Monsoon Multimedia Combines Apple iPad With Vulkano to Create Stunning TV and Movie Experience

SAN MATEO, Calif., Jan. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Monsoon Multimedia, a leader in video convergence technologies, today announced the Vulkano video convergence device is compatible with the Apple iPad. Monsoon's Vulkano incorporates major features of TiVo (time-shifting), Slingbox/HAVA (place-shifting), Apple TV and Roku (Internet video link) and new functionalities that allow simultaneous viewing and recording of content from any source to an iPad over Wi-Fi and 3G networks.

Vulkano is a sleek, attractive external box that is connected to the analog output of a set-top box or any video source. By downloading an application from the Apple App Store to an iPad and connecting to the Vulkano box through a Wi-Fi or 3G connection, consumers can watch live TV including their favorite home channels, schedule and record any program on the Vulkano's hard drive and simultaneously watch or record the content on an iPad.

In addition, users can access an integrated EPG to schedule a recording on the iPad from anywhere in the world. iPad's larger screen size means that consumers will have a more pleasant viewing experience and  better enjoy watching movies and shows that they have recorded – in airplanes, hotel rooms, offices, airports, trains and cars.

With the Vulkano, over 125 movies can be recorded on the 16GB iPad and over 500 on the 64GB iPad. Users can watch good quality video even at very low uplink speeds down to 150kbps.

Monsoon's Vulkano can also serve as a DVR and comes with a physical remote controller that is simple to use for recording and viewing functions in home use. In addition, Vulkano can be used as an Internet video link that allows any video content (YouTube, Cinema Now, iTunes and other) to be displayed on a big screen TV, recorded to the Vulkano's hard drive, or streamed to another screen or PC within the home.

"The new iPad will change the way we read books, newspapers and view multimedia," said Colin Stiles, Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Monsoon Multimedia. "With Vulkano, the only product of its kind in the world, iPad users can now watch, schedule and record video with the touch of a screen, from wherever they are."

Consumers can also use their iPad instead of a physical remote controller to control all the Vulkano features at home. The installation of the device is through a simple one step process innovated by Monsoon. Automatic wireless set up is achieved through 801.11n wireless technology embedded in the Vulkano. Vulkano has built-in infrared technology to control the set-top box or TV remotely.

Vulkano application for iPad:

• High-quality video playback
• Remote access to Vulkano device
• Enables full remote control and channel changing capabilities of any TV source such as Cable, Satellite, DVD or TiVo
• Browse program guides for schedules, series and episode descriptions (based on availability from service provider)
• "Favorites" feature allows users to label favorite channels

Monsoon Multimedia Vulkano System:

• All-in-One video convergence device combines major features of TiVo, Sling box/HAVA, Apple TV and Roku and Remote DVR features for a fraction of the cost
• High-quality video playback
• Includes hardware remote control; smartphones and computers have on-screen remotes
• Free app with EPG supports iPad, Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone, Blackberry, Android, Symbian and Windows Mobile smartphones
• Streams high-quality video at H.264 and MPEG-4 standards at 150kbps
• Enables full remote control and channel changing capabilities of any TV source such as Cable, Satellite, DVD or TiVo
• Wireless N for video uplink and broadcast throughout the home
• Smooth video over 3G as well as Wi-Fi
• Browse EPG for schedules, series and episode descriptions
• Built in infrared to control set-top box remotely
• Multiple users can have recordings on the Vulkano hard-drive and access them independently

Pricing and Availability

The Vulkano for iPad will be available in Q1 2010. The Vulkano comes in two different configurations. Vulkano and Vulkano Pro have a projected selling price of US$199 and US$299 respectively. Vulkano will come with 4GB of flash memory, while the Pro version will come with a 250GB hard-drive. Vulkano products will be available in March of 2010 through leading on-line etailers, and can be directly purchased with a lifetime or term based subscription from Monsoon (www.myhava.com).

A customized version of Vulkano is slated to be available at all the leading retailers worldwide starting this summer. This product will be offered by a Monsoon technology licensee.

About Monsoon Multimedia

Monsoon Multimedia provides advanced, standards-based multimedia products and convergence technologies for the PC, Mac, Smartphone and Consumer Electronics industries. Monsoon licenses and sells highly optimized multimedia solutions comprised of applications, drivers, frameworks, middleware and reference designs. Our customers and partners are semiconductor companies, PC manufacturers, MSO's, software suppliers and consumer electronics companies. Founded by the founders of Dazzle and Emuzed, the company has offices in California, India and Russia.  For more information, please visit www.myhava.com.

All trademarks and product names are the property of their respective companies.

SOURCE Monsoon Multimedia