PRISMIQ Announces PRISMIQ MediaPlayer
Reprinted from a PRISMIQ press release:
PRISMIQ, Inc, a maker of networked entertainment hardware devices and software, announced today at Forum 2002 the PRISMIQTM MediaPlayer, a break-through entertainment gateway product that utilizes the power of a home network to boost the enjoyment of home entertainment centers. Now consumers can tap the boundless audio, visual, and communication resources of the Internet and enjoy them on their TVs and stereo systems.
The PRISMIQ MediaPlayer sits atop any television, stereo, or entertainment center and links to any computer via a home network or Ethernet connection. It eliminates the requirement to be physically present at the PC in order to experience digital movies, MP3 audio, and digital pictures. The PRISMIQ MediaPlayer also connects to the Internet through the home network for relaxed, TV-based web surfing, instant messaging, personalized TV-displayed news, and easy access to emerging next-generation broadband services.
Why PRISMIQ
PRISMIQ was founded in the Spring of 2001 on the notion that consumers want to be able to play digital media through their home entertainment centers to get the best entertainment experience and take advantage of the audio-visual equipment investment they have already made.
There are companies developing digital set-top boxes with capabilities, like hard drive storage, that overlap products that already exist in most homes. Other firms offer single-function devices, such as PC-to-stereo networked MP3 players. Only PRISMIQ offers products that address what the consumer needs, leverage what they already have, and sell for prices they can afford.
“By utilizing a home network, developing smart software, and creating modular networked entertainment components, PRISMIQ has cracked the code in this market space,” said Ken Goldsholl, CEO of PRISMIQ. “PRISMIQ is dedicated to delivering high-quality, fully-featured, affordable, and easy-to-use networked entertainment software and hardware products.”
How it Works
Using an Internet-capable home computer and linking stored media and the Internet connection itself, the PRISMIQ system can perform a variety of functions:
PRISMIQ gives users a multitude of home entertainment options for the fraction of the cost of less feature-rich systems.
Product Package and Availability
The PRISMIQ MediaPlayer is a compact system, less than half the size of most DVD players. It can be used conveniently on any television in the house, yet has all the capabilities of a high-end audio-visual component, such as Surround Sound audio support and MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 video playback. The associated and bundled MediaManager software, which lets one or more computers in the home deliver content to the MediaPlayer, runs on Windows 98 SE, Windows ME, Windows 2000, and Windows XP. The PRISMIQ MediaPlayer supports Ethernet 10/100 natively, and has embedded driver support for a variety of PCMCIA/card bus cards for 802.11a, 802.11b, and HPNA.
The PRISMIQ MediaPlayer will be available this Christmas season on a variety of web retailing sites, such as Amazon.com, and in retail stores early next year. The complete product package consists of a compact set-top unit, a hand-held IR remote control, a CD with PRISMIQ’s Windows-compliant Media Manager software, cables, and documentation for a list price of $249.95. For more information visit www.PRISMIQ.com.