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Universal Electronics' Nevo Provides Connected Home and Office Platform for the iPAQ Pocket PC H3900 from HP
CYPRESS, Calif. — June 24, 2002 — Universal Electronics Inc. (UEI) (Nasdaq: UEIC) today announced that HP will embed Nevo™ in the new iPAQ Pocket PC H3900 series. Nevo will transform the new iPAQ Pocket PC into a sophisticated and easy-to-use platform for connecting, controlling and interacting with 20 categories of home and office devices.
“We are excited to work with HP as it continues to bring innovative computing technology to the marketplace,” said Robert Lilleness, president and chief operating officer of UEI. “The inclusion of Nevo in the new iPAQ Pocket PC H3900 further builds on UEI’s vision of simplifying the user interface for the growing number of increasingly complex of devices found in the home and office today. The iPAQ’s strong processing power and rich color graphical support combined with Nevo’s powerful connectivity software solution provides iPAQ users with access to content and control of devices previously only available in solutions that cost over $1,000.”
The proliferation of devices and a “mobile warrior” business climate continues to drive demand for integrated mobile solutions. As an early adopter of Nevo, HP anticipates that the home and office market will respond favorably to having seamless wireless access, control, and interaction with entertainment and content through one device — the iPAQ Pocket PC. With a Nevo-enabled iPAQ, both home and office users can quickly set up and personalize their connections through an intuitive and easy-to-use graphical interface. Nevo also allows iPAQ users to set up multiple locations for use at home, the office or anywhere in between, providing a new level of functionality that promotes device usage at work and play.
“As the world leader in Pocket PC devices, HP is committed to providing useful innovation to iPAQ Pocket PC users,” said Sean Burke, vice president, Smart Handhelds, at HP. “Nevo, along with the new consumer infrared capability of the iPAQ Pocket H3900, provides our users with the additional ability to control office and home entertainment devices from their handheld. We are confident that including Nevo in the iPAQ Pocket PC H3900 series will provide us with yet another winning differentiator in the marketplace.”
The feature-rich Nevo platform simplifies the increasingly complex home-electronics environment by using key technologies from UEI that allow for activity-centric, rather than device-centric control. With Nevo connectivity software, iPAQ Pocket PC users will be able to use the engaging and intuitive touch-screen control interface to focus their attention on the experience rather than on the device itself. Nevo’s robust product features include the following:
- Wheel-based navigation™ provides an intuitive graphical interface for simple access to home-electronics devices.
- UEI’s core connectivity software supports thousands of device brands across 20 different home entertainment and home automation categories for superior interoperability.
- Setup wizards walk users quickly through step-by-step instructions to configure Nevo for easy and intuitive interoperability of consumer electronics devices.
- Multiuser, multiroom, multilanguage support enables users to set up an unlimited number of devices and configurations to suit any home or office environment.
- Patented activity-based macros allow users to switch between activities (such as “Watch DVD”) with one touch of a button.
- Personalization services, such as additional graphics, advanced keys and control codes, can be downloaded at http://www.MyNevo.com/.
About Universal Electronics
Universal Electronics Inc., based in Southern California, develops software, firmware and turnkey solutions designed to enable consumers to wirelessly connect, control and interact with an increasingly complex home environment. The company’s primary markets include original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in consumer electronics and personal computing, as well as multiple system operators in the cable and satellite subscription broadcasting markets. Over the past 15 years, the company has developed a broad portfolio of patented technologies and the industry’s leading database of home connectivity software that it licenses to its customers, including many leading Fortune 500 companies. In addition, UEI sells its universal wireless control products to distributors and retailers in Europe, Asia, Latin America and Australia under the One For All® brand name. More information about UEI can be obtained at http://www.uei.com/.
HP Unveils iPAQ Pocket PC H3900 Series with Stunning New Color Screen and Expanded Versatility
PALO ALTO, Calif., June 24, 2002 — HP (NYSE:HPQ) today announced the iPAQ Pocket PC H3900 series -- the newest line in the world's No. 1-selling Pocket PC family -- complete with a spectacular new color screen for easier viewing of pictures and for crisp text, and versatile features such as a universal remote control for home and office electronics.
The new iPAQ Pocket PC H3900 series also contains a secure digital input/output (SDIO) expansion slot, allowing customers to move data back and forth through the smallest, lightest and most sophisticated storage and expansion accessories. SD cards are typically about the size of a postage stamp, offering expanded memory capacity today, and in the future, connectivity capabilities via Bluetooth, digital photography solutions and wireless local area networking (WLAN).
"Mobile professionals appreciate true-to-life color displays, faster performance and robust data preservation; this new iPAQ Pocket PC series delivers on all accounts," said Sean Burke, vice president, HP Smart Handhelds. "Designed for business customers who want untethered access to information, their personal and business contacts and their enterprise applications, the new iPAQ H3900 series is an ideal tool for workers on the go."
The iPAQ Pocket PC H3950 comes with 32 MB of Flash ROM (read-only memory) and has an estimated U.S. street price of $649. The iPAQ Pocket PC H3970 comes with integrated Bluetooth capabilities and 48 MB of Flash ROM, at an estimated U.S. street price of $749. Both models are powered by Microsoft® Windows® for Pocket PC 2002 and the 400MHz PXA250 processor with Intelâ XScale technology for accelerated multimedia and security, and include 64 MB of RAM (random access memory).
Models begin shipping this week and expected to be widely available in July. See http://www.hp.com/products/pocketpc for details. HP also added a 256 MB SD memory card to its secure digital portfolio at an estimated U.S. street price of $199.
Extending the Lead in Pocket PC Capabilities
The iPAQ Pocket PC H3900 series builds on the success of previous iPAQ models with its sleek, elegant design and compatibility with the innovative Expansion Pack system. Optional Expansion Packs offer the freedom to use standard PC card and CompactFlash (CF) cards and now provide removable, rechargeable batteries.
Bluetooth capabilities (built-in or through an Expansion Pack) wirelessly link customers to Bluetooth-enabled phones, printers and PCs. A complete list of compatible Bluetooth options is available at http://www.hp.com/products/bluetooth.
The devices' new transflective liquid crystal display combines the rich color saturation and high contrast of a backlit TFT display, while maintaining the ability to view the screen outdoors in bright sunlight. Taking advantage of the new screen, the iPAQ Image Viewer application allows customers to keep their photos with them and display them as a slide show.
An integrated Nevo application gives customers universal control of their infrared-equipped audio and video equipment in the office and at home. Users can customize their rooms, set up profiles and personalize their iPAQ to control up to 20 categories of audio/visual and home electronics devices.
Robust data preservation tools add greater security, with the iPAQ File Store for storage via 6 MB or 20 MB non-volatile flash ROM and a new iPAQ Backup Utility. Customers can now select which data they want to back up; schedule periodic backups; set a reminder based on battery life; and then password-protect their backup, all by using an optional SD memory card or the iPAQ File Store. The ability to customize standby settings is another new feature, allowing customers to better manage battery usage time by adjusting the standby period.
New third-party accessories such as Bluetooth printers, access points and PC and CF cards are now available for the iPAQ Pocket PC; see http://www.hp.com/products/pocketpc/options for details.
About HP
HP is a leading global provider of products, technologies, solutions and services to consumers and businesses. The company's offerings span IT infrastructure, personal computing and access devices, global services and imaging and printing. HP completed its merger transaction involving Compaq Computer Corp. on May 3, 2002. The company would have had combined revenue on a pro forma basis with the Compaq transaction of approximately $81.1 billion in fiscal 2001 and has operations in more than 160 countries. More information about HP is available at http://www.hp.com.
Universal Electronics Unveils Nevo: A Platform For the Connected Home and Office
Designed for OEM Manufacturers of Display Devices, Nevo Enables End Users to Connect, Control and Interact With 20 Categories of Home and Office Devices
CYPRESS, Calif. — June 18, 2002 — Universal Electronics Inc. (UEI) (Nasdaq: UEIC) today announced a new evolution in home automation and control with the launch of Nevo™, an embedded solution that transforms any electronic display device into a sophisticated, easy-to-use wireless home control and automation platform.
“For 15 years UEI has been committed to providing our customers with technology that extends and enhances their control over the increasingly complex home electronics environment,” said Paul Arling, chairman and CEO of UEI. “Now with Nevo, we are bridging the gap between computing and consumer electronics technologies by transferring the power of wireless control technology to PDAs, Web pads and other handheld devices, providing consumers with a graphical means of controlling and integrating devices and content in the home.”
Nevo-enabled devices allow users to easily control and interact with any consumer electronic appliance in the home or office using an intuitive graphical user interface. Nevo’s engaging wheel-based navigation™ brings simplicity to complex home-electronics configurations and puts ubiquitous consumer electronics control into the hands of users.
“As home networking evolves beyond the home office to incorporate entertainment and mobile environments, finding a centralized way to interact with and control connected devices is becoming increasingly complex for consumers,” said Dominic Ainscough, analyst for the Yankee Group. “As a market leader in the development of control technologies, UEI is well-positioned to address these usability concerns with a solution such as Nevo.”
Nevo’s robust product features include the following:
- A dynamic user interface supports thousands of brands across 20 home entertainment and home automation device categories.
- Multiuser, multiroom and multilanguage support allows users to customize the interface to suit their configuration at home, the office and anywhere in between.
- Setup wizards walk users step by step to quickly configure Nevo for easy and intuitive interoperability of their consumer electronic devices.
- UEI’s patented favorites feature provides convenient One-Click™ access to favorite TV channels, radio stations or other activities, such as “watch DVD.”
- UEI’s world-class database of more than 110,000 control codes for a superior, out-of-the-box experience.
- Backed by 14 issued and additional pending patents focused on home automation and control of the connected home.
- Fully upgradeable and extensible, Nevo allows users to synchronize with their PC and download new device control codes, additional graphic icons, advanced keys and software updates from MyNevo.com for complete personalization of the interface.
More information can be found at http://www.mynevo.com/ and http://www.uei.com/.
About Universal Electronics
Universal Electronics Inc., based in Southern California, develops software, firmware and turnkey solutions designed to enable consumers to wirelessly connect, control and interact with an increasingly complex home environment. The company’s primary markets include original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in consumer electronics and personal computing, as well as multiple system operators in the cable and satellite subscription broadcasting markets. Over the past 15 years, the company has developed a broad portfolio of patented technologies and the industry’s leading database of home connectivity software that it licenses to its customers, including many leading Fortune 500 companies. In addition, UEI sells its universal wireless control products to distributors and retailers in Europe, Asia, Latin America and Australia under the One For All® brand name. More information about UEI can be obtained at http://www.uei.com/.
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