ViewSonic Enters Networked Media Market

ViewSonic has announced two new networked media devices which allow users to enjoy their digital music, videos and pictures on their TV and home stereos.

ViewSonic Corp. today unveiled a wireless media networking initiative targeted at the burgeoning home networking market, estimated to reach $8.5 billion by 2008. The first products bringconsumers a complete solution for sharing digital video, pictures and music across consumer electronics devices.

ViewSonic’s product offerings include a wireless media adapter, the WMA100, along with two wireless media gateways, the 80GB WMG80 and the 120GB WMG120, to address growing needs for storing digital content and distributing it to any display throughout the home.  Superior wireless video performance is provided through the WMA100’s advanced video processing technology, while the WMG80 and WMG120 offer a benchmark combination of wireless routing and network storage functionality—including the ability to simultaneously view different files in multiple locations.

“ViewSonic’s complete home networking solution will give consumers the freedom to enjoy digital media anywhere in their homes without being tied to the PC, and the ability to experience it at better than DVD quality,” said Todd Greenberg, director of product management, ViewSonic.

“Consumer usage of home networking and digital content is approaching mass market levels,” said Mike Wolf, Principal Analyst, Consumer Content and Connectivity, for InStat/MDR. “As the convergence of these two trends continues, media networking devices – like ViewSonic’s WMA and WMG products – will become an increasingly crucial piece in the entertainment system.”      

ViewSonic’s Media Networks initiative furthers the company’s vision of a display-centric world by providing an integrated, seamless solution for transparently moving digital content among displays, devices and platforms—whether in the home or in a business setting.   Future product lines will include business-focused networking options for addressing audiovisual requirements in the workplace and in commercial settings. Its entrance into home networking also expands the company’s presence in the consumer electronics market, which now spans more than 50 products, including LCD TVs, plasmas, wireless home automation displays, projectors, video processors and computing accessories.

WMA100 Offers Unsurpassed PerformanceIn keeping with ViewSonic’s heritage of display excellence, the WMA100 offers outstanding video streaming performance utilizing the latest scaling, decoding and decompression technology to wirelessly receive and display better-than-DVD-quality video.

When connected to any display via VGA or DVI, the WMA100 automatically detects and scales transmitted video content to the screen’s native resolution.   DVI, composite-video, component-video, S-Video and VGA video outputs team with analog and coaxial SPDIF audio outputs with Dolby 5.1 pass through to make the WMA100 the most versatile media adapter on the market. 

During the initial one-touch autosync set up, the WMA100 will locate and automatically attach to the gateway or allow the user to select from available networks within its range. Once a network is selected, all photos, music and video files that are stored in the user’s “My Photos,” “My Music” and “My Videos” folders are detected. Folder selections can be managed using the included management software.

Video file formats supported by the WMA100 include MPEG 1, 2 and 4. Audio file support includes MP3, unprotected AAC, WMA and WAV. Photos in JPEG, GIF or PNG formats can be displayed using the WMA100.

WMG80 and WMG120—Gateways for FunctionalityViewSonic’s wireless media gateways provide value by functioning as both an 802.11g wireless router and a network attached storage device with print server capabilities. When the WMA100 is combined with either the WMG80 or the WMG120, consumers can store and wirelessly deliver digital content to one or more displays in the home.  

By storing content directly on the gateway, users will achieve better video streaming performance by eliminating the multiple distribution stops necessary when using a PC as a server. With the increased available bandwidth, glitch-free simultaneous distribution to two or more displays is possible. 

Both models offer two USB ports to support USB printers and external storage devices. The gateways feature a quick and easy set-up wizard and compatibility with Windows 98 SE and beyond.

Available in the fourth quarter through authorized ViewSonic resellers and retailers, including Fry’s Electronics, Amazon.com, Hoppins/Onecall.com and other regional outlets, the WMA100 has an estimated street price (ESP) of $299. ViewSonic will offer bundles that provide complete home networking solutions. The WMG80-B1 includes one WMG80 and one WMA100 for an ESP of $699, while the WMG120-B1 includes one WMG120 and one WMA100 for an ESP of $799.  Backed by a one-year limited warranty on parts and labor with onsite service, the products also include ViewSonic’s toll-free technical support, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  For more information or images visit www.viewsonic.com/medianetworks.