LAS VEGAS – Monsoon Multimedia has introduced at this week’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) Volcano, a device that combines the DVR capabilities of TiVo, the streaming abilities of Slingbox (and Monsoon’s comparable device, HAVA), the Internet video serving of Roku, and various remote control functionality. Volcano works with Mac, PC, and several smartphones, including iPhone, Android, BlackBerry, Symbian, and Windows Mobile.
Available in regular or Pro versions with 4GB of flash memory or a 250GB hard drive, respectively, Volcano lets users schedule TV recordings remotely and transfer content to their smartphones, either via a 3G cellular network or an 802.11n Wi-Fi connection. Live programming can also be viewed remotely.
Volcano connects to the analog output of a set-top box and uses a 150kbps uplink speed, as well as H.264 video compression technology developed by Monsoon. Volcano also allows users to surf the web and watch YouTube videos or other online content on their TVs.
Monsoon said that Volcano will be available in March for US$199 for the regular version and $299 for the Pro edition. A lifetime or term-based subscription will also be needed; details were not provided. Monsoon does not have a Volcano page on its web site yet.