or offline.
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