15/01/2010 - ZAGGbox media center / streamer now available for pre-order

ZAGG has been dropping a few hints about its ZAGGbox media center for a little while now, but it's so far been keeping a relatively low profile -- it even managed to slip under our radar at CES. It was at the show, however, and its now finally announced that the ZAGGbox is available to pre-order for $799. Not exactly the cheapest set-top box around, to be sure, but that price will get you a few fairly unique features, not the least of which is simultaneous transcoding of captured video for easy viewing on both your TV and the mobile device of your choice (it also comes with its own iPhone app). Otherwise, you'll get an ample 1TB of storage, a full range of A/V inputs and outputs, built-in 802.11n WiFi, and some Slingbox-like streaming to any device, anywhere you like. Unfortunately, ZAGG still isn't making any firm promises about a release date, although it will supposedly be out sometime in the second quarter of this year.

ZAGGbox media center / streamer now available for pre-order originally appeared on Engadget HD on Fri, 15 Jan 2010 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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07/01/2010 - AverMedia adds a USB HD capture device to its lineup

While we prefer to record our HD without decoding and encoding the video again, sometimes that just isn't an option. Up until now Hauppauge has had little competition for its HD PVR, but no more. Today AverMedia announced the AVerTV USB HD DVR which is an external USB device that will capture up to 1080i HD and stereo sound via HDMI and other inputs. It is bundled with TotalMedia Theatre software for scheduling recording and playback. Now you might wonder why a company known for its Windows Media Center tuners would ship with recording software and the reason is that Media Center has some limitation that is holding this back from being supported. This makes sense since the Hauppauge HD PVR doesn't have native support for Media Center either, but perhaps DVB Link will come to the rescue here as well.

AverMedia adds a USB HD capture device to its lineup originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 07 Jan 2010 10:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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17/11/2009 - PrimeDTV further saturates HD media streamer segment with PHD-HM5

Filed under: Media streamers

Look, we're all for competition, but it's about time for some of these guys to stop copying and start innovating. As if your noggin' wasn't already spinning enough as you attempt to whittle down your laundry list of HD media streamers, in flies PrimeDTV with yet another hopeful. The PHD-HM5 looks to be fairly standard in terms of features, with HDMI / component outputs, a lengthy list of supported formats, an Ethernet socket and a pair of USB 2.0 ports. You won't find WiFi or any internal hard drive, and you'll have to live with the fact that this thing is akin to some lackluster AV component from the early 90s. Oh, and then there's the chore of actually finding one for sale (not to mention an MSRP), which should probably be just enough to push you towards Popcorn Hour.

PrimeDTV further saturates HD media streamer segment with PHD-HM5 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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17/11/2009 - PrimeDTV further saturates HD media streamer segment with PHD-HM5

Look, we're all for competition, but it's about time for some of these guys to stop copying and start innovating. As if your noggin' wasn't already spinning enough as you attempt to whittle down your laundry list of HD media streamers, in flies PrimeDTV with yet another hopeful. The PHD-HM5 looks to be fairly standard in terms of features, with HDMI / component outputs, a lengthy list of supported formats, an Ethernet socket and a pair of USB 2.0 ports. You won't find WiFi or any internal hard drive, and you'll have to live with the fact that this thing is akin to some lackluster AV component from the early 90s. Oh, and then there's the chore of actually finding one for sale (not to mention an MSRP), which should probably be just enough to push you towards Popcorn Hour.

Filed under: Media streamers

PrimeDTV further saturates HD media streamer segment with PHD-HM5 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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02/11/2009 - Onkyo's iPod-lovin' ND-S1 digital media transport gets reviewed

Filed under: Media streamers, Others

Back in late July, we weren't aware of when Onkyo's fancy ND-S1 iPod dock would ship. Now, we're not only certain that the £144 ($235) digital media transport is shipping across the pond, but we've stumbled upon a critique for those wondering if such an outlay is justified. After slamming their iPod touch into the device and connecting it to their reference speaker system, they came away duly impressed; in practically every scenario, using the external DAC in this box led to clearer, more precise audio compared to signals coming straight out of the iPod. In fact, reviewers went so far as to call this unit "peerless," though they did mention that it's really only good for those already satisfied with their existing speaker setuip. Of course, you could just opt for an audiophile-approved media player, but then you wouldn't be able to experience the joy and elation that comes with relying on iTunes. Right?

Onkyo's iPod-lovin' ND-S1 digital media transport gets reviewed originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 03:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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30/09/2009 - QNAP ships NMP-1000 Network Multimedia Player

Filed under: Media streamers, Others

It sure took 'em long enough, but QNAP has finally come around and delivered its NMP-1000 Network Multimedia Player here in the States. If you'll recall, we actually toyed around with one way back at CeBIT, and while those camped out in Osaka have been enjoying the spoils for months now, the Yanks in attendance have been forced to wait. According to QNAP, the DLNA-compliant media streamer is now shipping in America, though a quick look around our favorite web stores has turned up nothing. We're sure that'll be remedied in short order, though.

[Via HotHardware]

QNAP ships NMP-1000 Network Multimedia Player originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 29 Sep 2009 22:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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10/09/2009 - Live from the Microsoft Windows Media Center event

Filed under: Features, Media PCs

It is almost time as we wait for the event to start and find out if all or any of our Windows Media Center CEDIA predictions come true. We had to travel a long way from the show floor to get here, but so far Microsoft is doing it right. They have us setup with free WiFi and a table right up front, so now we just wait for the show to begin.

Continue reading Live from the Microsoft Windows Media Center event

Live from the Microsoft Windows Media Center event originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 19:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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01/09/2009 - First Portable 3D Monitor for Viewing Without Glasses

The Swiss brand nvp3D introduced the FreeD Multi-Media Player – the first portable autonomous 3D monitor for viewing without glasses.

The device is autonomous, that means there is no need of a computer connection to view. The content – videos and photos - is displaying on 7-inch monitor from the SD card. Autonomy of the player is limited by the battery to approx. 2 hours.

18/07/2009 - New Media Center features in WHS Power Pack 3 exposed in a screencast

Filed under: Misc, Media PCs

A picture is worth a thousand words, which is why we wish we would've been the ones who thought of making a screencast that exposes the new Windows Home Server Power Pack 3 (Beta) features for Media Center. Our friend Adam from the Digital Media Zone takes us through the TV show archiving and converting feature as well as the new remote console that lets you check to see if your backups are running from the comfort of the couch. Although we're not super excited by any of these particular features, we are encouraged to see more evidence that our vision of the future of Windows Media Center might be in line with Microsoft's. Full screencast after the jump

Continue reading New Media Center features in WHS Power Pack 3 exposed in a screencast

New Media Center features in WHS Power Pack 3 exposed in a screencast originally appeared on Engadget HD on Sat, 18 Jul 2009 14:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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03/07/2009 - Mvix Launches "Ultimate" 1080p Home Theater Media Player

Mvix has announces the worldwide launch of the Mvix Ultio, a hard-disk based media center capable of HD digital media playback with video output as high as 1080p.
The company claims the device supports the largest array of AV formats and codecs of any media player.

26/06/2009 - ZINNET Unveils Networkable HD Media Player

ZINNET has unveiled a new HD multi-media player and BitTorrent downloader with networking capabilities. Called the CinemaCube, it connects to an HDTV and plays media content from USB mass storage devices.
The device is also networkable, allowing users to enjoy media content stored on a remote PC on a living room TV.

25/06/2009 - Boxee Extends to all Windows Users, Adds Apps

Boxee is extending its media center access to Windows and will shortly change its "alpha" status to "beta".
The open source media site has also announced four major new app partnerships that will be available to everyone downloading its software.

25/06/2009 - Mvix Ultio "It Plays All" HD media streamer debuts in the U.S. July 6 for $179

Filed under: Media streamers, Set-top boxes

We'd heard rumors Mvix USA would be rolling out an upgraded 1080p capable media box to rival the earlier MvixPVR and here it is. Dubbed the Ultio, it has a list of supported codecs and containers that rivals the new Popcorn Hour C-200 in its thoroughness -- DivX(R) (3/4/5/6), Xvid, AVC-HD, MPEG 1/2/4, WMV-9, ASF(WMV9), MKV, DVD(IFO, VOB), ISO, MP3, WMA, AAC, OGG, FLAC, AC3 -- it's all here, with a slightly awkward Swiss Army knife-themed tagline to boot. The $169 price tag is sans-3.5-inch SATA HDD, though you can add one for $79 (500GB) $90 (1TB) or $139 (1.5TB). Of course network streaming is a part of the package, with Mvix's usual suite of Samba / UPnP / BitTorrent (mentioning compatibility with PlayOn and Tversity specifically to get all your Netflix, YouTube and other streaming sources to TV) via Ethernet or optional Wireless-N dongle. It's up for pre-orders now, take a close look at the specs and pics then get in line before they start shipping July 6.

Gallery: Mvix Ultio

Mvix Ultio "It Plays All" HD media streamer debuts in the U.S. July 6 for $179 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 25 Jun 2009 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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17/06/2009 - Game Consoles Main Driver in Online Video Growth

Networked video game consoles are the most used devices for bringing web video to the TV in the US - and look set to remain so until 2013, according to an In-Stat report.
It found that 29 per cent of US 25 to 34 year olds with game consoles already use the devices to watch streaming video off the Internet.

04/06/2009 - A cool new DTV map from the FCC to help you prepare for the transition

Filed under: DIY, OTA

We've long been a fan of free over-the-air (OTA) HD and have been over to antennaweb.org on a number of occasions to help others assess the viability of going cable-less. And while this has worked pretty well for us, we were excited to see this new tool on the FCC's site that shows a much prettier map and even more useful stats that try to predict the signal strength available at your house. We're not sure how accurate the "receive power" estimates are, but we're sure they are more useful than no data at all. So if you're trying to figure out if you need to make any changes to your antenna farm post-transition on the 12th, head on over and check it out.

[Via The Digital Media Zone]

A cool new DTV map from the FCC to help you prepare for the transition originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 04 Jun 2009 10:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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26/05/2009 - HP's MediaSmart Server LX195 reviewed: impressive, but flawed

Filed under: Media streamers, HP

After being introduced to the world late last month, we've heard little else about HP's lower-end MediaSmart Server LX195... until now, obviously. This little media streamer made its way into the HotHardware labs for a little Q&A, and it managed to escape with lots of praise, a mild amount of criticism and a price tag that'll likely be too steep for most to swallow. As for performance and features, the LX195 was found to shine; the Media Collector, iTunes server and Time Machine backup functionality all worked great. Unfortunately, the "endless loop of updates" seen during the initial setup and the lack of an April update -- which was sent out to the EX series last month -- left somewhat of a bitter taste in reviewers mouths. Overall, the system delivered and worked as advertised, but the $360 to $400 street price is apt to turn all but the hardest of hardcore HP fans away, not to mention that the aforesaid EX update (which will hit the LX195 this fall) will require users to completely wipe their HDD and start over from scratch. Check the read link for the full writeup.

HP's MediaSmart Server LX195 reviewed: impressive, but flawed originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 26 May 2009 09:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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23/04/2009 - LG and DivX Announce First HDTVs With DivX HD 1080p Playback

LG Electronics' new range of HDTVs will be capable of playing full DivX HD 1080p videos.
The company says the upcoming models will be the first device series capable of doing this - enabling consumers to play DivX HD videos from a PC or the Internet through a USB slot.

20/04/2009 - GridNetworks & Global Media Services merger to bring GridCast TV to the big time, hopefully

Filed under: Media streamers, Internet

HD streaming mavens GridNetworks have merged with Global Media Services to create what they term as the "first comprehensive streaming and media services platform." We know GridNetworks is all about peer-to-peer GridCasting delivery tech that would let many view lag-free high definition streams over the Internet, and it seems that GMS is all about putting on live streaming events, so this should let them keep doing that, but in even higher quality. The first media company/brand/event to take advantage of this pairing? We're still waiting to hear that.

GridNetworks & Global Media Services merger to bring GridCast TV to the big time, hopefully originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 20 Apr 2009 02:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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17/04/2009 - Belkin Flywire Delayed, Price Rises

The launch of Belkin's FlyWire has once again been delayed - this time until August.
First announced at CES 2008, the initially promising-sounding wireless device streams 1080p HD content from multiple HDMI inputs to HDTV televisions using the 5GHz band.

17/04/2009 - Enciris Launches Low-cost HD Compression Solution

Enciris Technologies has unveiled HD video compression technology aimed at solving problems with reducing bandwidth and storage requirements.
The LT-100 is a Windows Media Video/ VC-1 HD video acquisition and compression board.

16/04/2009 - Analyst: '09 YTD Blu-ray sales double those of '08, 10.5 million Blu-ray households in the U.S.

Filed under: Industry, Blu-ray

Adams Media Research hasn't always had the most positive outlook on Blu-ray numbers, but its latest report indicates that despite the current state of the economy and the still-high price of Blu-ray discs the format is continuing to grow, with year to date numbers that nearly double those from last year at around 9 million compared to 4.8 million at this point in 2008. As usual, Andy Parsons of the BDA had a positive quote to give Video Business, since he was "delighted" by the figures, which also included an estimated total of 10.5 million Blu-ray households (including dedicated players and PS3s, no word if laptops played into that figure.) It's another year later, and there've been many more Blu-ray players sold so the the growth isn't surprising, but there's also a lot more competition looking for the 1080p crown,but it looks like most are still hopping on the Blu bandwagon.

Analyst: '09 YTD Blu-ray sales double those of '08, 10.5 million Blu-ray households in the U.S. originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 16 Apr 2009 11:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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26/03/2009 - Visualon Integrates On2 VP6 Video Into Mobile Apps

On2 Technologies has licensed its On2 VP6 video format and software to VisualOn Inc.
VisualOn is to integrate VP6 decoding software into its multimedia application suite for mobile platforms.
These software applications allow consumers to play rich multimedia content on mobile devices without expensive dedicated hardware.

17/03/2009 - AVerMedia ships $70 AVerTVHD Volar MAX USB tuner

Filed under: Tuners, Others

AVerMedia's USB-enabled AVerTVHD Volar MAX, which was introduced just about two months ago to the day, has just started shipping out to retail locations and mailboxes everywhere. The tuner can easily pick up OTA HD channels as well as ClearQAM signals, and it even plays nice with both Mac and PC platforms. Furthermore, it makes compressing recordings for playback on an iPod or other PMP remarkably simple, but you'll have to shell out $69.99 in order to bring it all home.

AVerMedia ships $70 AVerTVHD Volar MAX USB tuner originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 17 Mar 2009 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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17/03/2009 - Apple TV To Get a Wii-like Remote?

Apple has filed a set of patents for a Wii-style remote control for Apple TV.
In the two patent applications Apple describes a "wand" for controlling the operations of a media system, suggesting the iPhone-maker may be considering games for Apple TV.

16/03/2009 - Pandora coming to Vudu, LAN streaming too

Filed under: Media streamers, Players

We've always had a soft spot for Vudu and its 1080p HDX movie rentals, and it looks like it's about to get even easier to love -- our man Dave Zatz says that Pandora will be launching on the device "imminently." Not only that, but it looks like the $150 box will also soon be able to stream video off your computer, making it even more flexible -- pending codec support, of course. We're on the lookout for official deets, we'll let you know as we get 'em.

Update: Full release is now after the break.

Continue reading Pandora coming to Vudu, LAN streaming too

Pandora coming to Vudu, LAN streaming too originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 16 Mar 2009 12:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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05/03/2009 - Expansion Planned as Csathy Named President and CEO of Sorenson Media

Sorenson Media has named Peter Csathy as its president and chief executive officer (CEO).
Csathy is a 20-year veteran of the digital media industry with significant expertise in the online video arena.
Sorenson Media, which specializes in online video compression and encoding technology and solutions, is looking to move into new high growth areas.

10/02/2009 - ARCHOS Offers Android-powered HD Media-playing Smartphone

ARCHOS, the company that "invented the PMP", is to bring out a touchscreen smartphone based on the Android operating system.
The new ultra-thin Internet Media Tablet (IMT) will allow playback of HD video while offline.

06/02/2009 - Thanko rolls out HDD Media Player 2, hard drive not included

Filed under: Other hardware, Others

It's not quite as whimsical as some of Thanko's other gadgets, but those looking for a barebones media player may actually want to consider the company's new HDD Media Player 2, which looks like it should get the job done and do so on the cheap. Naturally, you'll have to supply your own hard drive, but the enclosure will handle most of the media-playing abilities you'll likely want (including DivX and even DVD VOB file playback), and you'll get a decent enough complement of ports, including VGA, component, composite, s-video, and an optical digital audio output. Look for this one to set you back just over $70 -- plus the necessary shipping charges from Japan, of course

[Via Le Journal du Geek]

Thanko rolls out HDD Media Player 2, hard drive not included originally appeared on Engadget HD on Fri, 06 Feb 2009 16:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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22/01/2009 - AppleTV To Get Investment

Apple reaffirmed support for AppleTV after announcing first quarter sales of the digital media receiver were three times higher than for the same period last year.
Presenting its Q1 financial results, Peter Oppenheimer, Apple's senior vice president and chief financial officer, said they had beaten Wall Street estimates - with revenues surpassing USD $10bn for the first time in the company's history.

13/01/2009 - Slingbox Founders' Departure Completes Transition

Various members of Sling Media's top management, including several founders, have announced their departure from the company.
The move follows Echostar's acquisition of Sling for USD $380 million in 2007.

09/01/2009 - TrueHD on an HTPC caught in action

Filed under: Blu-ray, Media PCs

Next-gen audio on a HTPC was starting to seem like a dream, but tonight at the Digital Experience we got a chance to witness first hand Dolby TrueHD passthrough on an HTPC thanks to ArcSoft TotalMedia Theater and the Asus Xonar HDAV1.3 HDMI Deluxe sound card. Although the Xonar HDAV has been available for some time, it was just recently that ArcSoft and Asus were able to finally get their act together. As cool as this is, we can't help but think this solution is still a bit too complicated for most, but no one ever said being the first was easy.

Continue reading TrueHD on an HTPC caught in action

TrueHD on an HTPC caught in action originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 08 Jan 2009 18:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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27/12/2008 - XBMC spinoff Media Portal reaches version 1.0, five year countdown to MediaPortal 2 begins

Filed under: Media PCs

It's been five long years, but the devs behind MediaPortal have decided their Windows Media Center / SageTV / BeyondTV competitor is worthy of exiting beta, finally reaching version 1.0. A long way from its roots as a Xbox Media Center port for Windows, it promises easy access to music, movies and more from a full screen display, along with support for watching and recording live TV. DownloadSquad mentions MediaPortal 2 is now on the way, with the open source project looking to add media streaming to / from various devices to the mix. Certainly seems worth a look if waiting on a boxee invite isn't your cup of tea.

[Via Download Squad]

XBMC spinoff Media Portal reaches version 1.0, five year countdown to MediaPortal 2 begins originally appeared on Engadget HD on Sat, 27 Dec 2008 15:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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22/12/2008 - Morega's curious Qew may or may not eventually stream your media

Filed under: Media streamers

Call us skeptical, but we're not so sure that Morega's Qew is anything more than a mere figment of someone's imagination. The outfit has a thing for showing up just before CES in an apparent attempt to drum up interest, but the outfit's Qew teaser site just screams vaporware. We're never actually shown what it is, though we're told that it can stream, archive, transport and share multimedia. Hmm, sounds a lot like the abilities of some other box we know of.

[Thanks, Mark]

Morega's curious Qew may or may not eventually stream your media originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 22 Dec 2008 15:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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12/11/2008 - Western Digital's WD TV HD Media Player reviewed: pretty good, but has its quirks

Filed under: Reviews, Media streamers, Other hardware, Others

Western Digital's WD TV HD Media Player is an interesting contraption. Rather than being a self-sufficient media server, it simply acts as a bridge between your hard drive / USB key and your television. PopPhoto was able to corral a unit for review, and overall, they appreciated the media liaison's abilities. The actual connection was "pretty much plug 'n play," though the omission of an HDMI cable in the box was a bit of a bummer. The unit did a satisfactory job of parsing the information on the HDD and finding photos, songs and video clips, and the on-screen result was fantastic. Not everything was peachy, though -- for instance, large files introduced lag when rotating / changing, and DRM-laced material wouldn't play back at all. Furthermore, it chose to truncate iPod song names, which could obviously be annoying to some. All in all, the WD TV showed some promise but feel short in a few key areas, so you'd better give it some serious thought before plunking down $130.

Western Digital's WD TV HD Media Player reviewed: pretty good, but has its quirks originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 11 Nov 2008 18:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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04/11/2008 - WD Brings Simplicity To Streaming

Storage expert Western Digital has launched a standalone media box that streams content from your USB drive.
Rather than hooking your computer to your HDTV and streaming video and other multimedia files, the WD TV HD Media Player accepts content from a separate WD portable backup drive.

04/11/2008 - WD TV HD Media Player smacked up, flipped, rubbed down

Filed under: Media streamers, Other hardware

Western Digital's WD TV HD Media Player kept a low profile before hitting shelves this month, but with only $99 separating MaddHat.com from a thorough teardown, the inevitable next step was taken. Besides snapshots inside and out -- and the ubiquitous iPhone size comparison photo -- a quick runthrough with a variety of MKV-packed videos revealed delightfully nerdy results. The 1080p h.264 decoding was smooth, although some odd sharpening on 720p files while in 1080p output mode, and less than optimal results with 1080i-encoded files were noted. 1080p24 support didn't make it into the box, same for .ISO direct support -- no worries though, as it wasn't enough to stop the .m2ts files in the Blu-ray backups from playing directly. Good for the price, but with stiff competition -- Popcorn Hour anyone? -- being "good enough" in this sector is getting harder, pics and details are beyond the read link.

WD TV HD Media Player smacked up, flipped, rubbed down originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 04 Nov 2008 12:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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02/11/2008 - Western Digital quietly intros WD TV HD Media Player

Filed under: Media streamers, Others

Well, what do we have here? With no fanfare whatsoever, Western Digital has apparently strayed from its platter-based roots and delved into the wide, murky world of HD media streaming. The WD TV HD Media Player purports to "turn your USB drive into an HD media player, allowing you to watch your favorite HD movies on your TV." For those still befuddled, look at it like this: it enables you to plug in your USB key or USB hard drive and play back multimedia clips up to 1080p on your HDTV via the HDMI / composite outputs. The 1.6- x 4.9- x 3.9-inch box ought not bog you down too much when looking to take it on a journey, and the $129.99 price tag isn't too painful either.

[Thanks, Anonymous]

Western Digital quietly intros WD TV HD Media Player originally appeared on Engadget HD on Sat, 01 Nov 2008 18:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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26/10/2008 - AVerMedia launches AVerTV Hybrid TVBox 11

Filed under: Tuners, OTA

If you've been looking for a convenient way to turn your spare monitor into a guest room TV (or you've just been searching for a standalone OTA HDTV tuner), AVerMedia has you covered. The AVerTV Hybrid TVBox 11 not only includes an analog / ATSC / Clear QAM TV tuner, but it also boasts a DVI output, component input / output, transparent PIP support and a bundled remote. Not too much to offer beyond that, but apparently AVerMedia feels it's worth $199.99.

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09/10/2008 - SlingCatcher now officially for sale

Filed under: Media streamers

It's been over a year and half since Sling first announced the SlingCatcher, but the mythical streamer is finally, finally here -- it's now officially for sale on Sling's site and at other major retailers. You already know most of the details about the $299 box -- Slingbox playback, SlingProjector computer streaming, extensive codec support including XviD, eventual Sling.com content delivery -- so we'll just let you hit the order page, but rest assured we'll be tearing this thing apart when our test unit arrives.

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07/10/2008 - SlingCatcher gets unboxed, our hearts beat ever faster

Filed under: Media streamers, Internet

After seemingly endless delays, it looks like the SlingCatcher is finally making its way into the world, as evidenced by this grainy unboxing at the SlingCommunity forums. Sure, it looks exactly the same as the prepro boxes we've toyed with, but we won't lie -- we've been waiting for this box with breathless anticipation ever since it was announced at CES 2007, and combined with the recent launch of the Sling 2.0 software, the Slingbox PRO-HD, and the seemingly-imminent launch of the the Sling.com video portal, Sling's ending the year strong. Click on for a few more pics, and don't worry -- we'll be blowing this thing out as soon as we get our hands on one.

[Thanks, Christopher]

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04/10/2008 - PIE United cranks out HD-0310 1080p Digital Photo Viewer

Filed under: Media streamers, Other hardware, Others

If you don't have quite enough set-tops sitting underneath your HDTV, we've got one more to fill that tiny gap over there on the right. PIE United has introduced a rather quizzical device aimed at folks who love to show off photos of their journeys around the world on the big screen. The HD-0310 1080p Digital Photo Viewer connects up via HDMI and supports 12 types of flash cards along with USB drives; in addition to photos, it'll play back video clips and MP3 files. Oh, and just in case you're fresh out of HDMI ports, this thing packs a single input in order to connect another HDMI device and switch between the two. Not too sure how much this will run the layman, but outfits looking to buy in bulk should be able to land a killer deal.

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04/10/2008 - Okoro intros updated low-profile OMS-SX100 media center

Filed under: Media PCs, Others

Okoro apparently doesn't have much time for design changes, or even model name changes, but the company has at least seen fit to give its low-profile OMS-SX100 a considerable spec-bump and, apparently, a reduction in power consumption. That latter bit seems to come largely as a result of the low-wattage AMD Athlon X2 4850e processor at the heart of the system, which gets backed up by 2GB of RAM, a 500GB hard drive (upgradeable to 1TB), 8-channel LPCM audio via HDMI, NVIDIA 8200 graphics, and an optional Blu-ray drive, to name a few features. The company is also promising CableCARD and SAGETV HDPVR models in the future, but if that's beyond your needs, you can snag the current model right now for $1695.

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29/09/2008 - "Better-Then-Blu-ray" Movies For Select SIM2 Few

SIM2 has teamed up with the US's Entertainment Experience, LLC to offer just-released movie blockbusters as part of a better-than-blu high-def home-cinema package.
hdtv.biz-news.com spoke to the high-performance HD projector specialists to find out why they've launched what appears to be yet another HD format when the public is still wavering about Blu-ray.

24/09/2008 - VOX TV-R HDD Media Player / Recorder gets reviewed

Filed under: Reviews, Media streamers, Other hardware, Others

Never heard of VOX (outside of the guitar amplification company)? Fret not, as the critics over at TechwareLabs are about to introduce you two in fine fashion. The TV-R HDD Media Player / Recorder was recently reviewed over at the site, and outside of having a full-fledged media PC handling your PVR duties, this one was seen as the next best thing. The unit can be grabbed for well under two bills with 120GB of storage built right in, and aside from being able to capture TV shows, it can also act as a local multimedia player for those who like to run things through their entertainment center. We would've loved to see an Ethernet port or WiFi module added in for good measure, but if you're down with keeping it local, this one doesn't seem like a half bad option for the coin. Tap the read link to decide for yourself.

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03/07/2008 - Mvix's MX-780HD wireless HD media streamer gets reviewed

Filed under: Reviews, Media streamers, Others

If you've been putting off that impending HD media streamer purchase, you may have waited just long enough to find the one you'll be picking up "next week." Mvix's MX-780HD wireless HD media streamer was recently reviewed over at TweakTown, and aside from a few minor gripes, critics were overwhelmingly pleased with its performance. So much, in fact, that they stated the unit could actually take the place of a dedicated HTPC. All in all, the only thing really holding this format-lovin', HDMI-packin' device from approaching media streaming stardom is the relatively lofty price tag ($320), but if that figure is well within your budget, it seems the MX-780HD is a pretty safe bet.

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19/06/2008 - AVerMedia's AVerTV Bravo Hybrid PCIe tuner card gets reviewed

Filed under: Reviews, Tuners, Others, OTA

Judging by comments around here, AVerMedia's AVerTV Bravo Hybrid PCIe seems to be a pretty popular little piece. For those still wondering if it's worth the $80 price of admission, PC Magazine has the final word (hint: the answer is "yes"). Reviewers were pleased with the built-in QAM support and real-time output to iPod functionality, and of course, the relatively low price was certainly cheered. Installation was a snap, the bundled plug-in for enabling QAM support worked pretty much as advertised and the FM tuning was a welcome extra. If you've been looking to slap a TV tuner into your PC, it seems this one may be a very solid choice.

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08/06/2008 - Soccer fans enjoy ITV's first HD programming as Euro 2008 matches broadcast on Freesat

The UK’s ITV network has launched its HD service on Freesat by broadcasting the opening games from Euro 2008.
Freesat is a subscription-free, digital satellite TV service from ITV and the BBC.
Viewers can see all the games the BBC has rights to in high definition on Virgin Media and Sky, but ITV announced that its debut HD programmes would be matches on the opening few days of the football tournament.
The first HD offering from ITV was the Portugal v Turkey match on Saturday.

29/05/2008 - Freesat's mix of HDTV programmes and subscription-free service is likely to appeal to "millions" of customers unhappy with the UK's digital TV providers

Dissatisfaction with the UK’s top three digital TV providers is likely to make customers consider switching to freesat’s combination of HD programmes without subscription.
That is the conclusion of Steve Weller, communications expert at uSwitch.com, which carried out a customer satisfaction study on the UK’s top three digital TV providers - who hold 95% of the market.
Almost 9 out of 10 homes in the UK have now ‘gone digital’ and spend a total of £4.2 billion on receiving the service every year.
However, the independent price comparison and switching service found that more than 1 in 4 customers are not satisfied with their digital service.

27/05/2008 - US firm signs deal to represent world's largest Beijing HD footage collection in advance of Olympic Games

MediaRecall is to represent a collection of more than 1,100 high quality HD clips shot in Beijing for licensing in advance of this summer’s Olympics.
The subject matter of the clips is diverse, ranging from Beijing lifestyle to footage of the venues and is being made available as stock footage for use in news and editorial programmes.
Taneoka Hiroaki, President of Contents Gate, a Japanese content aggregator and MediaRecall partner for Japan, said the cameramen had created something very special.

23/05/2008 - India's Dish TV rolling out HD by year-end

Filed under: Satellite, New content

India has another option for high definition on the way, satellite provider Dish TV (not Dish Network) is planning to launch MPEG-4 HD broadcasts by the end of this year. Managing director Jawahar Goel says the company is still in talks with 2-3 TV channels for content, but with more broadcasters coming online we figure things will start to pick up. The Hindu notes competing provider Tata Sky says its equipment is ready for HD broadcasts but are waiting for content before launching, while Barti Telemedia is similarly on HD-compatible equipment already but still holding off launching services. Hey, anything prior to 2010 is a start.

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21/05/2008 - AVerMedia launches AVerTV Hybrid NanoExpress TV tuner

Filed under: Tuners, Others

AVerMedia is expanding its ExpressCard TV tuner line, as it has officially announced that its CES-honored AVerTV Hybrid NanoExpress is finally shipping. As expected, the 54-millimeter slim-fit card -- which fits completely within the ExpressCard slot without protruding at all -- is designed to function with Windows XP / Vista and pick up ATSC (digital), NTSC (analog), FM radio and ClearQAM signals. You'll even find AVer MediaCenter software bundled in to handle H.264 real-time recording capabilities -- all you need to do to get in on the fun is hand over $89.99.

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21/05/2008 - Popcorn Hour prepping trio of new media streamers?

Filed under: Media PCs, Others

Considering just how popular Popcorn Hour's A-100 has been with the media center crowd, we're not shocked at all to find the intarweb ablaze now that rumors of a new trio have surfaced. Said rumblings have originated from a curious post over at GeekZone, which sees a prospective reseller of Popcorn Hour products admit that "three new models" will be released "in the very near future," including one with WiFi. We are told that the three models will be priced around $250, $250 and $320, though not a bit of it has been confirmed. Hit the read link for a list of proposed specifications for each of the possibly forthcoming boxes, and in case you haven't figured it out, we'd keep those hopes low for now.

[Thanks, Simon]

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21/05/2008 - Hallmark Movie Channel HD lands network playback partner

Filed under: Misc, New content

Now that Hallmark Movie Channel HD has found a sufficient amount of carriers to air on, parent company Crown Media has inked a deal with Broadcast Facilities to "to provide full HD network playback" for the aforesaid channel. BFI owns and operates Andrita Media Center, the "largest independent High Definition (HD) digital media facility on the West Coast," and the deal requires that Andrita expand its HD network playback center "to support the origination of the Hallmark Movie Channel's extensive original and library movie content in HD on a 24 / 7 basis." Unfortunately, we haven't a clue if this is the puzzle piece we've been waiting for to swap out stretch-o-vision content with authentic high-def material, but surely it can't hurt matters.

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