X-10 Introduces Anywhere Kit, Wireless Video

23-Aug-1999

X10, a Seattle, Wash.-based company known for its home management technology, is moving into new areas with its recently announced DVD Anywhere Kit and a new wireless color video camera kit.

Designed for consumers who have purchased a computer with a DVD drive, the DVD Anywhere kit allows consumers to send DVD movies from the PC to any TV in the home. The kit includes a video transmitter, a video receiver, and a MouseRemote and transmits using 2.4GHz wireless signals.

The MouseRemote is programmed by the user to operate the DVD player software and also functions as a universal remote. It can also be used to control household lights and appliances with X10's ActiveHome kit.

In other news, the X10 wireless color video camera, the XCam, sends real-time video to a TV, VCR or monitor up to 100 feet away. It also uses a 2.4GHz signal.

The XCam VideoSender Kit includes the XCam color video mini-camera, the VideoSender unit, and the VideoReceiver unit.

To operate, the consumer plugs the camera into the VideoSender transmitter and the VideoReceiver into the back of a TV, VCR or monitor.

The system can be used to watch a door, a baby's room, yard, swimming pool, or any other spot that needs surveillance, according to the company.

XCam is compatible with PC video-capture devices such as Snappy to freeze frames that can be saved as images and sent to family or friends. It is also compatible with the Microsoft WebTV Network Plus Service.

"This is your chance to have fun with wireless color video in a way you've never experienced before," said Alex Peder, president of X10 USA's retail sales division.

Both the XCam kit and the DVD Anywhere kit are available on X10's web site (www.X10.com). The XCam kit is being offered at $149, and the Anywhere kit is $88.