Niveus Media, Inc.

Niveus (pronounced: NIVV-ee-uss) Media, Inc. is a privately held, Silicon Valley-based manufacturer of Media Servers, Storage, and Control solutions, designed specifically for the home entertainment market.

History

Niveus was founded in May 2002 by Timothy [...] (CEO) and Brian Paper (Vice President Operations) and Sean Patterson (who left the company in 2003). Since inception, Niveus’ products have been recognized at numerous events such as WinHEC, Connections, and the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), hosted by both Intel and Microsoft. Niveus’ 2007 Media Servers were among the first Windows Vista Ultimate-based Media Center systems to incorporate Intel’s Viiv technology including Core 2 Duo processors, HDMI output, and CableCARD technology, allowing access to digital HD content and DVR functionality without the use of a set-top box.

Products

Now in the sixth generation of product, Niveus offers eight Media Server solutions, including the Summit Series and Pro Series, as well as a selection of accessories including the Niveus Storage Server - Cargo Edition, Niveus Disc Changer – Ice Vault 200, Niveus Digital Cable Receiver, and a number of proprietary software plug-ins.

Niveus Media Server
Niveus’ Media Servers, based on Microsoft’s Windows Media Center (Vista Ultimate) platform, store, aggregate, and provide access to entire collections of digital media (Music, Photos, TV, Videos, and more) and offer a whole-home entertainment experience. Niveus Media offers a variety of Servers to match the end-user’s desired storage, optical drive, configuration, and number of zones within the home. The Media Server line includes the passively cooled Summit Series models Vail, Rainier, and Denali Limited Edition and the rack-mountable Pro Series n4, n7, and n9. All Niveus Media Servers are capable of storing, managing and playing television, music, radio, movies, photos, and more. All Niveus Media Servers are available with an optional Blu-ray Disc drive.

Niveus Digital Cable Receiver
Compatible with Niveus’ Summit Series and Pro Series Media Servers, the Digital Cable Receiver is an external, dual CableCARD device designed to enable HD Cable television capabilities. Optimized for dual HDTV CableCARD recording, the Niveus Digital Cable Receiver enables the recording of one high definition channel while simultaneously watching another high definition channel. Multi-zone access is enabled via the Extender for Windows Media Center Platform, which Niveus leverages via the Niveus Media Extender – EDGE.

Niveus Disc Changer – Ice Vault 200
With support for over a thousand DVD discs when daisy chained, the Niveus Disc Changer, paired with a Niveus Media Server, enables the legal storage and playback of most DVD movie collections. The Niveus Disc Changer inherits all the video & audio performance of the Niveus Media Server and due to secure, digital connection via firewire, all DVDs are decoded and played back through the ISF Certified Niveus Media Server.

Niveus Storage Server - Cargo Edition
Cargo is based on the Windows Home Server platform, available in 4TB, 8TB, 16TB using Seagate Pipeline HD hard drives, and housed in a custom-designed, rack-mountable chassis featuring a proprietary hinge-based front panel that allows for upgrades, without removing the device from the rack. Additional Cargo Storage Servers can be placed on a home network, enabling a modular upgrade path for limitless home storage.

Proprietary Technology

  • Niveus Glacier Passive Cooling

To combat fan and hard drive noise while keeping the system running cool, Niveus Media has developed a patent-pending Passive Cooling technology dubbed Niveus Glacier Passive Cooling. Niveus Media uses heat pipe technology to conduct the heat from the processor, the graphic card, and the northbridge to the heat sink extrusions on all Niveus Media Servers. The Summit Series Media Servers and Storage Server use heat sink extrusions to dissipate the heat out and away from the unit. Thermal pads are used in and around every hard drive that goes into a Niveus Media Server, or Storage Server. These pads additionally serve to dampen the vibration caused by the spinning hard drives, creating an effective silencing system.

  • Niveus ConvergencePanel (patent-pending)

All Niveus Media Servers include the proprietary ConvergencePanel which offers A/V-style connectors and ports for optimal integration into a home entertainment network.

  • Niveus Software & Plug-ins

Niveus is continually developing value-added features to enhance the Windows Media Center platform and integration with other Niveus products. Niveus software updates are almost always free to current owners and are backwards compatible with previous years.
{| class="wikitable" |- ! Niveus Plug-in ! Description |- | Niveus Media Center Companion | Enables network control of Windows Media Center & Windows Media Extenders from any Windows Client (desktop, laptop, UMPC) |- | Niveus Control Server | A middleware software component designed to provide bi-directional feedback to develop control templates for Windows Client devices. Niveus Control Server also provides the resources to pair Niveus Media Server and Extender for Windows Media Center with any home automation solution |- | Niveus HD Media Store | High Definition Media Store that enables high definition downloads from the MusicGiants network via Windows Media Center and aggregates them into the Media Center Music Library |- | Niveus Movie Library | Aggregates movies in the disc drive, disc changer, or stored on the network into one, encompassing interface, accessible from the Media Center menu |- | Niveus Studio | Enables customization of the Niveus Media Center including a DVD cover art editor |- | Niveus Weather | Allows weather updates on an unlimited number of local or global cities |}

Awards

  • 2008 Residential Systems Resi Awards, Best Media Server: Niveus Media Server - Pro Series n9
  • 2008 Electronic House Product of the Year: Niveus Media Server - Pro Series n9
  • 2008 International CES Innovations Design and Engineering Awards, Home Theater Accessories Honoree: Niveus Media Center - Sierra Edition
  • 2008 International CES Innovations Design and Engineering Awards, Best Of Video Components: Niveus Media Center – Denali Limited Edition
  • CEA’s 2008 Mark of Excellence Award Finalist, Best Distributed Audio Video Product: Niveus Media Extender – EDGE
  • The Perfect Vision Editors Choice – Best Media Center PC Server: Niveus Media Center – Rainier 500HD Edition
  • TecHome Builder's 2007 Innovative Housing Award Winner, Best Media Center: Niveus Media Center - Rainier Edition
  • CEA's 2007 Mark of Excellence Award Finalist, Best Media Server: Niveus Media Center - Rainier Edition
  • 2007 International CES Innovations Design and Engineering Awards, Home Theater Accessories Honoree: Niveus Media Center - Rainier Edition
  • 2007 International CES Innovations Design and Engineering Awards, Home Theater Accessories Honoree: Niveus Media Center - n9
  • More Awards

Associations

Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)
Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association (CEDIA)

Accreditations
Imaging Science Foundation (ISF) Certification

References

1. Niveus Media
2. Extender for Windows Media Centers website
3. The Digital Lifestyle
4. Microsoft Unveils Extenders for Windows Media Center
5. The Green Button
6. CE Pro - Niveus Releases Movie Library
7. Niveus awards
8. Gizmodo's Exclusive: First Hands On With Niveus' CableCARD Equipped Server
9. PC Magazine's Super Bowl-Worthy Entertainment Systems
10. 2008 International CES: Innovations Honorees
11. CEA Mark of Excellence
12. TecHome Builder's 2007 Innovative Housing Tecnology Award winners