Frequently Asked Questions About Digital Living

What are the digital home and digital living?: The digital home is an evolution of the idea that PCs, consumer electronics and mobile devices should work together seamlessly through a wired or wireless network to share digital content within a home environment. Digital living extends that idea to include sharing content on the go as well.
How will I benefit from digital living?: The goal of digital living is to provide you with an immediate connection between your digital devices, regardless of the manufacturer. You will finally enjoy the freedom to access, play and share your favorite movies, music and photos at home and on the go using products from your most trusted brands.
What does the future of digital living look like?: Over time, as new technology and standards become available, the DLNA Interoperability Guidelines will likely broaden to cover other usage areas such as home control, network communications and more advanced entertainment services. With regard to specific product types, the guidelines have already been expanded to include mobile and handheld devices and printers.
What is the foundation for networking and interoperability in the digital home?: The IP family of protocols has been selected as the means to provide the foundation for the networking and connectivity of CE, mobile devices and PCs in the digital home. IP is also the basic means for establishing communications among all devices on the Internet.
How will my digital content be managed, distributed and controlled in the digital home?: Content management and control will enable devices and applications to identify, manage and distribute content across your home network. UPnP Audio/Video (AV) technology addresses all of these needs and is the content management and control solution for products based on DLNA guidelines.
Will DLNA address digital rights management?: Digital rights management (DRM) is an important issue that must be addressed to achieve the ideal user experience sought by DLNA members. One of DLNA's goals is to incorporate an industry-accepted DRM solution into the Interoperability Guidelines to enable commercial content flow within the home network. To that end, DLNA will assess various rights management systems being considered by the marketplace.

Guidelines, Product Testing & Certification

How will DLNA assure interoperability among my PC, CE products and mobile devices?: Similar to other consortiums such as the USB Implementers Forum and the PCI Special Interest Group, DLNA facilitates interoperability and compatibility testing through its Certification Program, DLNA "Plugfests” and other means. Plugfests are compliance workshops at which DLNA members can test their products with other products and DLNA testing tools for effective interoperability. DLNA hosts Plugfests on a frequent basis around the globe.
What is DLNA certification?: DLNA certification ensures a device has been tested and proven compatible with various CE, PC and mobile devices designed according to the DLNA Interoperability Guidelines. Products certified by DLNA will bear a logo that will give consumers peace of mind that the device they are purchasing has undergone rigorous testing and conforms to the Interoperability Guidelines.
How does a company gain certification?: DLNA launched its program for product certification in September 2005. The program outlines how products are tested to certify that they are compatible with other DLNA Certified products. Products awarded DLNA certification will have passed strict, rigorous and independent testing by a laboratory in North America, Europe or Asia. When a product successfully passes testing, the manufacturer or vendor will be granted the right to use the DLNA Certified logo on that product and corresponding collateral.
Will the DLNA Interoperability Guidelines be updated and how often?: Yes, DLNA expects that the guidelines will be updated when new industry standards are completed and become available for incorporation into products. It is DLNA's intent that products compliant with future guidelines will be compatible with products that are compliant with previous guidelines. In addition, as standards mature for other home application areas, such as home control and more advanced entertainment services, it is quite possible that the scope of DLNA will broaden to embrace new scenarios that incorporate such industry trends. (For details, see "Interoperability Guidelines Scope" in the Overview and Vision White Paper.)
What do the Home Networked Device Interoperability Guidelines v1.5 include?: The Home Networked Device Interoperability Guidelines v1.5 address the mobile and handheld device categories. The new version also introduces new upload and download functions as well as additional device classes including printers and renderers.
Will DLNA increase the Interoperability Guidelines' media format coverage?: Yes, DLNA broadened the reach of its Home Networked Device Interoperability Guidelines with the release of the group's first Optional Media Format Addendum. The Addendum outlines technical guidelines supporting 11 additional media formats for imaging, audio and video. Included with the purchase of the Home Networked Device Interoperability Guidelines, the Addendum increases the value and applicability of devices based on DLNA's guidelines.
When will actual products come onto the market from DLNA member companies?: DLNA Certified Products are available now! Please see the Product Search to find the device you're looking for.