Published:
Cisco Simplifies Digital Media Access for Consumers
Linksys by Cisco Media Hub Helps Consumers Enjoy All of Their Digital Photos, Music and Video Anytime, Anywhere
Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) today announced the
Linksys by Cisco Media Hub at the 2009 International Consumer Electronics
Show (CES) in Las Vegas. Designed to simplify access to and interaction
with digital content, the Media Hub gathers, organizes, and presents all
the digital video, photos and music that users have spread amongst various
devices in the home. With a Media Hub, consumers can enjoy all of their
media through an easy to use interface that is not only accessible in the
home, but throughout the world via a web browser. The Media Hub is the
perfect solution for consumers with extensive digital media libraries who
are looking to eliminate the complexity of managing their collections.
Facts/Highlights:
Centralized Access to Digital Photos, Music and
Videos
Sharing media on multiple devices within the home is easy with the Media
Hub's media and iTunes server capabilities. The Media Hub automatically
searches the network for other media devices(1) to present all available
digital media to the user in a single location.
Easy Graphical User Interface
Content accessible to the Media Hub is presented in a browser-based, simple
to navigate user interface(2). Music albums are consolidated and presented
together with the appropriate Album Art, regardless of where the tracks
reside within the network, eliminating the need to know which device music
is stored on. Photos and videos are presented using thumbnail images that
are easily organized by date or name. All available media, regardless of
type, can be located by using the available search function.
Simple Remote Access
Remote Access can be enabled on the Media Hub with just a few clicks of a
button(3). Users are not required to install any special software or change
their network configuration. The Media Hub takes care of everything with
the exception of choosing its Remote Access name. Whether accessing the
Media Hub on a PC at home, or through a web browser anywhere in the world
via www.ciscomediahub.com, consumers are presented with the same easy to
navigate user interface that enables them to access their digital media and
upload or download files from a remote location.
Backup
Automated backup software is included with the Media Hub to help ensure
that even the most treasured memories and digital libraries are protected.
Folders on a computer within the network that contain Digital Media can be
set to automatically copy any new files to the Media Hub for added peace of
mind.
Consumer Friendly Design
The product's sleek design makes it possible to place the Media Hub
virtually anywhere in the home and with its near silent operation it will
not disturb daily life. With two drive bays and external USB ports
consumers can easily expand their Media Hub if and when their Digital Media
storage needs grow.
Supporting Quotes:
Greg Memo, vice president and general manager, products, Cisco
Consumer Business Group
"We have built the Media Hub to be simple to setup and use for the
mainstream consumer, but is also powerful in functionality and capabilities
for the more tech-savvy user. All the features that are needed to eliminate
the complexity of managing digital media collections with multiple
computers and devices in the home are included. The Media Hub is the
central location you go to for access to your media, without concern for
whether the file is stored on your Mac, your child's PC, or on your DLNA
devices."
Worldwide Market Trends:
Worldwide, the Networked Attached Storage (NAS) market is forecast to
grow from 2.6 million units sold in 2008 to more than 12 million units by
year-end 2012. (Parks, July 2008)
By 2013, more than 13.6 million NAS products will ship to the consumer
market -- a 46.1% CAGR. (ABI, Oct. 2008)
Average Consumer Digital Media Storage Requirements (Source: ABI Oct.
2008):
File Library Total
Media Type Media Specification Length Size Size GB
---------- ------------------- ------ ---- ---- --
Music MP3 (192 Kbps) Music 4 Minutes 5.8 MB 3500 20.3
Photos 5-Megapixel JPEG Picture N/A 1.6 MB 2000 3.2
Video MPEG-4 SD Movie 110 Minutes 1.8 GB 10 18.0
MPEG-4 HD (720p) Movie 110 Minutes 5.2 GB 10 52.3
MPEG-4 HD (720p) TV Show 30 Minutes 1.4 GB 24 33.0
MPEG-4 SD TV Show 30 Minutes 500 MB 24 12.0
Total Storage Requirement 138.8
Configurations and availability:
In the US, the products are available now from authorized Linksys by Cisco
retailers, resellers, and VAR partners. Cisco anticipates availability in
Canada, UK, Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands during the first quarter
of 2009.
The Media Hub comes in both the NMH300 Series and the NMH400 Series. The
NMH300 series is a cost-effective solution that offers all of the core
features of the Media Hub, and is designed to be used primarily with a PC
or Mac to interface with the device. On the NMH400 Series, an LCD screen
that displays information such as available space, drive usage by type of
media, and network status teams with a 6-in-1 card reader to enable the
simple transfer of new media and entertainment onto the Media Hub without
the need for a computer. Firmware upgrades and instant backups can also be
initiated via navigating the LCD.
The following configurations of the Media Hub will be available from
launch:
NMH305 -- Linksys by Cisco Media Hub (500GB hard drive) MSRP:
$299.99 / EUR 299.99
NMH405 -- Linksys by Cisco Media Hub with LCD and 6-in-1 card
reader (500GB hard drive) MSRP: $349.99 / EUR 349.99
NMH410 -- Linksys by Cisco Media Hub with LCD and 6-in-1 card
reader (1TB hard drive) MSRP: $429.99 / EUR 429.99
Supporting Resources:
Video:
Technorati Tags: Cisco, Consumer, Linksys by Cisco, video, digital
media, storage, NAS, remote access, Network Attached Storage, CES, consumer
electronics, digital storage, hard drive storage, Greg Memo
About Cisco Systems
Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking that transforms
how people connect, communicate and collaborate. Cisco's vision for the
consumer is to enable people to live a connected life that is more
personal, more social, and more visual. More information about Cisco and
its line of consumer products can be found at www.linksysbycisco.com and
www.cisco.com/consumer.
Cisco, the Cisco logo, Linksys by Cisco and Cisco Systems are registered
trademarks or trademarks of Cisco Systems, Inc. and/or its affiliates in
the United States and certain other countries. All other trademarks
mentioned in this document are the property of their respective owners. The
use of the word partner does not imply a partnership relationship between
Cisco and any other company. This document is Cisco Public Information.
(1) UPnP and DLNA1.5 media devices
(2) Flash is required
(3) Requires subscription. One year of access is provided with purchase,
$9.99 yearly fee after expiration.
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