D-Link and DivX Get Connected

D-Link and DivX have teamed up to create the D-Link DSM-330 DivX Connected HD Media Player to enable streaming of media from digital devices directly to a television. The new device is the first of what DivX hopes will be a range of media devices from a variety of manufacturers. The DivX Connected platform includes built-in support for the Stage6 DivX video service so that users can immediately access a variety of content on their television without the need to convert the data in any way. "DivX Connected is the next step in our mission to offer a new way to experience and discover content from the living room," said Jerome Vashisht-Rota, co-founder, vice president and group business manager of media experience at DivX.

The DSM-330 is designed as a gateway between the PC and the TV; it processes DivX encoded data stream from the PC, thereby leaving the PC to do the work in terms of accessing the media, either from the internet or from a local source, and transcoding it if necessary. The PC even creates and manages the system's menus and other features. This design means that the device is small, simple and cheaper than many of its competitors. The DSM-330 is expected to be available in the UK, France and Germany in Q4 of 2007. Pricing is still to be determined.

vnunet.com