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Linksys by Cisco Media Hub helps consumers enjoy all their digital photos, music and video anytime, anywhere and the Wireless Home Audio makes it easy to play music from a variety of sources wirelessly throughout the home.
MALAYSIA, Kuala Lumpur – January 8, 2009 – Cisco® today announced the Linksys by Cisco Media Hub and Linksys by Cisco Wireless Home Audio system at the 2009 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Designed to simplify access to and interaction with digital content, the Media Hub gathers, organizes and presents all the digital video, photos and music that users have spread amongst various devices in the home. The world leaders in networking also deliver the Wireless Home Audio system, which utilizes Wireless-N technology to deliver a rich audio experience to any room in the home.
Simplified Digital Media Access
With a Media Hub consumers can enjoy all of their media through an easy to use interface that is not only accessible in the home, but throughout the world via a web browser. The Media Hub is the perfect solution for consumers with extensive digital media libraries who are looking to eliminate the complexity of managing their collections.
“We have built the Media Hub to be simple to setup and use for the mainstream consumer, but is also powerful in functionality and capabilities for the more tech-savvy user. All the features that are needed to eliminate the complexity of managing digital media collections with multiple computers and devices in the home are included. The Media Hub is the central location you go to for access to your media, without concern for whether the file is stored on your Mac, your child’s PC, or on your DLNA devices,” said Greg Memo, vice president and general manager, products, Cisco Consumer Business Group
Additional information on the Linksys by Cisco Media Hub can be found in the attached Appendix I.
Enhanced and Extended Listening Experience for Consumers
Users can create a party atmosphere with immaculate synchronization when listening to the same song throughout the entire home, or send different music to customized “zones”. The Wireless Home Audio solution also puts millions of songs at your fingertips through integrated Internet services such as RadioTime. An optional Docking Station for iPod enables your content on Apple iPod™, including podcasts, audio books, and purchased iTunes content, to be played through any Wireless Home Audio device on the network. Wireless Home Audio products also work great with the newly announced Linksys by Cisco Media Hub that gathers and presents the available media on a network.
“After years of research and testing, we are answering the call for a wireless home audio system that seamlessly consolidates music content from all of their sources into one solution with incredible audio quality. By both expanding the amount of accessible music and simplifying the experience, we have developed a family of products that work together to greatly enhance the experience of enjoying digital music throughout the home,” said Greg Memo, vice president and general manager, products, Cisco Consumer Business Group.
Mike Wolf, director, Digital Home, ABI Research commented, “We believe that today’s home usage paradigm for digital music will transition from being PC-centric to one that is networked and accessible throughout the home. Cisco’s products allow consumers to enjoy their digital music collections over the network and point to where we believe this market is going.”
Additional information on the Linksys by Cisco Wireless Home Audio system can be found in the attached Appendix II.
About Cisco Systems
Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking that transforms how people connect, communicate and collaborate. Cisco’s vision for the consumer is to enable people to live a connected life that is more personal, more social, and more visual. More information about Cisco and its line of consumer products can be found at www.linksysbycisco.com and www.cisco.com/consumer.
Appendix I – Linksys by Cisco Media Hub
Facts/Highlights:
- Centralized Access to Digital Photos, Music and Videos
Sharing media on multiple devices within the home is easy with the Media Hub’s media and iTunes server capabilities. The Media Hub automatically searches the network for other media devices to present all available digital media to the user in a single location.
- Easy Graphical User Interface
Content accessible to the Media Hub is presented in a browser-based, simple to navigate user interface . Music albums are consolidated and presented together with the appropriate Album Art, regardless of where the tracks reside within the network, eliminating the need to know which device music is stored on. Photos and videos are presented using thumbnail images that are easily organized by date or name. All available media, regardless of type, can be located by using the available search function.
- Simple Remote Access
Remote Access can be enabled on the Media Hub with just a few clicks of a button . Users are not required to install any special software or change their network configuration. The Media Hub takes care of everything with the exception of choosing its Remote Access name. Whether accessing the Media Hub on a PC at home, or through a web browser anywhere in the world via www.ciscomediahub.com, consumers are presented with the same easy to navigate user interface that enables them to access their digital media and upload or download files from a remote location.
- Backup
Automated backup software is included with the Media Hub to help ensure that even the most treasured memories and digital libraries are protected. Folders on a computer within the network that contain Digital Media can be set to automatically copy any new files to the Media Hub for added piece of mind.
- Consumer Friendly Design
The product's sleek design makes it possible to place the Media Hub virtually anywhere in the home and with its near silent operation it will not disturb daily life. With two drive bays and external USB ports consumers can easily expand their Media Hub if and when their Digital Media storage needs to grow.
Worldwide Market Trends:
- Worldwide, the Networked Attached Storage (NAS) market is forecast to grow from 2.6 million units sold in 2008 to more than 12 million units by year-end 2012. (Parks, July 2008)
- By 2013, more than 13.6 million NAS products will ship to the consumer market – a 46.1% CAGR. (ABI, Oct. 2008)
- Average Consumer Digital Media Storage Requirements (Source: ABI Oct. 2008):
Media Type Media Specification Length File Size Library Size Total GB
Music MP3 (192 Kbps) Music 4 Minutes 5.8 MB 3500 20.3
Photos 5-Megapixel JPEG Picture N/A 1.6 MB 2000 3.2
Video MPEG-4 SD Movie 110 Minutes 1.8 GB 10 18.0
MPEG-4 HD (720p) Movie 110 Minutes 5.2 GB 10 52.3
MPEG-4 HD (720p) TV Show 30 Minutes 1.4 GB 24 33.0
MPEG-4 SD TV Show 30 Minutes 500 MB 24 12.0
Total Storage Requirement 138.8
Configurations and availability:
In the US, the products are available now from authorized Linksys by Cisco retailers, resellers, and VAR partners. Cisco anticipates availability in Canada, UK, Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands during the first quarter of 2009.
The Media Hub comes in both the NMH300 Series and the NMH400 Series. The NMH300 series is a cost-effective solution that offers all of the core features of the Media Hub, and is designed to be used primarily with a PC or Mac to interface with the device. On the NMH400 Series, an LCD screen that displays information such as available space, drive usage by type of media, and network status teams with a 6-in-1 card reader to enable the simple transfer of new media and entertainment onto the Media Hub without the need for a computer. Firmware upgrades and instant backups can also be initiated via navigating the LCD.
The following configurations of the Media Hub will be available from launch:
- NMH305 – Linksys by Cisco Media Hub (500GB hard drive) MSRP: USD $299.99
- NMH405 – Linksys by Cisco Media Hub with LCD and 6-in-1 card reader (500GB hard drive) MSRP: USD $349.99
- NMH410 – Linksys by Cisco Media Hub with LCD and 6-in-1 card reader (1TB hard drive) MSRP: USD $429.99
Supporting Resources:
- Product Web Page - http://www.linksysbycisco.com/US/en/promo/Media-Hub
- B-roll footage of Cisco’s new Media Hub family is available at ftp://secure.linksys.com/ (Username: linksyspr, Password: linksyspr).
- Read Cisco’s news feature on the media-enabled home.
- Learn more about consumer products for a media-enabled home at www.linksysbycisco.com and www.linksysbycisco.com/forums.
- Become a Facebook fan of Cisco “Digital Cribs” and “LinksysbyCisco” and invite your friends to join the conversation.
- http://newsroom.cisco.com/wirelesshomeaudio
- http://newsroom.cisco.com/mediahub
Video:
Technorati Tags: Cisco, Consumer, Linksys by Cisco, video, digital media, storage, NAS, remote access, Network Attached Storage, CES, consumer electronics, digital storage, hard drive storage, Greg Memo
Appendix II – Linksys by Cisco Wireless Home Audio
Facts/Highlights:
- Complete Solution
The Wireless Home Audio product family includes three available options for playback devices that allow consumers to bring wireless audio to any room – the all-in-one Conductor, the Director with powerful amplifier and the Player which is the ideal addition to existing sound systems. A Wireless-N Controller enhances the Wireless Home Audio experience by providing touchscreen access to all available audio from anywhere in the home. Consumers can easily unleash audio from their iPods by simply slipping it into the available docking station for instant access to all of the songs, playlists, and other audio content on the device. In addition, with millions of songs available online, Wireless Home Audio users can search for tracks, discover new artists, and create playlists to be sent to any room. A “Favorites” function gives one-touch access to any content from any source.
- Great Audio Quality, Precise Synchronization
Cisco, the world’s leader in networking technology has applied its years of knowledge and expertise to develop an amazing lossless digital audio delivery solution that preserves the full depth and richness of the recording, as originally intended by the artist. Through distributed decoding technology, each Wireless Home Audio device receives unmodified audio source material without any transcoding or compression. The audio is then reproduced and synchronized to within microseconds, virtually eliminating echo artifacts so often evident in other wireless audio systems.
- Wireless Simplicity
With Linksys by Cisco Wireless Home Audio, music can be unleashed from existing digital libraries that are stored on a PC or other device, integrated Internet services, or even an iPod, with no need to run new wires around the home, or undergoing complex home renovation to install the devices. As a complete wireless solution, Wireless Home Audio products enable consumers to fully equip their homes with a world of music that is at their fingertips.
- Standards-Based Compatibility
Following Cisco’s standards-based approach to networking, the Wireless Home Audio products utilize Wireless-N technology to provide greater value to the consumer by allowing each device to achieve its full potential as an extension of the solution rather than requiring that one of the devices be hard-wired to a router. Wireless Home Audio products have been built to utilize the DLNA 1.5 standard, extending the value of the solution by making it accessible to and from a broad variety of devices. The products are compatible with standards such as HomePlug, Wireless-G, and Ethernet to allow consumers to choose the mix of networking technologies that is right for them.
Products
- Conductor DMC350 Wireless-N Digital Music Center
The Conductor is a complete, portable, self-contained wireless music system with integrated speakers that can be used to bring music to any room of the home. All it needs is a power outlet. It features a seven inch LCD touch screen for easy navigation through your music library and an integrated CD player to play those songs that you have not digitized yet. An individual IR Remote is included.
- Director DMC250 Wireless-N Music Player with Integrated Amplifier
Features a 50-watt per channel integrated amplifier powerful enough to be placed in any room as a more permanent solution to access digital music, and includes a line in and out to connect to speakers. Its full color LCD display makes navigating through your music library simple. An individual IR Remote is included.
- Player DMP100 Wireless-N Music Extender
Allows you to access digital music from existing stereo or surround sound systems in the home. Its compact design allows it to blend well with any décor making it an ideal option to extend music to any room in the home utilizing your existing audio equipment. An individual IR Remote is included.
- Stereo Speaker Kit DSPK50
Designed to compliment the Director - Wireless-N Music Player. Pair them to create a complete, high-quality wireless sound system and experience your digital music all around your home, at your control.
- Controller DMWR1000 Wireless-N Touchscreen Remote
Designed to control the complete Wireless Home Audio system wirelessly. It features a large, color touchscreen, thumbwheel, and engaging interface designed to let you easily control any one or every one of your Linksys by Cisco Wireless Home Audio devices, including a docked iPod, from anywhere in your home, even when they’re out of sight.
- Docking Station for iPod MCCI40
Allows consumers to extend their available Wireless Home Audio library to include all of the content on their iPod, including Podcasts, Audio Books, and purchased iTunes content.
- IR Remote DMRIR500
Comes standard with the Conductor, Director, and Player. Its simple button layout and slim form factor allows you to easily control your audio devices when you do not have a Controller nearby.
To simplify the purchasing process, three Wireless Home Audio kits are available:
- Premier Kit:
A two-room starter kit that includes Director and IR Remote, Player and IR Remote, and Wireless-N Controller.
- Trio Kit:
A kit for consumers looking to add the power Wireless Home Audio to their existing audio systems, the Trio Kit includes 2 Players, 2 IR Remotes, and a Wireless-N Controller.
- Executive Kit:
An easy way to add a Wireless Home Audio capabilities to any room, the Executive Kit includes a Director, IR Remote and matching speakers.
Worldwide Market Trends:
- In a recent IDC survey, 46 percent of home network owners and 27 percent of non home network owners were interested in streaming music from their computer or the Internet to their stereo. (IDC, June 2008)
- ABI forecasts total worldwide networked audio shipments will grow from 6.4 million to 38 million with a compound annual growth rate of 68 percent (ABI, 2007)
- Nearly a fourth (22 percent) of US households have at least one iPod. That’s nearly 25 million households that currently have an iPod. Thirty percent of them have more than one iPod. (Forrester 2008)
Pricing and availability:
The Wireless Home Audio products are available in the United States from authorized Linksys by Cisco retailers, authorized resellers, and VAR partners. Cisco anticipates availability in stores in Denmark and The Netherlands during the first quarter of 2009. The Conductor will be available in the first quarter of 2009.
Estimated street prices are as follows:
- Premier Kit - USD $999.99
- Trio Kit - USD $849.99
- Executive Kit - USD $549.99
- Conductor – Pricing available at launch
- Director - USD $449.99
- Player - USD $299.99
- Stereo Speaker Kit - USD $149.99
- Controller - USD $349.99
- iPod Dock - USD $79.99
- IR Remote - USD $29.99
Supporting Resources:
- Product Web page - http://www.linksysbycisco.com/US/en/products/WirelessHomeAudio
- B-roll footage and product images of Cisco’s new Wireless Home Audio family are available at ftp://secure.linksys.com/ (Username: linksyspr, Password: linksyspr).
- Podcast with Cisco’s Ned Hooper discussing the company’s Consumer strategy
- Read Cisco’s news feature on the media-enabled home.
- Learn more about consumer products for a media-enabled home at www.linksysbycisco.com and www.linksysbycisco.com/forums.
- Become a Facebook fan of Cisco “LinksysbyCisco” and “Digital Cribs” and invite your friends to join the conversation.
- http://newsroom.cisco.com/wirelesshomeaudio
- http://newsroom.cisco.com/mediahub
Videos:
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Cisco, the Cisco logo, Linksys by Cisco and Cisco Systems are registered trademarks or trademarks of Cisco Systems, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the United States and certain other countries. All other trademarks mentioned in this document are the property of their respective owners. The use of the word partner does not imply a partnership relationship between Cisco and any other company. This document is Cisco Public Information.
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