News

New Line of Niveus Media Centres Feature Playback Capability of the HD DVD Format (12/10/2006)

Dealers now have a premium option for Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition-based installations to offer three different high-end media centers that can deliver exceptional reproduction, as well as management and control, of high-definition movies.

Niveus Media, Inc., an award-winning manufacturer of digital entertainment solutions for the connected home, will be one of the first dedicated media center manufacturers to support the HD DVD format and playback of native resolution 1080p (1920 x 1080) movies. Niveus will begin shipping its newest line of Niveus Media Centers, which also utilize the Intel(r) Viiv(tm) technology platform, at the end of the month.

HD DVD will be offered in both of the recently announced additions to the Niveus Media Center line; the Pro Series Ð n7 & n9, a high performance rack-mount form-factor and the Summit Series Ð Rainier Edition, a living room form-factor system in a proprietary Niveus aluminum chassis. Both products are designed on the Microsoft Windows XP Media Center platform and include Niveus Glacier Passive Cooling(tm) and the proprietary Niveus ConvergencePanel(tm), making for installer-friendly integration.

"We are delighted that Niveus Media, the leading developer of award winning media servers, has announced the release of a media center solution with HD DVD," said Scott Maccabe, vice president and general manager, Toshiba America Information Systems, Storage Device Division. "This announcement shows that yet another key industry leader has recognized the advantages offered by HD DVDÕs backward compatibility, product feasibility and marketability. We welcome Niveus and look forward to its contributions to a winning format."

"Niveus Media's incorporation of a HD DVD player into their Intel(r) Viiv(tm) technology-based platform demonstrates how the PC continues to evolve and provide consumers with compelling home entertainment experiences, including breathtaking High Definition video playback and new levels of interactivity through HD DVD," said Brendan Traw, Intel Fellow & Chief Technology Officer Digital Home Group.

"We see HD DVD as the natural successor to the DVD format, with its superb high-resolution video quality powered by the VC-1 video compression standard, great audio quality and innovative interactivity powered by HDi(tm). We are very pleased to see Niveus bring together the power of HD DVD and Media Center together in such an attractive way," said Amir Majidimehr, corporate vice president of the Consumer Media Technology Group at Microsoft Corp.

Niveus MediaÕs Rainier Edition and Pro Series start at $3,499 and $6,999, respectively, and both are expected to ship September 30, 2006.

www.niveusmedia.com