Life|ware's quad-CableCARD Life|media systems get (more) official

Earlier this month, we gave you a glance at Exceptional Innovation's (producer of Life|Ware) quad-CableCARD media server, and now the outfit is finally making things (extra) official. Two machines will initially be offered up with (count 'em) four CableCARD tuners within, and neither are likely to run ya cheap. Up first is the flagship LMS-754, which packs a quad-core Intel Core 2 Extreme processor, 4GB of RAM, 4TB of hard drive space in a RAID 5 array, Ethernet, a slew of USB 2.0 ports, audio in / out, and a FireWire connector to boot. The slightly more affordable LMS-654 will probably ratchet things down a bit in the storage and CPU department, and while no specific prices are given, we are told that the Life|Media line now ranges from $3,500 to $15,000. Additionally, the firm introduced 8.9-inch and 12.1-inch widescreen Life|point touch panels with the new Life|slide function, both of which offer up 720p resolution and enable the user to "gesture right or left to quickly navigate the Life|ware gallery." Click on through for a shot of the front.

[anonymous @ Sep 20th 2007 11:54AM]

too rich for my blood, besides, I'm not into all this techno-gadgetry for the video world... I don't need to watch video and tv every minute of the day.

[JeffnLA @ Sep 20th 2007 12:25PM]

15 grand?? I'll take 4!

[blooy @ Sep 20th 2007 1:28PM]

I don't get it. What do you use it for?

[Nick @ Sep 20th 2007 1:41PM]

I have to imagine that this particular mediacenter device isn't specifically aimed at the bachelor in his studio apartment, but at small businesses (like geeked out bed n' breakfasts).

[Mike @ Sep 20th 2007 2:09PM]

This system would be used in a place that could possibly have up to four people watching tv at once all viewing their own stations. You connect your Xbox 360s or Media Center extenders up to it and everybody is happy in their own room watching whatever they want being able to pause and rewind and all that other good stuff. It could be used for a very large family, a small business or for some guy who has more money than he knows what to do with and just wants to brag to everyone that he can record four premium digital channels at once.

[Joe @ Sep 20th 2007 2:52PM]

With all of the trouble I've had getting CC support for my 2 CC's in my TiVo HD, I can't imagine the pain of trying to get 4 to work. What's worse, I can only imagine that Time Warner and others will continue the SDV shennanigans, locking this pricey box out of channels (like ESPN2HD here in Cincinnati). I can't imagine dropping this much coin on this and depending on a cable monopoly not crushing its usefulness by continuing to ignore the FCC while our lovely gov't officials look the other way.

One tech note, are they M-Card slots? Is it just 4 tuners, or can you get 8?

[BigReg @ Sep 20th 2007 4:42PM]

So this is an awesome box, until SDV (Switched Digital Video) becomes more widely deployed. That nukes boxes like this and the Series3 Tivo/TivoHD for encrypted digital cable. I'd own at least one TivoHD today if wasn't for that pesky problem.

http://www.broadbandreports.com/shownews/Will-SDV-Derail-Cablecards-TiVo-83736

[Adnan Aziz @ Sep 21st 2007 8:49AM]

It is overpriced. I like the idea and I can see in future many house hold will be using similar setup. You can do it for less then $1500 for ATSC HDTV. Its the DRM related useless regulation bringing the price up.