Beyonwiz DP-S1 dual-tuner HD DVR handles media center duties
If you're itching for a new DVR, and wouldn't mind losing your current DVD player and media streamer in the process, Beyonwiz's DP-S1 should be just the thing for you -- if you reside Down Under, that is. Aimed squarely at the Australian market, this dual-tuner HD DVR packs a sleek, black and silver chassis, 200GB hard drive, an integrated DVD player that purportedly upconverts, and a built-in media center that "streams video, music, and photos over Ethernet or WiFi from your home computer network, external HDDs, or the internet." Marketed as an end-all home entertainment solution, this conglomerate even boasts a well featured front panel with USB 2.0 connectors and a three-in-one flash card reader that plays nice with SD, MMC, and CF. Best of all, this multi-faceted device is available right now in the land of Oz, but it will run you a stiff A$1,599 ($1,318).
Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment, Media PCs, Storage
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
luminosity @ May 10th 2007 2:02AM
It seems as though this is just rebundled older technology. I understand that most technology is a evolution not a revolution. Yet this machine seems less functional than a micro form factor pc that you could bundle with many of the same features.
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Namarrgon @ May 10th 2007 2:18AM
Of course it's less functional than a PC. Pretty much everything is. If you want functionality above all, HTPCs will always be king, so long as they're fast enough.
OTOH, a decent DVR appliance has many strengths that HTPCs don't have, like hardware accelerated codecs, fast boot times, purpose-built interfaces, better reliability (due to a single purpose-built hardware set), nicer form factor, ease of use, less glitching (due to managed scheduling), and so on.
SirCrumpet @ May 10th 2007 3:24AM
Video Specs for those interested...
MPEG-2 Video
MPEG-2 MP@HL up to 1080i
MPEG-4.2 Video for DivX
MPEG-4.2 up to 720p
MPEG-4.10 (H.264) Video
BP@L3 up to 576p
MP@L4.0 and HP@L4.0 up to 1080i
MPEG Audio
MPEG-1 Layer I, II, III (MP3) 2.0Ch
AAC 2.0Ch
Dolby Audio
Dolby Digital 5.1Ch
DTS Audio
DTS 5.1Ch
JPEG Decoding Hardware JPEG Decoding
Scott Hirleman @ May 10th 2007 9:24PM
I met these guys at CES. They are pretty cool and they actually helped do the referece design for the SMP8634 processor from Sigma Designs (at least I think it was the 8634). And for you lucky few 20K who have U-verse, that is the processor in your box.