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Skifta leaves beta, streams media to and from your Android device wherever you may be

Terrence O'Brien
Former Managing Editor
Updated ·4 min read

When we first saw Skifta back in February, it was a pretty neat app for beaming media on your phone to other DLNA capable devices in your home. Well, now it's left beta and added a new trick to it repertoire -- stream media from your other gear to your Android device, over 3G. To celebrate Skifta hitting the magical 1.0 mark, Qualcomm Atheros also unveiled a new media server plug in for Linux, OS X and Windows that lets you pull music and movies from your home PC to your phone or tablet, even while you're out and about. Skifta (in addition to its terrible name) also sports a Channel Library which allows you quickly queue up content from Facebook, TED, ShoutCast, Revision3 and more. You'll find full PR after the break but, more importantly, the download links at the source.

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Qualcomm Atheros Launches Skifta 1.0 for Android to Access Personal Music, Photos and Video in the Connected Home or on-the-go

- New Platform Eliminates Barriers between Consumers and their Media Whether Stored at Home or on Cloud Content Services Like Flickr Photos, Soma.fm Radio or TED Talks -

SAN JOSE, Calif., Oct. 26, 2011 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Qualcomm Atheros Inc., the networking and connectivity subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated (Nasdaq: QCOM), today announced Skifta™ 1.0 for Android™ smartphones and tablets. Skifta transforms any Android device into a global media remote control that lets consumers access and enjoy their music, videos and photos at home over Wi-Fi and on the move with 3G from wherever their media resides – at home, in the cloud and anywhere in between. Now, with 3G and Wi-Fi support and a new desktop media server plug-in for Mac, Windows and Linux, Skifta fans have an easy way to use their Android devices to access media collections stored on their home computers without requiring a third-party media server application.

Skifta is the first DLNA Certified™ application capable of streaming personal content to millions of Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) and Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) devices worldwide, including TVs, IP-connected stereos like Sonos systems, PlayStation 3 game consoles, Windows 7 PCs and thousands of other connected consumer electronics models. After selecting a photo, song or video stored on the Android smartphone or tablet, users can share this content to any compliant device using Skifta. No wires, downloading or sideloading is required. Consumers just tap on their favorite content, select a connected device and press Play.

A unique feature of the Skifta platform is its Channel library, which eliminates the need for consumers to manage multiple applications to access their favorite media from the cloud. Skifta Channels also give immediate access to Facebook Photos, Picasa, Flickr, Photobucket, Soma.fm, Napster, ShoutCast, Revision 3, TED Talks and more.

"Extensive discussions with our beta group boiled down to this: Skifta should eliminate the barriers between consumers and their media," said Dan Rabinovitsj, senior vice president and general manager, networking business unit, Qualcomm Atheros. "The new version of Skifta addresses this issue with 3G support and media server software, and it goes a step further to deliver a powerful solution that puts the smartphone or tablet at the center of the connected home."

Pricing and Availability

Skifta 1.0 for Android is free to download immediately from the Android Market and is currently available for Android smartphones and tablets (2.2 or higher). The Skifta desktop application for remote access to media stored at home (PC, Mac and Linux) is available at www.skifta.com. For regular Skifta updates, follow us at www.twitter.com/skifta or become a Fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/skifta.

About Qualcomm Atheros Inc.

Qualcomm Atheros Inc., the networking and connectivity subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, is a leading provider of wireless and wired technologies for the mobile, networking, computing and consumer electronics markets. The organization is focused on inventing technologies that connect and empower people in ways that are elegant and accessible to all. With its broad connectivity portfolio, Qualcomm Atheros provides its global customer base with high-performance, end-to-end solutions featuring Wi-Fi®, GPS, Bluetooth®, Ethernet, HomePlug® powerline and PON technologies. Qualcomm Atheros leverages its substantial expertise in RF, signal processing, software and networking to deliver highly integrated, low-power, system-level solutions that enable customers to create high-performance, differentiated products. For more information, go to www.qca.qualcomm.com.

Qualcomm Atheros and Skifta are trademarks of Qualcomm Atheros, Inc. HomePlug is a registered trademark of the HomePlug Powerline Alliance. Wi-Fi is a registered trademark of the Wi-Fi Alliance. All other trademarks are the sole property of their respective owners.