Logitech Releases diNovo Media Desktop Bluetooth Products

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Logitech announced the next generation of its Logitech diNovo Media Desktop product with new features and capabilities. The product, which includes a hub for connecting Bluetooth devices to a desktop PC, now offers an enhanced MediaPad product, provides some improved performance by leveraging the latest Bluetooth technology (Version 1.2), and increases Bluetooth interoperability and compatibility with other devices.

The company has enhanced the services that can be controlled through the detached multi-purpose diNovo MediaPad product, which serves as a remote commander for enjoying music, video and photos. Now, the diNovo MediaPad solution supports Musicmatch Internet Radio, iTunes, Windows Media Player 9 and Winamp 5. Musicmatch Internet radio is a free streaming-music service with more than two hundred professionally programmed channels. Users can make their Musicmatch Internet Radio selections and control the audio volume with the MediaPad solution from up to thirty feet away.

The MediaPad solution now supports the Yahoo! Messenger 6.0 instant messenger service, in addition to supporting MSN Messenger 6 network Internet services. The MediaPad solution also supports MSN Hotmail and Yahoo! Mail. The MediaPad solution can also be used to navigate Microsoft Windows XP Media Center 2004.

To make the media control experience even easier, the new diNovo Media Desktop solution includes Logitech MediaLife software, introduced earlier this year with the Logitech Cordless Desktop LX 500 and LX 501 products. The MediaLife software can be controlled with the MediaPad device, and combines music tracks, digital pictures and videos into a single interface.

The performance impact of supporting the latest Bluetooth technology is a currently estimated 25 percent improvement in the battery life of the diNovo Media Desktop mouse, keyboard and MediaPad device, when compared to the first-generation of diNovo Media Desktop product. In addition, the new diNovo Media Desktop solution features a currently estimated 50 percent reduction in latency, resulting in faster connectivity and smoother performance of the mouse. Version 1.2 of the Bluetooth technology also includes Adaptive Frequency Hopping, minimizing interference between Bluetooth wireless technology and Wi-Fi wireless technology.

The new Logitech diNovo Media Desktop will be available in December in the United States for a suggested retail price of US$249. It will be available in Europe in December.