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CSR Unveils Smart Remote Evaluation and Development Kits - First Voice Command Capability with Bluetooth® Smart
[January 07, 2013]

CSR Unveils Smart Remote Evaluation and Development Kits - First Voice Command Capability with Bluetooth® Smart


LAS VEGAS, Nev. --(Business Wire)--

CSR (News - Alert) plc (LSE: CSR; NASDAQ: CSRE) today announced the availability of new Evaluation and Development Kits for makers of the newest generation of Smart Remotes for TVs and Set Top Boxes (STBs). The kits will enable the development of the first Voice Command enabled Bluetooth® low energy remote controls as well as a low power, robust link for motion pointing and gesture capabilities. And, in collaboration with Hillcrest Labs, CSR has created its solution to work seamlessly with Hillcrest's Freespace® MotionEngine™ software, which has become the standard for motion control in consumer electronic devices around the world.

The new kits are based on two CSR devices: the CSR1011™, part of the CSR µEnergy® platform, which is optimised for keyboards and remote controls; and the CSR8510™, a dual-mode Bluetooth solution optimised for TVs and STBs using human interface devices (HID) such as remote controls. New remote control functions and capabilities are needed to meet growing consumer demand for a faster, more immersive experience using services and features provided by next-generation Smart TVs and STBs. [According to the ABI Research report "Digital Home Remote Controls", demand for RF remote controls will rise to exceed 217 million devices in 2016].

"Motion plus voice control is an incredibly powerful combination for Smart TV remote controls and we're thrilled to collaborate with CSR to make this available in these powerful new kits," said Chad Lucien, senior vice president of sales and marketing at Hillcrest Labs. "The combination of our Freespace MotionEngine software and CSR's market-leading Bluetooth low energy RF technology offers a compelling view of the future where Smart TV user interfaces are more intuitive, more enjoyable and, ultimately, even more integral to our lives than they are today."

"The interaction between consumers and televisions is becoming more immersive and more complex - and consumer expectations are escalating rapidly because of the kind of experiences they're getting from their other devices, such as smartphones and game consoles," said Paul Williamson, director of µEnergy product at CSR. "With growing trends like TV-based gaming and browsing, even more sophisticated control devices are coming into the market, and IR-based remote controls simply cannot offer any more to the consumer. Bluetooth Smart offers the perfect balance of throughput and low-power required for advanced control, and with these two new developer offerings CSR is clearing a path to the next generation of advanced remote controls."

Te Bluetooth 4.0 standard introduced low energy technology to the Bluetooth wireless connectivity specification, enabling new Bluetooth Smart devices that can operate for years on the same set of batteries. The CSR µEnergy platform for Bluetooth Smart uses the recently adopted HID Over GATT Profile (HOGP) in the Bluetooth 4.0 standard to enable TV and STB control functions without compromising the ease of use and extreme responsiveness needed in a consumer remote control unit. HOGP allows and defines the communication between a Bluetooth Smart device and a host device, such as that between a remote control unit and a Smart TV, STB or tablet.



All CSR's news at CES can be found on its online press kit: http://www.tradeshownews.com/events/2013-International-CES/CSR/

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About CSR

CSR is a global provider of innovative silicon and software solutions for the location-aware, media-rich, cloud-connected world. Our platforms are optimised for the automotive navigation and infotainment, digital cameras and imaging, connected home infotainment and wireless audio markets. We provide solutions to complex problems in the audio-visual, connectivity and location technology domains across a broad range of markets, with a technology portfolio that includes GPS/GNSS systems, Bluetooth®, Wi-Fi®, FM, NFC, aptX® and CVC™ audio codecs, JPEG, MPEG, H.264 imaging, PDL printing, microcontrollers, DSPs and broadband receivers. CSR's technology solutions and market platforms enable its customers to deliver a superior user experience and are adopted by leaders in the auto, computer, home and mobile markets. More information can be found at www.csr.com. Keep up to date with CSR on our technical blog or CSR people blog, YouTube, Facebook or follow us on Twitter (News - Alert) at twitter.com/CSR_plc

CAUTIONARY NOTE ON (News - Alert) FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains certain statements (including statements concerning plans and objectives of management for future operations or performance, or assumptions related thereto) that are not historical facts and constitute 'forward looking statements' within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 in relation to CSR's keyboard and remote control products and technologies, including the CSR1011 and the CSR8510 and their performance characteristics in TVs, Set Top Boxes and other consumer electronic devices, and other future events and their potential effects on CSR. These forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as 'will,' 'can deliver,' offers', 'allows', 'to enhance,' 'enables,' 'designed to', and other similar expressions regarding the performance characteristics of CSR's keyboard and remote control products and technologies, including the CSR1011 and the CSR8510 and related products and technologies, and their performance characteristics in consumer electronics products, and their potential effects on CSR. Any future release of CSR's keyboard and remote control products and technologies, including the CSR1011 and the CSR8510 and related products and technologies or consumer electronics products containing such technology, related products or modifications to such products' capability, functionality or features are subject to ongoing evaluation by CSR and its customers, and may or may not be implemented and should not be considered firm commitments by CSR or its customers and should not be relied upon in making purchasing decisions. Such forward-looking statements represent the current expectations and beliefs of management of CSR, and are based upon numerous assumptions regarding CSR's business strategies and the environment in which CSR will operate and therefore involve a number of known and unknown risks, contingencies, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of CSR, including, but not limited to, those detailed from time to time in CSR's periodic reports (whether under the caption Risk Factors or Forward Looking Statements or elsewhere), which are available at the SEC's (News - Alert) web site http://www.sec.gov. Each forward looking statement speaks only as of the date hereof. CSR does not undertake to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward looking statements contained herein, otherwise than required by law.

Bluetooth® and the Bluetooth logos are trademarks owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and licensed to CSR.

Wi-Fi®, Wi-Fi Alliance (News - Alert)®, WMM®, Wi-Fi Protected Access®, WPA®, WPA2®, Wi-Fi Protected Setup™ and Wi-Fi Multimedia™ are trademarks of the Wi-Fi Alliance.

Other products, services and names used in this document may have been trademarked by their respective owners.


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