Monsoon says its HAVA Wireless HD adds "TiVo-like functionality" to a PC, allowing it to operate as a PVR (personal video recorder) with pause, fast forward, rewind, and record functions, and also allows video content on the PC to be copied onto DVDs. The device can also serve as a TV tuner for PCs running Windows XP Media Center Edition or Windows Vista.
HAVA HD wireless rear panel
(Click to enlarge)Windows Mobile support in HAVA includes full remote control and channel changing capabilities of any TV source, such as cable, satellite, DVD or TiVo, according to Monsoon. The software streams MPEG-4 video to Windows Mobile devices with screen resolutions of 640x480, 320x240, and 240x240 pixels in landscape or portrait orientation. Supported connections include WiFi, EVDO, UMTS (3G), USB Tethering, and Bluetooth.
HAVA bears a striking functional resemblance to Sling Media's
Slingbox. Monsoon claims at least a couple of advantages over the Slingbox: built-in WiFi; and, the ability to stream simultaneously to multiple PCs and/or Windows Mobile devices.
Monsoon CTO Vadim Dagman stated, "Our technology give customer's more options and flexibility to access their home video and TV anytime they choose and from anywhere they happen to be. Our support for Windows Mobile powered devices is a great addition for our customers who can now view local news, a home DVD or catch the latest game all on a single portable device."
HAVA HD Wireless is available through Monsoon's
online store for $249. The company says it also licenses the HAVA reference designs and software to OEMs (original equipment manufacturers).
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