News

Universal Electronics Introduces Nevo 2.0: A Suite of Control Technology Designed for the Networked Home (30/7/2004)

Nevo 2.0 Powers HP iPAQ rx3000 Series Mobile Media Companions

Universal Electronics Inc. (UEI) (NASDAQ:UEIC) , a leading wireless control technology provider, today introduced Nevo(TM) 2.0, a suite of technology that enables complete audio/visual, home and digital media control. The company also announced today that Nevo 2.0 will power the HP iPAQ Mobile Media application with which users can seamlessly connect to digital media and consumer electronic devices. Mobile users can now wirelessly download music, pictures and video or stream digital media to their HP iPAQ rx3000 series handheld device.

Based on the emerging Universal Plug-n-Play (UPnP(TM)) standard, 802.11 wireless networking protocol, and UEI's connectivity software and patent portfolio, Nevo 2.0 extends UEI's leading position in control technology to include solutions for the rapidly growing number of broadband and Wi-Fi-enabled homes. Nevo 2.0 enables users to not only identify, manage and control digital media content across their home network, but also to control a wide range of home theater and electronic products -- all through a single device.

The introduction of Nevo 2.0 marks UEI's evolution into an integrated connected home technology provider. The alliance with HP represents UEI's extensive efforts to provide mobile media to consumers embracing the wireless digital lifestyle.

"Wireless home networking is one of the fastest growing trends, and Nevo 2.0 has expanded UEI's capabilities in today's Connected Home like never before," said Rob Lilleness, president and chief operating officer of UEI. "By extending Nevo with new media management features designed for broadband and networked homes, Nevo now empowers consumers to enjoy their digital entertainment the way they've always intended -- effortlessly through a single control point."

HP iPAQ Mobile Media, built on Nevo 2.0 architecture, is a key feature in the iPAQ rx3000 series Mobile Media Companions. This powerful application, which leverages the award-winning Nevo 1.0 universal home control application, allows mobile users to access and control digital media content such as music, pictures, movies and other entertainment stored on their PCs. Content can be streamed directly to the HP iPAQ over a Wi-Fi network for local playback or downloaded onto the iPAQ for portable digital entertainment. Content can also be controlled for playback throughout the home.

"HP has had a strong relationship with UEI for some time, so they were our logical choice when it came to developing iPAQ Mobile Media capabilities for the iPAQ rx3000 series Mobile Media Companions," said Eric Kilponen, marketing director of Handhelds in the Personal Systems Group at HP. "HP iPAQ Mobile Media, powered by Nevo 2.0, provides an outstanding digital entertainment experience because it is tightly integrated with the other high-performance features of the rx3000 line including integrated WLAN, infrared, a 1.2-megapixel HP Photosmart camera, high-fidelity audio and high-resolution video."

Nevo 2.0: Complete Control for the Networked Home

The Nevo 2.0 suite includes the following:

-- Application software that provides the underlying technology for HP iPAQ Mobile Media
-- Embedded connectivity software that automatically discovers UPnP-enabled players and servers on the network so users can easily display and play back digital pictures, music and videos
-- NevoMedia Server(TM) and NevoMedia Player(TM), which support media downloading, streaming and playback from Windows XP-based PCs
-- NevoBackup(TM), which safely stores all device setup and user configuration information
-- Nevo Universal Home Control, which transforms any electronic display device into a sophisticated, easy-to-use, wireless home controller

With Nevo 2.0, a consumer's extensive MP3 collection, digital photo albums or home movies that were once buried deep within the home-office hard drive can now be easily accessed and enjoyed throughout the networked home.

www.uei.com