• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

BridgeCo Launches Design Partners Program for JukeBlox Networked Audio Technology

Posted on: Monday, 7 January 2008, 06:00 CST

BridgeCo Inc. (www.bridgeco.com), a leading provider of audio networking solutions, announced the inauguration of a new Design Partner program for its JukeBlox™ Networked Audio technology. Released at the 2008 Consumer Electronics Show, JukeBlox is a complete networked audio technology platform that incorporates BridgeCo's latest triple-core processor, Linux-based SDK, ready-to-manufacture hardware reference platform and a significantly enhanced feature set that enables consumers to intuitively access an unequaled range of digital music and Internet radio content to discover music that they truly love. The powerful processor offers generous processing bandwidth to enable a wide variety of innovative audio applications and unique user interface customizations. JukeBlox Design Partners are licensed to work with OEMs to create unique consumer products that leverage the power of the JukeBlox platform and enhance the middleware functionality that comes bundled from BridgeCo.

"We are very pleased that three highly respected third-party developers have decided to become charter members of our new JukeBlox Design Partners program," said BridgeCo CEO Gene Sheridan. "An expanding list of global audio brands are turning to BridgeCo for audio networking technology. Each customer has unique markets, requirements and design roadmaps, and our Design Partners will enable us to best serve these needs across the fast-growing list of consumer electronics brands that are entering this market."

Compal Electronics is a Taiwan-based Original Design Manufacturer (ODM) and contract manufacturer (CM) that produces IT, Communication, Consumer products for international branding companies. Their Digital Media Center has a core competence in developing of Wi-Fi®, MP3, UPnP, digital media adapter and portable media player products. Listed on the Taiwan stock exchange, Compal has more than 25,000 employees.

"Compal is committed to supporting the design requirements of our many consumer electronics accounts worldwide," said Compal Digital Media Center Senior Vice President Tony Cheng. "We created our Digital Media Center to focus on the growing complexity of consumer designs. We anticipate many consumer audio OEMs will turn to the JukeBlox platform for their networked audio designs, and Compal has already made the investment on embedded software and system hardware skills that can enable us to meet these needs of our customers very quickly."

Based in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Attero Tech has developed iPod® interfaces and docking products, A/V systems and other consumer electronics for many global brands.

"Networked audio is a rapidly growing consumer application, and we are excited to be part of the BridgeCo Design partners program," said Rus Sundholm, President at Attero Tech. "Audio today can be sourced, transformed, managed and played in so many ways, the design options are almost limitless. JukeBlox really offers an incredibly nimble platform for wired and wireless networking, portable music player docking, intuitive user control and special audio effects."

StreamUnlimited has been developing advanced audio streaming, wireless and user interface designs since 2000 for a variety of global consumer brands. Based in Austria, StreamUnlimited was formed by engineers that developed some of the world's first MP3 products, and supported BridgeCo's platform developments in the past three years.

"As technology innovators, we are excited to be working with BridgeCo's new JukeBlox technology," explained StreamUnlimited CEO Frits Wittgrefe. "The power of their new triple-core processor, and the flexibility of their new Linux SDK, will enable us to create many outstanding designs for the global OEMs that are pushing into the networked audio marketplace."

JukeBlox Networked Audio Processor and Firmware Technology

JukeBlox is a complete technology platform that includes BridgeCo's next-generation networked media processor combined with the industry's first Linux-based middleware and SDK for networked audio products. The unique application-optimized processor incorporates a 240MHz ARM9, a dedicated security processor, a powerful new proprietary Audio Engine that can handle complex audio signal processing tasks, and integrated Wi-Fi baseband and MAC functions to reduce system cost and complexity.

The comprehensive middleware stack provides an industry leading feature set, and is combined with a modular Linux SDK for easy OEM development and customization. The unique JukeBlox platform incorporates all of the needed functionality to create a complete networked home audio product. The JukeBlox middleware stack has been radically enhanced to offer consumers an unequaled audio content and intuitive music discovery experience--delivered through a stunning new full-color QVGA video display and icon-based GUI. In addition, the processor and firmware combination is delivered to the OEM on a ready-to-manufacture hardware reference platform that can significantly reduce development time, effort and risk while speeding time-to-market.

JukeBlox integrates popular online music services such as Rhapsody and Pandora. Rhapsody offers consumers unlimited access to millions of songs, professionally programmed channels and exclusive content from MTV, VH1 and other sources. Pandora is a personalized radio station that has exploded in popularity with more than 10 million users, almost entirely by word of mouth. Consumers can type in any song or artist and, within seconds, a personalized radio station is created to fit that sound and style based on an innovative system that utilizes highly trained musicians to analyze hundred of musical qualities of each song in the Pandora data base. Traditional AM/FM radio capabilities are also integrated into the JukeBlox platform.

The JukeBlox platform offers a broad range of functionality, including: Internet and network access through integrated Ethernet, 802.11a/b/g and USB ports; real-time decoding of MP3, M3U, PLS, WMA-9, WMA Lossless, AAC and many other digital audio file formats; acoustic tuning, optimization and audio enhancement processing; real-time decryption of Microsoft Windows Media DRM for Network Devices copy protection and many other robust DRM and authentication protocols; and an intuitive icon-driven GUI that supports color QVGA screen resolution. The JukeBlox platform is UPnP and DLNA compliant, and EMC and Wi-Fi® certifiable.

About BridgeCo

BridgeCo, a consumer networking pioneer, offers the world's most comprehensive, cost-effective and highly integrated processor and software platforms for connecting Internet media sources, computers and consumer electronics throughout the home. BridgeCo platforms are used in a wide range of innovative products produced by the multi-billion dollar global consumer electronics industry, including digital media players, audio adapters, AVRs, audio systems, Internet radios, musical instruments and breakout boxes. Its silicon and software platforms were among the first anywhere to be DLNA™ Certified. Leading consumer electronics manufacturers worldwide use the company's solutions.

Using BridgeCo's processor and bundled software, OEMs can offer stand-alone media network products, or embed networking capabilities directly into consumer products, at competitive retail price points. The company also offers market-leading solutions for FireWire™ audio interface systems used by musicians and other content creators.

BridgeCo is an ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certified company with operations in Los Angeles, California and Zurich, Switzerland. Its key investors include Advent Venture Partners, Balderton Capital (formerly Benchmark Capital Europe), Cipio Partners, Earlybird Venture Capital, ETV Capital, Fidelity Ventures, Intel Capital and Wellington Partners.

All trademarks and service marks are the properties of their respective owners.

Source: Business Wire

More News in this Category