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).
History
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.
Products
The FW-i1000, an audio mini-system including a CD-changer and AM/FM radio, and considered to be the precursor to the Streamium product line, first shipped in June 2001. It had been in development by Philips' audio business group in Sunnyvale (CA, USA) since May 2000. At the January 2001 Consumer Electronics Show they announced and demonstrated the first integrated audio device connecting to "over a thousand internet radio stations".
The FW-i1000 was rapidly followed by a slew of other IP-enabled devices. The marketing name "Streamium" and the slogan "Don't dream it, stream-it" was coined and globally registered by Ramon de la Fuente (now at Google) who replaced Tony Cher as a product manager in 2001.
January 2001
FW-i1000, with iM-networks service offered by Sonicbox, an aggregator of Internet radio service. A limited number of UPnP compliant prototypes were also made for use in the testing of the UPnP AV specifications.
January 2002
The MCi200, with Philips back-end, several internet based services (and my.philips.com user interface extension protected by a number of patents) The iPronto, with WiFi/UPnP, links to security camera and offering a web-based electronic program guide a.k.a. EPG.
January 2003
The MCi250, an upgrade to the MCi200 with WiFi and UPnP-compliant
Announced at the same event: The SL300i and SL400i wireless multi-media adapters The MX6000i, with WiFi/UPnP, video, pictures and photo service, music services, 5 DVD changer The Streamium-TV, a 32" LCD TV offering similar web-based services as the MX6000i Both the Streamium-TV and MX6000i were capable of offering video content hosted by a web-based service, the precursor of net TV.
August 2004
The SL50i wireless PC audio receiver.
September 2004
The SLA5500 wireless multi-media adapter, to connect to both a PC and an audio system.
September 2005
The SLA5520 wireless music receiver, the successor of the SLA5500 with access to free Internet radio stations.
June 2006
WAK700 wireless multiroom music system, with a 40GB hard disk drive to store up to 750 CDs and 3 different ways to listen to music (Listen to different song in each room, take the music from room to room, Simultaneous playback on all stations) The WAK3300 wireless music station, with 3 ways to listen to music and 3 different alarm modes.
January 2007
The WACS7000 wireless multiroom music system, the successor of the WACS700, with a 80GB hard disk drive to store up to 1500 CDs.