Videoguys Notes
Company Folds XENA Products Into KONA Line; Now Offers KONA Cards With Both Mac OS X and Windows Software
Grass Valley, CA (March 15, 2010)--AJA Video Systems, a leading manufacturer of professional video interface and conversion solutions, announced today that it is now offering its KONA line of capture cards with software for both Mac and Windows-based systems. The company is folding its XENA line of capture cards, designed for the Windows platform, into the KONA product line, giving customers twice the software and flexibility to use KONA cards on all platforms, at no additional cost.
The KONA family is AJA’s line of 10-bit uncompressed capture and playback cards for video and audio input and output. Initially designed solely for the Mac platform, KONA now supports SD, HD, Dual Link 4:4:4 HD and 2K formats, and all of the functionality of the former XENA products within the single, cross-platform KONA line.
Effective immediately, every new KONA package shipped will include both Mac and Windows software and documentation. Current customers will experience no change in functionality or service, and Windows-based customers can find support on the AJA website under ‘KONA for PC’. Updated drivers for either Mac or PC platforms are always available online (http://www.aja.com/support/). AJA recommends users check the AJA website to ensure they have the latest drivers and software.
“Our goal is to simplify our customers’ experience and give them greater value,” said Nick Rashby, AJA Video Systems President. “The post-production world is not homogeneous, and offering a single product line with identical functionality that customers can use on either -- or both platforms, for the same cost, recognizes their need for ease of use and flexibility.”
KONA for PC software is available for Windows 7, Windows Vista and Windows XP, with the same system specifications that have been previously published for XENA. All KONA cards now operate on both Mac and PC platforms. Those customers using Apple Mac Pro towers are able to install the KONA for Mac software to work under OS X and the KONA for PC Windows software under Apple Boot Camp to work cross-platform on the same machine.
Dear XENA Customer,
As of March 15, 2010 the XENA product line will be merged with our award winning KONA line, to supply both PC and Mac users with a single set of cross-platform solutions. XENA and KONA have long used the same industry-leading hardware with tailored software unique to each platform. To add value for you, we will be packaging each KONA card with both Mac and PC software, so they can be used on either platform—or both. The hardware and software are the same--only the name and package have been changed to give you twice the software and ease-of-use on all platforms.
Timeframe: AJA will stop selling XENA branded products March 15, 2010. At that time KONA products will be shipped and marketed by AJA as cross-platform PC & Mac solutions.
As mentioned, the AJA hardware is identical across both platforms. Naming of products is now as follows:
XENA 2Ke is KONA 3
XENA 2K is KONA 3x
XENA LHi is KONA LHi
XENA LHe is KONA LHe
XENA LH is KONA LH
XENA LSe is KONA LSe
XENA LS is KONA LS
XENA HS is now End-of-life (EOL)
As a XENA User, you will now be able to find support on our website under "KONA for PC" headings, reflecting the product line name change. Support and offerings remain the same, so you will still receive future software releases and documentation under the new name--with the best quality and level of support in the industry as you've had in the past.
Questions and Answers for XENA Customers
1. I have a XENA, what model KONA card software will I need to be downloading now?
Each KONA card has a set of web pages at www.aja.com; when you go to a KONA page you'll find new navigational tabs for KONA for PC and KONA for Mac. Simply go to the area that relates to your card. If you're a XENA owner, your card is now a KONA card as shown in the table below:
XENA 2Ke is KONA 3
XENA 2K is KONA 3x
XENA LHi is KONA LHi
XENA LHe is KONA LHe
XENA LH is KONA LH
XENA LSe is KONA LSe
XENA LS is KONA LS
XENA HS is now End-of-life (EOL)
2. Does AJA Machina software go away and will I be using a Windows version of the Mac AJA Control Panel?
No, Machina continues to be AJA's stand-alone software application for ingesting, previewing and playing back media on KONA for PC, just like it was when the cards were named XENA—if you're used to using XENA, you'll see no change in operation or features—only name changes.
3. Does this mean that support will be less for PC users?
No, the purpose of this change was to ensure that all customers get a multi-platform solution, without any extra-cost, and to make it as easy as possible to use our card on either—or both—platforms. Every KONA box will now come with both Mac and PC software and documentation. Existing XENA customers will continue to see the same high level customer support for the PC and Windows software AJA makes. AJA is committed to both platforms and their value to the post production and broadcast markets.
4. Can I use the same card on both platforms then?
Yes, absolutely. Everything you need is on the AJA website; for simplicity there are separate downloads for Mac use and PC use—you only install the software for the platform(s) you use. You should periodically check our website to ensure you have the very latest drivers and software.
5. If I have an Apple Mac Pro tower, does this mean that I can install the Mac software under OSX and the PC software under Bootcamp on the same machine?
Yes, any of the supported Windows OS installations will run natively on a Mac Pro using Boot Camp and work with KONA for PC software, just as on other PC towers. Prior to use, please read about Boot Camp and its installation and requirements on the Apple website: http://www.apple.com/support/bootcamp/
6. What versions of Windows can I use?
KONA for PC software is available for Windows 7, Windows Vista and Windows XP, with the same system specifications that have been published for XENA.