amBX Arrives on Google Earth, iTunes, QuickTime and More

REDHILL, England, Feb. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Philips today announced that amBX FXGen+ lighting effects can now be experienced with Google Earth, iTunes, QuickTime, VLC, Media Player Classic, MediaPortal, Zoom Player and Windows Media Center, through Windows XP or Windows Vista. As Windows Media Center and MediaPortal both support TV tuners, users are even able to experience amBX FXGen+ lighting when watching live TV. All the applications support surround and multi-location lighting and the announcement demonstrates just how versatile the ambient experiences platform has become outside the gaming arena.

These latest media applications will also run alongside the all-new amBX Illuminate, an easy to use background application which allows users to set their amBX lighting to any default colour, using hue, saturation and lightness. amBX users can choose between five different lighting presets for a quick change of mood lighting, when the need arises. For more dynamic lighting, amBX Illuminate can be set to loop between the five presets, from slowly flowing shades to sudden, exciting contrasts.

Finally, adding music into the applications mix, amBX also works with audio player visualisers to orchestrate all kinds of light effects, from subtle mood lighting to sophisticated light shows. amBX can bring the excitement of a live show or atmosphere of a club night right into the user's home.

Using 'surround senses', amBX creates a new type of PC application experience by extending the traditional content world out of the screen and into the real world. The revolutionary platform allows content developers to use light, colour, sound, rumble and even air flow through enabled devices, including the Philips amBX PC Gaming Peripherals range of LED colour- controlled lighting, rumble peripherals and variable speed desktop fans. These senses are then used to recreate on-screen effects in the real world.

Whilst the Philips amBX team works closely with content developers to ensure many games and applications are developed to be amBX compatible from release, the amBX FXGen+ allows users to experience amBX effects in synchronisation with existing content, ensuring backward compatibility. Furthermore, amBX patches offering even more new effects are regularly being released for download at http://www.ambx.com/.

"These latest non-gaming applications are just the tip of the iceberg in terms of how dynamic amBX can be," commented Jo Cooke, Chief Marketing Officer, Philips amBX. "Seeing geographical lighting effects while using Google Earth or watching a movie on the VLC Media Player is an experience we're convinced users will enjoy. Many more software applications, both gaming and non gaming, will follow suit throughout 2008."

Philips is setting a global standard by licensing the amBX technology to content developers, publishers and peripherals manufacturers including Ubisoft, Codemasters, THQ, Introversion, Gearbox Software, Gas Powered Games, Zombie, Riot Games, Brain in a Jar, Invictus Games, Instinct Technology, Kuju, Revolution, Sumo Digital and Rivers Run Red.

A full list of FXGenerator and amBX FXGen+ compatible games and programs, including The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, Lost Planet, Crysis, Stranglehold and Need for Speed: ProStreet, can be found at http://www.ambx.com/.

About Royal Philips Electronics

Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands is a global leader in healthcare, lighting and consumer lifestyle, delivering people-centric, innovative products, services and solutions through the brand promise of "sense and simplicity". Headquartered in the Netherlands, Philips employs approximately 123,800 employees in more than 60 countries worldwide. With sales of EUR 27 billion in 2007, the company is a market leader in medical diagnostic imaging and patient monitoring systems, energy efficient lighting solutions, as well as lifestyle solutions for personal wellbeing. News from Philips is located at http://www.philips.com/newscenter.