Pinnacle Launches MediaCenter
Reprinted from a Pinnacle press release:
Pinnacle Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:PCLE) , a leader in digital video solutions, today launched Pinnacle MediaCenter, a combined hardware and software solution that lets PC owners transform their existing PCs into digital entertainment centers affordably — with prices starting at $99 (suggested retail price). Pinnacle Systems is leveraging its expertise in developing consumer-friendly user interfaces and its award-winning digital media hardware to create Pinnacle MediaCenter (PMC) solutions that lets users create, manage and enjoy a full range of media on their home PCs.
Pinnacle MediaCenter products include a TV tuner with a remote control and Pinnacle’s easy-to-use PMC as well as Pinnacle MediaManager software. PMC software lets users enjoy live television with the added ability to record, pause, and create instant replays with the touch of a button, as well as schedule their favorite programs for recording using Internet-based programming guides. The included Pinnacle MediaManager software is a sophisticated media management tool for music, photos and video files. MediaManager integrates media import and search functions, file format conversion, DVD and CD burning, CD ripping, watched folder, playlist creation and media organization in a single, user-friendly application.
“With the mass adoption of digital cameras, camcorders and digital music players, the home PC has become a virtual warehouse of digital media,” said Ajay Chopra, Chief Operating Officer of Pinnacle Systems. “All that’s missing to turn the PC into an entertainment device is the right software, a TV tuner and a remote control — and that’s what we’re offering with Pinnacle MediaCenter.”
The Pinnacle MediaCenter user interface is designed to be viewed on either a television or PC monitor from a ‘living-room’ distance, allowing users to access their music, photos and videos from across the room using the included remote control. Pinnacle MediaManager takes the work out of adding music files to a collection by integrating information such as song names, music genre, artist and title automatically from its robust database as users rip their CDs to MP3s.
Perfect Partners: Pinnacle MediaCenter and Pinnacle ShowCenter Digital Media Player
The Pinnacle ShowCenter digital media player enables users to access and enjoy their PC-based digital media in a room where they might not have or might not want to put a PC. The Pinnacle MediaCenter is an ideal complement to the Pinnacle ShowCenter as they share a common media library and similar user interface, making it very easy for users to enjoy their digital media files in any room of the house.
“Aftermarket solutions like Pinnacle MediaCenter have enormous potential,” said Kurt Scherf, Vice President and Principal Analyst for Parks Associates. “Our research indicates that annual sales of multimedia connectivity platforms and solutions will grow from one million units in 2004 to 21 million units in the next five years. Critical to the growth of development of these markets will be solutions that integrate media management capabilities and cross-platform content accessibility in a similar manner to the capabilities currently offered by Pinnacle Systems with its MediaCenter and ShowCenter solutions.”
Pricing and Availability
The Pinnacle MediaCenter family will be comprised of two product SKUs, the Pinnacle MediaCenter 100i (with internal TV tuner board) and the Pinnacle MediaCenter 100e (with external TV tuner device). Products range in price from $99 to $129 (suggested retail price). Pinnacle MediaCenter solutions are expected to be available in late October at leading brick-and-mortar retailers such as BestBuy, CompUSA and Circuit City, as well as online at Amazon.com, Buy.com and TigerDirect.com. For more information, visit www.pinnaclesys.com/mediacenter.