The service uses Taiyo Yuden's antenna array on its mini-PCI reference design module and Sigma's Windeo chipset. The product is targeted for in-home high definition video distribution with non-line-of-sight and range- extended capabilities.
Echelon Corp. (NASDAQ-NMS:ELON) (ELON) and privately held 4HomeMedia Inc. introduced ControlPoint 1000, a residential hub reference design for original equipment manufacturer partners. The ControlPoint 1000 is designed to be the center of a home control network to support the new generation of plug and play standards, and to enable partners to create home control services by choosing products to match the end application, regardless of manufacturer. The user interface supports any browser-based display device.
Sigma Designs (NASDAQ-NMS:SIGM) said its Mini-PCI Windeo Reference Design Kit is now available. It enables original equipment manufacturers and original design manufacturers to develop digital entertainment products featuring wireless capability for in-home high-definition audio/visual distribution.
Harman International Industries' Harman Consumer Group introduced its Infinity Reference Speakers. They include reduced voice-coil impedance, designed to extract the most power possible from all amplifiers made to drive loads of four ohms or less, as well as the Plus One cone technology, which provides more cone surface area in standard frame configurations for better bass and efficiency. The speakers will ship in March.
Harman's JBL unit showed its GTi MkII ComponentSystem, which is available in two models, the C508GTi and the C608GTi. The purpose of both is to reduce distortion, even when the speaker is driven to the excursion limit. Both systems are available at authorized JBL car audio dealers.
Sigma Designs (NASDAQ-NMS:SIGM) and Shanda Interactive Entertainment Ltd.'s (NASDAQ-NMS:SNDA) (SNDA) Beijing Tiplay Networking Ltd. plan to work to develop an interactive entertainment service based on peer-to-peer and consumer electronics platforms. The primary focus is an Internet home appliance that will access to the Web site of a Shanda back-end server, providing a total service to the end-user for content distribution, sharing and education and game operations. The product is expected to launch in the second quarter.
Toshiba Corp.'s (Tokyo:6502) (6502.TO) digital products division introduced the dynadock USB docking station, which has video capabilities that connect multiple displays and peripherals simultaneously. The device is compatible with any notebook computer or Tablet personal computer which has Microsoft's (NASDAQ-NMS:MSFT) Windows XP and is Windows Vista compatible. The dynadock has six USB 2.0 ports, two hot USB 2.0 ports in the front and four standard USB ports in the back, enabling cell phones, personal digital assistants and portable music players simultaneously. It comes in two versions: DVI or VGA.
Uniden Corp.'s (Tokyo:6815) (6815.TO) American unit introduced portable global positioning system devices, the GPS352 and GPS402. The company also showcased its new line of digital enhanced cordless telecommunications cordless phone, the DECT 6.0 phones, which uses a 1.9-Ghz frequency band.
Harman International's Harman Kardon introduced the Harman Kardon Drive + Play II, an automotive media manager. The device allows users to manage many portable devices with a single screen and controller, including both Apple Computer Inc.'s (NASDAQ-NMS:AAPL) (AAPL) ipod, Microsoft's (NASDAQ-NMS:MSFT) Zune Drive, as well as Bluetooth mobile phone communications and Sirius Satellite Radio Inc.'s (NASDAQ-NMS:SIRI) (SIRI) service. The system will be available in the spring.
Microsoft (NASDAQ-NMS:MSFT) and Razer USA Ltd. launched Reclusa, a specialized gaming keyboard with reduced latency, 12 programmable buttons, two 360-degree jog dials, dedicated bumper buttons on either side and two built-in USB ports.
TiVo Inc. (NASDAQ-NMS:TIVO) ( TIVO (NASDAQ-NMS:TIVO) ) said it entered agreements with Music Choice and RealNetworks Inc. (NASDAQ-NMS:RNWK) (RNWK) to offer a new service that makes digital music libraries available on users' television sets. The Alviso, Calif., provider of digital video recording services said the new content will be available later in 2007.
Broadclip Inc. said it is hoping to tap the burgeoning portable-music-player market by helping users legally collect music from the Internet with a new version of its MediaCathcer software, which will now load stored songs onto Microsoft's (NASDAQ-NMS:MSFT) Zune players, Apple iPods and other music devices. Users enter search terms and MediaCatcher captures and downloads nonrights-protected music from the Internet.
ViewSonic Corp. added two new liquid crystal display, or LCD, monitors to its product line-up. The 24- and 28-inch monitors will sell for $699 and $899, respectively.
Jakks Pacific Inc. (NASDAQ-NMS:JAKK) (JAKK) gave reporters a sneak peak at six new plug-it-in- and-play video games that are slated for release this spring.
