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Elgato Announces UPnP AV Media Streaming Software for the Macintosh (14/2/2005)

EyeConnect Streams Macintosh Digital Content to UPnP AV Media Players

Elgato Systems, creators of award-winning hardware and software for the Macintosh, today announced EyeConnect, the Macintosh market's first commercially available media streaming software based on Universal Plug and Play(TM) Audio/Video standard (UPnP(TM) AV). EyeConnect enables digital music, video, or photo content, including EyeTV recordings, iPhotos(TM), iTunes(R) and movies stored on a Macintosh, to be played on a broad variety of UPnP(TM) AV certified devices.

UPnP(TM) AV is a broadly accepted industry standard that enables digital content to be identified, managed, and distributed across multiple devices. It is supported by a wide range of consumer electronics companies including major players like D-Link, HP, Pioneer, Philips, Samsung, Sony and many more. A Public Beta version of the EyeConnect Software will be available for download at http://www.elgato.com in February 2005.

Elgato EyeConnect media streaming software addresses a rapidly growing market for home networking. Industry analysts predict that 52 percent of U.S. online households and 47 percent of European broadband households will deploy home networks by 2008. A recent study of the Asia Pacific region suggests that home networking will grow in proportion with the number of broadband households.(1)

"With EyeConnect software, anyone can turn their Macintosh into a digital media center, opening up a whole new way of enjoying digital entertainment throughout the home", said Freddie Geier, CEO Elgato Systems. "People can use EyeConnect software to watch EyeTV recordings or movies on a big-screen television, to display organized albums of digital photographs on an electronic picture frame, or to play their iTunes music collection and MP3s on a Dolby Digital audio system."

What is UPnP(TM) AV technology?

UPnP(TM) AV (Universal Plug 'n Play) technology is an open networking architecture that employs TCP/IP and other Internet technologies for a seamless flow of digital content through a home. UPnP(TM) AV products work easily with each other and do not require complex configuration. EyeConnect supports the growing number of brand name digital media devices certified for UPnP(TM) AV.

EyeConnect - Mac Entertainment unleashed

With EyeConnect software, Mac users can effortlessly manage the wired or wireless streaming of stored multimedia content to multiple devices in a connected home environment. EyeConnect automatically determines the digital media formats supported by the UPnP(TM) AV certified device, which typically include MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4 and DivX. As an added benefit, the content remains organized as found in the user's Macintosh library.

Elgato's EyeConnect software supports device authentication and an advanced plug-in architecture that enables third-party developers to provide additional streaming content. An EyeConnect Plug-in SDK is also available, allowing third parties to develop add on software. Visit http://www.elgato.com for details. Elgato Systems is a member of the Digital Living Network Association (DLNA), the Intel Developer Network for the Digital Home and the UPnP Forum.

System Requirements:

A Macintosh computer with minimum PowerPC(R) G4 500MHz or G5 processor; Mac OS X 10.3 or higher and 256MB of RAM (512MB recommended). Wireless Network or Ethernet Network required.

www.elgato.com