The PC2TV EchoView FM ... think iTV but not by Apple

Think of the Addlogix PC2TV EchoView FM as an iTV -- Apple's tentatively titled set-top box -- except that it doesn't come in white ... and it has a DVI output. The "codex agnostic" device will wirelessly receive video (up to 720p they claim) at 30 frames per second over 802.11g from any WiFi-enabled computer. Anything you can view on your computer you can stream to a display wirelessly (or wired, if that's your thing), so long as it accepts composite, component, or DVI input. We're not sure when Apple's going to launch the iTV or what they're going to charge, but expect the EchoView FM to hit in February for $199.99.

[Eric @ Jan 7th 2007 8:57AM]

That's magnificent. Where do i get it?

[Gil @ Jan 7th 2007 9:29AM]

200? Can't you get an XBox 1 for that price?

[CharlesV @ Jan 7th 2007 11:56PM]

You can, but by the time you get a modchip, get it installed, upgrade the hard drive (optional) and add a wifi-ethernet bridge (required for some), you're looking at more than 200 and a loud-ass fan. Not say I don't love my xbmc to death, but if this can handle ANYTHING maybe i'll finally watch those HD ogm rips of lotr..

[Lonnie McClure @ Jan 7th 2007 3:04PM]

Gil:

The original Xbox requires modding to be a decent media device, which rules it out as a mass-market solution. Also, it is a hulking giant compared to this device, and is no doubt considerably more power hungry. Oh, and the Xbox doesn't include WiFi. Throw in some more bucks if you want that.

Also, can you view ANY content on your Xbox (i.e., YouTube and other flash video), that one can apparently view on this device?

If this device actually does what it says, and is available when slated, it sounds as if it will do most of what the SlingCatcher will, for the same price, but months earlier.

That said, this wouldn't be the first internet video to TV device that looked good on paper, but didn't work well in reality.

[Scott Russell @ Jan 7th 2007 6:04PM]

What's with ports on both the front and the back? I'd give it a D- on design. But I like the idea of a codec-agnostic streaming device. Fugly or not, I'm interested.

[Chris Champion @ Jan 8th 2007 8:13AM]

Ummmm... that last port on the right (next to the Ant) better be audio... I can just see trying to sync the audio with the video between my Linksys Media Adapter and this doohickie

[mathew @ Jan 8th 2007 10:43AM]

So, does it require some crappy proprietary server running on your computer?