Well, it seems that Sling Media has licensed SRS WOW HD audio technology from SRS Labs to incorporate into SlingPlayer for Windows. It looks like this will be used as part of the work to enable surround sound streaming from the Slingbox PRO-HD initially, but will also feature as an enhanced solution for all Slingboxes. The updated version of SlingPlayer with SRS WOW HD is due in 1Q09.
And while I do work for Sling Media I wasn’t aware of this until I saw this press release come across the wire from SRS Labs. I did confirm it is accurate.
Sling has been making a number of announcements around CES, but since I work there and act as blogger liaison I haven’t been posting them since it wouldn’t be cool to ‘scoop’ other sites. I may post a summary later – unless Mark jumps in with more posts in the meantime.
Press release:
Jan 7, 2009 08:00 ET
SRS Labs Optimizes Audio Playback Experience for Slingbox Users
Sling Media licenses the popular SRS WOW HD™ audio solution to enable top quality playback of live and recorded TV programs
SANTA ANA, Calif., Jan. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — SRS Labs (NASDAQ:SRSL) , the industry leader in surround sound, audio, and voice technologies, announced today that Sling Media Inc., a leading digital lifestyle products company, has licensed the SRS WOW HD for use in their SlingPlayer™ for Windows software in order to enrich the users audio entertainment experience. In conjunction with the Slingbox™, SlingPlayer allows consumers to watch and control their home TV or DVR on their Windows® computer, just as if they were in their living room, from around the home or around the world.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070322/LATH036LOGO)
SRS WOW HD is a patented, state-of-the-art audio solution that makes a remarkable improvement in the sound quality of any digital media. By detecting and restoring audio cues buried in the original audio source material, SRS WOW HD makes a demonstrable difference in the overall entertainment experience — content sounds more natural, with renewed depth and clarity. SRS WOW HD provides an immersive 3D audio experience with ultra-clear high-frequency definition and deep, rich bass, breathing new life into any TV show, movie, or video.
Sling Media produces a wide range of networked media products, including hardware, software, mobile software, backend web services and the recently announced Sling.com website. The Emmy® award-winning Slingbox is a small piece of hardware, which when connected in their home, allows a customer to watch and control their TV and/or DVR, through a home network or over the Internet, from any of the SlingPlayer software applications. The SlingPlayer for Windows software, now utilizing SRS WOW HD, works hand-in-hand with the Slingbox hardware back at home, making the entire living room TV viewing experience available on the laptop or desktop computer — anywhere. Users can view their favorite live sporting events and recorded programs when they are away from home, with full control of multiple entertainment devices, including DVRs, cable or satellite set-top boxes, and even DVD players.
“As new convergence products and product categories are created, the demand for audio performance and optimization becomes even greater,” said Allen Gharapetian, Vice President of Marketing for SRS Labs. “The broad range of SRS technologies provides solutions for any digital audio application, especially those associated with the rapid growth of television viewing on computers over the internet. Working with an industry leader like Sling Media is a natural partnership, and we are pleased to help them deliver a premium audio experience to the consumers in this growing and popular new market.”
SRS WOW HD, when integrated into the SlingPlayer for Windows software, will provide users with premium sound through the remote computer’s built-in speakers, separate desktop speakers, or headphones. The upgraded SlingPlayer software, available to customers in the first quarter of 2009, will be provided initially to Slingbox PRO-HD owners. Sling Media expects to support other Slingbox owners in subsequent releases. Existing customers will be able to upgrade their systems to add SRS WOW HD through the automatic update process built into the SlingPlayer software.
“With a goal of delivering the best possible picture and sound quality to Slingbox owners, making the decision to integrate advanced audio technologies from SRS was an easy one,” said Ted Malone, Vice President of Product Marketing and Product Management for Sling Media. “SRS is the recognized authority in the audio processing space, with a strong track record in both the television and broadcast fields. We are very excited to partner with them in order to deliver improved sound quality to our customers.”
About SRS Labs, Inc.
Founded in 1993, SRS Labs is the industry leader in audio signal processing for consumer electronics. Beginning with the audio technologies originally developed at Hughes Aircraft, SRS Labs holds over 150 worldwide patents and is recognized by the industry as the foremost authority in research and application of human auditory principals. Through partnerships with leading global CE companies, semiconductor manufacturers and software partners, SRS audio, surround sound and voice processing technologies have been included in over one billion electronic products sold worldwide including HDTVs, mobile phones, portable media devices, PCs and automotive entertainment. In fact, SRS Labs is the de-facto standard of HDTV audio processing with nine of the top ten name brand flat panel TVs featuring SRS technology. Additionally, SRS Labs surround sound solutions provide the professional broadcast and recording industries with high-performance production, back-haul, storage, and transmission capability. SRS Labs supports manufacturers worldwide with offices in the US, China, Europe, Japan, Korea and Taiwan. For more information, visit http://www.srslabs.com/.
Except for historical information contained in this release, statements in this release, including those by Mr. Gharapetian, may constitute forward- looking statements regarding our assumptions, projections, expectations, targets, intentions or beliefs about future events that are based on management’s belief, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management. While the Company believes that its expectations are based upon reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurances that the Company’s goals and strategy will be realized. Numerous factors, including risks and uncertainties, may affect the Company’s actual results and may cause results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of the Company. Some of these factors include the acceptance of new SRS Labs’ products and technologies, the impact of competitive products and pricing, the timely development and release of technologies by the Company, general business and economic conditions, especially in Asia, and other factors detailed in the Company’s Form 10-K and other periodic reports filed with the SEC. SRS Labs specifically disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.
SRS Labs, Inc. Contact:
Cyndee Pelino, Sr. Marketing Manager
949-442-5518
cyndeep@srslabs.com
Press Contact:
Chuck Back, Noyd Communications Inc.
310-614-2358
chuck.back@noydcom.com
Investor Relations Contact:
Matt Glover, Liolios Group, Inc.
949-574-3860
info@liolios.com
Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070322/LATH036LOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: SRS Labs, Inc.
CONTACT: Cyndee Pelino, Sr. Marketing Manager of SRS Labs, Inc.,
+1-949-442-5518, cyndeep@srslabs.com; or Press, Chuck Back of Noyd
Communications Inc., +1-310-614-2358, chuck.back@noydcom.com, or Investor
Relations, Matt Glover of Liolios Group, Inc., +1-949-574-3860,
info@liolios.com, both for SRS Labs, Inc.
Web site: http://www.srslabs.com/
