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Getting Started

You already know something about digital living. There’s the TV and digital video recorder in your family room. (And another set in your bedroom.) You have a PC and digital printer in your office, along with a network attached storage device. And you’ve copied all your music onto your portable music player and haven’t had to open a CD case for years

Then there are the devices that go where you go, like your mobile camera phone, digital camcorder and laptop. All from the best brands.

The compatibility challenge

But something’s missing. Why is it still so difficult to send digital content from one device to enjoy on another device?

Take video for example. It can be a real challenge to get it from your PC to the large flat-panel TV in your living room. You need to download the video from your digital camcorder to your PC, burn it onto a DVD (with complicated software) and then hand-carry it to the DVD player attached to your TV.

It can take hours. And in the end your DVD player might not even be able to read the DVD format you chose. Try it with products from different manufacturers and you might just want to skip it altogether.

DLNA Guidelines: building your network

Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) is helping put an end to that frustration. A collaboration of the world’s leading consumer electronics, PC and mobile companies, DLNA has created design guidelines for a new generation of DLNA Certified products that can work together — no matter the brand.

In the DLNA defined future, you’ll buy DLNA Certified products that help you share and enjoy your digital content where and when you want, at home or on the road, by yourself or among friends.

Digital living in two steps

  1. First you need a home network -- wired or wireless -- and you're ready to get started. That's because DLNA Certified devices today connect, discover and communicate with each other over a home network, like the one you might already have for sharing your broadband Internet. (There might be other ways to connect in the future.)
  2. Next, go and buy the new DLNA Certified products available on the market today, and many more that will be available soon. Once you have those connected to your home network, you can find out what they can do in The Possibilities.