SMSC’s JukeBlox 2.2 connectivity platform enables up to 20 percent lower system cost

HAUPPAUGE, USA: SMSC, a leading semiconductor company enabling content rich connectivity systems, announced its latest generation JukeBlox 2.2 (JB2.2) platform with enhanced audio streaming features including up to a 4 times faster boot time, improved WiFi performance leveraging the new WiFi Multimedia (WMM) standard, low power standby modes and automatic network wake-up features.

JB2.2 also offers improved network setup options with JB Connect 2.0 and JB iLink, as well as an exciting new use case for direct connecting and streaming in private or portable applications with the new JB Direct feature.

In addition, this new design offers a bill of materials cost reduction of up to 20 percent primarily through system component integration by fully utilizing the powerful, highly efficient DM870A Network Media Processor. JB2.2 unlocks new capabilities such as JB Host and JB digital signal processor (DSP) wherein the SMSC processor performs the functionality of separate host MCUs and audio DSPs, eliminating the cost of these external components.

JB2.2’s comprehensive Software Development Kit (SDK) offers improved application programming interfaces (APIs) and tools to further simplify product development and customization efforts when enabling these new features and cost-down integrations. Many of the new JB2.2 features can be leveraged in software changes, further extending the investment in existing product platforms. The SDK offers core libraries addressing higher software layers, middleware for media streaming, content access, navigation and system control, configuration files for remote control functions and more.

“Our JukeBlox 2.2 is the most feature-rich release of the platform designed to date, delivering an unprecedented home audio connectivity platform to our customers,” said Gene Sheridan, senior VP and GM of SMSC’s Wireless Products Group. “The trend in streaming audio continues to pick up the pace as more people want the freedom to access their content and distribute it with ease. Many consumer brands have heard the call and are delivering on this new market requirement, powered by the JukeBlox platform. This market is on an aggressive growth path and we are excited to be the wireless audio solution of choice for these consumer technology leaders.”

The JukeBlox platform continues to offer a complete range of audio codecs, internet radio protocols, popular music apps, a variety of connectivity options and all of the industry interoperability standards. JukeBlox also features fail-safe firmware updates that allow for new features to be updated to the consumer over time without hardware changes. The new JB2.2 software and SDK will be available in November 2011.