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The Connected Home

Your computer isn’t the only thing that can use your Internet connection. Your TV, digital photo frame, stereo and receiver may be able to do so much more than you might suspect. Create a true home network by connecting these devices to your broadband connection.

Even if you have an older TV that doesn't directly hook up to the Internet, you can use a gaming system, like an Xbox 360® or Playstation® 3, or a special device called a digital media adapter specifically made to connect your TV to your broadband feed and give yourself a connected home.

Thousands of devices also carry a DLNA® or UPnP™-certified symbol, which simply means they can connect to your network and communicate with each other. Once you set up your home, give your devices the missing ingredient - Twonky. Make sure everything has access to what’s important - all of the vibrant, entertaining sounds and images in your media library and on the Internet. Make it happen with Twonky.

Getting Help

There are many connected devices on the market, and we know that sorting through all of them can be difficult. To help you learn more about the connected home, we’ve created a best practices guide. View this guide to learn more.

If you would like help setting up your connected home, view the Twonky YouTube™ videos that demonstrate how to add popular devices to your network and use Twonky with them.

Key Terms

Home network: Connect your computer (Mac and/or Windows PC) and other devices to a broadband Internet connection (Cable or DSL). A router offers multiple points of network access for direct connection using an Ethernet cable. You can also use a wireless router to connect any device that has wireless capabilities, as well as having the option of a direct connection. Depending on the device, this setup enables Internet access or communication with other devices on the network.

DLNA: The Digital Living Network Alliance is a consortium of the world’s leading consumer electronics, PC and mobile companies, who have joined together to ensure you can enjoy your media throughout the home. DLNA created guidelines to make sure devices can work together — no matter what brand. DLNA helps ensure your music, videos and photos aren’t stuck on just one device; you can share them throughout your network. The DLNA website has a list of all DLNA-compliant devices. It contains a search and match section where you can select a particular product and see a list of other products that work with it.

UPnP: UPnP, or Universal Plug n’ Play, like DLNA, is a set of standards that enable interoperability with the devices in your network. Learn more on the UPnP forum.

Connected home/Digital home: Used interchangeably, these terms describe a home that has devices, such as computers, gaming systems, TVs, digital photo frames and Internet stereos or receivers, connected to a home network so that the different devices can share information with each other. The connected home now includes mobile phones, so you can extend the experience wherever you want to go.

Twonky: Twonky is a family of software and applications for your PC, Mac® or mobile phone that finds all the media collections in your household and shares them with PCs, TVs, stereos and other devices connected to your network.

Server: A server provides the connection between where you store your digital media files and where you want to play the media. Without a server, you couldn’t share media files across your home network.

Beam: Beaming is the ability to send digital information, such as a music file, over a network for playback on different devices, without having to actually store the information on that device.

Twonky Best Practices Guide
Twonky YouTube videos