Pioneer Demonstrates Entertainment Tap Networking Project

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. today exhibits the future of home theater innovation – a network entertainment concept player, code named "Project ET," that encompasses high quality audio and video playback, Internet access and home theater control capabilities all within a single set-top device. Pioneer® differentiates its technology concept from existing players in the market by letting consumers combine their personal music, movies and photo collections with access to a choice of online content services, social networking applications and online purchasing sites. Pioneer’s concept incorporates the convenience of a unified remote control which users can also use to easily add and remove services based on their entertainment needs and preferences.

“For years Pioneer has developed products with its exclusive Home Media Gallery function that networks DLNA-compliant products within the home theater. Now that broadband speeds have increased to a level that lets users access high definition quality content from the Internet, we are able to consider a network platform like Project ET, which is based on a unique home theater approach to delivering networked content and services into the living room,” said Russ Johnston, executive vice president for home entertainment business solutions group at Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc.

Emerging Internet Content at Your Fingertips

Pioneer’s concept lets consumers download and stream music, video and photos directly from a networked PC to a home theater for viewing on a large screen television. With the opportunity to directly access new, unique content from multiple free and paid online content providers, including YouTube, Netflix and Picasa among many others, Project ET provides a new means for users to seek and enjoy new entertainment.

While retailers may be able to configure a Project ET device for out-of-the box access to specific applications and services, consumers could further customize the device with preferred applications for music and movie streaming, photo storage and playback, as well as additional control capabilities. Pioneer has developed a dedicated web portal for Project ET owners to easily add and remove content services with a simple click of a button. Project ET incorporates its proprietary video processing technologies that ensure superior playback of high definition as well as lower resolution content.

Pioneer is demonstrating the network concept with one terabyte of hard disk drive storage space for uncompressed and compressed audio file storage and playback. The device is Ethernet-equipped and has built-in WiFi to maximize connectivity. At CEDIA, the Project ET device will include a built-in internal Blu-ray Disc®/DVD/CD player.

Living Room Control Capabilities Enhance User Experiences

Primarily envisioned as an entertainment network device, Project ET also provides a host of custom installation tools with built-in Control4 IQ technology. A Zigbee 2-Way remote control and high definition graphic user interface allows end users to intuitively navigate their stored digital content or online media while simultaneously controlling home theater room lighting, temperature and other connected home automated products.

Project ET New Media Highlights

At Pioneer’s CEDIA Booth #3009 attendees can view the Project ET network concept demonstration features:

Twitter Updates: With real-time updates to one’s Twitter messaging service, Project ET can “tweet” whatever entertainment content you are enjoying to followers with a hot-link to the movie title or music album
Buy It Now Button: Allows Twitter followers as well as Project ET users to directly purchase physical or digital copies of content based on the current media being played
Mobile Device Streaming: Provides users with remote access to local content from the home theater system and streams it to WiFi-connected portable devices or a PC, anywhere and anytime. The technology also place-shifts content, and it centralizes control of home theater components and home systems within a home theater room
iPhone Compatibility: Utilizing Wi-Fi, Project ET users can navigate, control and playback digital media as well as all home theater operations with an iPhone/iPod

Pioneer has not committed to a product release date and is considering various options for products based on this platform.

It all began with a passion for music that Pioneer founder Nozomu Matsumoto hoped to share with the world. He started Pioneer in 1938 as a specialty speaker company, building products out of his garage. Today, Pioneer’s Home Entertainment and Business Solutions Group continues Matsumoto's enthusiasm, developing award-winning audio and video home theater products including A/V receivers, Blu-ray Disc® and DVD players, and speakers. Long-standing partnerships and collaborations with the creative community have provided Pioneer unique insight in its quest to capture the purity of a movie or musical artist’s original vision into its broad range of home entertainment products. The company’s brands include Pioneer® and Elite®. More details can be found at www.pioneerelectronics.com.

PIONEER, the PIONEER logo and the ELITE logo are registered trademarks of the Pioneer Corporation.

BLU-RAY DISC is a registered trademark of Sony Corporation.