Cisco Makes Significant Updates to Award-Winning Products Launched at Consumer Electronics Show in January
Linksys by Cisco Media Hubs are now available in a versatile drive-less configuration, include Mac installation capabilities, enhanced usability, and support for AAC file format
London, UK – 16th June 2009 – Cisco® today announced it has made hardware, software, and firmware updates to the lines of Linksys by Cisco branded consumer products it announced at the Consumer Electronics Show in January.
The Linksys by Cisco Media Hub product lineup has grown to include a version (NMH300) that does not include pre-installed hard drives, giving consumers the flexibility to choose the drive type and size that best fits their individual needs and allowing VARs to build custom solutions for their customers. Additionally, Media Hub products will now ship with an installation disc that can be used on either PCs or Macs. Finally, a firmware update will be pushed to Media Hub customers this week that includes several playback, navigation, and remote access improvements, along with system and file management improvements.
Media Hub Software and Firmware Update Facts/Highlights:
- Mac Installation
Beginning this month, Media Hubs will ship with a dual-format installation disc that can be run on either a PC or a Mac. Existing Media Hub customers who did not receive the dual-format disc with their product purchase can download the installation file from their product page for their device at www.linksysbycisco.com.
- Firmware Updates
The newest firmware revision for the Media Hub offers several updates including:
Apple Support
AAC playback capabilities from within the Media Hub Interface
Media Importer capabilities for Mac
Improved interface experience when using Safari
Playback and Navigation
Photos
Improved thumbnail generation
Improved slideshow transitions
Ability to disable slideshow
Single photo preview
Music
Improved Album view
Support for user generated Album Art
Playlist repeat
Video
MOV file support
Optimization for videos imported from Flip Video devices
Volume Level Persistence
Recently Viewed
Remote Access to content stored on Media Hub –
File size cap removed for video playback
Guest password capabilities for access to Media
Improved web certification process
FTP username and password capabilities
System and File Management -
Extended SD card recognition
New Notifications
New drive
New firmware
Drive full
RAID failure
No need to format new disc during RAID configuration
Internet Time Sync
Ability to copy or move entire folders
Dedicated “Tree” items within File view for uPnP and USB devices
New Products Launching and Available today:
- NMH300
As the newest member of the Linksys by Cisco Media Hub family, the NMH300 includes all of the award-winning features of its predecessors in a drive-less configuration. The full family of Media Hubs can be seen at: http://linksysbycisco.com/US/en/products/NetworkStorage
Previously Debuted Media Hub and Wireless Home Audio Products:
- NMH305 – Linksys by Cisco Media Hub (500GB hard drive)
- NMH405 – Linksys by Cisco Media Hub with LCD and 6-in-1 card reader (500GB hard drive)
- NMH410 – Linksys by Cisco Media Hub with LCD and 6-in-1 card reader (1TB hard drive)
Supporting Quotes:
- Greg Memo, vice president and general manager, products, Cisco Consumer Business Group
“The key to being successful when building connected consumer electronics is to always be enhancing your products. Adding installation and Media Importer functionality for Macs is an important milestone as we strive to make the Media Hub the best possible solution for consumers looking to consolidate and stream their media from wherever they like. These additions, together with enhancements to both the Media Hub and Wireless Home Audio products, are significant strides toward executing our vision of enabling people to live a connected life that is more personal, more social and more visual.”
Market Trends:
- US online music download market growing from $2.1 billion today to $3.3 billion by 2013. (US B2C Online Paid Content: Five-Year Forecast, Forrester Research, December 3, 2008)
- The average household’s digital media collection will exceed 1TB by 2013. (Parks and Associates, March 2009)
Pricing and availability:
- The NMH300 is available now through Cisco Consumer Channel Network Registered Partners and at Amazon.com, Buy.com, and NewEgg.com for an MSRP of $199.99, while the Conductor is now available at Amazon.com, Crutchfield, Fry’s Electronics, and ShopLinksys.com for an MSRP of $699.99.
- Media Hub owners will receive notification of the available firmware update for their device through the Media Hub web interface, or can manually initiate the process from the LCD screen for an NMH405 or NMH410.
Supporting Resources:
- Product Web Pages –
http://www.linksysbycisco.com/US/en/products/networkstorage and
http://www.linksysbycisco.com/US/en/products/wirelesshomeaudio - Cisco Consumer Blogs: http://blogs.cisco.com/consumer
- Podcast with Ned Hooper discussing the Cisco Consumer strategy
- Read the Cisco news feature on the media-enabled home.
- Learn more about consumer products for a media-enabled home at www.linksysbycisco.com and www.linksysbycisco.com/forums.
- Amazon.com Linksys by Cisco Brand Store – http://www.amazon.com/linksys
- Become a Facebook fan of Cisco “LinksysbyCisco” and “Digital Cribs” and invite your friends to join the conversation.
- Follow Linksys by Cisco products announcements and updates on Twitter - @Digital Cribs
Technorati Tags:
Cisco, Consumer, Linksys by Cisco, Media-Enabled Home, Media Hub, Networking Set up, Mac, Media Server
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/UK 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.
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