WD TV Live HD media player launched at Gitex 2009

The new WD TV Live HD media player makes it easy for anyone to play HD (high definition) videos stored on USB and network drives, as well as Internet content from popular websites, on their own HD television in the comfort of their homes.

Building on the success of the WD TV HD media player, the WD TV Live HD media player offers a new, more responsive interface to help consumers enjoy a world of digital content in their living room, without a computer.

"At Gitex this year, our focus is very much on educating users on the importance of protecting their valuable digital data; including pictures, music and much more,"

said Saif Khwaja Sales Director, Western Digital, Middle East & Africa.

"With the new WD TV Live media player we're giving media enthusiasts what they asked for - network connectivity and Internet-content streaming capabilities - and offering them a simple way to enjoy all of their digital media on their HD TVs."

The network capability of the WD TV Live media player enables users to stream or transfer movies from PC or Mac computers or a network-attached storage device such as WD's My Book World Edition and WD ShareSpace network drives to their HD TVs. The WD TV Live media player also allows users to stream rich content from YouTube and Flickr.

Consumers are amassing large libraries of digital videos, photos and music on their computers. According to research firm Parks Associates, the average consumer had 123GB of videos, photos, and music in 2009 which will grow to 1.3 TB by 2013 (Digital Lifestyles: 2009 Outlook). In addition, an increasing number of consumers are looking for seamless access to their personal media, as well as to internet media. According to Parks Associates, the sales of connected consumer electronics devices, such as connected TVs and digital media adapters, is expected to more than double from 57 million units in 2009 to 115 million units in 2013 (Home Networks for Consumer Electronics 2009).

Consumers are investing millions of dollars in HD TVs, with HD televisions representing more than 50% of TVs sold in the U.S., according to Parks Associates (Home Networks for Consumer Electronics 2009). However, consumers' digital content is often relegated to the relatively small screen on their PC or Mac computers.

At Gitex 2009, WD has reserved exclusive space at the Ajman meeting rooms-A, B and C to demonstrate their latest best-in-class internal and external drives. Some of the products that are on display include the newly launched My Passport drives, weighing only 0.40 lb with capacities ranging from 320 GB to 1 TB in a range of colors including Pacific Blue, Real Red, Cool Silver and Midnight Black.

In parallel to conducting informative seminars and live demonstrations, WD will be running a number of competitions and promotions. One of the many promotions organized at Gitex Shopper includes a scratch-and-win promotion on a daily basis whereby customers who purchase a WD HDD will have the opportunity to receive assured prizes ranging from WD Media Players/HDD, Acer Notebooks & LCD, Microsoft Xbox Consoles and games, Microsoft Keyboards, Wireless Keyboards and more.

Running in tandem, there will also be an 'Upgrade Voucher' that will be presented to customers who purchase a 320GB or 500GB Laptop from Jacky's Electronics during Gitex 2009. The upgrade voucher entitles customers to double their laptop storage capacity after twelve months.

In addition to the promotions held at Gitex Shopper, WD is one of the nine sponsors for the "Passport Trail Draw of Gitex Technology Week 2009" where visitors to the show will have an opportunity to win a WD My Book External hard drive.