TAIPEI, Taiwan - Computex Taipei, June 5, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- Buffalo Inc., a global leader in the design, development, and manufacturing of wired and wireless networking, storage, multimedia, and memory solutions, today introduced the latest addition to its line of sophisticated LinkTheater multimedia devices, the Buffalo LinkTheater Wireless-A&G Media Player (PC-P4LWAG). The new LinkTheater is amongst the first multimedia devices designed to work with Intel(r) Viiv(tm) technology - an innovative new PC platform that will help make it easier for families to download, store and view all kinds of digital entertainment and information.
Powered by Mediabolic's state-of-the-art Media Player software and the high-performance Philips Nexperia media processor, the Buffalo LinkTheater Wireless-A&G Media Player enables consumers to unlock and stream personal and premium content from their Intel Viiv technology-based PCs to other rooms in the house. Its intuitive TV-based user interface lets consumers browse their favorite music, photo, and video files, and access a wide variety of Internet-driven applications via a remote control. The LinkTheater features AOSS(tm) (AirStation One-Touch Secure System), Buffalo's unique push-button wireless installation and security configuration technology, which permits users at any experience level to effortlessly install the device on a wired or wireless network. In addition, the LinkTheater includes the capability to enable the device to remotely awaken a PC from its sleeping state.
"The ever increasing amount of entertainment choices available to consumers has created a need for a platform that unites those options into a single, manageable solution," said Morikazu Sano, senior vice president of global marketing at Buffalo. "Intel Viiv technology handles this nicely, and Mediabolic's powerful software gave us the building blocks to create a new wireless LinkTheater product so that it works in the Viiv ecosystem while simultaneously allowing us to remain focused on the needs of our customers. Our new LinkTheater is a compelling product designed to work seamlessly with Intel Viiv technology-based PCs and other DLNA and UPnP media servers and delivers new entertainment experiences that consumers seek."
Intel Viiv technology is Intel's new brand for in-home entertainment PCs designed to transform how consumers manage, share, and enjoy a broad and growing assortment of movies, programs, music, games, and photos. The Buffalo LinkTheater provides seamless interoperability with Intel Viiv technology-based PCs and other devices on the network. The LinkTheater can present PC and Internet applications optimized for TV viewing to the consumer via the Intel Viiv Zone, which will provide over time a choice of on-demand, Internet-delivered premium content, entertainment, and information services such as full-length movies, real-time news, and more through the Intel Viiv technology-based PC.
"By combining the Philips Nexperia media processor with Mediabolic's software, we enable CE companies like Buffalo to develop flexible, cost-effective network media players that are easy for consumers to install and operate," said Chris Day, general manager of the media processing group at Philips' Semiconductors Division. "Support for Intel Viiv technology will give people the power to choose when, where and how they enjoy entertainment and information at home. Philips' and Buffalo's commitment to delivering a simple and empowering consumer experience is an important element in making the digital home, a connected home."
"The goal of Intel Viiv technology is to provide consumers with an effortless means of accessing entertainment at any time, anywhere, and on multiple devices simultaneously within the home," said Gerald Holzhammer, vice president, Digital Home Group and general manager of Intel's Consumer PC Platform Group. "Intel is working with companies like Buffalo, Philips, and Mediabolic to make this concept a reality. Our latest Intel Viiv technology software release enables the transferring of content throughout the home to devices supporting Intel Viiv technology."
The Buffalo LinkTheater Wireless-A&G Media Player supports decoding of many leading audio (MP3, WMA, AAC, LPCM), image (JPEG, BMP, PNG), and video (MPEG 1/2/4, WMV 7/8/9, XviD) formats and codecs. It integrates a 10/100Base-T Ethernet controller, support for 802.11 a/b/g wireless networking, and a USB 2.0 port for additional connectivity with flash memory, digital cameras, or portable music and video players. The device includes composite, S-video, and D4 digital video output (note: the D4 port provides component output by way of an included adapter). The product includes Mediabolic's standards-based Media Player software, which has been rigorously tested to comply with an array of digital home interoperability standards, including Universal Plug and Play (UPnP), Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA), and Intel Viiv technology's support for emerging digital rights management technologies, such as DTCP-IP and Microsoft Windows Media DRM 10 for Network Devices.
"Buffalo is the number-one networking peripherals company in Japan and they've begun to make their presence widely known in other geographies as a company that can quickly deliver products that consumers want," said Daniel Putterman, president and CEO of Mediabolic. "The PC/data network is evolving into an entertainment platform, and Buffalo's intricate knowledge of home networking perfectly positions the company to lead the market. While Intel Viiv technology is helping to deliver on the vision of simplifying and expanding digital entertainment in the living room, the Buffalo LinkTheater provides an affordable means for taking that living room experience and extending it to the entire home. We're delighted to have once again teamed up with Buffalo to deliver the fourth in a series of product lines that will shape the future of the digital home marketplace."
Pricing and Availability
Backed by a limited two-year warranty and toll-free 24/7 technical support, the Buffalo LinkTheater Wireless-A&G Media Player (PC-P4LWAG) will be available in the U.S. in late June at an estimated street price of $249. Availability of the product in Europe and Asia will soon follow. Wired and wireless versions of the new LinkTheater will be available in Japan in June. For more information about Buffalo and its products, please visit the company's Web site at www.buffalo.jp or www.buffalotech.com.
About Royal Philips Electronics
Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands (NYSE:PHG) (AEX:PHI) is one of the world's biggest electronics companies and Europe's largest, with sales of EUR 30.4 billion in 2005. With activities in the three interlocking domains of healthcare, lifestyle and technology and 161,500 employees in more than 60 countries, it has market leadership positions in medical diagnostic imaging and patient monitoring, color television sets, electric shavers, lighting and silicon system solutions. News from Philips is located at www.semiconductors.philips.com.
About Mediabolic
Mediabolic, Inc. is a leading developer of entertainment networking software that enables manufacturers to create cutting-edge digital home products. The company's technologies can be embedded in products like televisions, set-top boxes, NAS devices, mobile phones, and digital cameras so that consumer electronics and PC manufacturers can extend and differentiate their product lines. Using a standards-based, open architecture Mediabolic has enabled its customers to ship award-winning solutions across diverse platforms to the consumer market. Founded in 1999, Mediabolic is located in San Mateo, Calif. For more information, please visit www.mediabolic.com.
About Buffalo
Buffalo, Inc., based in Nagoya, Japan, is a leading global provider of award-winning networking, memory, storage, multimedia, LCD and other computer peripheral solutions for the home and small business markets as well as for system builders and integrators. With almost three decades of computer peripheral experience, Buffalo has proven its commitment to delivering innovative, best-of-breed solutions that have put the company at the forefront of infrastructure technology. For more information about Buffalo and its products, please visit www.buffalo.jp or www.buffalotech.com.
Buffalo and AOSS are trademarks of Buffalo, Inc. Mediabolic is a registered trademark and the Mediabolic logo is a trademark of Mediabolic, Inc. Philips is a trademark of Royal Philips Electronics. Intel and Viiv are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries. All other brand and product names are trademarks of their respective companies.