Philips Streamium: Желілік ойын-сауық жүйесінің тарихы

Streamium was a line of IP enabled entertainment products by Dutch electronics multi national Philips Consumer Electronics. Streamium products use Wi Fi to stream multimedia content from desktop computers or Internet based services to home entertainment devices. A Streamium device plugged into the local home network will be able to see multimedia files that are in different UPnP enabled computers, PDAs and other networking devices that run UPnP AV MediaServer software. Streamium products may also support internet radio, internet photo sharing and movie trailers services directly. Subscriptions to web based services requiring subscriptions would be managed through the 'Club Philips' portal. In all cases, using a computer with RSS receiver together with a UPnP AV MediaServer, it is possible to play back audio/video podcast. Some of the popular feeds include BBC live, Geekbrief, Reuters, Metacafe, YouTube. Although in most cases this video podcaster uses codec formats not supported by Streamium, it's still possible by using software codec transcoders on the PC to convert them to MPEG format. Philips Media Manager, is—since SimpleCenter version 4— a free open source UPnP AV MediaServer for Windows and Macintosh that is bundled with Streamium. Version 3 of SimpleCenter, was initially developed for inclusion with the Streamium line of products. Since Streamium devices also support photos and videos, SimpleCenter ships with video and image support, under the name 'Philips Media Manager' (PMM).

In 2000 Philips' consumer electronics division (business unit Audio) invented the Streamium brand for a "Connected Home". A number of products were released between January 2000 and June 2003. In 2003 the "Connected Home" would be broadened to the "Connected Planet" accompanied by an attempt to steer product development and industrialization from Eindhoven and to include other business units. The "Connected Planet" was less successful, leaving a limited number of products.

Whereas the FW i1000 used the iM networks service (then known as "SonicBox"), the end to end "Streamium" system designed by Daniel Meirsman, included a Philips owned back end service (the "ECD interface"). This back end service allowed Streamium devices to connect to "any number" of web based content delivery services. The back end would thereby function as a "switch board" connecting the content delivery services with individual boxes. Moreover, the back end service would allow Philips to build out an "after sales" relationship with their customers through the web based [UI] extension and would stimulate some early form of web based social networking with the streamium cafe web site that was set up by Mark Tuttle. A navigation tree would be served to the Streamium device from the Philips back end, whereas the content itself would be directly streamed from the service to the Streamium box subject to the site's policy (subject to the compulsory licences ). By manipulating the navigation tree from the front panel of the Streamium device users could select desired the service, genre, artist, album, track

From the start, Streamium devices contained provisions (i. e. an IEEE EUI 64 containing an OUI and a MAC address, encryption keys, product and software version codes) used to protect streams and support identification mechanisms, as well as allowing downloading of software upgrades (for bug fixes as well as enabling new features). In most cases. Streamium functionality was provided by a module (a [PCB]) based on an NXP TriMedia PNX1300. This module implemented:

1. Connectivity to the home network as well as to the Internet (network stack, SAX as opposed to DOM XML parser, UPnP stack)

2. Decoding of compressed (audio, image, video) content

A user interface extension was available on the Streamium web site (my. philips. com) that would allow users to manage their preferences, services and devices. On the frontpanel or through the on screen display (OSD) of the Streamium devices, users could mark their favorites or indicate they wanted to learn more about the song being played. The service would then send either an e mail with more details, or post this info on my. philips. com with a click through link (i. e. to Amazon. com for purchasing).

In his press conference during the CES2001, Guy Demuynck, then CEO of Philips CE, expressed his vision that the Internet would become as ubiquitous and accessible as the electric grid to devices other than the PC, and that people would increasingly rely on the Internet for information and entertainment. "The Internet has transformed the way we do business," Demuynck stated, referring not only to communications and promotions but to product design as well. "We intend to put Internet capabilities into many products, making Internet content as accessible as pressing a single button on a TV remote. The Internet dominates all our thinking—it will expand from a browsing activity to an always on, integral part of daily life," he said.

Unfortunately the first Streamium generations lacked support for a number of important media formats such as those included in the Windows Media technologies which hampered their commercial success. Philips' legal team had issues with the non assertion clause that Microsoft required potential licensees to sign without prior opportunity to check the IP involved. Since Philips did and still does own a substantial patent portfolio, product management was not allowed to risk signing away rights on a substantial number of important patents.

To some extent consumers were involved in some of the design of the Streamiums. Of course, the classical focus test groups were used to find out what features consumers would deem important. But also after the official announcement, a limited number of pre production versions of the Streamiums would be made available to a limited number of volunteer beta testers that could sign up via a Philips web site.