News Details

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 4, 2005-- UEI Debuts NevoSL, Offering Wireless Control of Digital Media and Home Devices From a Single Handheld Controller

At 2005 International CES, Universal Electronics Inc. (Nasdaq:UEIC) today unveiled NevoSL, a universal controller that intuitively delivers complete audio/visual and digital media control for the networked home. With NevoSL, consumers can not only control virtually all their home theater and stereo equipment, but also play any song, display any digital picture and view any movie in any room from the palm of their hand.

"As consumers increasingly embrace broadband Internet access and wireless networking to deliver an expanding menu of digital entertainment content to various devices, managing all these media sources becomes a real challenge," said Paul Arling, chairman and chief executive officer at UEI. "NevoSL solves this problem by delivering a sophisticated and powerful control solution, in a handheld unit that's extremely easy to operate and highly customizable, to give consumers seamless control over their home entertainment and digital media."

Total Control of Entertainment and Media Devices in the Home

Featuring UEI's world-class IR code database for device control and upgradeability, NevoSL is guaranteed to be compatible with virtually any manufacturer's consumer electronics products. With built-in Wi-Fi, NevoSL further extends the multimedia experience in the networked home by providing wireless access and control of digital photos, songs and movies throughout the home or office network.

Unmatched Ease of Use and Intuitive Simplicity

NevoSL features a high-resolution color graphical user interface that delivers a user-friendly control experience that can be quickly and easily configured through a simple PC software application. Even discovery of digital media content on the network is automated, ensuring an effortless set-up and control experience.

Complete Personalization

NevoSL is bundled with a suite of PC editing tools that allow users to create truly personalized control interface solutions to meet the needs of the most challenging home entertainment system and its discerning enthusiast.

NevoSL offers the ultimate control solution for the broadband home, with features such as these:

-- The NevoSL universal controller and charging cradle, with 17 programmable keys and a scroll wheel for page navigation for an ergonomically-superior, one-handed control experience

-- NevoStudio(TM), a suite of software tools that includes drag-and-drop capability, site map visualization, extensive button and background galleries, remote function emulation, support for all standard image formats and fast downloading of configuration files to the NevoSL.

-- NevoMedia Manager, utilizing the Universal Plug-n-Play (UPnP) protocol stack to browse available digital content to stream music, share photos and play movies on most UPnP-compliant network devices

-- NevoLink(TM), an IP-addressable bridge that enables multiroom device control

Backed by Technology Leaders

NevoSL runs on Microsoft Windows CE .NET 4.2 and the Microsoft .NET Framework as the underlying platform for its robust and flexible development environment.

"Our goal with Windows CE is to arm device makers with the tools and components they need to quickly and easily bring compelling devices to market," said Scott Horn, senior director of the Mobile and Embedded Devices Division at Microsoft Corp. "We are pleased that UEI recognized the value of incorporating Windows CE technologies in its NevoSL product line to enable simpler, broader and more flexible access to digital media and devices."

To meet the demanding technology specifications of the NevoSL, UEI leveraged its long-term relationship with Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. to incorporate Samsung's high-performance mobile processor, an IR microcontroller, flash and SDRAM memory.

"As a longtime technology partner of UEI, we support the digitally connected home and are pleased to have contributed to the success of UEI's NevoSL product," said S.H. Hong, director of the System LSI business at Samsung Semiconductor. "By providing key components such as logic and memory for the NevoSL design, this innovative product will lead the market for broadband-enabled consumer electronic devices."

NevoSL will be distributed throughout North America, Europe and Australia. It is scheduled to be available in the second quarter of 2005. More information about NevoSL can be found at http://www.mynevo.com.

About Samsung Electronics

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2003 parent company sales of US$36.4 billion and net income of US$5.0 billion. Employing approximately 88,000 people in 89 offices in 46 countries, the company consists of six main business units: Corporate Technology Operations, Digital Appliance Business, Digital Media Business, LCD Business, Semiconductor Business and Telecommunication Network Business. Recognized as one of the fastest growing global brands, Samsung Electronics is the world's largest producer of color monitors, color TVs, memory chips, and TFT-LCDs. For more information, visit http://www.samsung.com.

About Universal Electronics Inc.

Universal Electronics Inc., based in Southern California, develops software, firmware and turnkey solutions designed to enable consumers to wirelessly connect, control and interact with an increasingly complex home environment. The company's primary markets include original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in consumer electronics and personal computing, as well as multiple system operators in the cable and satellite subscription broadcasting markets. Over the past 16 years, the company has developed a broad portfolio of patented technologies and the industry's leading database of home connectivity software that it licenses to its customers, including many leading Fortune 500 companies. In addition, UEI sells its universal wireless control products to distributors and retailers in Europe, Asia, Latin America and Australia under the One For All(R) brand name. More information about UEI can be obtained at http://www.uei.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the Safe-Harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words and expressions reflecting something other than historical fact are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including the timely development, ordering, delivery and market acceptance of products and technologies identified in this release; the Company's continued ability to design products in a fashion that results in its technology becoming the standard for handheld devices; the continued importance of the Company's database of codes; and other factors described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The actual results that the Company achieves may differ materially from any forward-looking statement due to such risks and uncertainties. The Company undertakes no obligations to revise or update any forward-looking statements in order to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this release.

Nevo, NevoStudio, NevoLink and One For All are registered trademarks or trademarks of Universal Electronics Inc.

Other product or service names mentioned herein are the trademarks of their respective owners.

CONTACT: Waggener Edstrom
Stephanie Trussell, 650-266-7037 (press only)
strussell@wagged.com
SOURCE: Universal Electronics Inc.