Sony Brings LocationFree TV to Macs

Sony plans to unveil new client software next week that will extend its LocationFree TV platform to Macintosh computers and a wider range of mobile devices.

LocationFree TV is a platform that streams a live video and audio signal from a base station to client devices. It allows users to watch TV and video from devices in their living room on a remote computer, so long as there is a broadband connection between the base station and the client.

The new client software will be demonstrated in Tokyo next week and is the product of two recent licensing agreements. One, with Access, covered the development of clients for devices like cell phones and PDAs while a second, with Kaga Electronics, covered an Apple Mac client.

The new software will expand the range of devices on which LocationFree TV can be accessed.

Base Station

Sony's current LocationFree TV base station, the LF-PK1, supports access from a custom hardware terminal that resembles a tablet PC, from a Windows 2000 or Windows XP-based personal computer or from a PlayStation Portable.

The LF-PK1 was launched last year and is now on sale in the U.S., Japan, and Europe.

Access, which made headlines last year by buying PalmSource, is a major developer of software for mobile and embedded devices. Its Net Front Web browser can be found in many embedded products offering Internet access including cell phones, televisions, and car navigation systems. Kaga sells a variety of products under the Taxan brand-name.