Blazing the trail for the "Digital Living Room," Simplifi Digital today announced the release of additional accessories to enable PCs running Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 to fit naturally into the living room. These products fill roles traditionally performed within an A/V receiver while fully integrating into the Media Center's All-In-One paradigm.


All-In-One


The decades-old living room paradigm of multiple stacked boxes and remote controls is being upended by Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005, which enables home entertainment enthusiasts to purchase an "all-in-one" device that plays back DVDs and CDs, records TV shows, plays and archives music and photos, and downloads music or movies from the Internet. The Media Center PC gives users a wide array of entertainment capabilities and seamlessly ties in with today's home entertainment system trends -- compact and unobtrusive, yet extremely powerful. Simplifi recognizes that this all in one paradigm changes the centerpiece of the living room from the A/V Receiver to the Media Center. Simplifi's new products include:


-- HD100 Model amplifier (shipping March '06), which sends compresse udio from the Media Center through :SB to be decoded within th implifi amplifier. By moving the Digital to Analog conversion outsid he Media Center, sound can be more faithfully reproduced. The user ca ontrol settings such as surround modes directly through the Medi enter interface, making it much simpler to use than a traditional P nterface.


-- iPod docking station option for "75" series amplifiers (Shipping March


'06). This allows users to connect any iPod directly to thei ntertainment system for audio playback, or to connect their iPod t heir PC for data transfer. Simplifi's product is the world's firs roduct to combine both data transfer and audio amplificatio apabilities within the same dock.


-- A/V Expander (Shipping March '06), which allows users to connect up t our legacy devices such as VCRs and game consoles to the Media Center.


The user can select these sources literally at the push of a button.


Like Simplifi's HD100 amplifier, control is integrated into the Medi enter :ser Interface, creating a seamless experience for the user.


These products complement Simplifi's "75" series amplifiers, which will ship later this month.


"Simplifi recognizes that the Media Center repartitions the traditional home entertainment stack," said Marty Holloway, President of Simplifi Digital. "In the old A/V paradigm, the A/V Receiver was the centerpiece of the home entertainment system. The Media Center is the center of the new home entertainment paradigm, and Simplifi's amplifiers and A/V expander product provide the missing pieces that enable the Media Center to fit naturally in the living room."


For more information about Simplifi Digital, or to schedule an interview with Marty Holloway, please call 916-679-1958. Mr. Holloway can also be reached via email at: marty.holloway@simplifidigital.com. CES attendees can view Simplifi's products in the South Hall, Booth number 1/20956.


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