NETGEAR Launches New Router With Unique Features for Macs, Enhanced Capabilities and Performance for all Users
The NETGEAR Wireless Extreme Offers First True Home Networking Solution for Large Number of Households That Use Both Macs and PCs
SAN JOSE, Calif., Dec. 12, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- NETGEAR®, Inc. (NASDAQGM: NTGR), a global networking company that delivers innovative products to consumers, businesses and service providers, today announced worldwide availability of the NETGEAR Wireless Extreme for Mac and PC (WNDRMAC). The Wireless Extreme is the company's first home router to offer Mac-specific capabilities - including native support for Apple's Time Machine® back-up software and Bonjour® automated networking technology - in addition to the speed, range and premium features found in NETGEAR's latest consumer routers.
A large number of NETGEAR's consumer customer base use both Macs and PCs, in addition to iPhones, iPads and other devices, on their home networks. The Wireless Extreme is designed from the ground up to offer a best-of-all-worlds solution. It includes the advanced features found in NETGEAR's award-winning family of routers - parental controls, DLNA compatible media streaming, a broadband usage meter and simultaneous dual-band wireless performance. In addition, the Wireless Extreme also features NETGEAR's Genie, which is a dashboard-style application that provides easy and complete router and network management, CD-less installation and support for Mac-specific technology, such as Time Machine and Bonjour.
A key benefit of the Wireless Extreme is that it can be installed and set-up without a CD via a simple and intuitive interface from Android Smartphones, iPhones, iPads or any PC or MAC computer. For Mac users, NETGEAR's ReadySHARE® technology enables the Wireless Extreme to double as a fully functional Time Machine backup device with an attached USB external hard drive. The new router also supports Apple's Bonjour automated networking technology, which allows Macs, PCs and other Bonjour compatible devices to find each other on a home network and share USB printers.
The Wireless Extreme also features Dual-band wireless N networking (2.4GHz and 5GHz) and an advanced 680 Mhz processor to support state-of-the-art HD media streaming, multiplayer online gaming and simultaneous downloads. The router is DLNA certified for streaming media to DLNA-compatible high-definition televisions, Blu-ray(TM) players and game consoles.
Other advanced features of the Wireless Extreme include:
-- ReadySHARE® Printer. The Wireless Extreme makes it easy to turn any
existing USB printer into a fully functional networked printer that is
fully compatible with Macs, PCs and a growing number of mobile
platforms.
-- NETGEAR Genie. This free utility for PCs and Macs allows home users to
control, monitor, repair and manage their home networks easily through a
simple and elegant dashboard. NETGEAR customers can download the
utility at http://www.netgear.com/genie. The Mac version is available
as a public beta.
-- Guest network access. The Wireless Extreme's browser interface and the
NETGEAR Genie utility make setting up a guest network simple and easy.
Visitors can go online freely without the need for your secure login
information. The guest network also prevents users from seeing and
accessing your computers, printers, storage drives and other
home-network devices.
-- DLNA. A USB hard drive plugged into the router becomes a powerful DLNA
media server for sharing any entertainment content stored on the drive -
including video, music and photos - to DLNA-certified, Internet-ready
consumer electronic devices, including televisions, Blu-ray(TM) players
and game consoles.
-- Advanced Quality of Service. By prioritizing video streams over other
home network traffic, advanced Quality of Service (QoS) provides the
best possible viewing experience for online video.
-- Gigabit wired Ethernet. The Wireless Extreme comes with four high-speed
gigabit Ethernet ports for ultra-fast wired connections.
-- Leading Security. The router supports WPA and WPA2 protocols for WiFi,
has double firewall (SPI and NAT) protection against Internet threats,
and provides Denial of Service (DoS) attack prevention.
-- Broadband usage meter. This tool enables users to monitor their Internet
data consumption and can send customized alerts when usage is close to
monthly bandwidth limits, avoiding costly overage fees for those with
metered service plans.
-- NETGEAR Live Parental Controls. This centralized, flexible and reliable
parental control solution for all the devices on the network, including
Macs, Windows PCs, smartphones and tablets, provides a safe online
environment for children and teenagers -no subscription required.
-- Automatic WiFi security. The Wireless Extreme comes with wireless
security turned on out-of-the-box with a pre-configured network name and
password so home WiFi networks are protected by default.
"Consumers live in a multiplatform world of Macs, PCs, iPads, iPhones, smartphones, and tablets. NETGEAR's new Wireless Extreme combines the best of all of these worlds in a single, powerful networking product that also adds Mac-specific features previously available only in Apple's networking products," said Som Pal Choudhury, NETGEAR director of product marketing. "For the first time, Mac users can purchase a high performance router with NETGEAR's advanced technology features, while PC users can deploy a home network that makes it easy to integrate Macs and enjoy all of their unique network capabilities."
Pricing and AvailabilityThe NETGEAR Wireless Extreme for Mac and PC (WNDRMAC) is available now in the United States from $129.99, and worldwide from major retailers in stores and online.
NETGEAR Holiday Gift GuideFor great holiday gift ideas, check out NETGEAR's online Holiday Gift Guide at http://www.netgear.com/holiday. The Gift Guide has you covered with the latest gear to solve all of your holiday gift-giving challenges. The guide allows you to purchase NETGEAR products from your favorite retailer, or drag/drop products to create a custom "Buy the Bundle" order. You can also give your friends a hint about what you would like by building your own wishlist and sharing it.
More informationTo learn more about the NETGEAR Wireless Extreme for Mac and PC, please visit http://www.netgear.com/wndrmac.
CONTACT: CONTACT: Jeff Norris of Weber Shandwick for NETGEAR, +1-408-530-8458, JNorris2@webershandwick.com; or U.S. Sales Inquiries, +1-408-907-8000, sales@netgear.com; or U.S. Customer Inquiries, 1-888-NETGEAR