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Satellite
& Cable
September
30, 2004
Amino unveils smallest IPTV set-top
box with PVR
THE
NETHERLANDS -- Amino Communications recently unveiled
the smallest IPTV set-top box (STB) with integrated
personal video recorder (PVR). The AmiNET500 is the
latest addition to Amino's award winning range of small,
low-cost, high-performance STBs and contains an 80Gb
HDD that can store nearly 40 hours of programme material.
The product has been developed in response to requests
from telcos experiencing consumer demand for PVRs as
part of their IPTV services.
IPTV
is developing rapidly as it enables video-on-demand
and interactive services to be delivered over broadband
telephone networks. Subscribers can see digital-quality
TV programmes and access wider selection of movies,
while benefiting from full interactivity. Where network
bandwidth is insufficient to provide direct access to
on-demand video streams, content can be uploaded to
the AmiNET500 for subsequent playback with full trick-play
features including fast-forward and reverse, skip back
and forward, and slow-motion frame-by-frame.
Nick
Ebsworth, product manager, said: "This product
line has been introduced in response to rising demand
from the US and European telcos for PVR functionality.
We are working with leading middleware vendors to ensure
that users can schedule recording of their favourite
shows from the on-screen EPG. The device will support
leading conditional access systems and rights management
software to address content owners concern about protecting
assets from illicit copying. We are working with conditional
access vendors to ensure that Hollywood, and the major
broadcast channels will be happy with the resulting
solution. Any content which is delivered in encrypted
form will also be stored as encrypted content, and each
viewing will require validation with the originating
server."
Recent
surveys have shown that 83 percent of PVR users are
either satisfied, or very satisfied with the service.
Also, over 70 percent would want the facility on all
TVs in their household. With the AmiNET500, a single
PVR can stream recorded content to other set-top devices
around the home, offering a lower cost approach than
setting a disk drive enabled box with every TV.
Measuring
184x240x56mm, the AmiNET500 comes with Linux and Java-based
PVR application capable of supporting all the features
a user would expect such as pause live TV, instant record,
instant replay. It is capable of streaming content to
other set-top boxes via home network, and making scheduled
recordings from an EPG.
Contact:
Amino Communications
Tel: +44-1954-23-4100
www.aminocom.com
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