Eyecon’s media companion software gives consumers control over content across media units

Enter Eyecon, an Israeli startup that enables consumers to improve their overall home media experience by providing a central media control point via mobile devices. The solution aggregates a user’s media from multiple libraries across devices – music, videos and pictures stored across devices, in addition to the internet and TV – and makes this content searchable and controllable via the application interface.

More and more consumer electronics products now include features which leverage internet connectivity – current generation gaming devices, entertainment systems, and of course smart handsets are a few examples that demonstrate this trend. Despite the powerful new features that are made possible internet connectivity in consumer electronics products, however, consumers have difficulty obtaining unified access to content and playback across devices. Enter Eyecon, an Israeli startup that enables consumers to improve their overall home media experience by providing a central media control point via mobile devices. The solution aggregates a user’s media from multiple libraries across devices – music, videos and pictures stored across devices, in addition to the internet and TV – and makes this content searchable and controllable via the application interface.

Eyecon offers interface: Pick, Plug'n Play. Users can discover content through a hierarchical navigation or textual search.

Users are able to explore their content using a simple search feature, and can preview the content they are looking for in the application. After the user selects a piece of content for viewing, the content can be played back on any of the networked devices, or added to a pick list for viewing at a later time.

The connected home will require communication between multiple devices and media types: Twonky Media, WMP, HP Media Smart iTunes, YouTube, Flickr and Picasa.

One of the more interesting features is the ability to use the application while programs are playing on the networked devices. For example, the user could be viewing a sports game on cable TV and, without interrupting the game on the primary screen (and without disturbing the other people viewing the primary screen), conduct a search on their mobile device. It is also possible to preview search results within the application before cueing playback. At any point the user can interject and play the content on the primary screen.

There is clear value in this solution from a consumer standpoint – it puts the control of the entire media device ecosystem in your home into the hands of the consumer.

Consumers are also able to tap into content that does not reside on their devices, including YouTube videos and internet radio. Eyecon removes the need to conduct separate content searches for separate devices, irrespective of the where content is stored.

The winning insight is that mobile devices – currently, the solution is limited to iPhone, though Android is on its way – can be used to augment and improve the experience of home entertainment. This is in line with a future where we have devices that are increasingly inter-operable. It will be interesting to see how the company adapts its solution to capitalize on the opportunity afforded by Apple’s new iPad device.

Eyecon's interface is an easy way to build a playlist, on any connected device

Eyecon provides an innovative software solution to a problem that has arisen due to the growth of networked devices in the modern home. The company is based in Palo Alto and is headed-up by Meir Friedlander, President & CEO, and Ari Birger, Founder & CTO.

Geoffrey Mugliston (mer-gliss-ton) is a London-based Australia-born entrepreneur, strategist and blogger. He began writing for VC Cafe in 2009 with the objective of showcasing promising Israeli startups to the global startup and investment community. He is co-founder of a consumer internet company with its development team based in Haifa (currently in stealth-mode). He also serves as adviser to a pan-European startup which develops software for print service providers. Prior to his current projects, Geoffrey worked in management consulting with a focus on the infrastructure sectors. When not working (though sometimes while working) he enjoys coffee, running and engaging in intense debate. He holds an undergraduate degree in finance from the University of Sydney.
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