ShowShifter Home Media Center PVR Software And DivX(TM) Video Combine To Offer Total Home Entertainment Experience
Home Media Networks' ShowShifter Announced As The First Personal Video Recorder (PVR) Software To Bundle DivX(TM) Video Compression Technology
SAN DIEGO, CA and LONDON, ENGLAND--(INTERNET WIRE)--Aug 13, 2002 -- Home Media Networks Ltd, developer of network-capable home media center software, today announced a licensing and marketing agreement with DivXNetworks, Inc, the company that created the revolutionary, patent-pending DivX(TM) video compression technology. Under the agreement, Home Media Networks has licensed DivX video technology as the default video compression format for all versions of their ShowShifter Home Media Center software (including PVR functionality), and the two companies will work together to market the DivX-powered ShowShifter products to the global community of millions of DivX users.
The first ShowShifter products to integrate DivX technology are currently available for purchase through both companies web sites. ShowShifter Pro, a new product that integrates the premium DivX Pro video compression technology into ShowShifter Home Media Center software, can be purchased through www.divx.com/products and www.showshifter.com. Home Media Networks will provide existing ShowShifter users with the ability to upgrade to the ShowShifter Pro. Additionally, Home Media Networks plans to integrate DivX as the default video compression format in all other versions of ShowShifter software.
DivX(TM) video compression technology is a hugely popular video encoder / decoder thanks to the great reduction in encoded video file size with hardly any loss of picture quality. DivX technology has become the de facto standard for high-quality IP video, with over 60 million downloads and an average of over 2 million downloads per month. The most recent DivX codec, called a "revolutionary product" by Tom's Hardware Guide, currently ranks as the most downloaded multimedia application on CNET's Download.com.
Unlike traditional desktop video viewing software that forces the user to be at their PC in order to operate the software, ShowShifter features a unique FarView interface and is entirely controllable via remote control. This provides the PC user with the convenience of a home entertainment experience rather than the desktop experience. As well as playing back video files, ShowShifter lets the user watch, time-shift and record TV, browse an electronic program guide (and automatically schedule a 'record'), watch DVDs and listen to CDs and music files, all through a single interface, via remote control.
"We are delighted to be working with the most popular video compression technology on the market as our products compliment each other perfectly," said Home Media Networks CEO, John Croft. "On top of this, the huge popularity of DivX.com means that we can reach a core audience of technology and entertainment enthusiasts who previously might not have realized that a product as versatile as ShowShifter was available."
"We share Home Media Networks vision of the PC becoming the entertainment hub of the home and are ever so keen to work with companies at the forefront of this transition," explained Jordan Greenhall, co-founder and CEO of DivXNetworks, Inc. (www.divxnetworks.com). "It is our goal to license and integrate DivX technology into innovative products that offer real value to the millions of DivX users around the world, and ShowShifter certainly fits in that category. The combination of products like DivX Pro and ShowShifter will help empower consumers to take control of the entertainment experience in new and exciting ways."
Evaluation versions of English and international versions of ShowShifter and ShowShifter Pro can be downloaded from www.showshifter.com.
About DivXNetworks
DivXNetworks is a leading technology company that enables the rapid proliferation of video content over Internet Protocol (IP) networks by combining the lightweight, ubiquitous access of the Internet with DVD-quality video performance. The company's approach is built upon the success of the DivX(TM) codec, a leading standard for MPEG-4 video distribution with over 60 million users worldwide, and the DivX Open Video System(TM), a next-generation content delivery system that provides unsurpassed aggregation, promotion, and distribution of video content for mass markets. DivXNetworks is headquartered in San Diego, California, with a satellite office in Los Angeles. For more information about DivXNetworks, visit www.divxnetworks.com.
About Home Media Networks Ltd
Home Media Networks Ltd is a company focused on the fast growing digital entertainment sector, producing software that runs on standard PC platforms to allow the user to watch, record and pause TV, play DVDs, and listen to MP3 music files. Its solution, ShowShifter, allows the user to pause a TV show to be replayed later and can be controlled remotely using a standard infrared remote control. Through unique FarView technology interaction works equally well close up or at a distance from the screen. ShowShifter is a replacement for TV, VCR, DVD and CD players in a traditional household, thus introducing numerous cost savings for the consumer. Home Media Networks Ltd has offices in the UK in Edinburgh and Crawley.
ShowShifter can be downloaded from www.showshifter.com
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