It seems that Monsoon Multimedia’s tactic this CES has been to spread their press releases out over several days. Today we have two more HAVA related releases touting more features of their platform.
The first is the announcement of HAVASoft, a software application for tuner equipped PCs which gives them streaming abilities like those of the hardware HAVA platform. So if you have a PC with a tuner, you can use HAVASoft to stream that content to another, client PC, or mobile device, with the HAVA client software.
The second is more of a rah-rah puff piece announcing their ‘ongoing development commitment’ to the Windows Rally Platform. I had no idea what ‘Windows Rally’ was, I had to look it up. It is just a framework to simplify connecting wired and wireless devices with Windows.
The press releases:
Jan 10, 2008 13:06 ET
Monsoon Multimedia Announces HAVASoft
Monsoon HAVASoft Allows Major PC and TV Tuner OEM’s to Extend Full Featured Video Streaming, Time- and Place-Shifting Technology to PC Users
LAS VEGAS, Jan. 10 /PRNewswire/ — Monsoon Multimedia, an innovative digital video solutions provider, announced today HAVASoft, a full featured wireless video streaming, place- and time-shifting application that supercharges TV-tuner card enabled PCs. Using HAVASoft, customers can stream video to multiple PCs throughout the home or view and control live home TV from anywhere in the world on a broadband-connected PC, Windows Mobile phone or handheld computer.
Monsoon HAVASoft allows connected PCs to operate with TiVo-like functionality. Customers can pause, fast forward, rewind and record live TV to a PC hard disk and burn the recorded content to DVD for archiving purposes. In addition, HAVASoft can employ WiFi to serve as a wireless network TV tuner for Media Center PCs within the home allowing customers to share a TV Tuner card between several Media Center PCs and enjoy the full functionality of their Media Center XP or Vista PC without the need of additional hardware tuners.
Users can now leverage the power of TV tuner enabled PCs while eliminating the clutter of wires and multiple set-top boxes. HAVASoft offers a portable and convenient video streaming, place- and time-shifting solution that is TV Set Free.
“We developed HAVASoft for our OEM partners to bundle with their products to add place-shifting and video streaming capabilities to further enhance their TV solutions for new customers and extend these features to customers who already own TV tuner enabled PCs,” said Colin Stiles, EVP of Marketing and Sales at Monsoon Multimedia. “Consumers can now enjoy TV content whenever and wherever they happen to be through their PC without the need for an actual television or additional devices.”
Combined with TV-tuner enabled PCs, Monsoon’s breakthrough time- and place-shifting technology offers households a viable alternative to the traditional TV set. Users can enjoy television and video content on their laptops as a portable, hi-resolution alternative that brings together all of the features of a television and the power of a PC.
HAVASoft Features
-- Stream Live TV to multiple PCs within the home (Multicast)
-- Supports Windows Vista
-- Functions as a wireless networked TV Tuner for Microsoft Media Center
PCs on home network
-- Connects to any TV source including Cable, Satellite, DVD, TiVo or a
Camcorder
-- Enables TiVo-like functionality on the PC. Users can record, store,
pause, rewind and fast forward stored video
-- Schedule and record programs for later viewing
-- Allows archival of recorded material to DVD
-- Streams video directly to PCs in a home network in MPEG-2
-- Streams MPEG-2 format over the home network, MPEG-4 format over the
Internet
-- Supports Windows Mobile 5.0, 6.0 cell phones and PDAs
Licensing and Availability
Monsoon's HAVASoft licensing arrangements will be available in early 2008.
About Monsoon MultimediaMonsoon Multimedia provides advanced, standards based multimedia products and technologies for the PC and Consumer Electronics industries. Monsoon licenses highly optimized multimedia solutions comprising applications, drivers, frameworks, middleware and reference designs. Our customers and partners are semiconductor companies, PC manufacturers, software suppliers and consumer electronics companies. Founded by the founders of Dazzle and Emuzed, the company is headquartered in Noida, India with offices in California and Russia. For more information, please visit http://www.monsoonmultimedia.com/.
Media Contact: Anders Steele FortyThree, Inc. 831.239.0960 anders@fortythreepr.com
Source: Monsoon Multimedia
CONTACT: Anders Steele of FortyThree, Inc., +1-831-239-0960,
anders@fortythreepr.com, for Monsoon Multimedia
Web site: http://www.monsoonmultimedia.com/
Jan 10, 2008 14:24 ET
Monsoon Multimedia Announces HAVA Development Initiatives for Microsoft’s Windows Rally Platform
Monsoon HAVA with Microsoft Windows Rally Support Allows Customers to Easily Enjoy the Digital Lifestyle
LAS VEGAS, Jan. 10 /PRNewswire/ — Monsoon Multimedia, an innovative digital video solutions provider, today confirmed its ongoing development commitment to the Windows Rally Platform by demonstrating seamless wireless setup of the HAVA device to Vista PCs. Monsoon will support Microsoft Windows Rally across its HAVA line of video place- and time-shifting devices, allowing customers to effectively integrate Monsoon Multimedia’s technologies into their digital lifestyles by easily connecting HAVA devices to their home wireless networks.
The Microsoft Windows Rally platform provides a seamless method for network-connected PCs to effortlessly setup and connect Monsoon’s HAVA devices to the Internet or to other computers running the Microsoft Windows operating system. With integrated discovery and automatic configuration, Microsoft Windows Rally offers easy, reliable, secure connectivity to HAVA users, delivering a rich video streaming, place- and time-shifting user experience.
Monsoon’s HAVA line of video streaming devices allow customers to stream video to multiple PCs throughout the home or view and control live home TV from anywhere in the world on a broadband-connected PC, Windows Mobile phone or handheld computer. The included HAVA Player software includes a wide range of familiar virtual remote control designs allowing users to change channels and control other features of their video source as if they were sitting at home.
Monsoon’s HAVA also allows a PC to operate with TiVo-like functionality. Customers can pause, fast forward, rewind and record live TV to a PC hard disk and burn the recorded content to DVD for archiving purposes. In addition, the HAVA can employ WiFi to serve as a wireless network TV tuner for Media Center PCs within the home, allowing customers to enjoy the full functionality of their Media Center XP or Vista PC without having to install a TV tuner card or place their PC in the living room.
“Monsoon is dedicated to creating innovative, easy-to-use technology that lets our customers do more with their TV,” said Colin Stiles EVP, Sales and Marketing at Monsoon. “Our inclusion of Microsoft Windows Rally support is a significant step in Monsoon’s mission to enrich the consumer TV experience for the connected home.”
HAVA features Monsoon’s vBooster technology which provides superior picture quality and enables multicast video allowing an unlimited* number of PCs connected to a home network to view video content while simultaneously transmitting video to a broadband-connected PC or mobile phone anywhere in the world. Monsoon’s vBooster technology allows the local MPEG-2 video streams to bypass the router, effectively doubling the available bandwidth, while simultaneously keeping the PC connected to the router for non-video traffic.
Monsoon HAVA Features:
-- Stream live HD TV to multiple PCs within the home (Multicast)
-- Component input and support for HD video source (1080i, 720p,
480p/576p) played back in the native 16:9 aspect ratio on the client
display
-- Supports Windows Vista
-- Functions as a wireless networked TV tuner for Microsoft Media Center
PCs on home network
-- Connects to any TV source including Cable, Satellite, DVD, TiVo or a
camcorder
-- Enables TiVo-like functionality on the PC. Users can record, store,
pause, rewind and fast forward stored video
-- Schedule and record programs for later viewing
-- Allows archival of recorded material to DVD
-- All inputs include a pass-through connector, eliminating the use of
splitters when connecting HAVA to home video equipment
-- Streams MPEG-2 format over the home network, MPEG-4 format over the
Internet
-- Supports Windows Mobile 5.0, 6.0 cell phones and PDAs
Pricing and AvailabilityThe Monsoon Multimedia HAVA product line is available directly through Monsoon’s e-tailing division at http://www.myhava.com/.
About Monsoon Multimedia
Monsoon Multimedia provides advanced, standards based multimedia products and technologies for the PC and Consumer Electronics industries. Monsoon licenses highly optimized multimedia solutions compromised of applications, drivers, frameworks, middleware and reference designs. Monsoon customers and partners are semiconductor companies, PC manufacturers, software suppliers and consumer electronics companies. Founded by the founders of Dazzle and Emuzed, Monsoon Multimedia is headquartered in Noida, India with offices in California and Russia. For more information, please visit http://www.monsoonmultimedia.com/.
* The number of PCs is based on available network bandwidth Media Contact: Allison Frantz FortyThree, Inc. 831.401.3175 monsoon@fortythreepr.com
Source: Monsoon Multimedia
CONTACT: Allison Frantz, of FortyThree, Inc., +1-831-401-3175,
monsoon@fortythreepr.com, for Monsoon Multimedia
Web site: http://www.myhava.com/
http://www.monsoonmultimedia.com/
